Have finally planned my season!

tigers_eye

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Ok, so it's not very exciting for everyone else, but what with the move and all I've not really been able to get my teeth into any calendars! So, the boys will start off on the 30th March at a kind-of RC event, but it's recognised by the National Federation (and their events don't start until May). They'll go out the next weekend as well, I think I'm going to err on the side of caution and enter the 100cm class as they can be quite technical. At least then I can walk the bigger courses and remind myself what they're like here!


They'll have a weekend off after that, then another 2 weekends worth of ODEs, should be up a level by then. Then, drum-roll, off to internationals! I'm thinking Radolfzell (Germany, 1-4/5) CCI*, and Dijon (France, 22-25/5) CCI* (this is in the hope that 1 or both might be able to scrape into the top 6 or whatever it is to qualify directly for the Novice champs at Gatcombe in August), then a small break, then back with Arville CIC* (Belgium, 27-29/6), followed by Ede CIC** (Holland, 10-14/7). And so on, with another short break in August, with the aim of W doing Le Lion 7yo's if I've managed to sort out Danish nationality by then! Like I said, dull for everyone else, exciting for me!

Oh, and I've just found myself distracted for half an hour by a website with classified ads for horses for sale and omg I can't wait to start buying! They are generally so reasonabley priced (not to mention well-bred!).
 
Sounds very exciting! Look forward to seeing photos of all these new horses you will be buying....
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Fabulous
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Im thinking you need to pay me to be your international groom at one or two of these events lol
Tell Libs I shall bring him his polos in huge stocks lol
 
Oh he will like that! William won't say no either....

The danish nationality thing is because it will be easier to ride for them than GB, looking towards selection for le lion initially, and maybe senior teams eventually! My husband has dual danish/swedish nationality, hence that choice.
 
Sounds good to me - 'going international' sounds very exciting especially without the channel in the way. Hope your plans work out and good luck
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Sorry, hadn't changed my location when I wrote post! I'm already over here! Unofrtunately petrol is the same price as in England, but diesel is still cheaper. My next car is def going to be a diesel - I hired a new astra last time I was here and it used 20 euros of diesel in 3 days (350km) of mostly town driving.

But yes, break down cover will be essential, and really I'd like to have a new lorry before we go tearing round Europe! OH refuses to sleep in the current one anyway
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sissy that he is
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Gosh, that all sounds very exciting. Is Liberty on a strict diet in readiness, or did the stress of travelling make the weight drop off him?
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How far away are all the internationals from you? And which ones are nearest to Calais as I quite fancy a trip abroad, if my lorry will make it that far!
 
Well it was William who refused to eat for two days (the day L goes off his feed it'll be too late to call the vet
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), but L has in fact lost some tummy, his girth goes up two holes higher just in the week he's been here! It might just have something to do with being on shavings rather than straw..... And funnily enough his annoying tickly cough has gone too
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I think Dijon is approximately 3 hours drive from Calais if I'm thinking of the right french event. All the Belgians bang on about how lovely Jardy (France) is, but I'm not sure where it is and it's the same weekend as the belgian event Arville, which is supposed to be lovely although I'm sticking to the * after looking at last year's results - I think less than 25% of the ** field went clear xc! Although if my dressage doesn't improve perhaps I should think about doing the 2*!
 
Right, using route planner, and in no particular order - Jardy, south of France, bloody long way from Calais: 540 miles!

Kreuth (have spring and autumn, Lucy W often makes the trip, however autumn this year running the YR Europeans so will be a stiff 2* track I should think), right on the southern German border, 620 miles from Calais....

Marbach, 460 miles from Calais. Did it in 2004, very wet but really nice event, lovely course. They ran *, **, and *** when I was there but according to BE only running ** and *** this year.

Saumur, 340 miles from Calais, again only ** and ***.

Dijon, 345 miles from Calais.... maybe not the 3 hr drive I put in last post! Also comes highly recommended by my Belgian friends.

Bielefeld - 340 miles from C

Salgen - 540 miles from C, don't know anything about either of these two german events, never heard of them.

Arville - 200 miles from C (that's the belgian one I mentionned)

Breda - 160 miles from C - these are all sounding a bit better aren't they?!

Ede - 225 miles from C (loads of Brits went last year inc. Sarah_Jane)

Right, bored of this now, but am saving this thread for my own reference I think!
 
Cheers T_E, the last three sound near enough to be worth a trip without p***ing my OH off too much with the journey. I guess Boekelo can't be that far either, seeing as a load of Brits normally go?
 
Oooh S_J I'd love to go to Ede for the 3*, assuming Hector is up to it and qualified. We could have a mass HHO trip abroad if SteveGG wants to go too. Did you go in your own lorry or hitch a lift last year?
 
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