Season round up

[Ample Prosecco]

With torrential rain forecast for Norton Disney, tomorrow I have decided to play it safe and withdraw. We were on day 3 and friends there today tell me it’s very muddy and cut up already. I have not a lot to gain given Lottie had a great confidence giving run at Frickley over a 90 course anyway. But a lot to lose if anything goes wrong and either Lottie or I lose confidence with no time left to restore it.

So that means the season is over. And time to reflect on it.

Stats:
7 x 80 runs with 1 XC run out and 1 SJ pole.
1 x 90 run with 1 SJ pole and clear XC.

A 4th a 7th place.
Mostly in the time. And no errors of course - hurrah! (For me that’s a triumph!!)

overall I am ecstatic with that. Lottie has been easy to handle, bold, rideable and genuine. I’m happy with the consistency.
And she has felt fit and full of running every time out.

Dressage (as ever) is the obvious weak link so we need to address that. She isn’t quite as muscled or even as I’d like so we need to address that too. So we have a winter plan taking shape of long reining over poles, lots of hacking and hill work. Plus some dressage and SJ. And the odd play on the technical arena at Somerford so I can start next season at 90. Main goal again being Thr Brigante Cup.

I never dreamt I’d find another XC horse I trusted as much to keep me safe as Amber. But Lottie gives me that same take-you-to-the-fence feel. She locks on and you know it’s gonna be fine. It’s just the best feeling ever. So happy with her and can’t wait for what comes next.

Roll on 2023??

 

[Michen]

Amazing job AE XXX

 

[Peglo]

Well done AE and Lottie. I’ve really enjoyed following your posts. I love the ear shot. What a great view.

 

[splashgirl45]

A very good season, well done AE & Lottie, looking forward to more reports over winter and good dressage marks..

 

[Bernster]

Great photos and fantastic progress. The hacking pic looks amazing. It’s been lovely following your year with Lottie. The hard work is really paying off.

I’m a bit the opposite. Our flatwork is going well but I need (and plan) to spend more time now on jumping over the winter, and doing faster work out in the open, and then try to regain my xc confidence next year.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

There have been a few comps cancelled tomorrow. I don't blame you for withdrawing. You've had the most fantastic season, well done!!

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

This is great, very well done! Super season - it’s been lovely to follow your progress.

 

[teapot]

I’d say that’s a great season! Onwards to 2023!

Are you still having lessons on school horses, I enjoyed your threads on those ?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Hi no I ran out of money!! But I might have a few over winter to try and get the dressage a bit better x

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Norton Disney was abandoned today. Dodged a bullet there !

It was abandoned just before my SJ time.

 

[humblepie]

Excellent achievement and love the hacking photo as well.

 

[ycbm]

I know it's not the point but OMG what have you made her worth £££££ !!
.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I know it's not the point but OMG what have you made her worth £££££ !!
.

She was worth the punt for sure! I got very lucky x

 

[ycbm]

Trying to find words that won't come across as patronising, and if they do it certainly isn't meant, but she's also been the making of you as a cross country rider. On Amber there was always a feeling from your photos and video that she graciously allowed you along for the ride, on Lottie you look like a solid partnership. The improvement in your balance and position are very marked. I'm quite jealous of what you'll be getting up to next season!
.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Not patronising at all- Amber was very good to me but I was a definitely passenger a lot of the time. Which made anything tight or technical very challenging. Lottie actually lets me tell her what we are doing! I am super excited about next year.

 

[AandK]

Sounds like you have both had an amazing season, so pleased she has turned out to be such a great horse for you!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

With Norton Disney abandoned in torrential rain, I am envying your your climate. And your lack of mud. He looks great and I can't wait to see trail pics.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

That’s weird - that comment was for Michen on the Boggle USA post!! Oh well x

 

[Squeak]

Sounds like a really great season. After what sounded like a tough couple of horse years for you, you deserved to be able to get back out and enjoy horses. Sometimes a good year is really needed!

Lottie has been a great unseen purchase, I still don't think I'd be brave enough to do it but wow did it pay off for you.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

It's been a great year. Exceeded expectations in every way. With the prices as they were last summer, it did not feel much of a risk buying unseen from Ireland. For what she cost me, the England option would have been an unbacked 3 year old 'with potential' or something with quirks or issues to keep the prices in 4 figures. Even now, just backed unproven, nothing special 4 year olds are going for high 4s. The dealer came highly recommended from quite a few HHOers, she has good breeding and was a good age, good size, good colour and sound. The only question was could I get along with her. If not I was planning to just sell her straight on and would probably have made money on her. But I am so glad we clicked almost instantly and I have just felt happier and happier with her as I have got to know her. She is literally everything I love in a horse: clever, bold, genuine, hardworking, sane, level headed, trainable. What's not to love? she is very like Amber in attitude and gives me a similar 'we've got this' feel. But much easier to ride and much, much nicer to hack. Amber wasn't spooky but she was always on a mission. She did not do 'Countryside Amble'. Lottie absolutely does and is often used as a nanny horse on hacks. She does not have Amber's scope but she doesn't need to have that as Amber had far more jump than I was ever going to need. I adore Amber but Lottie has filled those huge shoes amazingly well.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Season 2 round up!

Season is over and Lottie is earning some well deserved down time in the field.

And time, again, to reflect. Wow what a year!

Stats:

No unaff ODEs this year. And a fairly washed out BE season.

Just 2 BE90 runs, but DC in both so we qualified for the Regionals. We headed to Chillington Hall where she stormed round a technical championship track, clear and 14 seconds under the time. Woop woop.

I stepped up to a 100 HT and a BE100, but got eliminated in both for accumulated refusals, which turned out to be hocks.

So not a lot of eventing went on, but what we did was very good! And the hocks only derailed us briefly, so that was a relief.

In view of the early season cancellations, I decided to flirt with the dark side, and do some BS, with the aim of getting 5 DCs to make it to the National Amateur Championships at Aintree. I left myself a very small qualifying window, but she got 5 out of 5 and so we made it!

At Champs she was amazing. So willing, so honest. HUGE atmosphere, especially in the rowdy late night sessions with a bar right next to the arena. I am a fairly enthusuastic convert to show-jumping:

- Often indoors
- No mud!
- No 3:30 am starts
- Don't need to hang around all day
- If it goes wrong there is another event just around the corner
- Showjumpers get to wear more bling!
- Far more of a party atmosphere
- Even at my level, the rounds were live streamed which felt pretty cool.
- It is very good fun!
- Less dangerous.
- AND way, way, way cheaper

So I think I might do the same next year - a couple of events early season to try and qualify then switch to SJ and try and get to Champs again.

This has also been the Year of Joe Midgley and Lottie is a totally different horse because of him. I have decent brakes - hurrah.

Once again I am ecstatic with Lottie. She really is becoming every much as special to me as Amber. And suits me much better too.

Roll on Season 3.....

 

[Orangehorse]

Love your reports, keep them coming. And very well done both of you.
Weather-wise its been such a difficult season for everyone.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Great round-up and fab pics! Not the season you set out for but sounds like it's given you some new opportunities on the way and some wonderful experiences

 

[lottiepony]

Another cracking year I'd say! Albeit not possibly in the way you were expecting!

Each horse we have always becomes special, how lovely you have Lottie, can't beat a dark bay with an orange muzzle

 

[Bernster]

Cracking photos !