sw123
Well-Known Member
Houghton – Brilliant!!
Spider (our homebred Mill Law 7 year old) was doing his first CCI*, he’s done quite a few CIC*’s but never a CCI and we thought that although proven at that level (and given his round at Chatsworth he obviously doesn’t find it very challenging) it was a really good experience for him.
Chatsworth 2 weeks before had been great, 40.3 dressage in the lead until Pippa on Billy Beware just pipped us and then a lovely double clear leaving us just 2nd behind them.
Houghton I couldn’t get there until the Friday afternoon so had running text and phone commentary whilst sitting in the office!! Dressage he did a super super test to give a score of 38.5 having got 78% from one of the judges. Just brilliant and Em’s first sub 40 FEI score. We were thrilled to be in the lead after the first day but with another 50 to go you just never know! Pippa again (although this time on Billy Black Jack) went late on the 2nd day and got a really fabulous 37.8 to just slip ahead of us again! The judge at C actually gave us both the same 181 but the judge at B gave her 2 more marks then us – annoying!!
The ground was pretty rubbish so Em had warned we might not go XC as they hadn’t done much, however they were saved with rain overnight making the going good.
Spider stormed around the XC no problem. Well inside the time and with a little bit more bit he was really rideable and felt like he could go round again. Predictably Pippa also went clear inside the time so the leaderboard stayed the same overnight – Pippa, us, Piggy and Jeanette.
Trot up first thing Saturday, Em looked funny hacking to it in long tweed jacket and heels! However, Spi was on fine form and did a fabulous extended trot sending the ground jury scattering as he wasn’t going to slow down at the end. Chucked the saddle back on, legged Em up and the rather keen Spider cantered off into the distance!!!
It was a long old wait to the SJ in the afternoon, Spider went to bed and we found him flat out asleep for most of the morning! Very laid back bless him but the time came and I am just terrible in the SJ, especially this reverse order lark. There were no poles between the top 4 but then quite a big gap to 5th place. It got to the last 4 of us in the collecting ring and then was just Pippa and us. Spider jumped fabulously and we were told to stop showing off over the practice fence!! Piggy had a pole down so swapped places with Jeanette who went clear and in we went. Spider was fabulous, they jumped a really cool classy clear round and made it look easy. We’d done our bit, we just had to wait and see if Pippa did hers. Of course she did, Billy Black Jack is lovely and Pippa such a professional. So a lovely clear for them and we ended the week where we began in 2nd place. Can’t ask for more than that – finishing on our dressage score less than a penalty away from Pippa. What a person to come second to admittedly its getting a little bit boring after two times but still a great achievement.
Prize giving was mounted for the top 20 although the top 3 had to get off and stand on a podium as the sponsor was scared of horses!! Spider is not known for his excellent behaviour in prize givings (at chatsworth he was the only one not standing still) and he was anchored by two of us while Emilie stood on the podium and had two packets of polos and someone from the crowds humbugs to keep him occupied!! Pippa’s horse and Jeanette’s stallion just stood still, not sure why our boy finds that impossible. He loved his lap of honour, although did jump a plastic cup that blew in and looked rather strong! All in all a great weekend!
Very proud of Spider who now has 56 points having only done 1 intermediate – oops!! We’d love to aim for Le Lion but will see, he needs some intermediate mileage now (and a week in the field to chill).
Brilliant week, can’t wait to get some photos!!
Spider (our homebred Mill Law 7 year old) was doing his first CCI*, he’s done quite a few CIC*’s but never a CCI and we thought that although proven at that level (and given his round at Chatsworth he obviously doesn’t find it very challenging) it was a really good experience for him.
Chatsworth 2 weeks before had been great, 40.3 dressage in the lead until Pippa on Billy Beware just pipped us and then a lovely double clear leaving us just 2nd behind them.
Houghton I couldn’t get there until the Friday afternoon so had running text and phone commentary whilst sitting in the office!! Dressage he did a super super test to give a score of 38.5 having got 78% from one of the judges. Just brilliant and Em’s first sub 40 FEI score. We were thrilled to be in the lead after the first day but with another 50 to go you just never know! Pippa again (although this time on Billy Black Jack) went late on the 2nd day and got a really fabulous 37.8 to just slip ahead of us again! The judge at C actually gave us both the same 181 but the judge at B gave her 2 more marks then us – annoying!!
The ground was pretty rubbish so Em had warned we might not go XC as they hadn’t done much, however they were saved with rain overnight making the going good.
Spider stormed around the XC no problem. Well inside the time and with a little bit more bit he was really rideable and felt like he could go round again. Predictably Pippa also went clear inside the time so the leaderboard stayed the same overnight – Pippa, us, Piggy and Jeanette.
Trot up first thing Saturday, Em looked funny hacking to it in long tweed jacket and heels! However, Spi was on fine form and did a fabulous extended trot sending the ground jury scattering as he wasn’t going to slow down at the end. Chucked the saddle back on, legged Em up and the rather keen Spider cantered off into the distance!!!
It was a long old wait to the SJ in the afternoon, Spider went to bed and we found him flat out asleep for most of the morning! Very laid back bless him but the time came and I am just terrible in the SJ, especially this reverse order lark. There were no poles between the top 4 but then quite a big gap to 5th place. It got to the last 4 of us in the collecting ring and then was just Pippa and us. Spider jumped fabulously and we were told to stop showing off over the practice fence!! Piggy had a pole down so swapped places with Jeanette who went clear and in we went. Spider was fabulous, they jumped a really cool classy clear round and made it look easy. We’d done our bit, we just had to wait and see if Pippa did hers. Of course she did, Billy Black Jack is lovely and Pippa such a professional. So a lovely clear for them and we ended the week where we began in 2nd place. Can’t ask for more than that – finishing on our dressage score less than a penalty away from Pippa. What a person to come second to admittedly its getting a little bit boring after two times but still a great achievement.
Prize giving was mounted for the top 20 although the top 3 had to get off and stand on a podium as the sponsor was scared of horses!! Spider is not known for his excellent behaviour in prize givings (at chatsworth he was the only one not standing still) and he was anchored by two of us while Emilie stood on the podium and had two packets of polos and someone from the crowds humbugs to keep him occupied!! Pippa’s horse and Jeanette’s stallion just stood still, not sure why our boy finds that impossible. He loved his lap of honour, although did jump a plastic cup that blew in and looked rather strong! All in all a great weekend!
Very proud of Spider who now has 56 points having only done 1 intermediate – oops!! We’d love to aim for Le Lion but will see, he needs some intermediate mileage now (and a week in the field to chill).
Brilliant week, can’t wait to get some photos!!
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You must be very proud of well he's doing- Mr Consistent or what?
