Bramham & Tattersalls
Wow. What a FANTASTIC two weeks we’ve just had! Zulu was just brilliant at Bramham – I’d dreamt that we might win, but I hadn’t really dared to hope that he’d actually jump a double clear inside the time at his first CCI***, let alone finish 6th from a field of proper 3 and 4* horses, and a World Games horse! However, having walked the course strangely I didn’t feel that nervous; I knew he could jump it easily and I knew there was no way I was going to let him run out.
Chatsworth (CIC***) had been more than a little frustrating on that note, as having done a nice test and show-jumped clear we sailed past that nightmare brush corner without Zul locking on at all – a very expensive communication error. As a result though I was totally psyched for Bramham, and the minute we left the start box he was right with me and felt completely on the game. Unfortunately we got held for about 20 minutes at the fence before the water, which wasn’t really ideal as we’d just got into our rhythm over the first 6 ‘nice’ fences, but I was (weirdly I know) quite looking forward to the water as it looked like it was riding really well: a big lobster drop in, followed by a right hand curve up a ramp over a very airy hanging parallel which dropped you back into the water before you exited up a bank and over an angled upright rail… quite exciting! Zul felt like he jumped in pretty big but there wasn’t really time to worry as I knew I just had to get over the rails, so I was a little surprised to see my photos later…!! I think that just proved how much he loved it though – he came home full of running and my Mum was beside herself. That is when it’s truly amazing to have bred your star.
Just rewinding back to the Dressage phase… again I was thrilled with him but fractionally disappointed at the same time. You always imagine it to be perfect, but it just didn’t quite go how I had planned and we added a few canter steps to both half-passes, which cost us a mark in the 40’s. Still, the atmosphere was huge in the arena and he really is green at this level so overall 54 was still a good result.
I was a little worried how he’d come out on Sunday as you never quite know after such a demanding track – and it really was hilly – but I needn’t have had a second thought as the minute he got in that main ring he tried his heart out and it felt effortless. I honestly could not be more proud of him, and the fact that this was actually his first 3-day show-jumping clear is testament to how great Yogi has been with us.
TATTERSALLS: It did seem slightly crazy to go abroad the week before Bramham – which has been my aim for about the last 2 years! But in fact it was so worth it for both Woody and Perky, and I think the amazing Irish atmosphere put me in a really good frame of mind for Zul, as well as for the others – who both did career best Dressage tests (there must have been something in the ‘water’..!) Perky excelled herself and produced a stunning test that put her in 5th in the CCI*, which was fantastic, whilst Woody showed how much he has come on by taking the same slot in the U25 CCI** class.
Ian (Stark) had designed two really good tracks, which were big and bold and will have given them both a lot of confidence. With Perky lacking some mileage I wasn’t sure how she was going to cope with the extended galloping time, and we did unfortunately pick up some time faults as I didn’t want to risk scaring her by coming home with no petrol. She didn’t have a problem though and happily showed me by frisking her way around the show-jumping warm up the following morning, before ballooning her way to a double clear. She felt absolute class – like a bird on springs! – and I was even more thrilled as the ground jury came and said how lovely she was at the prize giving – go Perky!
As for Woody, he popped round the course easily on Saturday, but unfortunately had two annoying rails on Sunday which were as a result of some severe spooking at the terrifying cameras in the atmospheric main arena! Unfortunately this did drop us down to 6th, but actually I’m still very pleased with him and he is going to have learnt a lot from the whole trip.
So now I’m back, and the yard is extremely empty as Woody and Zul have gone back up North for some fun and frolics in the field. Ralph, my project 4yr old has also returned to his master (Paul Whitehead), so if anyone wants anything schooled then I’m free and available…
Until next time,
Charlotte
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