Browsing Category Competition Reports & Training

Finally we get out to our first event of the year and Britain decides to have a heat wave! I’m not complaining about the glorious sunshine or the tan I’m building up but jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze it’s HOT! I went off to walk the XC the day before as we had enetered a local event West Wilts 90cm Unaff ODE and it was roasting! To the organisers’ credit they had done a lot to help with the going, and in places there was a good deal of cover and clear signs of ground work to improve the course. The further I walked…

It seems to me that if I’m at risk of frost bite or heat stroke then it can mean only one thing….I’m competing that day! Now I’m not just doing that typical British thing of bemoaning the weather, it really was an absolute SCORCHER, and the prospect of slipping on a tweed jacket was making me want to weep. Off we set, cool box, sun cream, isotonic drinks and sunglasses in hand to Swindon Riding Club’s ODE at Rabson Manor. This was Bolly and I’s first ODE together back in October (refresh your memory here if you like) and so…

Someone pinch me, I think it all might be a dream! Bolly is quite possibly the most perfect little “goody 4 hooves” to ever grace this planet, and I am his No 1 Super Fan. He’s been part of the family for almost 2 years now but due to moving house, Dustry’s op, fitness levels, instructor changes and numerous saddle issues I feel like we’ve only just recently got all our ducks in a row and been able to train, practice and compete feeling like things are on the right track and that linear progress is possible. Mummy Groom has…

Nothing gives me that buzz like going XC, it’s simply THE best fun! Finally after more saddle issues (when do they ever end???) Bolly now has a jump saddle that fits and is comfortable for him and me and so we booked into a XC schooling clinic with my old chum Stephen Way. I’ve known Steve for years and his lessons are always a really good laugh, especially when I needed him to help me into my extremely tight back protector, you can imagine the scene! Sweet baby angel horse Mega XC schooling today #tweseldown #xc #eventing #horsesofinstagram #horses #equine…

As I walked further round the cross country course this thought popped into my head…. “I wonder if I could ask to move down to the smaller class?…hhhmmm No! Chloe, get a grip these only look big because you normally see all your XC fences from horse back, you’ve not jumped a 90cm course for 6 years that’s the only reason it looks big, they are not big….repeat they are NOT big” More on that later….. So Bolly, myself and “Mummy Groom” arrived at Rabson Manor for Swindon Riding Club’s ODE. Starting our eventing debut together in August wasn’t the…

My weekends are getting booked up and the summer weather has been typically drab this year so I took a punt and booked a random Tuesday off work to take Bolly combined training at West Wilts. It just so happened that this freak day off coincided with a mini British heat wave and we found ourselves competing in 30+ degree heat. According to my weather app that day Melksham was hotter than Hawaii!!!! You literally couldn’t make this up! Thankfully the judges decided we could ditch the dress code and ride in our stock shirts. When I rode in for…