Puzzle scores another win at the last Musto Qualifier held by Burton PC. Video Footage below and full write up to come..

WOW well what a weekend...! I absolutely love team events, everybody supporting each other, cheering, giving advice, and this weekend was by far one of the most memorable! 

Candy & I were off this time to Stafford Unaffiliated ODE held over the BE course. They had Pony Club sections as well as the option to enter a team. Our team just managed to get a last minute entry and I'm so glad we did! We only had 3 members but I was quietly confident! The team consisted of myself, Learna Frost & Ellie Friend. Learna competes at BE100 level and is about to move up to Novice level where her ambition is to enter our local event Chatsworth next year! After her performance she is well on track! Ellie Friend is new to eventing and I'm sure after this weekend she has caught the eventing bug! For her first ODE she was extremely brave going in at BE100 level but I knew Onkey (Jack the Lad) would be amazing and he certainly was!

We all headed over to the dressage warm up and before we knew it Ellie was called in! She was showing a few nerves before going in as it was both their first time at dressage! We all encouraged her and she came out with a well earned 33! Learna was next and she too came out with a solid 33. I was last to go and even though Candy showed her age in a few places she came out with her best score to date of 27.5, I was over the moon!

Over to show jumping we all headed! The course was built up well and had lots to look at as well as a few tight turns and dog legs. Again Ellie was a first up. She jumped well just knocking one fence as they decided to take a long stride to the spread which was set on a long 5 strides or short 6! Learna next to go and again came out with only 4 faults, just getting caught out by fence 8 the dog leg. Candy was last again to go and really made me smile as she tried so hard and came out with a super clear! 

We all were buzzing as we knew all we had to do now was go clear cross country and we would be in with a good chance! Learna was up first this time and tried her hardest to go slower as Max tends to eat up the cross country so fast that she has had time penalties for going too fast! The first clear was in but she had gone a little the other way this time picking up 12 time faults! Ellie was next, she knew as soon as she was over the roll top to angled corner she would be away, and she definitely was! Jumping another fab clear round and spot on the time. Candy was next and just needed to get round clear. This time she really knew what was coming as it was the first time she has ever got excited in the start box! She set of quicker than usual and did not hesitate at anything! we had all gone clear and was just awaiting my all important optimum time, Candy had done it, she was clear inside the time and not only had our team won, Candy had won the section finishing on her 27.5 dressage. We were all ecstatic, jumping up and down when the results were confirmed over the tannoy! 

Well done to all the Barlow members who were also competing in each level, some great placings! 

Well Puzzle & I were off to Winkburn and had great times so I could walk the Cross Country before dressage. It was nice to walk round not in a mad rush and take everything in! The xc course was nice and flowed well, there were a few questions but nothing too difficult. 

I got her ready for dressage and went across to the warm up. It was quite tight and had no grass coverage, you could see all the stud marks in the ground! Puzzle warmed up lovely and I was feeling confident. The dressage arenas were in the next field, and it was getting more windy. I had to stop and wait for about 5 minutes until it was my time to go in. As I trotted around the ring Puzzle had dropped off the bit and wasn't going as forward as before. I was a bit worried and tried to push her down more before the bell rang. As we went in she settled a little and showed a lovely medium trot. Just as I went around the corner towards A I totally forgot where I was going, my mind went blank, I was so much in the moment I had lost my way! The horn beeped and my heart sank! I was so mad with myself as I really needed every mark possible to overcome the annoying 37.5 I kept on getting! I thought to myself its OK, only one movement so I turned a circle and went back to re-do the movement I had missed. In places I let the pressure show and came out disappointed with myself. I found out my score whilst I was waiting for show jumping, mum came running to me.. guess what you got.. guess what you got... 32!!!! I couldn't believe it, I was shocked and so happy that I had finally broken the 37.5 barrier. 

The show jumping turned out to be a very long wait, Puzzle warmed up lovely and jumped the course amazing, we hit everything perfect and she flew round. As we came to the last fence which was a double she just caught the pole which fell. I was so pleased with the round I let the 4 faults go! I looked at the score board before going cross country and noticed people were getting lots of time faults so it must of been a quick time. I set my watch to the optimum and kept reminding myself not to forget to press it!

We set off out the start box, and before I knew it we were already back through the finish! It was such a quick time I could hardly even remember what I had jumped! Puzzle was amazing though and as I came through the finishing flags I knew she was ready to move up a level. We finished in 8th place and gained another BE point. 

Next run is the final Musto Qualifier which we are currently in joint 10th. If I manage to get a placing at this last event, hopefully I will have done enough to get one on the fantastic prizes on offer. I have also entered Puzzle into her first CCI* at Osberton, I'm so excited!