
If you didn’t already know I have recently been offered a monthly column with Equestrian Life Magazine which I am really excited about. My first column was printed at the beginning of October and was such an amazing surprise to get back from Osberton to see a full page spread!!
I have just sent off my 2nd column for the November issue so make sure you pick up a copy.
So back to Candy Blue and her very successful trip to York College.
It was Candy’s last event of the year, her 2nd BE100. It had rained very hard the week running up to the event so the going was very soft on top. I walked the cross country before dressage and it was a lovely course, (see pics) I wasn’t worried about anything in particular. The water caught a few out, you had to jump a decent sized boat 2 strides before the water which backed a lot of horses off, then through and out the water, a sharp turn right and back down a step into the water again.

Before I start to tell you about Askham Byran I just want to make everyone aware of the fantastic opportunity Super X Country are offering in conjunction with Becci Harrold Eventing to win the ultimate eventing experience. For your chance to win a BE event paid for, a full cross country set, video footage throughout the event, your own personal photographer for the whole day sponsored by Horse-Camera-Action, plus help from myself at the event as well and you will be kitted out as a http://superxcountry.co.uk/ sponsored rider simply click here and fill out the application form. There will be a guest judge “The Frustrated Eventer” who has recently set up a website to help fellow eventers so be sure to check it out. http://thefrustratedeventer.co.uk

The test was sweet, she was accurate and obedient. We did a slightly wobbly centre line and when I had to give and retake the inside rein in canter on a circle we nearly disappeared out the arena but she did a respectful 36.5. The show jumping course was coursing numerous problems with a clear round barely heard off! It was up to height and changed direction a fair few times! I nearly went the wrong way!! There were only 6 clears in my section and Candy was one of them. She jumped out of her skin giving every fence lots of room. Every time I come out the show jumping with Candy I have a massive smile on my face, it really is her best phase, and with it being my worst she really helps me to relax knowing she will pick up whatever the stride or fence and is a real weight of my shoulders! I don’t know how many times I have nearly been sick coming out the Show jumping with Puzzle, everything just seems that little bit tenser and 4 faults can knock you down so many places.
It was time for the cross country and a clear round would stand me in a great position on the leader board. Going round we fell into a nice rhythm and she jumped everything lovely, she really trusts me and as soon as she isn’t sure about something I can feel it, which I guess is her way of telling me! So I just encourage her with my voice and she goes! The water wasn’t a problem she popped in without a second thought. I had to steady her on the corners and tight turns because we were one of the last to run so you can image the ground was very deep. We picked up 4.4 time penalties but Candy did a lovely double clear which is now her 2nd double clear at this level. On our finishing score of 40.9 we were placed 6th! Picking up another 6 foundation points.
So what’s next?
Well that’s our Eventing season over, so I will be aiming to get to some dressage competitions and I am thinking of joining both of them with BSJA for some winter show jumping. This will really help with getting them to the next level jumping up to height courses, I just hope we don’t have a bad winter otherwise I will be stuck at home due to the hill we live on!