Sarah-Jane End of Season Blog…

Our final competition of the season was an exciting one. We represented our Riding Club Threewaters Riding Club in the new Arena Eventing Qualifiers. It was a packed weekend of competition with 2 arenas running and competitors from two neighbouring areas competing. The courses proved the right balance of challenge and generally those with no penalties were placed.

Fliss was up first and I was a little nervous how she would cope as she is still a bit green with fixed fences particularly in an arena, but equally 90 should be well within her capability. We were last to go in our team which meant I was focusing on warming up rather than able to support the rest of our riders. All I can say was Fliss was awesome, she gave me a super confident forward yet careful clear round fast enough to be inside the time and clearing the influential joker fence at the end.

Final placings were decided on closest to the optimum time not the fastest so to be honest it was luck on the final placings. Well luck was on my side as there were only 4 clear rounds and we were closest to the optimum winning the class. 

 

Winning round  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucjonkPQTmU

 

(On this occasion I was unable to wear my SuperXcountry colours as the riding club had team colours)

 

Ellie by this time had been on the lorry a couple of hours and felt she was missing out. By the time we were ready to get her out and tacked up she had morphed into a very hyped up supercharged pony. I sometimes think I should feed her less and then remember she only gets a little Alpha A anyway! She was anchored enough for me to get on and I even had some excited bucks in the warm up. The warm up fences were treated with distain and I could only hope that once in the ring she focused on her job. Luckily I needn’t of worried and she was super, popping round the show jumping and then having a blast over the cross country fences. The joker I was a little worried about but she picked her toes up and popped it for a clear inside the time.

 

Amazingly there were only 6 clear inside the time and yet again we were closest to the optimum to complete a double win! The teams were 4th in the 90 and 3rd in the 100, I qualified both individually for the championships at Aston Le Walls in March which is very exciting.

 

Winning round https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGsi6UyVxYI

 

This rounded off a great year, while we may have had a quiet one of the eventing front with various weather conditions and other factors limiting runs. I have been reviewing the horses performance and it has really brought home what a lovely pair of mares I have, Considering this time last year my confidence had hit rock bottom, I wasn’t even wanting to ride Fliss and was totally lacking confidence we have come a huge way and I am enjoying them again.

 

Ellie

My project pony (that I planned to sell this year) has been a revelation, huge fun and as a result came off the market! She has competed in all affiliated disciplines 

 

Dressage

11 classes at British dressage

58 points (all at Novice)

Average score: 69.5%

4 wins and 10 top 3 finishes

 

Show Jumping

38 classes at BS (British Novice to 1.05)

17 Double Clears

7 wins and 23 places 

174 points

£310 prize money

 

British Eventing 

6 runs this year at BE90 and BE100

2 wins and 5th at 100 2nd and 6th at 90

5 Double clears – only 11.6 penalties total added after dressage all season

Average finish score 30.95

 

Miscellaneous

Reserve Champion Working Hunter Pony Stithians Agricultural Show

5th Riding Club Area Dressage

Winner Riding Club Area Arena Eventing Qualifier at 100 level

 

I think it is safe to say Ellie has been simply awesome a dream to have and produce as well as fun and competitive to take out. 

 

Fliss

Fliss has been with me just over a year and has competed less focusing on strengthening up and establishing her way of going yet she too has been very successful and great fun to produce.

 

Dressage

2 affiliated classes

A 3rd place

Average score 65%

 

Show Jumping

38 BS jumping classes British Novice to Newcomers

19 Double Clears

3 wins and 14 placings

180 points

£252 winnings

 

British Eventing

2 runs BE

Double clear 80 and 90

3rd BE80 Bicton

 

Miscellaneous

Winner Riding Club Area Arena Eventing Qualifier at 90 level

Double clear in winning team for Area 51 (Cornwall) qualifying for national BS championships

 

Both girls have done no competing in December but plans are already being made for 2019, weather permitting we are hoping to have an early start to the season. They will go to the Riding Club Arena eventing championships at Aston (only 7hrs drive) 10th March that hopefully both run in the 100 at Pontispool the following weekend (this will be a step up for Fliss) She will then hopefully establish at this level while we are aiming to step Ellie up to Novice. Quite daunting for a 14.2 pony!

 

Huge thanks to Super X Country for their help and support in 2018 and since the beginning 2010! Pictures are me Arena XC training at Pontispool wearing SXC colours and silk, their stone competition breeches, gloves and fly veil. As always the quality is fabulous and really stands out.

 

Follow the journey at www.shoestringeventing.co.uk

 

Happy New Year to all