Vilamoura Champions Tour Week 1

Having got the horses settled and exercised on Saturday and Sunday we gave them a rather chaotic jump in a free for all in the main ring before trotting them all up on Monday. We are very lucky to have stables that are quiet and far away from the hubbub here and all three mares have been the most settled I’ve ever known them. I think it also helps having April with me who knows them so well.

Tuesday started with Khalissy jumping the five year olds in the main ring. She did a lovely double clear to finish equal first (all clear rounds are equal first on the first day which is a brilliant way of preventing five year olds being galloped round). There is a long way to go with Khalissy‘a flat work, but you absolutely can not fault her attitude in the ring, and her technique over a fence is really improving.

Heidi was next up for a lovely clear and 11th place in the six year olds. Every second in the ring with Heidi is just good fun, she loves life and you can’t help loving her for it.

Last, but not least was Askeaton in the seven year olds. It was a great course for the first day, but technical enough. She felt a little bit over-careful all the way round just had one pole going into the last double. But still a very pleasing round and a good first day.

Slightly strangely the young horses have their Grand Prix on the second day here in order to accommodate jump-off classes into a very busy show. Askeaton was first up and jumped a fabulous clear round a difficult and big enough course. She just brushed the last fence in the jump off. But we weren’t quick enough anyway.

Khalissy then jumped her Grand Prix on the grass. She jumped a lovely clear round in the first round, but was a little bit casual to the second fence in the jump-off. Heidi was the last one to jump, just having four faults in the first round, but still jumping really well. I actually really struggled with the heat and brightness during this week. I think maybe the residual tiredness from the journey was more than I thought.

On Thursday we started with Askeaton who jumped really well in the two phase. Khalissy then jumped a super double clear to finish 6th and Heidi jumped a rather over-excited round on the grass To have one fence.

Our jumping week was over, so we could spend the weekend watching the fabulous jumping in the 3*. Thé standard of both horses and riders at these shows is quite overwhelming. Much of this show is free to view on Facebook it’s really worth watching. The course building has been superb and the horses learn so much over these lovely forward and flowing courses.

I finally made it to the beach at Praia Falésia on Friday afternoon. One of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen

I was really pleased with all the horses. TheY are all nice young horses and good jumpers with bright futures, so for me my priority is that the jump happily and confidently and that I don’t get in their way!

As always many thanks to April who has the horses looking perfect every day. Also to Saracen Horse Feeds, Premier Performance CZ, MacWet Gloves and Just Equine. Also thanks to Trevor Breen for being on the other end of the phone and WhatsApp for instant feedback. Hopefully onwards and upwards for Week 2.