Al Shira'aa Championships - Hickstead

BE Khalissy - Newcomers Friday - Photo: Spidge Photography

We had a busy week leading up to Hickstead. We said goodbye to Hurricane Heidi on Monday who has gone to her new home with Michelle Marsh at Felbridge. Heidi has been the most lovely horse to produce and I hope she will give Michelle many years of fun and success.

I also took Khalissy for a lesson with Trevor. She’s been going so well recently, but that’s the time to check everything, before it starts to go wrong! She was fabulous, more like a Grand Prix horse than a six year old.

On Tuesday I took Askeaton to Sussex Equine Hospital for her MRI scan. Luckily the scan showed that she has another bone bruise, but no soft tissue damage which was the best result I could have hoped for. She has had her shoes back on and is back in light work.

Wednesday was a super early start as Elena and Pakkse were early to go in the first class of the day. April, Khalissy and I had a more leisurely start, and in fact we could have been even more relaxed as when I walked the six year olds I thought it was a bit too strong for Khalissy. She has been going so well, but I don’t think you can ask more at each successive show so I dropped her down to the Newcomers for the week. Hopefully she’ll be a contender for second rounds next year so there is no harm in banking some double clears. When I got on her I was very glad not to be attempting anything too ambitious, she was so lit up and silly that I had to get off and lunge her before getting back on to work in. She had got more and more tense at South of England and I think the loudspeakers at Hickstead made her excited again.

Hickstead’s grass rings and clay land are very vulnerable to excess rain and after a week of very heavy rain sadly on Wednesday the going in ring two was unbelievably deep and holding. I was pleased to be jumping a relatively small course, and rather relieved to have a fence in the first half so we didn’t have to jump more than eight fences.

Thursday brought another dry day and slightly better going in ring five. Khalissy jumped a great round, one down after a slightly ambitious turn in the jump-off, but she handled the going and a quite spooky course very well. It’s great experience for the horses to jump on different going and the big grass rings really suit Khalissy who is naturally light on her feet and beautifully balanced.

Khalissy Newcomers Ring 5. Photo Spidge Photography

On Friday the Newcomers was moved to half of ring three as ring two was abandoned. Khalissy is very versatile and romped round on the all weather for a minor placing. Hickstead done and dusted and we were back home in time to take Askeaton for her first hack down the road. With Brandy for company she was quite sensible- so a good start to her rehab work.

I had a busy week after Hickstead, teaching and looking at a particularly nice horse, who sadly didn’t quite work out, before setting off for Devon for our first family holiday with the grandchildren. As a family our favourite spot is The Flete Estate which is beautiful and peaceful. The weather hasn’t been too unkind and we’ve had a lovely restorative week. All ready for more Hickstead at the end of this month. It will be another quiet Hickstead as I’ve had to withdraw Askeaton from the CSI2*, but hopefully we’ll have better weather and Khalissy’s recent experience in the rings will stand her in good stead for tackling the six year olds this time.