Keysoe Second Rounds Show 2022

Ellie and I set off to Keysoe on Monday afternoon. We had an easy journey and the excellent organisation at Keysoe made setting up and settling the horses into their stables quick and easy.

Tuesday was a rather long day with Khalissy jumping the Foxhunter late in the afternoon. She jumped well for a couple of poles, but I was pleased with the way she went.

Arietta jumped even later in a very technical and up to height 1.30. She jumped really well, just having two verticals down. She has learnt so much in the last 9 months and she just has a few more things to learn. But l feel we’re definitely getting there.

Wednesday started very early, Khalissy jumped at 7.45, a great clear round to finish 7th in the Foxhunter. Arietta then jumped late in the Newcomers 2nd Round. I thought the course was fair, but clever and I was pleased with her round. She just had the second fence, probably as a result of my being very careful to the first, and the last where I had her too far off the water tray.

Thursday was another very long day with lots of classes, so I jumped Khalissy in the Newcomers for 4th place and Arietta in the Foxhunter. I think Arietta was rather hot and bored, and certainly jumped a very unstellar round!

Another show where Khalissy really shone. She is so consistent now, so easy to ride in the ring, and a real competitor too. She's always doing her best and is a little star. Arietta is progressing all the time, she’s a very big and physically immature 8 year old and she still has lots to learn. Trevor Breen has helped me with her immeasurably, and I think we have loads of fun ahead of us.

A great first show with Ellie Collins: your team is the most important thing, Ellie already loves the horses, and was so intuitively helpful, so I’m very excited for the rest of the summer.

Sadly Askeaton's loss of form continued at Keysoe, so I only jumped her once. Ed Lyall has had a look at her again today, and although she is only very slightly lame, we have decided to give her at least three months off. I hope this will really do the trick, not only physically, but also it will give her a proper break from the competition regime. I have always loved riding her, and whilst I don't want to give up on her, I certainly don't want to compete her unless she feels 100%.

Many thanks to Ellie, and to Mark for looking after Emma and her foal while we were away. As always a big thank you to Saracen Horse Feeds, Just Equine, Protexin Equine, MacWet Gloves and NDS Equine for all their support.

We have a couple of local shows, and some training planned, and then we head to the Royal International at Hickstead.