Coombelands August 2022

We have spent another two Thursday afternoons at Coombelands. It is really hard to beat their facilities, which such good going in the arena, and a large warm-up, breath taking views and shady parking under the trees.

On 11th August, I took Khalissy for the Newcomers and Arietta for the 1.30. After her loss of form at Hickstead it was good to have Khalissy feeling really good and happy, if a little fresh. She had the first fence through freshness, and then I made a very bad decision on the striding to the last fence. I have decided that she is overdue for a holiday, and so she is now being roughed off ready for six weeks in the field. Her five and six year old years have been during COVID and so this year has been a big step up in the number of shows done. She has established herself as super careful and competitive at 1.20 level, with spectacular results, especially at Chard and Keysoe, so I think she has more than deserved a proper rest.

Arietta jumped in the 1.30, and jumped round beautifully, she did have two poles down, but she is still green at this level, and it was a very long hot day. I was pleased with the fact that she is so much easier to ride now, and jumps more and more consistently.

On 18th August I just had Arietta for the 1.30. It is a long day waiting to jump a fairly substantial track at 6pm! Arietta warmed up well, but definitely wasn't quite her lively self. She jumped another good round, I had the second fence all by myself, and she had a big vertical at the end of the course. A new course builder and a track that was definitely more than up to height by the jump-off, it definitely felt very big. Arietta will now have a very quiet week to help her gather up her energy for two weeks of jumping at the Hickstead September Tour. After Hickstead she will also have four to six weeks off to recharge her batteries, and for her mind and body to consolidate the huge learning curve she has been on in the past twelve months.

Many thanks to Ellie Collins for a very long day, and I'm looking forward to Hickstead.