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Sarah Lewis Show Jumping

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The September Show at Hickstead always feels like the end of summer to me. BE Khalissy went almost straight out after the show and is in a lovely field up on Ashdown Forest with Ludger, a 5 year old belonging to Trevor Breen. I think that a proper holiday away from the yard, so that they can’t monitor our comings and going’s, is essential for youngsters and they are really enjoying the late summer grass and some sunny days up there. 

I had been looking for a horse to replace Heidi for a couple of months, but I had decided against another three or four year old.  It's been quite a frustrating search, but happily Billy Arietta has now arrived with us.  She is a 7 year old by Plot Blue out of an Animo mare, bred by the Billy Stud.  She has jumped a few 1.20's, but is actually quite short on mileage.  She is a much bigger type than my usual nippy little mares, but has the most wonderful temperament and will be a little more like Askeaton to ride, which I hope will help me with her.  I have taken her to one show at Felbridge where she jumped a lovely round in the 1.10, so once we get to know one another I think we will have a lot of fun.  She is a delightful character and we are all very fond of her already. I will tick away with her over the winter so that we have a proper partnership before we try anything too ambitious.

I had hoped to do a few more shows with Askeaton, to get used to riding her differently and to try and regain some confidence before turning her away for a holiday.  Sadly, however, we had a major communications breakdown when training at Trevor's last Tuesday and I ended up lying in a pile of poles feeling very bruised.  I am well on the mend, and Askeaton is still at Trevor's so that he can get her to understand what he wants, and then it will be easier to teach me when she already has the right buttons on her. We have nothing important planned till the Spring now, and I can work away slowly at the project without pressure.  I went to ride her yesterday, and she certainly seems to be getting on well, changing my riding is proving a little bit more of a challenge, but we will get there. This has all highlighted the huge importance of having a trainer that you really trust, and who really supports you.

This has been a short, and very pressurised competition year. The horses have been great,  they put in some good results at the beginning of the season, and some nice results towards the end of the summer.  I feel a bit disappointed that I haven't progressed quite as planned with Askeaton, but that's the way it goes with horses, I think she's exceptionally talented and I'm sure if I can just master a technique that helps her more we will be on our way again.  It's been great to see Hurricane Heidi going so well for Michelle Hoad. They've set up an incredibly successful partnership in a remarkably short time and it will be wonderful to watch them go from strength to strength.

As always many thanks to those that make this possible, Mark and April at home and at shows, support and training from Trevor Breen, and the wonderful companies that give me product support: Saracen Horse Feeds, Protexin, MacWet Gloves, Just Equine, Premier Performance CZ & Gillett Cook - it would all me a lot more difficult without you.

That’s it for Summer

Any day at Felbridge is really a nice day, the atmosphere is so relaxed and friendly, and lovely courses and masses of room to ride in all add to having a very good day out.

This was my first show with Billy Arietta who only arrived last Friday night, so I started with her in the Discovery.  She jumped a nice round, unfortunately my lack of a course walk meant that I was just cantering past fence 11 when I noticed it which meant turning a circle.  She then jumped a really lovely round in the Newcomers, by which time we felt much more like a partnership.

I am trying to ride Askeaton completely differently, which is a bit of a challenge, but she jumped a really lovely round in the Newcomers, and a good round in the Foxhunter, with just a couple of poles when she got a bit quick.  At least after my training sessions with Trevor I am beginning to recognise when I'm doing it wrong - it's going to take a bit more faith to correct things in front of the fence, but I am reacting more quickly after the fence now.

It was nice to see Michelle Marsh and Hurricane Heidi jump a fabulous round for a place in the Newcomers, Elena Watson and Pakkse jumped another lovely round, and it was also to see Tabitha Kingdon Jones deputising successfully for her sister Jemima on Fiasco successfully while Jemima is studying in Dublin.

Felbridge

Having missed the CSI2* at Keysoe I was very keen to visit and see the improvements to the facilities there.  Keysoe has always been one of my favourite shows, and it was certainly really worth the journey from Sussex.  We had lovely stables in big barns, and were lucky enough to have rubber matting too. With the horrible August weather having the indoor to warm up in was invaluable, and we had three days of lovely courses in the big international arena on superb footing.  Khalissy jumped well, and with increasing confidence each day, and Askeaton continued her comeback with two clear rounds and a placing in the Foxhunter on the final day.  As the economics of travelling to Europe to shows are no longer viable for us, this really was the next best thing, the team at Keysoe made moving the horses up and down in class so easy, the atmosphere was absolutely great, and the food delicious.  If it wasn't for the British weather, we could have thought we had actually escaped. It was a great opportunity to catch up with friends who we've seen so little of in the past year, and we will definitely be back.

Keysoe

2013 Bay Mare by Golden Hawk out of a Good Times Mare.  Askeaton jumped successfully in International Seven Year Old classes in 2020 and has jumped successfully CSI2* Classes up to 1.35/1.40 in 2021.  She is very bold, scopey and careful.  She is a fantastic mover with a huge powerful canter. She has a lovely temperament, and has been very carefully produced.  

Askeaton

Askeaton 1.20

We are delighted to work with Gillett Cook - feed merchants in Kent who serve the whole of the South East.  Gillett Cook give an excellent service at very competitive prices, stocking all our favourite brands such as Saracen Horse Feeds, Bailey Haylage and Royalspan Shavings, as well as a very comprehensive catalogue of horse essentials such as electrolytes, hoofoil etc

Gillett Cook

Just Equine deliver the very best equestrian brands straight to your door. Kentucky Horsewear, Dy'on, etc.  Really fantastic and helpful service.

Just Equine

Simply the best gloves for any weather. Never, ever slip. Climate controlled, hard wearing, sensitive. You never need another pair of gloves.

MacWet Gloves

Excellent supplements, ranging from very effective calmers, to joint supplements, gut support, etc. Camilla Zanna is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Premier Performance CZ

We started using Protexin Acid Ease in April 2021 with dramatic results on two of our mares, Askeaton and BE Khalissy.  Almost immediately they appeared more comfortable to saddle up, less irritable to the leg and generally happier. We also use Quick Fix when travelling which we have found to be very beneficial on longer, more stressful journeys.

Protexin

Saracen is simply the best horse feed on the market.  We have fed Saracen for 20 years.  They also have excellent, free nutritionist advice.

Keysoe 1.20

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Askeaton

Recent Results

Hickstead

Keysoe

Felbridge Showground

Felbridge Showground