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Sarah Lewis Show Jumping

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Between the two shows at Hickstead we welcomed the very beautiful Imogen Isla McCafferty into the world on Saturday.  Anna & Tom's second child and a big sister for Rory, and a very special birthday present for Anna.  She is absolutely sweet and very beautiful, and Mark and I spent a lovely afternoon with them all on Wednesday.

Tuesday afternoon saw me back at Hickstead with Askeaton and Khalissy for the second week of the September Tour.  On Wednesday morning I jumped them both in the 1.20 in ring 4.  Askeaton jumped a really lovely round for a rub in the jump-off which I never even noticed, and Khalissy just made one mistake, but jumped confidently and well.

On Thursday morning Askeaton stepped back up to 1.30 in the speed qualifier, a perfect place to start with a lovely course.  She jumped a great clear for just one time penalty, but felt truly back on her game. Khalissy jumped another 1.20 in ring 4.

On Friday we had a very early start with Askeaton in the 1.30.  She actually jumped a super round with one mistake from me going into the combination, but once again felt as good as she has at any time this year.  Khalissy followed up with a really super round in the 1.20, she had one pole in the jump-off when she got a little bit quick, but she felt fantastic round a decent course. She has now had her shoes off and will go out with a friend tomorrow for a proper break. They are going up to a lovely field on Ashdown Forest so that she is not constantly wondering when I'm going to get her in and she can unwind properly.

I had a very enjoyable Sunday morning watching Hurricane Heidi fly round the Novice Championships at Hickstead, and also was delighted that both Izzy Jeffrey with Brandy, and Kirsty Ray with Norman flew round the arena eventing, and that Elena Watson and Pakkse jumped double clear in the 1.20.  Great achievements from them all. I then found that Askeaton had actually qualified for the 1.30 championship,  so we traveled back to Hickstead on Sunday afternoon.  She warmed up beautifully, but jumped very greenly in the ring, and we completely failed to negotiate the combination where I fell off! 2021 definitely hasn't been my greatest year in the main ring at Hickstead, but in both cases has been a sign that a bit of regrouping and more training and better discipline from the rider is needed. So whilst Sunday afternoon wasn't my proudest moment, it's booted me into doing something about it.

Askeaton has had a bit of a strange two years: she had a fantastic six year old year and then bruised her pedal bone in the winter; she then jumped two Newcomers before lockdown in 2020; she came back with a bang and jumped very well in 7 year old classes in the summer of 2020, and set off really well again after lockdown 2 with great performances at Chard and Wellington before suffering a slight injury in June. Since she's been back in work she has been going very well, and placing regularly in 1.20 classes, but I think I need to ride her much better if we are to keep progressing, so it's back to the drawing board again, and more head-scratching for poor Trevor. We'll do a few more shows until October and she can then have a well deserved rest.

BE Khalissy is a real blood mare. Very straightforward. Very scopey, careful and bold with beautiful paces, and a particularly easy canter.  She is beautifully balanced and can shorten and lengthen very easily. She debuted at International Five Year Old Level with great success, placing at the National Young Horse Championships at Bolesworth and qualifying for the Five Year Old Championships at Hickstead.  She was placed many times at CSIYH1* Vilamoura. In 2021 BE Khalissy has progressed to Six Year Old classes, being clear 2 out of three days at CSIYH1* Chard with a placing in the Grand Prix, and clear all 3 days at CSIYH1* Wellington and 6th in the Grand Prix.

BE Khalissy

I was privileged to grow up around horses. My parents had a hunter livery and dealing yard and my mother and I ran a little pony dealing business. 
I have always loved producing young horses and ponies, and have produced all my horses from unbroken three or four year olds.  The journey with the horses brings me as much satisfaction as competing. I evented for 30 years before concentrating on show jumping, and was a successful working pony rider and so my riding education has been broad and correct and the horses get a very thorough education and a variety of work. We are lucky to have beautiful hacking where we live. 
With a small yard I am lucky enough to be able to spend a lot of time with the horses, working out the best approach for each individual. When training others I like to continue this ethos, working hard to find the best way for each combination to progress.
I have been lucky to ride some lovely horses, and was successful in eventing up to CCI3* level and have jumped up to CSI2* 1.45 level since turning to show jumping. While I was eventing I also competed successfully up to Elementary level in dressage.


1. Sarah Lewis

BE Khalissy 1.20

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 1.30

Science Supplements All England Tour Week 2

It was very exciting to see two horses I have produced and sold having wins this week.  

Kvint, who I bought from Breen Equestrian as a green 7 year old and jumped up to 1.35, with good CSI2* placings, was sold to Kate van de Bovencamp in 2019.  Kate has won a CSI1* class with him, and won the 1.10 Amateur Qualifier at the Science Supplements All England September Tour at Hickstead this week.

I bought Hurricane Heidi as an unbroken 3 year old from Max Routledge.  She is now 7, and has had a fabulous young horse career, with Grand Prix placings at 5 and 6 years old, a very good performance at the Young Horse Championships at Bolesworth in 2020 and CSI1* placings in 2021. She was sold to Michelle Marsh in June this year and their partnership has got off to a brilliant start, including a win in the Newcomers at the Edenbridge and Oxted Show.

It gives me a huge pleasure to see these lovely horses who were a joy to produce progressing in so well their new homes.

Kvint - CSI2* Lier

Selling Winners

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

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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