DECEMBER 2011

2ND December - Arena Uk BS show - Cherise and I took Shadow and Posh today to Arena Uk for their winter ameatuer festival, Cherise took Shadow in the 1m class it was very spooky in the arena with lots of flowers around all the jumps which gave it a real atmosphere, Shadow was very spooky and had a silly stop at the first fence in the jump off so we entered him in the following class the 1.05m which is the biggest cherise has jumped in the ring and they jumped a super clear round, unfortunately in the jump off they had a couple down but Cherise was really pleased with the day as it was the biggest they have jumped and think he had just gone off a bit by the third time in the ring but very encouraging for next time. I jumped Posh in the 1.10m open, she jumped a good round but just argued on the approach to one fence and had it down. I entered my first 1.15m on her, what i didn't realise was that rule A10 it was run under meant that the course got bigger as you went round so the first half was 1.15m going up to 1.20m later in the course.

NOVEMBER 2011

21st -25th November - I have been away this week up in Cumbria doing a saddlery course so I can expand my rug repair business and start repairing tack as well, I really enjoyed the course and came home by the end of the week having hand made my own breast plate and a new dog collar for Ellie, so if you have any tack sitting in your cupboards waiting to be repaired please bring it over and I will mend it for you, I am also lucky to be going to have the help of a very experienced saddler who is going to keep watch over me and continue my education.

19th November - Rodbaston College BS Show - I took Posh and Flo today to do the Blue Chip Power Qualifier, Posh jumped really well unfortunately she lost concentration coming round a corner to an oxer and I rode her like an idiot and we got all wrong and she stopped totally rider error!! I was so cross with myself as I feel I robbed her of a clear round and probably a qualifying place as there were hardly any clears, Mum who was there helping me said as owner she would allow this one mistake due to lack of match practice but not to do it again! Flo was very fresh as tense in the warm up but settled and jumped the last few fences before I went in really well so I was very disappointed with her as she had three down with out any excuse, back home to do some more homework for both horses and rider.

10th November - Markfield BS Show - Flo and Posh were both very good girls again today, Flo jumped double clear and came 2nd in the 1.05m open and Posh jumped really well but had one down in the jump off of the Newcomers but we can't really moan as this is her fence down in about 10 shows and we have hopefully got that out the way now as we are hoping to do a Blue Chip Qualifier next week end.

8th November - Mum and Cherise had a very good days hunting out with the Quorn, Toffee was very pleased to be out again doing her favourite activity, both her and Thomas were brilliant jumping everything and thoroughly enjoying themselves although I think both riders arms may have been slightly longer by the end of the day!!

OCTOBER 2011

31st October - Markfield BS Show - It was my first show back and I have to admit to being a little nervous of riding like a complete idiot after five months out of the ring, but it was like I have never had a break with both Posh and Flo jumping in the 1.05m open. Posh jumped a really good double clear, it was a little wayward over the first three fences but then she settled really well and jumped fab to finish 2nd and Flo jumped every fence but one in the jump off brilliantly just having four faults. Ila came with us and was a good girl and slept through the whole outing! Its nice to be back competing and already looking forward to next time.

25th October - Quorn Hunt, The Wheatsheaf Inn - Mum and Cherise had a good day out hunting today on Thomas and Fred, this was Fred's first time and he was a really good boy and jumped everything, Thomas was very glad to be out and still thinks he is a thoroughbred and seems to be getting younger not older!! The meet was at the Wheatsheaf where Cherise works and as usual Richard and Bridgette Dimbleby put on a great meet and the turnout was very good with over 40 mounted and lots of foot followers including myself and Ila.

SEPTEMBER 2011

Ila Elizabeth Fairbrother, 1st day back home

Sorry I have not updated the web site recently but Ila Elizabeth mine and Leons lovely new daughter decided to join us a couple of weeks early so I have been having a couple of easy weeks to adjust to this whole new lifestyle of becoming a Mum!!! She is very lovely but then I suppose I may be a little biased! Mum and Cherise have both been amazing while I have been out of action keeping everything going at the yard, I think I may have to fight Cherise off the horses as she has done a really good job keeping them going and jumping everything.

25th September - Solihull Riding Club ODE - Cherise took Fred today to do the 80cm class, this was his first one day event and he was a little super star, he scored a very good mark of 34 in his dressage which was even more impressive as he was a little green in one of his canters, so if he gets that sort of score with a couple of mistakes just think what he can get when a little more experienced!! he went on to jump a really good double clear just adding some time faults on the cross country to finish 9th.

14th September - Vale View training show - Cherise took Toffee and Extra today to Vale View to do the clear round, both were little stars, Extra has come on so much recently and looked very confident jumping round her two courses, Toffee jumped double clear as well making 90cm look almost to small.

10th September - Belvior Hunt Team Chase - Mum and Cherise took Thomas and Shadow today to do the pairs. They jumped a foot perfect clear round to finish in 6th place they were just a little to fast compared to the optimum time.

AUGUST 2011

28th August - Weston Lawns BS Show - We had a really good outing today, Cherise took Shadow and Toffee, Shadow jumped a super double clear to finish 7th out of 46 in the 1m open which was well up to height and very competitive as was a warm up for qualifier and Toffee jumped really well to finish 3rd in the 80cm and the 85cm, so a really good day at the office!!!

Fred on his way to jumping a double clear

Photo by kind permission of David Sellars Photography

18th August - Weston Lawns BS Show - Back again, Simon jumped Posh in the Newcomers and gained her fourth double clear so qualifies her for the second round, and they then jumped a really good clear round in the 1.15m open. Cherise took Fred again today he was a little star again and jumped clear in the 75cm clear round then double clear in the 85cm class.

Fred jumping clear at his first show

Photo by kind permission of David Sellars Photography

14th August - Weston Lawns BS Show - Cherise took Fred and Shadow today, this was Freds first proper show he has been practicing before but not to an actual show where he has had to cope with the atmosphere, he was a really good boy and jumped two clear rounds, he was a little green the first time but the second time round looked like an old pro. We had a long wait until Shadow's classes he jumped in the British Novice and Discovery, he jumped a lovely round in the 1st class but had one very annoying fence down in the jump off, in the second class he had two down one of which was rider error the other just one of those things but still a slightly annoying day with Shadow.

1st - 5th August - Quorn Hunt Pony Club Camp - Issabelle Toon took Toffee to camp as she is currently sharing a horse with her sister and she had qualified him for the riding club champs which were the same week as camp so Toffee went on a working holiday! She was a very good girl all week in all the different activities. When we got her home I think she spent the next two days sleeping!!

JULY 2011

Simon and Posh on thier way to 5th place at Weston Lawns in the Newcomers

Photo by kind permission of David Sellars Photography

23rd July - Weston Lawns BS Show - We took Posh and Flo for Simon to ride today he took Flo in the 1.05m Open and finished 4th and Posh jumped another double clear in the Newcomers which was good enough for fifth.

17th July - Weston Lawns BS show - Back again to Weston Lawns this time with Shadow for Cherise and Posh again for Simon to ride, Cherise jumped double clear and finished 5th in the 90cm amateur class which means she has qualified for the next round, and then jumped in the Discovery which is the first time at this height for the two of them as a partnership, they jumped a super round but unfortunately just had the last fence down. Posh jumped another double clear in the Newcomers and finished 3rd.

14th July - Weston Lawns BS show - We took Posh and Extra for Simon to ride, Posh jumped in the Newcomers and did a really good double clear and finished 7th out of a class of over 40 and we hired the bottom arena with Extra which is perfect as you get the atmosphere of a show without the pressure of having to do a class, she tried to be a little cheeky at first and then was a very good girl and hopefully took a lot away from this outing.

10th July - Ashby Country Show - Cherise took Shadow and Flo today and did the British Novice, unfortunately Shadow just had one down in the jump off as he decided it was very scary and backed right off, Cherise rode him really well but he just caught the back rail, Flo jumped a super double clear and won the class.

2nd July - Quorn Pony Club Rally - Katie Winston who I teach very kindly agreed to take Toffee today for us, both rider and pony had a brilliant day doing all sorts from dressage to gymkhana games with some jumping in between.

JUNE 2011

30th June - Weston Lawns BS show - As I am expanding rapidly I have stepped down from competing for the moment, Simon Grieve has very kindly said he will help us out and is going to show jump the horses for us, Simon is a lovely rider who is very sympathetic but effective and can ride all sorts, this was his first competition with Posh and Flo, Flo just had one down in the jump off and Posh jumped a super double clear.

19th June - Field house affiliated BS show - Cherise took Shadow, this is the first time they have done affiliated jumping as a pair, they jumped a super clear in the first round of the 90cm amateur qualifier but just had one down in the jump off. I took Extra to do the 80cm, it was quite a technical course for a young horse especially as the first fence was a square oxer away from home, she was very green and was being a bit cheeky hanging towards the gate and jumped very big but hit the back rail quite hard and scared herself so we were eliminated by fence 4, we went out jumped a couple more practice fences then went back in and she was a good girl and listened more to me and jumped round really well just had a two fences down where she was a little unbalanced, she finished really happy and hopefully this was just a learning curve!!

9th June - Ashby and Orton riding club dressage - We took Fred for his first outing and Extra, fred was very green but a good boy and finished 6th, Extra was a very good girl and did a lovely test to finish 2nd.

1st June - Shelford Manor unaffiliated one day event - A quick turnaround for Cherise with Shadow and Toffee, Toffee dropped back down to 80cm class today to keep building her confidence, she did a lot better test today in the dressage and jumped another super double clear, Shadow did his best test to date with Cherise but unfortunately the judge didn't agree giving him a mark of 39, he jumped also jumped a super double clear and finished 3rd.

MAY 2011

30th May - Aston le Walls unaffiliated one day event - Another good day today for Cherise, she took Toffee and Shadow to do the intro class, Toffee was a lot better in the dressage today, her canter was a little unbalanced as this is the first time she has ever had to cope with the going being slippy as we finally had some rain!! all of which was today so we got very wet but we can't moan as we are desperate for it. She jumped a lovely show jump round and then flew round the cross country which was causing a lot of problems she really is a little super star. Shadow did a good test today scoring a competitive 34 and then jumped a super double clear in the now pouring rain and finished a very good 4th.

22nd May - Eland Lodge unaffiliated one day event - Cherise took Toffee and Shadow today, Shadow was first to go and did a fairly good dressage of 37 and jumped a foot perfect double clear and finished 2nd, which was good as Mum was there as owner! Toffee was still a bit green in the dressage but also jumped a foot perfect double clear to finish 4th, so a very good day.

Posh Flying round the cross country at Chatsworth

Photos by kind permission of John Britter Photography

14th May - Chatsworth International Horse Trials - I love this event it has such an amazing atmosphere and you really get the feeling of being at a special event, I took Posh and Flo today both to do the novice, Posh did a very smart dressage to score an impressive mark of 30 we just added 4 faults in the show jumping and flew clear cross country inside the time to finish in 5th, Flo made a couple of mistakes in her test including pulling her shoe off and nearly falling over in the process! and got a fair mark of 37 which wasn't bad as 30 was the best in her section, she went a little green and tense in the show jumping which is held in main arena and there is a lot for them to take in as it is in amongst the trade stands and also has a big stand for spectators, we just had 2 down but I think she will have learnt a lot from the experience, she also flew round the cross country in the time so I was very pleased with them both. I am now taking a bit of a break from eventing as a lot of you will know all being well hopefully Leon and I will have a new addition to the family in early October which is very exciting and a little bit scary!!! Hopefully I will continue to show jump for a few more weeks and do some dressage shows with the horses, we are thinking of selling Posh as a show jumper as we feel she is just to careful to make the next step up and she is so talented as a jumper.

We have had some changes over the last few weeks Maisy has gone to be sold as Neil is very busy with his job and feels he is not making the most of Maisy, she will make some one a lovely fun horse and she has a lot of scope and ability, she has gone to Holly Gillot who is very good at producing horses and matching horses to the right new owners so if you are interested in her please give me a ring and I will pass on Holly's number. Dane has also been sold he is going to a super new home to do Juniors, I am sure his new owners will have as much fun with him as we have had. Neil has also gone to a new home to do some in hand showing and be a companion as we couldn't get over his habit of bolting so it seemed fairer to find him a home that will not ride him but where he will be loved and made a fuss of.

5th May - Moreton Morrell BE event - Posh and Flo went again today to do the novice, Flo was first up, I was really pleased with her dressage I felt it was her most relaxed and rhythmical test to date unfortunately the judge didn't see it and seemed to favour the big moving warmbloods even if they weren't going technically as well but never mind I was thrilled with her especially as she went on to jump a super double clear to finish 8th, Posh was a good girl in her dressage as it was situated next door to the water jump so we did have some tension but she held it together and go a fair mark of 41 which wasn't bad in her section as most people had to cope with horses galloping through the water, she also went on to jump her best ever show jump round and flew round the cross country to finish 5th, so a really good day out with both of them.

1st May - Eland Lodge BHS huntertrial - Cherise took Shadow and Toffee today as Mum is still feeling a bit bruised. When we walked the course we were a little shocked at the size of it as it was a lot bigger and would be testing for Toffee who is still a baby, and we were right! Shadow jumped a super clear to finish 7th Toffee jumped the first two fences brilliantly, fence three was a hedge with a big drop and she over jumped and landed in a bit of a heap and scared herself a little bit, she had one stop at the next fence and was a little hesitant jumping on and off the bank after that she got better and better as she went round and finished with her ears pricked, we have entered her in the smaller class next time out to give her a bit of confidence, she is such a good girl you have to keep reminding ourselves she is only a baby and is still learning.

APRIL 2011

28th April - Ashby and Orton riding club dressage show - We had a busy day today with show jumping this morning and then in the evening I took Extra to her first show and Cherise took Toffee, Extra was a little star, she was brilliantly behaved and just took it all in her stride which is more impressive as when we took her for her first trip in the trailer just for a hack locally she was very worked up dripping with sweat but with a few more stressless outings in the trailer learning that life isn't that scary she was brilliant tonight, she was a bit green in the test but accurate and obedient and finished fourth so won her first rosette, Toffee wasn't quite as well behaved as there was a very noisy pony warming up in the next door field to the dressage arena and Toffee thought it necessary to reply to it every time it called which obviously got marked down for so no rosettes for her today.

28th April - Weston Lawns BS show - I took Posh and Flo to do the 1.05m open Posh was a little argumentative in the first round but Adam Botham who has helped me a lot with the show jumping was watching and suggested I took her in again he helped me warm her up and gave me some good advice and the second round she jumped a super double clear, I really appreciated the time and interest Adam took and this is one of the reasons he is such a good trainer, Flo jumped really well she just had the second last fence down in the jump off when she unfortunately pulled off a shoe but it was still good enough for 4th place.

Toffee going well round Aston Le Walls

Photo by kind permission of Julia Sherwood photography

17th April - Aston Le Walls unaffiliated one day event - Mum and Cherise went today with Shadow and Toffee, Mum and Shadow did a nice dressage but got a bit harshly marked with a score of 40, unfortunately in the show jumping Mum took off before Shadow at fence 5 and fell off she was a little winded and bruised so decided to call it a day. Toffee was a little star as it was quite a test for her today, her dressage was a lot better and scored a competitive mark of 38 in her section, she jumped a super show jump clear and was a really good girl cross country over much her biggest course to date she had one green stop at fence 3 which was a testing double and then popped that and just got better and better as the course went on, she will have learnt a lot today and we were really pleased with her.

Flo on her way to 7th place at Eland Lodge

Photo by kind permission of W Parrott Photography

16th April - Eland Lodge BE one day event - We had a frustrating day today, again Posh and Flo both did good dressage's Posh with 32 and Flo with 30, the surface wasn't the greatest in the show jump arena as it was a bit deep but no excuses Flo had annoying two down just lazy then flew round the cross country which the organisers had done a fantastic job on the ground and with such a good dressage was still good enough to finish 7th and pick up another point, Posh started off in the show jumping well but just tipped coming out of the double when she jumped a bit to big in jumped the next well and then stopped at the next which is so out of character, the fence caused a lot of problems the only thing i can think of is that there was a banner on the fence behind that unsighted the horses, she went begrudgingly the next time and then jumped the rest of the course beautifully but left us with 8 jumping and 11 time faults, I decided with Posh to go slowly and just give her an educational round as she has been a bit strong first couple of outings this year, she wasn't over impressed with this idea but after fighting over the first four fences she settled and jumped brilliantly over all the questions. Do again a nearly day, maybe next time I can get all three parts right!!!

Posh flying round the cross country at Weston Park

Photo by kind permission of Shawshot Photography

8th April - Weston Park BE one day event - Well I had nearly a very good day today, Posh and Flo both did very good dressage tests with Posh getting 31.5 and Flo 33, then in the show jumping for the first time ever Posh had down two fences she really should have cleared normally you can guarantee a clear on her unless the rider does something silly!! Flo jumped a really good round but also had a lazy fence down jumping out of a double, both flew cross country and finished 15th, it was the best Flo has felt across country she felt so smooth and very grown up so I went home really pleased as they both finally produced the dressage they have been promising and they normally jump well so looking forward to next time.

2nd April - Belton House BE one day event - I got a call Friday afternoon asking if I would like a run in the Intermediate at Belton the next day as I had been on the wait list and said phone even if its the last minute especially after getting balloted from Weston next week, so we rushed around and got everything sorted on Friday afternoon and left Saturday morning for Belton, I had a day where on paper it doesn't look good but I came home really pleased with Dane and felt like he had really learnt a lot, we were a little under prepared as I had give up hope of getting in so was aiming for and intermediate at the end of the month, he warmed up for the dressage really well, the best he has ever been but got a bit tight at the beginning of his test but got better as he went through, he scored a very fair mark of 40, in his show jumping he jumped really well he just made almost to much effort through the treble and had the last part down and then rider error to the next as I just let him run through his shoulder meant we got there to deep and although he tried his hardest we had it down and then having not been able to walk the course didn't realise how tight it was to the second last and he just tipped it but although 12 faults is never good I felt that he jumped really well and if he had been ridden better it would have only been 4!! The cross country course was big and bold but also had some very technical questions he jumped brilliantly but we get 20pens he just didn't lock on to the second part of a combination I think it was down to lack of match practice but the rest he was awesome and I can't wait to take him out next time.

MARCH 2011

31st March - Weston Lawns BS jumping - I took Posh, Flo and Dane today, Posh and Flo did the 1.05m open Flo was a little mega star and jumped a good double clear to finish 5th out of a class of about 40, Posh had one down we were going so well I just didn't ride her forward enough, Dane jumped in the Newcomers and jumped a super round just having an annoying one down that was a little lazy.

24th March - Draycott BE one day event - Unfortunately I had a fall at the beginning of the week off a young horse which then stood on my leg after she deposited me in the sand!! I tried riding on the tuesday and wednesday but couldn't put my leg against the horses side, so as Dane has been balloted from his next event and isn't going anywhere now till the end of April he really needed the run so I phoned a good friend of mine Fiona Davidson to ask if she would take him, she very kindly agreed, he was a little tense in the dressage and scored 46 which is never a good mark but it was not as bad as it sounds in comparison to everyone else's, the show jumping course was a lot brighter this time and he gave it a lot more respect jumping a good clear he then went on to jump a super round cross country to which Fiona came back to me and said "you were right that was fun!!". He finished just out of the rosettes in 11th. A big thank you to Fiona but although I enjoyed watching him and it was very interesting I will be glad when I am back in the saddle, which should be in a couple of days as I am getting sounder by the day!!

Posh, Shadow and Flo all going well at Oasby

Photos by kind permission of Horsepower Photography

13th March - Oasby BE one day event - I had a busy day today with three horses all in the novice, Posh, Flo and Dane, Posh was a bit tense in her dressage but I felt was a bit harshly marked with a score of 40.5, Dane was much improved from last year being a lot less tense but unfortunately the judge didn't agree giving him a mark of 41, Flo's trot work was super but her canter was a little tense and scored a fair mark of 37.5, Posh and Flo both jumped super rounds in the show jumping just having a really unlucky four faults, Dane was a little lazy and had 2 down. All three were amazing in the cross country and jumped faultless rounds.

6th March - Aston Le Walls unaffiliated one day event - Yay off to our first event of 2011, Mum took Shadow in the 90cm class and Cherise took Toffee in the 80cm. Mum and Shadow did a good dressage scoring a very competitive 35, they then went on to jump a lovely show jump clear, in the cross country they didn't get in to a very good rhythm but jumped clear till the second last fence but got it wrong going in to a double and by passed the second fence which wouldn't have been a problem as they were separately numbered till Mum jumped the first part again so getting a technical elimination. This was Toffee's first ODE and she was a really good girl, her walk and trot in the dressage were really good the canter was a little unbalanced but she scored a fair mark of 39.5 she then went on to jump a super double clear, she has really grown up over the winter and was a little star today.

FEBRUARY 2011

13th February - Field House BS show - I took Flo and Posh today to do their first newcomers, Posh was a little keen at the beginning of the round but got more and more settled as she went round and jumped clear, Flo had a bit of a hurried warm up and was a bit green and had a couple of fences down at the beginning of the course but she grew in confidence the further she went and jumped the second half of the course really well, Posh jumped one of her best ever rounds in the jump off doing one of only 2 double clears in the class and finished 2nd I was really pleased with her as she really thought about what she had learnt in the first round and went back in and jumped a really smooth round.

6th February - Weston Lawns Arena Eventing - Mum and Cherise went this week with Shadow and Toffee, Shadow was a little lazy in his dressage test but jumped a good round jumping apart from Mum jumping an extra fence!! Toffee was a lot better in the dressage still fairly inattentive but this will improve with time and practice and she is improving all the time. we hadn't enter Toffee for the jumping section as it is 90cm and the cross country section can be quite testing but having walked the course and felt she was ready, and she proved us right by going in and jumping a super clear round.

5th February - JAS Vale View - I took Paris and Flo today to do the British Eventing JAS (Jumping and Style) I have not done one of these before and probable wont do one again, it is similar to arena eventing as the first seven fences are show jumps and then you go against the clock over cross country style fences, both horses went well Paris jumped a fab clear round the show jumping and Flo just had one down in the show jumping section as I didn't have quite enough energy coming off the corner but jumped the rest brilliantly and then in the cross country section both horses had the second part of the bounce down, it wasn't a very nice fence as it walked very long and it was off a tight corner and both horses just were a little shocked as they jumped in and realised they needed to stretch and take off again. It is judged on style and as well as faults we got average marks which was a little disappointing as although Paris has her own style she jumped in a lovely rhythm, so a slightly disappointing day which we will put down to experience.

JANUARY 2011

30th January - Weston Lawns Arena Eventing - I took Dane and Paris today, both did reasonably good dressage tests we tried warming Dane up for longer and he was definitely less tense and Paris did a good obedient test apart from the last centre line which you have to come down in canter and she would have liked to show off the flying changes she has been learning!! Paris went on to jump a super double clear and finish 6th but Dane just had one down.

25th January - Mum and Cherise had a very enjoyable day out hunting with the Quorn, Thomas and Toffee certainly enjoyed themselves and both jumped and behaved brilliantly.

23rd January -Field House BS - We took Posh and Flo jumping today, I wanted to qualify them both for the second round of the Discovery, you have to jump four double clears both had jumped two of the four but Posh only had £6 left on her card before she has won to much money for that class so I needed to jump double clear with out being placed, so we went to field house as they had a qualifier on later in the day I was hoping there would be plenty of people in the class so I could go slowly and not get placed, well Posh did jump a very nice and very slow double clear round but unfortunately only three other did out of a class of twenty five so she finished fourth adding another £10 to her card putting us out of the class which is annoying but definitely a fault in the right direction!! Flo was a good girl but due to slight rider error she had one down.

18th January- We had the Quorn Hunt meet at Little Garendon and we couldn't have asked for better weather with sunshine and blue skies!! There was a really good turn out and hopefully every one enjoyed a good meet, all our horses certainly enjoyed themselves, I took Flo, Mum on Thomas and Cherise on Toffee all three did us proud behaving brilliantly, Toffee is really enjoying the hunting and has really grown up.

9th January - Vale View affiliated dressage - Back again this time with Posh and Flo, both were good girls Flo did show a bit of tension at times in her test but both were very accurate and obedient so I was pleased with both of them. Hopefully all these dressage shows are going to pay off in the event season!!

8th January - Vale View unaffiliated dressage - I took Dane and Paris today to do a novice test, Paris did her best test to date I was really pleased with the way she went and although there is still a lot to work on she tried really hard and I felt went to the best of her ability which is all you can ask for, Dane was a little disappointing today but still got a good mark and finished 3rd.

6th January - Vale View BS - We had a good first outing for 2011, I took Posh, Flo, Dane and Paris show jumping. Flo and Posh both did the Discovery both jumped brilliant rounds and Flo won Posh came second. Dane and Paris were both good but both had one down which was a bit annoying. But all in all a very good day lets hope this sets the standard for the the year.