Thoresby - Weekend

Guto and I travelled to Thoresby with a horse each - Guto in the 2* short with NOTORIOUS LENNON and myself in the ON with CUSCO. I was looking to give CUSCO a good run before Chloe takes over the reins next weekend at Larkhill.

CUSCO started with a very decent dressage, he made no mistakes and I was very pleased with the test and the score of 26. Showjumping provided a good track, up to height and on a bit of a slope - quite an interesting course. Annoyingly we rolled a pole but I thought that he jumped pretty well. A great Cross Country Course - really bold and inviting - it was quite big and asked some decent questions which I thought was good. He was ready for the challenge and gave me a great ride, really jumping and galloping well on good ground. We had a bit of a moment, ending up having a frangible pin but luckily all stayed in tact and were fine - just a bit of a misunderstanding. Overall, he had a productive run ahead of taking Chloe under his wing. 

Guto did a very pleasing dressage test in the 2* - it was NORTORIOUS LENNON's first time in a big arena in England and he did some lovely work. He recorded some good marks and lay in a decent position on a score of 31 with areas for improvement - overall very encouraging. The 2* Showjumped in the big areana which was great experience. It was a big course, up to height and causing a lot of trouble. Running downhill to the second fence, Lennon got a bit a long, unfortuently rolling a pole but otherwise he jumped beautifully. On to the Cross Country, Guto reckoned he should let Lennon run on a bit - getting the idea of a bit of speed as the ground was good and it was a great galloping track. He gave Guto a very confident feel, though annoyingly had one glance off at an angled brush. There were a couple of angled brushes in a rather uncomfortable position next to a rail and Lennon didn't eye up the 'B' element but understood it at the second time of asking. He would have gained a lot of experience from the round and as Guto travels back to Brazil, I think next time out he will have me on his back!