Larkhill

 Larkhill is an event that I always looks forward to. It does so much for the horses and they learn a lot from the experience. I had two horses in the Novice, JABBEKA doing her second Novice and Vicky Brake's HARDINGVILLE LAGOON (Hardy). JABBEKA did a very pleasing dressage test, a little bit itchy in the first halt, otherwise we would have scored in the 20s and that is very encouraging. Her dressage is improving, her paces are improving and she is able to do a very decent test. She showjumped well, Larkhill is always quite a tough Showjumping course on the slight slope, up to height and quite demanding. I haven't jumped many clear rounds at Larkhill but on Friday I jumped two and I was very excited by that! The Cross Country course was lovely and inviting, they changed it a little bit to be a bit more open and galloping and slightly more straightforward but there were still plenty of questions and it was beautifully presented. We were not in a great hurry, I don't want her to pick up points because I want Chloe to be able to do the Grassroots on her but she jumped a lovely round. 

Vicky Brake's horse was on great form. I haven't ridden him very much and Vicky had prepared him for the event. I had a quick sit on him on Thursday evening just to give him a pop around Downlands as he had not jumped a cross country jump this year. He did a nice test, not much wrong with for a score of 25 which is a lovely score to get. Showjumping was excellent, a little bit onward bound and fresh in the beginning - I think he was quite excited an on his toes so it wasn't always in a poetic rhythm but it was a good clear round nonetheless. He flew around the Cross Country, I just had to sit there and point - a very enjoyable ride! I was slightly slow, I was trying to go fast because he was in the money and I was kicking on but not enough - so a coulple of time faults. He would have been second with no time faults but ended up fourth - very happy with that! 

The Team is looking forward to an exciting day at Larkhill on Sunday - we have got six horses going from the yard. Chloe is riding two in the U18s which she is very excited about - CUSCO and BUDDY - so she will be busy. Jess is riding two, including my TAMBRILLA having her first outing which is very exciting, and then Shelby is riding her's in his first event and Yvonne is having he first outing of the season!