Gatcombe

We had an enjoyable day with the youngsters at Gatcombe in the main.  As always it was a terrific event and the cross country was very nice, but pretty much identical to always.  

I had Volcan out again, and was very pleased with how he felt.  He was second in the dressage with a nice test on 24, show jumped clear and gave me a lovely ride cross country, but I unfortunately got 2.8 time faults. Which cost him the win and moved him down to unbelievably 5th on a final score of 26.8.  I am not sure I have ever been 5th in a Novice finishing on a score of 26.8!

Seventh Heaven had another good outing, he did a nice test but only scored 34.5, probably because he didn’t show enough sparkle. He show jumped a lovely clear and felt very good and solid cross country as usual, but incurred 10 time faults and finished down the order.  

The Graduate had a much better day and finished 3rd. He led the dressage on a scored of 24.8 with a lovely flowing test, show jumped really well and was unlucky to touch a silly pole, and cross country he was very fluid and confident, but again I incompetently got 2.4 time faults and that moved him down the order.

Annoyingly both horses would have won had they finished on their dressage scores….so I need to speed up!

Andrew McConnon had Daddy’s Quest there, and also had a happy day; she did an OK test of 29, rolled a couple of poles show jumping abut Andrew was very happy with her ride capability and she put in a very confident clear cross country.  

Hector Payne was riding Red Kite, after a nice dressage of 31, her show jumping was a bit of a disappointment with 5 down, she did however redeem herself cross country with a lovely clear.  

Yes I Can also did a nice enough dressage to score 34.5, and jumped a lovely clear – I think one of the best rounds I have seen Hector do with him.  But then it was drama as there was a misunderstanding at the 4th fence and Hector came off.  Yes went spare for a while and we decided there is always another day.  I am now hoping to take over the ride on him at Calmsden and Broadway all being well.