2010 has been a brilliant season for me - I have some fantastic horses that are showing great form for the future aswell as the two more established ones ready to pursue their 3 star form next year.
Excitingly Angellus who originally came to me to sell, looks like he will be staying which is fantastic news for Owner Nickie Kavanagh and myself as her company JUNIPER is taking on the sponsorship of the horses for his 2011 eventing. A very exciting prospect for next year!
Creeslough, Bonne Amie, Divilabit and Argentinus are all on holiday now untill mid November where they will all come back into work for some Dressage and Show jumping.
New purchase Hamilton is going well and will certainly be ready for some dressage and jumping in January as a 4yo.
Some What Cavalier has been hunting a couple of times as well as some BSJA so he will continue this as well as some hunter trials to set him self up for 2011 eventing.
Five Alive of Stepahnie Murdoch's is building on her BSJA record spending most Tuesdays at Addington Manor and loving every minute.
New arrivals Toby and Buzz whom i have into sell are going well, also doing some hunting and BSJA/ Dressage and will soon to be advertised.
So its all going on at Four Winds Farm, For me plenty of teaching, schooling, riding, hunting and not to mention the hunt balls!!
I want to Thank everyone who has be involved this year and helped me with the horses and get myself back on my feet after last year. There are just too many names to mention but you all know who you are! - Everything is looking up - Bring on 2011!! and exciting one awaits!!
Sunday, 24 October 2010
2 weeks break then off to Broadway - Last event of the Season - 17th October
Three rides for me to finish off a long but enjoyable season.
Ballycullane Dundee in the BE100 and Argentinus taking on his second novice and Angellus stepping up the grade to his first novice.
The track had plenty of technical questions including a corner to roll top as well as a bounce into water, so plenty to ask of the inexperienced novices.
Angellus was first of the 3 horses, he did a rather wobbly, green test and his mark resembled this but then followed this up with a nice round in the show jumping having just two down on the much bigger track to what he is used to. Then a fantastic clear XC being very accurate and bold but we just took it steady for his first run at this level incurring rather alot of time faults.
Argentinus did a nice test but loosing his bounce this late on in the season and is in need of a holiday to take in everything he has learnt this season. He behaved well and scored an average mark. Show jumping he felt fantastic and jumped the most amazing clear! certainly feeling plenty of bounce in this phase! XC he was going very well and towards the end of the course at the water he had a stop at the log before the bounce step in - something he had defiantly not seen before and completely took him by surprise but very willingly he jumped it well on the second attempt such a shame but yet another thing he has learnt about this season!
Plenty of things for both horses to think about over the winter now. holiday time for Argentinus after a long season and for Angellus a few months of Dressage and Show jumping for him!!
Ballycullane Dundee in the BE100 and Argentinus taking on his second novice and Angellus stepping up the grade to his first novice.
The track had plenty of technical questions including a corner to roll top as well as a bounce into water, so plenty to ask of the inexperienced novices.
Angellus was first of the 3 horses, he did a rather wobbly, green test and his mark resembled this but then followed this up with a nice round in the show jumping having just two down on the much bigger track to what he is used to. Then a fantastic clear XC being very accurate and bold but we just took it steady for his first run at this level incurring rather alot of time faults.
Argentinus did a nice test but loosing his bounce this late on in the season and is in need of a holiday to take in everything he has learnt this season. He behaved well and scored an average mark. Show jumping he felt fantastic and jumped the most amazing clear! certainly feeling plenty of bounce in this phase! XC he was going very well and towards the end of the course at the water he had a stop at the log before the bounce step in - something he had defiantly not seen before and completely took him by surprise but very willingly he jumped it well on the second attempt such a shame but yet another thing he has learnt about this season!
Plenty of things for both horses to think about over the winter now. holiday time for Argentinus after a long season and for Angellus a few months of Dressage and Show jumping for him!!
Plenty more mud, and lots of water - not to mention very deep river crossings! DAUNTSEY- 2nd October
Angellus and Argentinus both in the BE100 Plus and coped extremely well with the deep going and horrible weather!
Both horses did nice Novice tests Argentinus getting a consistent mark of 33 which put him in great stead for the jumping. Angellus a little more green but never the less a lovely test getting 34.
The competition was very close but both horses jumped clear in the larger than normal show Jumping.
The XC was typical Dauntsey style - bold, big and you had to attack the fences - easier said than done when your in the last class to run and the tack offs and landings were making the fences even bigger. Both horses went well, Angellus did a steady clear and didn't mind the ground too much.
Argentinus was absolutely flying as if the ground wasn't wet or slippy at all, he went all the direct routes and made nothing of the bold fences but sadly had a silly run out at a skinny before the first river crossing - he jumped too bit off the drop and slight lack of turning ability meant we went straight past and he didn't even realise he'd missed a fence. Sadly this cost us 1st place but he will be such an exciting prospect as a 6 year old next season. We put this down to a baby mistake and greeness.
Both horses did nice Novice tests Argentinus getting a consistent mark of 33 which put him in great stead for the jumping. Angellus a little more green but never the less a lovely test getting 34.
The competition was very close but both horses jumped clear in the larger than normal show Jumping.
The XC was typical Dauntsey style - bold, big and you had to attack the fences - easier said than done when your in the last class to run and the tack offs and landings were making the fences even bigger. Both horses went well, Angellus did a steady clear and didn't mind the ground too much.
Argentinus was absolutely flying as if the ground wasn't wet or slippy at all, he went all the direct routes and made nothing of the bold fences but sadly had a silly run out at a skinny before the first river crossing - he jumped too bit off the drop and slight lack of turning ability meant we went straight past and he didn't even realise he'd missed a fence. Sadly this cost us 1st place but he will be such an exciting prospect as a 6 year old next season. We put this down to a baby mistake and greeness.
BCA - 29th September - A rather wet last event for Creeslough!
Off to Berkshire College with Creeslough to do his last event of the 2010 season and Angellus in the BE100.
As the rain poured pretty much all day, it could have been better. Although Creeslough went nicely doing an average dressage and one down Show jumping and Clear XC. Earning himself a well earned break until the end of November where he will come in for the Dressage and Show jumping to finish off 2010. And set us up for a successful 2011 season.
Angellus also did an OK test and with new breaks in the show jumping he had two down but felt much better and jumped well despite the ground being ever more slippy! He was a machine XC and defiantly ready for upgrading which will be after Dauntsey!
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
15th & 16th Purston Manor
After a manic week at Blenheim off we went again - this time with the babies to local event Purston Manor.
New ride and for sale Angelus in the BE100 and Argentinus in the BE100 plus.
Angelus did a good test scoring 32 which was looking good in the section then sadly just adding 4 faults to this followed by a nice clear XC. He finished 9th in his section - very exciting as he had not long been at our yard and there is plenty more things i need to work on and improve.
Defiantly one to watch if any one is looking for a seriously competitive junior/ JRN, Young rider horse.
Argentinus not on best form today, although he did a lovely consistent novice dressage test but sadly had 3 show jumps down, not really awake today and trying over the smaller fences!
He did follow it up with a good clear around the long XC track.
16th September - Creeslough and Tell Me About It II
Novices horses out to play today Both did average test with Tell me about it II having a few more mistakes than Creeslough.
Tell me about it II, has improved so much lately with his show jumping and it is really beginning to show, although he had 2 down they could have been helped, just by his slight loss of concentration every now and again resulting in a knock down.
Creeslough jumped a nice clear and flew round the XC to gain his first Novice point which is SO exciting! many more to come hopefully!
Tell Me About It II also flew round - quite literally! Rather strong and keen today he incurred more time faults than normal as a result of me having to hold him back. Just a little too keen today!
A good couple of days for the ones left behind from Blenheim!
New ride and for sale Angelus in the BE100 and Argentinus in the BE100 plus.
Angelus did a good test scoring 32 which was looking good in the section then sadly just adding 4 faults to this followed by a nice clear XC. He finished 9th in his section - very exciting as he had not long been at our yard and there is plenty more things i need to work on and improve.
Defiantly one to watch if any one is looking for a seriously competitive junior/ JRN, Young rider horse.
Argentinus not on best form today, although he did a lovely consistent novice dressage test but sadly had 3 show jumps down, not really awake today and trying over the smaller fences!
He did follow it up with a good clear around the long XC track.
16th September - Creeslough and Tell Me About It II
Novices horses out to play today Both did average test with Tell me about it II having a few more mistakes than Creeslough.
Tell me about it II, has improved so much lately with his show jumping and it is really beginning to show, although he had 2 down they could have been helped, just by his slight loss of concentration every now and again resulting in a knock down.
Creeslough jumped a nice clear and flew round the XC to gain his first Novice point which is SO exciting! many more to come hopefully!
Tell Me About It II also flew round - quite literally! Rather strong and keen today he incurred more time faults than normal as a result of me having to hold him back. Just a little too keen today!
A good couple of days for the ones left behind from Blenheim!
24th September - Morton Morrell - A rather long day!!
An early start for us again with Creeslough, Argentinus and fairly new ride Angleus.
8th on was Creeslough so a rush round the XC course to be on in plenty of time for my dressage to find they are running 45minutes late sadly due to there being a confusion with the days the doctor was due on site! whoops.
So back on to the lorry for a little rest for Creelough.
Off the lorry and into the dressage arena and he did a nice test, a little unsettled in the free walk but much more active and working from behind as we had been working on with Emma Fisher in training earlier that week.
Sadly knowing they were running 45 mins late we were prepared for Argentinus's test but a little too on the ball were we, as we then were not told that they had in fact caught up on time and gave me minimal time to warm up and settle Argentinus for his test - a real shame as this usually is a strong phases for him, rather rushed and tense spoilt his test today in his first novice which was a real shame.
On to the jumping phases Creeslough did a brilliant clear followed by another in the XC, adding to his point collection!!!
Argentinus also did a foot perfect clear round and just to prove a point keeping up with Creeslough he too went clear and earned himself his first point which was very exciting!
Creeslough finished 3rd in a very close section after flying round in side the time XC and making nothing of the course.
Sadly the dressage score let Argentinus down but what more could we ask of the 5year old in his first novice!
8th on was Creeslough so a rush round the XC course to be on in plenty of time for my dressage to find they are running 45minutes late sadly due to there being a confusion with the days the doctor was due on site! whoops.
So back on to the lorry for a little rest for Creelough.
Off the lorry and into the dressage arena and he did a nice test, a little unsettled in the free walk but much more active and working from behind as we had been working on with Emma Fisher in training earlier that week.
Sadly knowing they were running 45 mins late we were prepared for Argentinus's test but a little too on the ball were we, as we then were not told that they had in fact caught up on time and gave me minimal time to warm up and settle Argentinus for his test - a real shame as this usually is a strong phases for him, rather rushed and tense spoilt his test today in his first novice which was a real shame.
On to the jumping phases Creeslough did a brilliant clear followed by another in the XC, adding to his point collection!!!
Argentinus also did a foot perfect clear round and just to prove a point keeping up with Creeslough he too went clear and earned himself his first point which was very exciting!
Creeslough finished 3rd in a very close section after flying round in side the time XC and making nothing of the course.
Sadly the dressage score let Argentinus down but what more could we ask of the 5year old in his first novice!
From CIC*** to Intro - SOMEWHAT CAVALIER and NORTHERN LIGHT
Still on a high from last weeks performances i headed to Aton -le-walls unaffiliated Intro with the two 4 years olds - Northern Light and Somewhat Cavalier. For their first real experience of eventing!
First on was Somewhat Cavalier owned by Mrs Irene Harper and myself bought last year from Goresbridge sales in Ireland as an unbroken 3 year old.
It was very exciting to have him out and he took everything in his stride as if he had been there done that all before!
He did a nice test and stayed in the arena with a few unbalanced movements but scored a brilliant 33.
Then was Northern Light aka Daisy a very special little horse to me as she was breed by my godmother out of her homebreed advanced event mare that i used also event at JRN level.
Daisy is by Catherston Dazzler and only stands a 15hh but plenty of time to gow! Sadly I'm not sure she will grow enough for me.
She to was extremely well behaved and took everything in, doing a lovely test and scoring 36.
Next to the jumping, both horses have a fantastic jump and certainly showed that in the ring both doing nice clear rounds.
the cross country was fairly spooky for babies but at the same time inviting and was a real test for them at that level. Walking the course having not done an intro for....umm ages in fact it was with Argentinus as a 4yo last year. They had a corner and plenty of other questions.
Somewhat Cavalier was first out, a little un sure of the start box, and couldn't quite understand why he should gallop off when there were plenty of people around to talk to him - never the less off we went extreme babyness into the first few but then he got into his stride and loved it with the odd expected wobble here and there! But he went clear and showed some real scope!
Northern Light a little less baby like to the first few fences and quickly settled. She too a little confused by the start box that wasn't infact a jump!
She went boldly into the water and flew the corner and the skinnys.
Both of these horses are really exciting ones for the future!
WATCH THIS SPACE!
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