Mike Jackson

A month of up's and a bit of relaxing in between

The rolling hills of Barbury provide the perfect backdrop and ideal viewing for owners and supporters. W iridium (Viz) did a classy double clear in the two star and Billy be Cool (BBC) went really well in his novice section to finish tenth.

I also took some of the youngsters to do the Burghley Young Event horse Class and I was very pleased with Fred Ford’s young horse Woodlands Spring Time (Watty) who came fourth in the four year old class. Sadly we just missed qualifying for the Championships at Burghley.

We had a lovely mid-season break after Barbury and headed for a few days in sunny Barbados. We don’t normally have a summer holiday but this was a rescheduled trip after Florence’s swine flu episode in January. It was great to spend time as a family – Noah learnt to swim and fly!

Having recharged the batteries it was back to business with a 4.30am start for Dauntsey. C’est Tout (Claude), and Zeus IV (Frankie – a horse I’m temporarily helping Jenna Jewitt with) went double clear in the novice (4th) and Direct Mission (Arden) also went well.

We had another good weekend with the novices at Aston-Le-Walls. Wallaby (Wally) got his act together in show jumping producing a lovely double clear and a 7th rosette, Zeus IV (Frankie) continued to impress with a double clear and 4th place in his section as did Billy Be Cool (BBC) who came 6th.

We knew he had it in him so we were thrilled for Ellie’s parents with Wallaby’s (Wally) novice win at Wilton – 25.5 double clear. Billy Be Cool (BBC) also went well in the novice and W Iridium (Viz) jumped another lovely double clear which will hopefully set him up for a good run at Gatcombe.

But ‘what goes up must come down’ and unfortunately I had a tumble on Direct Mission (Arden) on the cross country course the next day so had to withdraw my other two intermediate rides (The Master’s Apprentice – Archie and Kangasong – Joey) after the show jumping.

Up With The Lark (Max) is finishing up a busy spring at stud and will be aiming at the autumn season now. We’re also pleased to welcome Victoria Richards’ young stallion ‘Poof” to the yard.

Mike