Mike Jackson

Another Busy Month for Mike Jackson and his Team!

It has been another busy month at Manor Barn Stables.

It is all change at the moment - Jen our head girl has left after three years with us to go and do a degree at Warwickshire College, and we have a new head girl called Louise.  She also competes, so it's great to have another eventing fan on board.

Jack (Wallstraed) my new ride, who is owned by Margaret Benson, has done his first few events and although he is a bit green he is showing lots of potential, so I'm very excited about him.  Last weekend he finished 8th in the pre-novice at Berrington Hall with an excellent dressage of 26, a couple down show jumping and clear cross country.

Carolyn Bates' lovely young stallion Whiz (Wish Upon a Star) has also been going very well - finishing 3rd in the pre-novice at Ascott Under Wychwood and 2nd in his first novice at Berrington Hall.

Daisy Duke also went really well there finishing 2nd in her novice section.  Sadly Ava wasn't at her best in the dressage that day so she has gone home for a break.  It's really frustrating because she is such a nice mare, but sometimes gets a little bit tense and then pokes her tongue out - which didn't impress the dressage judge!  Hopefully the rest will allow her to clear her mind ready for the autumn season.

I'm also lucky to have another one of Carolyn Bates' lovely young "Jumbo" horses to compete - Jarvo is 5 years old and hasn't done a lot, but she's very obliging and seems to enjoy the job.

Max (Up With The Lark) is back from stud and seems to be on great form - he felt lovely at Wilton and was rewarded with a score of 30 in the dressage.  With just one down in the show jumping and clear cross country he finished 2nd in the intermediate.  Jack (Jagganath) also did his first intermediate and had a super dressage mark of 28, but had a couple down show jumping so I withdrew him before cross country as the ground wasn't great.

Some sad news is that Billy Bird has been retired from top flight eventing due to a low grade injury - which is disappointing but I can understand why his owners have made this decision.

Next stop is Aston Le Wells with Joey (Kangasong).  He had a couple of weeks off after Barbury but is back on form and ready to go.  His younger brother Skippy is also back in work and is entered up in his first intro.  Eliie is hoping to ride him later in the season but at the moment she is a little preoccupied with nappies and coffee mornings!

Mike

July 08