Tanya Buckingham

Aske Horse Trials

Well as usual Aske Hall horse trials was on a wet weekend! Sparkle and Sonyk were both competing there in the BE100. Both horses did good tests despite the wet going and were once again within a mark of each other 32 and 33. The going in the showjumping and xc was horrendous, even though the organisers had tried to make it better! Sonyk jumped clear and Sparkle had an usual pole down, but both found it hard to jump out of the mud! With the ground in mind I went steady on the xc and Sparkle came back clear with time faults. Sonyk being more green really struggled with the ground and we had an interesting time around the first half of the course - unfortunately by the time we came to the water he had lost confidence and couldn't understand what to do at the skinny house in the water with no ground rail! It was a long walk back to the box!

However not all was bad on the Sunday as I went to try a new horse to compete for the Bells - I rode The Ginger Fox for them last year before he was sold. Carrot hasn't competed for 2 years but is lovely!

Then bright and early on Thursday morning I was picked up by the Allinson's ( I Rode Dan for them at the start of the season), and went Autumn Hunting with Jess! She very kindly let me ride her showjumper Rocky- who was very excited about being out at a party!

Yesterday I was at Bishop Burton with Carrot, Sparkle and Sonyk - all were in the same section at BE100 level. All 3 boys did good tests, and jumped very well on the fabulous arena at the college! Sonyk was first to go xc and I was a little concerned that after Aske the week before he may have lost confidence, but once over the first few fences he was like an old pro and pinged (albeit steadily) around the xc - a good way to finish his season! Carrot and Sparkle were both super stars and flew around inside the time. This meant Sparkle was 3rd and had Carrot not been HC (non competitive) he would have been 2nd! These two boys will head to Oasby Novice if we get off the wait-list and into a section!!

The boys are enjoying their diets of Dengie Alfa-A Oil and Alfa-Beet and are all now getting Fibremix Compliment to help keep them warm and give them a little more energy now the grass isn't as good! This along with the haylage is keeping them in good condition now the weather is on the change!

Tanya