Tanya Buckingham

Burghley Young Event Horse

On Wednesday I had pre Burghley dressage lessons on Sparkle and Sonyk. We worked on their way of going and then ran through the test for Friday. Sonyk wasn't as keen to do dressage as I was, but by the end of the lesson he went rather well!

First thing Thursday I gave the two boys a jump over a few skinny barrels and showjumps on angles to prepare them for the jumping side of the competition! Once they had been ridden, I set about washing and plaiting them ready for the next day, and also packed the lorry (it's amazing how much stuff you think you need for one night!). Once we were all packed up we set off down for Burghley in the afternoon. We stayed half an hour away from Burghley House, at my boyfriends friends yard which was lovely! The boys settled in well, and were very keen to eat their Dengie feed when we arrived! As neither had stayed away from home before I was concerned that they may be a bit stressed and not drink, so they both got plenty of wet Alfa-Beet to ensure they had some fluids! However they both took their sleepover in their stride and were reluctant to leave the yard at half 5 the next morning!

Once we arrived at Burghley, I went to walk the course and see the layout of the arena. I was quite glad that I had jumped the barrels on angles the day before, as there were skinny offset roll tops and water trays, bullfinch and houses to jump! The showjumping track was also much bigger than either of mine had jumped before....not only this but there was raised arena seating and lots going on around the arena, all in all it was alot for a young Horse to cope with!

Once back at the box I got changed and tacked sparkle up as he was the first of mine to go! We met our first interesting encounter en-route to the arena, where you have to hack past a field of deer! Once safely in the warm up arena I had a trot and canter and a jump, before doing some real dressage preparation (transitions, leg yield and medium trot!). Sparkle was feeling quite quiet and flat outside and I thought the journey and the heat had probably affected him, however once in the main arena he soon woke up! We started with our test which was going well until Giovanni Ugolotti's horse bolted from the jumping and into my dressage arena as I was mid test!Luckily he was still on the horse and managed to get out so I could just carry on! Sparkles was a little tense after this but other than that he behaved himself! After the dressage you go straight onto the jumping section, Sparkles saw the first fence and then really woke up! He flew around the jumps, despite the bigger jumps and felt amazing if a little keen! After the jumping section, you take the boots and saddle off and trot up for a judge to assess the horses conformation.

Sonyk was on near the end of the section and I had an interesting ride to the arena as he was terrified of the deer! Once in the warm up arena he behaved impeccably and was jumping out of his skin! In the main arena he was very obedient in the dressage and didn't seem to notice the huge crowds. However in the jumping he showed his greenness and reverted back to a baby horse and jumped huge but sticky over a few of the fences. I was really pleased with him though as he just clipped one pole and it was by far and away the biggest course and atmosphere he has ever seen! I was most pleased with his trot up as last week we couldn't get him to trot up without someone chasing him and him standing all over me, and on Friday he was like a professional!

Both horses were fantastic throughout the whole competition and despite not being placed, I was very proud that they coped so well with everything that was going on! Let's hope they cope as well in a few years time when they do the Burghley 3 Day event for real!

Tanya