Mike Jackson

May Madness for Mike Jackson!

May has been another busy month - I had a good win at Chepstow with Carole Mortimer's Jagganath (Jack) in the 6 year old novice class.  I was really pleased with Jack (despite a couple of hairy moments cross country, when we nearly went for a swim in the water!!) - he's really started to mature and come together this year.

It also means he has qualified for the breeding championships at the end of the season, so I can give him a couple of easy runs now.  Funny Hill (Ava) also went to Chepstow and did a respectable dressage test and cross country, although she was a bit spooky in the show jumping.  The Honey Monster (Cornflake) also did his first event of the year, proving he's a real "old-pro" getting 36 in the dressage and going double clear.

Wish Upon A Star took the honours at Wiltshire College in the pre-novice, finishing on 29 double clear.  Singing Halando (Hal) also did the pre-novice, and went well in the dressage and show jumping with just one green moment at the water, cross country.

As soon as we got back from Wiltshire College on the Tuesday we had to repack the lorry ready for Houghton the next day.  It was a very quick turnaround, and involved lots of sorting and washing until the early hours!  I also had to take Kangasong (Joey) to Chris King's yard who kindly offered to take him to the event, so that we had more room in the lorry for the others.

It's quite a treck to Norfolk but worth it when you get there - Houghton is set in beautiful parkland and is extremely well organised.  Joey was first on in the one star, and did a nice relaxed test, followed by a lovely double clear.  But in my opinion he wasn't really given the marks in the dressage, which was disappointing - however he still finished a respectable 25th.

Billy Bird and Up With The Lark (Max) did the two star - I was really pleased with Billy in the dressage, and apart from a couple of "racehorse moments" in the halts, he did a very fluid test, getting 54.  He then jumped well cross country, with a couple down in the show jumping.

Max also did a lovely test, although I was a bit distracted in the dressage because my hat blew off!  Luckily Max didn't mind and got rewarded for his consistency, finishing on 45.  Sadly the cross country was frustrating, he had a silly run out at a corner, and didn't show jump that well either.  Looking back I think it's hard for him to combine his stud work and competing, and perhaps he was feeling a bit stiff going into the show jumping on day three.

Anyway you live and learn...he's off to stud for a while now and I'll make sure he's completely rested before his next competition.  He's going to be a busy bee this year - he's already got lots of mares booked in, including two of the Queen's horses which is rather exciting!

Jen's off this week for a well deserved rest - so time for some house keeping and making sure the rest of the gang is ready for the next set of events!

Mike