Charlie Pickman

More Babies for Dengie's Sponsored Riders - This time it is Charlie Pickman's turn!

Viking has been the only horse I've had competing recently, but he has been a superstar.  He has successfully moved up to novice level and his worst placing so far has been 5th!  He completed his first novice at Aston le Wells with a 32.4 and a double clear, but with a few time penalties.  This put him into 4th position, and very commendable for his first novice.  The next event was the 6 year old class at Chepstow, where unfortunately he had his first show jumping penalties in his eventing career wth a fence down.  However, with a good run cross country and a 33.8 dressage he still came 5th.  This means he has now qualified for the 6 year old final at Tweseldown later in the year.

He then continued his consistent record coming 5th at West Wilts with 35 for dressage and a double clear.  Next was his best result so far coming 2nd at Salperton Park.  He finished on a score of 31.8 jumping a double clear round big show jumping and cross country tracks.  This result means he has qualified for the novice regional final for 2009.  If this record continues I would hope he might be given a chance to go to Le Lion D'Angers for the 6 year old final in France at the end of the year.  We are now aiming to go to Barbary Castle, and then he will have a short break from competing until the end of August.  After that I hope to do the CIC* at Gatcombe and then the Intermediate at Cleobury Mortimer.

We now have Meg back in full work and her first event is at Stockland Lovell next week.  She is feeling great at the moment and I'm hopeful her hocks will stand up to the rigours of eventing.  If all goes to plan we are hoping to take her to Blenheim at the end of the year.

Unfortunately Josh hasn't been 100% sound, but now he has been given the all clear to start working I am hopeful he will be fit to continue eventing later in the year.

Dazzler gave birth on 23rd June, right on time, to a big filly.  It is my parents wedding anniversary, so she gave us all a lovely present.  We saw the full delivery - first on CCTV and then directly as it wasn't the easiest of foaling for Dazzler and she needed some help.  She is a great Mum, but very protective, and obviously has loads of good milk as the foal is thriving now.  We have named the foal Summer, and her show name will be Midsummer Maiden.  She has been cantering round the field and her movement is looking good, so hopefully she will be a superstar for the future!

Barbary Castle is our next event where Billie does his first Burghley Young Event Horse class of the year alongside Harry (Welton Harry) who is a 4 year old owned and bred by Jenny Jackson.  Viking is also doing the novice there.  As Barbary is renowned for big bold tracks it will be good training for him to move up to Intermediate later this year!  Photo's will follow for my next blog.

Charlie