Tanya Buckingham

Tanya and Sparkle qualify for Burghley 5yr old Young Event Horse class

I have had quite a quiet eventing season so far this year with one major factor being the hard ground! Since winning the pre novice at Richmond on his second outing of the year, Sparkle (aka Burnlea Seamerchant) has qualified for Burghley in the 5year old Young Event Horse class. He scored an amazing 14 out of 15 for conformation which I feel his feeding regime has contibuted to majorly. This year Sparkle has come out looking like a different horse, he has amazing top line! Where last year he looked like a rather weak 4 year old, he now looks like a quality performance horse ready to take on some of the bigger courses. His diet over the winter was Alfa-A Oil and Alfa-Beet, along with haylage. However now he is living out while the weather is good and is still on Alfa-A Oil and Alfa-Beet but also to compliment the extra work he gets Dengie Fibremix Compliment! I completely believe that you can condition and compete eventers on a fibre diet and it's amazing to see the difference in Sparkle and its lovely when owners can see the change in the horse too!

Sonyk was also in the top ten at the young event horse qualifier, but sadly didn't qualify. The judges all commented on how well he looked, moved and jumped but sadly only the top two qualified. Sonyk will however have another chance to qualify at Burgham at the end of the month. He is a very laid back character and as a result I have had to put him on a hand full of Dengie Naked Oats along with his feed of Alfa-A Oil and Alfa-Beet. Sonyk will also be taking part in his first pre novice at the end of the month so fingers crossed we have abit of impulsion around the XC!

Buck (aka Sailors Choice) has been back in work a month or so and has competed in a little unaffiliated ODE, which he won! I have high hopes for him, and it's lovely to think that I bred him from a horse I produced to Advanced level. As Buck is a 4 year old he only gets grass, Alfa-A and Alfa-Beet with a feed Balancer for the vitamins and minerals, I don't believe in feeding young horses mixes or cereals as you can easily create a monster! I feel as long as they are getting the nutrition they require you can teach and produce a sane ridable horse from day one. Buck will also be at Burgham doing the 4yr olds Young Event Horse class.

Bob (aka Imperial Flight) has once again qualified for the dressage regionals, he is still on his Alfa-A Molasses Free and Alfa-Beet diet, and is doing really well, I dont want to change something that works and while he is spot free, keeping condition and has plenty of energy that is all I will feed him! Bob also seems calmer and more ridable so the fibre diet obviously suits him! At home we have been playing with tempi changes, so this time next year he will hopefully be poncing around with the big boys!

Bud (aka What's Happening Now) has been off with a fractured tooth that had become infected, we had the options to either treat him with antibiotics and see if we could help him that way, or have major surgery. As he is 16 we opted for the antibiotics, which has been a very long process but I didn't feel I could put him through major surgery at such an old age if we could help it. He is now finally back in work and will be back eventing if he is fit enough in time for the end of the season!

Along with the horses I have also been in charge of training the Zetland Hunt Pony Club showjumping and eventing teams. The areas were held over the last few weeks and I'm glad to say the showjumpers won and qualified for the Pony Club Championships and there were two kids who qualified individually. The eventers were sadly just out of qualifying as a team as they finished 3rd in a very competitive area!

Tanya