Post by Coral Keen

With the event season rapidly approaching, I thought I'd share my latest news and forward my early season plan.

Summerhouse

We've been out and about with the horses, getting them to different venues and putting the training in which should pay off once the season starts for me in three weeks time at Tweseldown.

Yesterday we went to Summerhouse in Gloucestershire for a BS show where I took five of my horses and a pony for one of my pupils. They were all fresh and happy to be out competing but jumped very well. Derby (Wellshead Fare Opposition) jumped the 1.20m and he was quite jolly but settled well in the 1.25m to jump a double clear.

Jake (Highmead Proposition) was a real star jumping a double clear in his first 1.15 for third place in a competitive class.

Jake, a five-year-old but he might as well still be three, competed at his first BE show jumping in the British Novice and Discovery with a clear in the latter. Both (Lola) Cascadelle and (April) Total Belief were both lovely and very please to be out.

Clear rounds at West Wilts

On Monday we did some clear rounds at West Wilts with the babies Vodka and Roxy who came to be broken in in the autumn and were having their second outing there. They both jumped clears in the 95cms. They have really good forward thinking attitudes and they were impeccable considering how young they are.

Dressage with David Hunt

I've had dressage lessons with David Hunt on Lola and Derby who also went to Aston Le Walls last Wednesday for Equine Pathway training with Lizzie Murray, Peter Murphy and Philip Surl.

Jake, April and Ted came along too for their second cross country schooling session there using the excellent facilitates. We played in the water, and jumped the steps and skinnies. I feel now the pressure is off having schooled there twice and I think I will only need to go on the grass once before the season starts. This is a relief given the going, and thank goodness for the fantastic cross country facilities on surfaces that are available.

Spring event plan

March 10-11 Tweseldown

March 19-20 Aldon

March 23-27 Fontainbleu CIC3*

April 2 Howick

April 5 Portman

April 9 Larkhill

April 16-17 Belton

April 22-23 Hambledon

May 1 Withington

May 4-8 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials with Wellshead Fare Opposition

May 11-15 Aston Le Walls

May 26-29 Houghton

Warm Regards,

Coral