What a weekend at Chilham Castle! There have been highs and there have been lows, and there have been some very early mornings! But it is always worth it to compete at such a lovely venue.
We started on Saturday with Brian and Tigger. Both of whom are just getting stronger and stronger in the dressage, achieving some very respectable scores! Then it was show jumping time, and Brian got completely overwhelmed and had a minor meltdown in the ring, but still managed to complete with only one pole and a huge amount of time penalties. Trigger tried hard, but got held up on the course by an incorrectly reset oxer. So it was off cross country! Brian was brilliant. He had one little episode half way round, but for the most part listened nicely and got off the leg. Although watching it back showed how gently we were going. Tigger, unfortunately, got held up in the start for about half an hour due to a fall on course, and just went off the boil, Helen could not get moving on afterwards and they retired half way round.
Now it’s Dan’s turn!!!
So our Sunday started at 3.30 in the morning (this seems to be a standard Chilham routine for me now.) We were there by 6.45 in the morning, bright eyed, bushy tailed, and ready for Dressage! One of the perks of getting there so early is the photo opp in front of the big house!! Dan pulled off a great test, there is still a lot to work on, but he is getting better each time! And that is largely thanks to the help of Sune from Spring Hill Dressage.
Time to show jump! (Which is obviously the bit I was looking forward to the most, I just love it!) But with a supreme effort of will, I “manned up” and got on with it, and just had the last pole!!!! So only 4 faults!! I may not be quite as immune to education as originally suspected! Something must have sunk in!
And then to the cross country field, where Dan proved again how powerful he is and how insubstantial my brakes were! But we got home with no penalties, and sneaked a cheeky 10th place! How fantastic!