Fiona's Diary
Only 1 week to go until we move, we are so excited and obviously completely disorganised and not
ready! We decided to make up for last month's quietness by having a really busy time these last few weeks.
The boys broke up from school at the end of July and it's been really nice having them around.
Arthur has finally worked out that there is only one reason for learning to ride and that is to win rosettes. He has
therefore agreed to practise occasionally much to the delight of his horse mad Grandma and is aiming for the 'big one' in
the form of the Uffington Pony Show at the end of the month. Bring on the trophies!
Earlier in the month Frank and I had a baptism of fire in the Eventers Grand Prix at Hickstead, having
been put on the reserve list I was quite relieved when by 8pm on the evening before we had not been called up. You have
to bear in mind here that both sisters have done it, one ended up upside down with her bum in full wide screen technicolour,
and the other was carted round the arena 3 times before she finally managed to stop. 9.30pm the phone rings with a number
I don't recognise, competely taken by surprise I am asked if I still want to do it - stupidly I agreed; bring
on the humiliation of sister number 3!
Clearly entertainment was expected because Tina drove all the way down to watch, something she has
never done before - she even brought her boots in case I chickened out. Sadly for her I was feeling brave that day,
sadly for a couple of unsuspecting spectators the new bit she suggested (to prevent a rerun of her experience) lacked
a little in the steering department! Apart from running down the odd person and adding a couple of rails to our time I think
we did OK in our first somewhat unprepared attempt, I can't wait to go back and have another crack next year.
Hickstead was shortly followed by Knaptoft CIC with Frank, Clive and Pricilla. Finally some
nice weather, in fact I think it was the hottest weekend of the year so far. The horses all produced really disappointing
dressage tests but double clears all round meant Clive ended up 5th, and Pricilla 12th in the CIC* and Frank was 12th in the
CIC**.
A week later and we were at Gatcombe for the Novice Championships, I am pleased to say that the dressage
was hugely improved in the space of a week - with a little help from my dressage queen friend Spencer. My brother
in law Graham came down to help me in the showjumping and I am embarrassed to say that I let him down on Frank by having the
last fence down. The pressure was on with Clive as the commentator announced that Graham had come to help me as I walked
into the ring. Never one to crumble for a bit of pressure I took an extra pull to the last and Clive jumped one of very
few clears. They both put up excellent performances cross country, adding just a few time faults which sadly left them
just out of the money. I was delighted with both horses though, they were two of very few genuine novices in that class
and it was a big question to ask at that stage in their career.
Hartpury CCI* quickly followed for Clive, his first three day event and a very testing one at that.
He did not put a foot wrong all week and finished up 8th out of a field of at least 100 horses. Very sadly though,
Hartpury was marred by the death of a young rider Emma Jonathan who suffered a fatal rotational fall in the CCI**.
Our thoughts go out to her parents, family and friends who must be suffering terribly at the moment.
Pricilla (Queen of the Desert) moved on this month, she has gone to event rider Steven James
who spotted her at Knaptoft and had her bought and on the way to his house a week later! In light of this I felt a little
shopping trip was justified, so myself and friend Julie went off to Ireland for a couple of days.
Dedication to shopping has never been an issue for either of us so we left at 4 in the morning to
catch an early plane. We looked at a lot disappointing ones, rode some average ones and eventually both
found something that hopefully made the trip worthwhile. Luckily we generally go for different types
and there was only one that we both liked the look of, so we decided we would just have to share! Anyway,
we had such a good time that we are back again this week to retry the ones we liked. Hopefully there may
be a couple of additions to 'The Team' page next month.
