Tattersalls Ireland
As always Tattersalls put on a great event. They had big entries and the standard of horses and riders was very high.
We took three horses - seven year olds Cavalier Crystal and Monbeg Medlar were both in the CCI*YH class and contesting their first three day event, and Sparky's Reflection was in the CCI**.
Both the 1* horses did some smart work, Monbeg Medlar was early to go possibly deserved a better mark - the scoring was consistently high throughout the 1* but one judge had him right down the order compared to the other two - so he scored 53. I was pleased with Cavalier Crystal who scored 49, she is really coming on and feeling more established.
They both gave me great rides across country. The courses were very rewarding to ride around, with real flow to them and enough for the horses to look at. There are a lot of ditches and water complexes on the course, as well as banks, a sunken road and a proper coffin, so plenty to give the horses a real eduction. They both finished comfortably inside the time.
The show jumping was fairly inflentinal on the final results and caused plenty of trouble. Both horses jumped super clear rounds to finish on their dressage scores with Monbeg Medlar moving up 19 places from the dressage and Cavalier Crystal finishing in 8th place and qualifying for the Novice Championships at Gatcombe.
Sparkys Reflection put on a great performance in the CCI**. He’s not an extravagant mover but did a smooth and accurate dressage test for a score of 49. The cross country had plenty of good questions for him and after having a good look at some of the earlier questions he grew in confidence the further he went, and gave me a wonderful ride to finish clear and comfortably inside the time. He jumped a superb round in the show jumping on Sunday to keep up with the others and finish on his dressage score in 12th place.
Tatts has outstanding facilities and we are very lucky to be able to compete there. The organisers are very welcoming and every year we leave having seen old friends and made some new ones. The children believed the ‘kids zones’ had all been put on exclusively for them and had the time of their lives on their ‘half term camping holiday’!
Our team did a brilliant job, with Jess's hard work paying off in the way all three show jumped on the final day.
Our next three day event is Luhmuhlen, where Away Cruisibg will be making his CCI**** debut.
Sparkys Reflection all set for the Sunday morning horse inspection
The end of a lovely test for Sparkys Reflection
Cavalier Crystal felt super around her first three day event
Focused on the job, Harry and Monbeg Medlar jump clear and inside the time
Cavalier Crystal and Monbeg Medlar ready for the final horse inspection
Monbeg Medlar ended the competition with a lovely clear in the show jumping
Cavalier Crystal enjoying the lap of honour
Sparkys Reflection jumped a confident show jumping clear to finish on his dressage score
The support team!
The workers...