“With Hartpury over, my attention moved to preparing for the regionals, which is our next big competition, so the three young horses all got an outing this week.

Pachesham preparations

On Wednesday 21st, we took Bracks (Headmore Boadicia) and Dante (Headmore Downtopia) to Pachesham. The aim was not so much to win, as they had had half of the week before off due to Hartpury, but merely to get them out somewhere new before the regionals. Dante was first and, although there were no major mistakes, he was not quite through in the contact and so there were a few little wobbles here and there. He wasn’t being naughty or difficult, but that is what he does when he doesn’t get ridden enough, and these little wobbles resulted in a score of 64.45% in the elementary and a third place. However, it was mission accomplished as he didn’t spook at anything or be silly about anything, so he is on track for the regionals.

Bracks also did an elementary, and when she is a bit fresh she gets silly! She gets a little bit spooky and tries to throw her front legs a bit too high! I managed to keep on top of this in the test, thankfully, and her way of going was very good, scoring 70.21% and winning the class, completing her winter qualification already, and satisfying us that she is on track for the regionals as well.

Delboy delivers

On the Friday, we took Delboy (Headmore Delegate) to Crofton Manor for his final outing before the regionals. He, much like Dante, goes a little against the hand when he hasn’t had enough work, and so we also had a few wobbles here and there. He won the medium with just under 70% and was just beaten into third in the advanced medium with 66.05%, but he was also well behaved and he didn’t spook at anything, so that was also a good trip out ahead of the regionals.

Looking ahead

Although they weren’t at their best due to the lack of work, they still went well and, by the regionals, they will hopefully be back to their best. We will have to wait and see what happens!”