“Time seems to be whizzing by and before I knew it we are off eventing again.

This time to Aston le Walls with my girls both first time Intermediates, Chico Bella and Wolfgang Penelope. We unfortunately had an 8.30am dressage time and Aston is three hours away. Combine this with needing to walk the course before dressage and you get one very early morning.

Wolfgang Penelope unfazed by cross country

Wolfgang Penelope was on first; ideally I normally ride her once before I get on for her test but as we were so early I didn't get the chance, so she was a bit keen but did a nice first test at this level for a score of 35.

On to the show jumping, this was a good track on a surface. We’ve been working hard on her show jumping at home as she still gets tense when the jumps are a bit bigger so it was disappointing but not surprising that we had three down. I am hoping to get her out to do a bit more pure show jumping, just to get a bit of practice in the ring as I am sure that when she relaxes she will be happy at this level. She is an XC machine and I was really chuffed that the step up didn't faze her and we had a good clear round.

Chico Bella the show jumping star

Chico Bella was good in her test which was a relief after her naughtiness at Hambledon the week before. There were just a couple of minor errors and we got a 33. She jumped a superb clear round in the show jumping leaving a few fellow competitors open mouthed and green with envy when she literally flew through the final combination.  She is exceptional over a fence and always brings a smile to my face even if sometimes I feel like I'm going to get jumped off. Around the xc she was bold and straight and I was thrilled with how well she made the step up to Intermediate. It was doubly pleasing as her owner Chris Stone had managed to escape from the office to come and watch her so we were all happy campers.

One benefit of such an early start is that we were done just after lunchtime so we were able to pack up and head home.

A weekend off ?

A rare weekend without competing followed, although I didn't entirely escape from eventing as I took my owner Chris Stone's daughter Alex to her Pony Club event on the Sunday. At her previous outing she had a bit of trouble with the brakes on her horse Dolly (who I competed last year) so it was good to be able to go with her to help. We had been trying her in a different bit xc and this seemed to help and she finished seventh, which was great.

A day off to recover tomorrow then back to it and heading to Tweseldown and Brigstock next weekend.”