20/03/2024
Blackie has enjoyed a few months off during the summer. However, we’ve managed to attend a few competitions this year.
Last month at the Briagolong combined training and dressage jackpot, we scored 79% and 76% in dressage, winning the dressage jackpot and the CT - Level 2 🥇.
At the Mornington Peninsula EA Horse Trials EA95, we placed second 🥈 with a 70% in dressage and clear jumping phases.
This month at the Tonimbuk International Horse Trials, despite the scorching weather ☀️, we stepped up to 1*. Blackie delivered a solid dressage performance at this level, earning 70%. In the show jumping round she showed significant improvement for only her 3rd time at this height, just knocking one down.
Cross country - Blackie glanced off one of the angled logs early in the course. (I didn’t ride this very well and should have set her up better - she’s been jumping so well I forget she is still green with some of the questions that get asked at these higher levels). As it was incredibly hot I decided to prioritise her well-being. Knowing she still had a three-hour drive home, I opted to forget about the optimum time and took it easy. I was really impressed how she jumped the rest of the course including the water, bank and ditches… not to mention the skinnies! Despite accumulating time penalties and ending on a cricket score - Blackie handled the heat and vetted very well at the end of the course. I am so pleased how she is handling the step up to 1*
Blackie is now enjoying a little break while I focus on Hendrix and stockman challenges. Hoping to aim to have Blackje back out at Ballarat in May 😊
