04/04/2024
We are back home after a whirlwind few days at The Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships.
For those that remember Fling, also known as sicknote Sid with intermittent lameness issues, string halt in one back leg and has a reputation of sending more poles flying in the ring than stay up, or spooking so violently I nearly end up on the floor.
We have worked hard all winter keeping him sound to get him to these finals, after he jumped double clear at Willow Banks to get a qualification I actually wanted for Tigga.
So this show was mainly about him and his chance to step into the limelight, although I am full of cold and coming out to having a chest infection for the last few weeks which has absolutely floored me, aiming for this championships has really kept the motivation up when I probably should be resting.
Well we got him there, with no expectations on him and no idea how he would cope in an arena and atmosphere like that.
In the warm up open class which was 2 phase I had no expectation of getting to the jump off as the last fence was a very small plank. Well I he pulled it out the bag and jumped everything and as we landed from the plank I thought ….. Sh*t I have to jump off now and not really studied it as throughly as I could have done… literally saying to mum… fence 8 and that will where we will finish 🤣 how wrong was I. We put in a few cheeky turns including back to the water tray which for a BFG horse inside a tiny ring he really surprised me. Sadly we had a pole but we were thrilled with how he behaved and jumped.
Then it was onto the championship class. Again no expectations b it to try and enjoy the experience. He went in and again tried his heart out. Sadly another pole Rolled at the water tray which had moved right next to the trade stands but he jumped everything else amazingly including the last triple.
Then it was onto the two stallions who were outside doing the qualifier classes.
Tigga was up first- he warmed up really well and felt excited to be at a new venue- the course again had a water tray which is his latest nemesis, and white planks and blue fillers. He jumped a good round, a little spooky in places but jumped the water tray frist time with some vocal encouragement. Unluckily he tipped the first pole of the jump
Off which was right by the entrance gate and finished 13th, (top 12 qualified for the final)
Kenny was up next and he felt a little hesitant in a new place, and by this point I was getting tired having not had much sleep the night before and being full of cold and coughing . He jumped a good round, with a few bits to work on, including deer leaping the water tray but unfortunately had the last fence of the first phase down so we didn’t jump off.
This morning it was a day of qualifiers with all 3 again in the 1m qualifier- a little tight for time as not many between them, meant we had to be super organised.
Fling was up first. He went into the ring with the same enthusiasm as the day before and felt good. We unfortunately had 2 poles one because i sat a little too quietly and the other I wasn’t straight.
Quick swap number one- l onto Kenny- he came out buzzing with confidence. We went in the ring and smashed it. He jumped a lovely double clear but again deer leaped the water tray. I didn’t really push for time as we have had very limited outings together - he went into 5th place when we had finished but still half the class to jump.
Another quick swap onto Tigga- he wasn’t as exuberant as the before. We went in the ring and he spooked at the sponsors boarding around the side which made me cross and a kick up the bum I needed to ride him forward.
He also jumped a good round, although we did crawl through the triple, after spooking st the blue filler and I’m not sure how we got out of it with all the poles up but he was clever as cat and sorted it. Then he jumped the water tray again with some vocal encouragement and it was jump off time. I did push him forward a bit more but we did a turn into he second to last line, he drifted through his shoulder and put us off slightly, but we jumped another double clear slightly faster than Kenny’s and he went into 12th.
The final results were both boys were 13th Tigga and 14th Kenny so both just missed out on qualfiying for championships but both have had some really good rounds and we are knocking on the door of being up there. Then it was pack up and home time having spent a small fortune in the trade stands, but when they all have smile and happy faces like these on the photos it’s hard to chose which ones to buy.
Thank yous to
Katherine Mary Barker for coming and babysitting Ted and helping warm up, cook, hold horses etc, swapping over during manic periods.
Linda Kennard Omega from Omega Equine whose advice on what to give all these horses to support them to keep them performing so well with their own individual needs, and more importantly keep fling sound to get him here with his ever growing list of special needs.
Matthew Strawson and Hill and Phelan Equine and Farm Vets for their work in his lameness story and helping to keep him sound and comfortable.
Trudy Johnson whose beautiful yard we stayed at just outside Addington (highly reccomend if anyone is needing somewhere to stay at a reasonable rate).
The saving it made compared to onsite stabling meant I could afford to take the extra one for the experience and fling being so massive doesn’t suit temporary stables, but he had two nights in a lovely double size stable which suited him so much better.
Claire Smith who helped looking after all the horse at home, including a grumpy Smurf who was missed very much- although 3 bay horses is so much easier than 1 grey. It felt weird him not being there as he has been to every blue chip with me I’ve done.
So proud of the little team I’ve built. Although no ribbons this time we are knocking on the door of playing with the big boys and it makes the hard work of late nights/ early mornings worth so much more.
Ailby House Arena and Stud Farm
Rebecca Justice Equine Therapy
Properly Stitched Up Embroidery
Mountain Media
