GB Eventing

22/09/2023

Danny becoming stronger and stronger , what a super young man he is becoming 😍.

21/09/2023

Nothing like a morning smooch from these two 😍. They’re growing up way too fast, but at the same time I can’t wait till they’re both 4 y/o 🥰

15/06/2023

Of course Danny isn’t to be forgotten with all the foal excitement .
Here he is having a little pop on Monday with the help of my fabulous mentor Alex Hudson

15/06/2023

So we are 6 days on since the birth of our lovely filly and I’ve just realised I never done my follow up post. So here goes ….
On Friday 9th June we welcomed Toya (Aithne) first foal (obviously Elton is biologically hers he had our lovely surrogate mare Nessie as his mumma).

Friday we were competing at South of England (where toya and I had some of our best days eventing!) we returned home early after having 3 wins and qualifying for the championship Sunday, which we also had 2 wins at becoming the 2023 interhunt champions! 🎉🎉🎉
When we got home we tested toyas Ph which had dropped and was indicating she will be foaling in the next 24 hrs… s**t!!!! Mum was getting married on the 10th, I can’t miss that; she will kill me!!
I was meant to be spending the evening with my mum, but after watching toya for an hour or so she started dripping milk and looking very uncomfortable. Thank goodness 😅 birthing was imminent.

Mum came over and had a take away with us and we all watched the camera rather than the tv.
By 10.30pm she looked extremely uncomfortable and we decided to head over, she was so relieved to see me. Over the 8 years we have owned her we have built a bond I don’t think I’ve ever had with another horse, after all we achieved things I never could have done without her as my partner. With having the comfort of having her mumma holding her hand she gave birth to a her beautiful filly.

Oh my!!! I don’t think I have ever seen such a pretty, dainty little foal in all my life. She is perfect!
Though she is meant to be coloured, and barely has a white hair on her 🤣. She is the first foal by the stallion who hasn’t been coloured 😢 but we are considering her extra special 🍀.

She was also born with a hippomane in her mouth…. I must admit I was rather concerned as when I pulled the bag off her nose I believed it to be her tongue and therefore thought she was dead 🤣 I can now laugh about it but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t screaming for my wonderful partner George Parrish to come and help me (I don’t often admit to needing George’s bell but on this occasion I will!)

Now for the name reveal ….
Previously we have stuck to a music theme for their ’posh names’ and umm’d and ahh’d about calling her Abba- VIP Chiquitita. However given her arrival was scarily close to my mums wedding day we have decided to go rogue.
I am so proud to introduce

🌸The Wedding Guest aka Brydee 🌸

She has already gained the nickname Bridzilla as she takes after her mum and is a sharp little Madame.🤣 just how I like them! So excited for the future ❤️❤️❤️

11/06/2023

Finally home from a long weekend!

Full report to follow tomorrow ❤️

11/06/2023

The one we’ve all been waiting for …. Toya’s first baby without a surrogate. She didn’t only give us a beautiful foal, but she finally gave me the filly I’ve been waiting for! When Elton was born I could have cried I was so disappointed 😂🤣(of course I adore him despite this)

On Friday we were competing at South of England (winning both our heats and the tack and turn out). We got back home and realised Toyas labour was imminent.
We went home and had a take away, unfortunately having to let my beautiful mum down as I was meant to be staying with her the NIGHT before her wedding!!!!! 🫣😬.

T went into labour at 6pm and by 11pm we had a stunning foal. The stallion we used has had hundreds of foals all of which have been coloured so far… however our foalie has made a couple of firsts and is bay with only the tiniest white band on her back hoof and our first filly.

Can’t wait to see this little lady grow ❤️🥰

06/06/2023

Our gorgeous embryo transfer foal Elton came down from his winter field this morning at Poppinghole Farm Equine. He is having a bit of time in the stable for a tidy up and check over.
He was a superstar for his mane, tail, feathers and ear trim.
He will be turning 2 next month, and couldn’t be more like his mother- easy and laid back! If he is half as talented as her we will be onto a winner.

Big thank you to the team at Poppinghole, ❤️

29/05/2023

Yesterday Danny headed to his first BE90 at blindley heath. Unfortunately not the best day on paper but lots of positives to take.
Unfortunately he was quite tense and tight in the dressage causing a couple of little errors to produce a 37.3.
I’m yet to crack our showjumping, he’s a big boy and I sometimes struggle to keep him together in between fences, he is still very new to the game and this was his first event which had an atmosphere around the arena making him go a little bit baby on me so I rode a little too forwards and lost my power.
XC he was a weapon, jumping a bold gallopy course and finding it rather easy finishing well with in the time with out even trying 🤣. Unfortunately it was rather sunny yesterday at 11am and made the course a little shadowy having a slight hesitation at a plain log 🪵 which he jumped from a standstill before I could think about turning him away. Disappointingly that did give us a 20penalties which I feel he really didn’t deserve. He has just turned 5 and I would much rather he had a look than misjudged a fence and had a fall.

I will upload a video of him jumping a step skinny combo at fence 12 which as you can see is keen and bold , he gives me a mega feel 🥰❤️

30/04/2023

This scrummy boy 😍❤️

23/04/2023

After 4 years out …. IM BACK.

Danny’s first ever event, first time seeing white boards and fillers other than the ones at home we completed.
Not the best day on paper… with a 41.0 dressage 🫣😂, and an interesting showjumping,but getting round.
He smashed the XC bold as brass!! Clear with 4 steady time faults.

For a baby that couldn’t canter around the edge of the school 5 months ago he’s come so far! Lots of room for improvement but not bad for a first timer ❤️😍 love this pony (very VERY large pony )

Thank you to Keely Codling for playing groom for the day 🌟
George Parrish for also tagging along claiming he was owner and trainer 😂
And of course Kay Bartholomew for being co-owner with me ❤️

02/04/2023

Danny smashed his first ever outing like a pro today. 67% in both classes bringing home a 3rd and 4th

16/01/2023

Danny went on a hunt hack yesterday, taking everything in his stride. His jumping got better and better throughout the day.
Beautifully ridden by my partner George Parrish ❤️

16/01/2023

Danny went on a hunt hack yesterday, taking everything in his stride. His jumping got better and better throughout the day.
Beautifully ridden by my partner George Parrish ❤️

13/01/2023

🥰

13/01/2023

Can’t help but be excited about this special 4 y/o 🥰

17/12/2022

4 y/o Danny was a superstar for his first day away from home. Straight in at the deep end for a days hunting 😍🥰

12/11/2022

Kay Bartholomew finally meeting Danny. He didn’t disappoint and luckily mum approved 👌🏼, good job as she is part owner 😂 👍🏼

08/11/2022

✨New Kid On The Block✨

Last week we welcomed ‘Danny’ a 4y/o ISH by ‘DENOUNCE’
Danny is super smart and is showing a fantastic attitude towards his work.

In his first week with us he has certainly been put to the test, with fireworks every night; not even making a flinch. Last night being the first without fireworks, but instead 3 other horses in the school and one of which was jumping. Danny was the last man standing and never even noticed the other horses returning to bed.
What a super star 🌟.

I’m very much looking forward to this young horses future, as he is coming out each day improving on what we have worked on the night before. 👌🏼👍🏼

The rest is yet to come !! ❤️

23/07/2022

21/07/2022

A bit of an exciting Wednesday yesterday, heading up to Peterborough with 4 horses to compete in the Festival of Hunting inter hunt relay.

We won the tack and turn out 💪🏼 and got the fastest round of the day (please see video attached) sadly that round was our semi final round but didn’t count for the final 🙈😪.
In our final round we were beaten by less than a second by the Duke of Beaufort hunt, who were the overall winners, meaning we finished 3rd out of 22 hunts.

We were so gutted to be so close, yet so happy we finally proved what we are made of. Last year we got knocked out in the first round!!

Sorry George Parrish my breaks weren’t the best after our change over 😂😂 if I’m not going over it I’m going through it!!!! And I will class it as your only pole of the relay season!! You jammy git.

So proud of our team,
Maisy in first
Ritchie in second
Grace in third
George in fourth

In other news we have 2 confirmed pregnancies. Meaning we will hopefully have a further two additions next year.

A confirmed pregnancy for Aithne to Ustinov van elsenham. Unfortunately she aborted her foal earlier on in the year, so a later last minute change 🙈. She likes to stress me out!!
&
A heartbeat for Nessie to Carrigfada Diamond C1ID

We are on top of the world in our house!

❤️❤️❤️

05/07/2022

4 ⛵️7 year old, 155cm, Irish Cob.

Norman has hunted with AVTH for 2021/22 season, he has whipped in, field mastered and gone in the field - in front or behind. He was also hunted by a small teenage girl. Norman is a keen jumper who never says no, no matter how big, small or wide. He loves hounds, never lifts a leg. He will stand at the meet for sausage rolls and port quietly.

Norman stepped in as a replacement horse in the hunt gate jumping and kept up with the big boys jumping up to 1m35, proving how careful and nimble he is.

He has also been ridden sidesaddle and took well to it. He is obedient to the aids and really tries so hard to please, a balanced rider makes all the difference to him. With his paces and trainability he has all the potential to do a super test with the right production. He has not been over produced and is currently benefitting from a well rounded education of hacking, fun rides, cross country schooling and hunting.

Norman is a forward going ride but is no different from one week to the next.He is safe, never silly or strong, always snaffle mouthed!
He can be nervous to shoe but with a quiet farrier he is easy to do. He is hot shod all round through the hunting season.
Good to catch, load, hacks alone or in company. Good in all sorts of heavy traffic; tractors ,combines etc.
Lives in or out. Has recently had his teeth done. Good to clip, including his head.
No lumps, bumps or vices. Very clean limbed.

He is a cob who loves a job and due to a lack of time is a very sad sale. He deserves someone who will love him and give him the work he loves.

Please no tyre kickers, serious enquiries only! You will be vetted over the phone before coming to try him.

Please call Grace on 07921519581

04/07/2022

A week off and he walks out on the buckle . Not bad for a 6 year old. As always he’d much rather walk through the brambles… typical Hunter 🤣

30/05/2022

A nice start to Hunt relay season with a win 🏆!
Horses looking and feeling fantastic after a short break after hunting and team chasing. Next stop South of England, where hopefully I pull my finger out and can keep up with Jack at the ‘lazy waiter’ obstacle 😂

Well done team AVTH ❤️

24/04/2022

JACK storming around the intermediate speed today at Bicester. Can’t believe how much jacks confidence has grown the last few weeks, he took lead horse position from fence 6 and set a pretty rapid pace 😂 jumping out of his skin for me and didn’t miss a beat 😁😁😁. Hard work does pay off!!! 🥂
Ruby and George Parrish took it a little steadier than usual today, as George has an impressive injury to his ankle (and probably should get some X-rays).
Well done Maisy Vane! We look forward to Autumn 🍂

Big thank you as always to Mr and Mrs Jefferson for letting George and I to continue to ride your horses.
And of course Antony Vane for everything you do for us ❤️

A fabulously built course, thank you for everyone’s hard work on prepping for the event. 🥰😍 Bicester Team Chase

30/03/2022

Whoops! Wrong mumma Elton, this one doesn’t have milk 😂

28/02/2022

I genuinely don’t know how to put into words how proud I am of this little cob.

Saturday he was helping to field master, leading over all the jumps. Then Monday he puts up with me side saddle.

You just wouldn’t believe he’s only 6, today was the first time in 5 months he stepped foot in an arena 🙈 after hunting all winter 😂.

Love him 😍

28/02/2022

I genuinely don’t know how to put into words how impressed I am with this horse. He’s come on leaps and bounds since George and I bought him last summer.

From a days drag hunting Saturday, including helping to field master (leading a field of 20+ riders over all the jumps) to putting up with me attempting side saddle on the Monday!!! What a cob.

You just wouldn’t believe me if I told you he’s only 7, and hasn’t stepped foot in an arena since November 😂

21/02/2022

It was obviously a day for crazy ponies 😂

21/02/2022

Some of you may remember my lovely u18’s horse Fergal. He turns 20 this year, and is still as fergal as ever 😂😂😂