Courtesy of Harriet’s sponsor Timothy Foxx Timothy Foxx.
It has been a month of elation and heartbreak at Upper Barn. Where to start.
Well Rosie was back on form with a good dressage and double clear at Smiths Lawn, we were hoping to be doing Firle this weekend, but unfortunately due to a slight foot infection we decided not to run her.
Danny did not go well at Wilton and was so off form we got him checked out and whilst he wasn’t lame he definitely was not himself. Then, we found out that he had tweaked his suspensory. This explains everything: The stop in the advanced at Aston le Walls and his refusal to jump at all at Wilton. As you all know he just loves his jumping and is one of the coolest horses to watch when he is on form. I was given the option, I could get him back for the end of the season but I felt he would really benefit from a good rest. Plan is to bring him back early in the winter, ready to be able to do the early advanced and 3* next year. (Still trying to persuade mum to take everything over to Portugal to start the season off)!
Hector and Rosie went showjumping at Brendon’s big show. They both jumped in the big, new arena and did double clears! Rosie in the Newcomers and Hector in the Foxhunter.
Hector continues to go from strength to strength. I took him to the international at Hartpury. He was just awesome. Really proved he was a three day horse amongst some real top competition. He did a super dressage, clear cross-country in the time and just a pole on the last day of show jumping to finish in the top 20 out of 108 starters. Just over the moon with him.
Boo and Arabella have had a quiet month! They’ve been withdrawn from everything because of the ground, but hopefully will be out again at Goring Heath and gearing up for Osberton three day.
Sadly we lost Tulsk Boy, he was with us only briefly and owned by Lisa Sparrowhawk, such a lovely, lovely young horse. We are all absolutely heartbroken.
On the same day and purely by chance Nutz (my new puppy) bounced into our lives, he has certainly kept us all entertained and lifted spirits.
For September, I am aiming to compete at Goring Heath and South of England at the moment, interspersed with some affiliated showjumping before heading to Osberton.
Till next month, hope you all have a good one!
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.