With Sapey being canceled Ann and Nigel Taylor very kindly managed to put on a very last minute event at Aston. I huge thanks must go to Aston Le Walls and their amazing team as there were a lot of horses in desperate need of a run. I know I was hugely appreciative to get my Novices out.
I had Mo Cuiske, Bondi Beach and new ride Very Special Z all doing the Novice. Mo Cuiske is really beginning to understand the dressage now and keeps getting better and better, he scored a 28.5 and did some lovely work. He then jumped two immaculate clears, one in the show jumping and one cross country, we picked up 0.8 of a time fault for 2nd place.
Bondi Beach was out quite quickly after Larkhill as he had been a little cheeky there and I felt he could do with another run. He was fantastic and produced another very good test to score 28, he then jumped a super clear in the show jumping and didn’t show a hint of cheekiness. I then took him reasonably steadily cross country and picked up a few time faults for 4th place.
Very Special Z was produced beautifully by Vicky Tuffs and I am very lucky to now have him to ride as Vicky had to sell him. I have only had him a couple of weeks, so can’t take the credit for how he went at Aston. He did a very nice test to score 31 and sat just behind the leader who was on a 30. I feel there is still lots to come in this phase as I am still getting to know him and felt I would probably ride a couple of things differently next time. He then jumped really well in the show jumping for a clear and was brilliant cross country, giving me a great ride. We picked up 0.4 of a time fault and 2nd place.
