Courtesy of Victoria’s sponsors Aloeride aloeride & Golly Galoshes gollygaloshes.
Victoria Bax – GOING WITH GUST!
“It’s been an extremely, busy month as we are heading towards the end of the eventing season. My two youngsters have really got going now and appear to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Next up for them was a trip to Bonfleur cross-country course for another unaffiliated one day event.
Both of them produced lovely dressage tests to end up lying in the top 5. The showjumping course was causing carnage, as in typical pony club style, every fence except the first had a filler placed under it, including a couple of bullseye (round fillers) placed right in the middle of the fence to be extra scary! Both the girls coped well, making little fuss of the fillers. Then onto the cross country (which although small was very educational with lots of questions asked) and after a hesitant start, where the start box ran alongside the lorry park, both girls made light work of the course finishing clear.
I was absolutely thrilled to find out later that both girls finished 3rd in their respective sections. The following week, the girls headed off to Chilham Castle for another event where again they were very well behaved from start to finish. Both produced another consistent dressage test each, tackled the showjumping well with one clear and one with just 4 faults and both stormed the cross-country again, meeting and answering lots of new questions to finish clear.
Alberta’s Rose earnt herself a second placing and Alberta’s Elegance was just outside the placings, so once again I was thrilled with them both. Crystal Ka was due out the following week at Wellington Intermediate. We did our best to go with a packed lorry and plaited horse but sadly about an hour into our journey the weather was absolutely torrential and getting worse, so we made the hard decision to abandon our attempts to compete as it really is no fun in those conditions and I wasn’t desperate for the run, so a 60 mile round trip made for nothing that day!
So, with a missed run for Crystal Ka, our next stop was back to Gatcombe for the CIC2*. I travelled up the day before as it is quite a trek from me, had a workout session at the event before heading off to find my local stabling. We had an early dressage the following day but I was thrilled with how settled Crystal Ka was and we managed to produce a personal best dressage score at this level. Off I went to walk the cross country course, which was definitely going to be testing, although it wasn’t huge apart from an enormous log drop fence about half way round heading into the woods. I walked the course three times more before my round the following day. We started well answering the questions which started at fence 4 with a run up a mound, a log on top then down the other side one stride to a coffin ditch, then 3 strides to a skinny house. I think Crystal Ka got the shock of his life as he lept over the log to find the ditch the other side, but he did it and on to the skinny!
We continued over a couple of big hedges and other fences before coming to the log drop. Unfortunately this is where for the first time in a long long time Crystal Ka said, “No” and very sadly this was the end of our Gatcombe. I am convinced that fence 4 had wobbled him somewhat causing him to question if he should jump without being able to see where he was going and who would blame him. I was disappointed to say the least as I can’t remember the last time he has said, “NO”. It was a long drive home that afternoon.
Crystal Ka has one more event to complete before his season finishes and he will also enjoy some time in the field getting fat and hairy! My youngest Frankie threw a splint back in August so he had a month of quiet work to allow it time to settle but I am beginning to do a little more with him again including some more jumping which he is coming on very well with. I am starting to plan ahead for my winter training clinics for my clients so although my horses will be enjoying some time off, I won’t! Until next time… “
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The first day of my month started off very nicely until about 6pm that night and it all went horribly wrong when we broke down in the lorry 10 miles from home with two youngsters on board!!
After being recovered, front lifted and towed home (With the horses still on board) we all finally arrived home about 9.30pm from their first Horse Trials at Brightling Park.
The pair of them, Alberta’s Rose (Tilly) and Alberta’s Elegance (Milli) were absolutely impeccably behaved from start to finish considering how much there was for them to see and experience for the first time. The lorry park was full, the dressage warm up was busy and on very undulating ground, which neither of them have experienced before. The dressage arena was on a slight incline too which made the left canter pretty tricky for them both but they coped very well actually.
Tilly produced a lovely test with a couple of wobbly moments to score a super 30, which put her 5th after dressage, she then went on to jump a superb clear in the show jumping: Her first real course with plenty of fillers and related distances. She started very green on the cross-country and we encountered a slight hesitation at a ditch which was positioned in a hedge line at the end of the field and with shadows on the ground etc, was rather spooky and I just don’t think she worked it out the first time round, but once she’d had a look we were off again. We also encountered a bit of a hesitation at the first water which again was very spooky being under trees and with a boat and jetty in it to look at too, but what I was absolutely over the moon with was after braving that she then went straight through the second water with no hesitation at all; a quick learner here I reckon!
Milli also produced a beautiful dressage test in the same arena so encountered the same incline and she dealt with it better than Tilly, however at this stage she is simply not as flashy as Tilly so despite producing a very accurate and relaxed test, the marks just weren’t as good scoring 36. Now jumping and spookiness has been a huge issue for Milli ever since I bought her so over the week prior to the event I had jumped her pretty much everyday over something different in the hope of helping her to realise that things weren’t going to bite in preparation for this event. Well this clearly had a positive effect as although it took some riding to get round she jumped well round the same show jumping course, just clipping the second part of the double after we wobbled into it, but no stops which is amazing.
So onto the cross-country for her and she absolutely blew me away with a pretty confident and easy clear (Who has taken my sharp spooky mare and replaced her with a much calmer straight forward thinking one?) or is it simply all the damn hard work I have put into her that appears to finally be paying off!
Next stop was Gatcombe for The Festival of Eventing which Crystal Ka and I qualified for earlier this year. It was my first visit to Gatcombe which made this super special, however with our lorry out of action due to requiring a new fuel pump (Which was not a straight forward job) the first task was to beg, steal or borrow a lorry to make this adventure happen!The power of Facebook is an amazing thing; after placing a post up asking for the use of a lorry, I was inundated with offers and finally took up the very very kind offer from a lady who I have known for 20 years or so although not a friend as such but she still entrusted me with her prize lorry to not only transport my Wonderboy to Gatcombe but also to be my home for 4 days!! Wow, how incredibly kind of her to do this for me; an offer I will be forever grateful for. Victoria Bax – One of our better moments at Gatcombe in the dressage image credit Thoroughbred Sports Photography
So finally on the road we made the 4 hour journey to Gatcombe and in fact were the first lorry on site so had the choice of parking spaces!
After finding my stable and setting up camp my trainer Lucy Thompson arrived and gave me a guided tour around the site so I could then go and explore on horseback later that afternoon. I had early dressage times the following morning as I was 3rd in so it meant for an early morning workout before my test to try to settle my boy which appeared to work beautifully at the time.
So, feeling fairly confident about an hour later we went back out there to warm up and ride our test.
Crystal Ka made a good effort and managed to contain his excitement although a couple of annoying mistakes cost us a decent score, so I was a little disappointed at the time.
And onto the cross-country walk, which I did with Lucy to help get my lines and approaches to fences straight in my head. I was confident with the cross-country, as Crystal Ka is very established now at Intermediate level and this was the Novice Championships.
However the show jumping was to come first the following day. This did cause us a few problems as my boy became rather exited and made things extremely difficult the entire round by not relaxing, becoming disunited nearly every stride and constantly throwing his head around making it very difficult indeed to get to a fence in the right place and in a fashion which would allow him to be able to jump things cleanly. The result, 3 rails down and time faults; a huge disappointment.
A couple of hours to relax before we set out on the cross-country course, which went like an absolute dream! Meeting everything at the right place at the right time and storming through the finish still full of running and even after stripping him off and washing down, I was then towed the 10 minute walk back to the stables by a still raring to go blood horse!
So, we completed our first Gatcombe Festival of Eventing, not entirely with the result I was after but still we completed and many others didn’t, so definitely one for the CV!
Back home and I was finally advised by the mechanics that they had the new part but needed the lorry in their workshop as it was not going to be a straightforward job. The result my lorry was once again front lifted and towed up to the workshop but thankfully 4 days later I was able to drive it home with it purring like a kitten! Phew what a relief to have it back in full working order, then just the huge bill to pay! Luckily, I had recently sold a horse so fortunately had the money burning a hole in my bank account, although not really what I had planned on spending it on!
Our next stop is another event for the youngsters and a further outing for Crystal Ka, so until next time…”
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.
Harriet Upton
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.
Puppy love
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.
In this review, we take an in depth look at Christopher Hall’s book on Horse Welfare, Use Not Abuse. The book covers a broad range of topics from welfare on the professional circuit to snapshots on real-life problems surrounding equine welfare.
Horse Welfare, Use Not Abuse – Christopher Hall
This is a book dedicated to the protection of horses, ponies and donkeys throughout the world. From The Pony Club to the highest levels of performance, from working equines in the poorest of countries to neglected and suffering horses right here in the UK , World Horse Welfare is there for them all and this book written by a former WHW Chairman and Steward of the Jockey Club, Christopher Hall OBE, gives us an insight into welfare issues not only of yesteryear but of right now, today and throughout the world.
HRH The Princess Royal writes in the foreword ‘The sadness is that a book like HORSE WELFARE, USE NOT ABUSE should still need to be written after so many years of campaigning by charities such as World Horse Welfare’ and whilst this comment is true this book is a masterpiece of knowledge and insight by the author into the welfare issues that affect the equine world as a whole.
From his position in The Jockey Club and a lifetimes involvement in racing Christopher Hall gives us a frank and informative picture of the issues and considerations that affect the industry and the horses from the very top to the very bottom, the amateur steward who gives his time and expertise voluntarily to some of the richest Thoroughbred owners in the world; each has a role to play in the welfare of the horse and the author illustrates this beautifully through his presentation of facts, cases and personal experiences.
Professional Circuit
The Professional circuit is discussed at length and changes over the years in attitudes and practices is presented for the reader. Doping scandals and training methods are often at the top of equestrian news articles and the question always stands, What can be done to stop it? This is no simple subject and there is no single definitive answer however the author gives the reader plenty to think about and consider and shows us how we all have a role to play in safeguarding the horses in our care, no matter what level we may be involved.
A real snapshot of life and issues
But this book doesn’t just discuss welfare issues at the top levels. It gives a real snapshot of life and issues relating to all equines, in all situations, all over the world. In 2005 Christopher Hall became involved in what was then the ILPH, later to be renamed as World Horse Welfare, a charity which was set up in 1927 by Ada Cole after witnessing exhausted horses on Antwerp docks waiting to be sent for slaughter.
On becoming Chairman in 2006 the author entered another world and witnessed the plight of horses here in the UK and across Europe, Africa and Latin America. Across the world suffering is often a result of poverty and ignorance and the author portrays beautifully the reality and sheer scale of the problems facing equines. Whether it be the horse meat trade in Europe, working horses in Africa or over breeding right here in the UK this book really does cover it all in a very real, factual and in some parts personal way.
It is indeed sad that a book of this nature still needs to be written today but it is also a relief that since Ada Cole started in 1927 the hard work is still being done, the plight of horses across the world and their welfare whether it be at the top of the horse racing world and in the spotlight or behind closed doors and abroad there is something being done.
Conclusion
Christopher Hall’s book, which is written with extensive experience, knowledge and insight, challenges the reader to face reality and refuse to accept abuse of any kind and at any level. This really is a book that should be read by anyone involved with horses at any level, Knowledge is key to eliminating welfare issues and through this book, Christopher Hall gives us that knowledge.
The book can be hard to read at times through the tears but at the same time, it gives a real sense of joy to know that charities such as World Horse Welfare and people such as Christopher Hall are there, defending those without a voice, our equine friends, and ensuring that voice is heard and abuse at any level will never be tolerated.
The World Horse Welfare will benefit from the sale of every copy
Courtesy of Victoria’s sponsors aloeride & Golly Galoshes golly galoshes.
So after coming back down to earth after realising that Crysto and I had actually qualified for the British Novice Championships at Gatcombe, it was time to start preparing for Barbury International CIC2*, out first FEI event of the year. Barbury is an absolute favourite of mine.
I arranged a couple of extra dressage lessons with my trainer Tina Atkins at her local yard in order that I could run through the dressage test in a full size arena. After the second lesson I was very pleased with how Crysto worked and there was nothing I could do other than keep everything crossed that he could contain his excitement for the 5 minutes required, not too much to ask I don’t think!
I made a visit to my local BS venue as well to have a practise round show-jumping and we managed a lovely double clear to finish 4th in the Newcomers and in prize money too!
I also arranged a couple of extra jumping lessons with Lucy Thompson which all went well.
Wednesday came so Crysto and I were trucking off to Wiltshire. It is about 4 hours from me so a fair distance. We left about 9am in order to get there for lunchtime. The journey went smoothly and before long we were there and settled in before giving Crysto a spin around the gallops three times to release some of his energy. Later in the day Lucy had arrived to give us both a drilling of our dressage test and after another hour of work Crysto finally started to settle, so we left it at that and settled down for the evening.
The following morning was an early start, I was up and onboard by 6.30am taking another trip around the gallops, again to try to wear him out a bit and to encourage him to relax before putting him away again for an hour. My test was at 8.43am so before long I was back on board again. The warm up area was on a bit of a slope (which I don’t think Crysto liked that much) but it was the closet area I could get to the actual arena so we had to make do. He never did quite settle before it was my time to go in so all I could do was my best.
Unfortunately luck wasn’t on my side because as I rode around the arena before making my turn up the centre line, one of the trade stands directly next to the arena decided to raise one of their flags straight up in the air in front of us, which of course completely took Crysto’s attention from me to them and sadly that was the way of things to come for the whole test. To say I was disappointed is an understatement as we actually came out with the worst score we have ever got, so not a good start to our Barbury experience this year.
The rest of the day was not nice as I couldn’t stop thinking about the test and the whys and wherefore’ of what happened etc. I had a day off the following day as I didn’t jump until Saturday so I made the most of watching the CIC3* dressage trying to pick up some tips! I was amazed just how many horses had a melt down just like Crysto, which did make me feel a little better that it happens to others, not just me!
Saturday finally came, another early start as I was second to jump at 8.02am! I had walked the showjumping course 3 times the night before and it was big, very technical with long distances and undulations in the ground. However we went in and did our very best. I was pleased with Crysto and how he jumped but the track was just a bit too technical for us and caught us out for some rails. I will be honest, I was very glad that was over!
So onto the cross-country I headed down to the start expecting to be second to go again, but to my horror saw that my number was first on the board. I can only assume that the rider before me in the Sj had other rides and so was running xc later on, which left me to be the pathfinder round a decent CIC2* track, ahhhhhhhh!
Image credit Thoroughbred Sports Photography
I had nothing to worry about though as Crysto made light work of the course and hopped round like it was a BE90 course. I didn’t go for the time as obviously I was nowhere near the top end of the leaderboard so just enjoyed a confident run. Crysto finished full of running and has recovered very easily. Another CIC2* completion under our belt, just not quite the result we wanted.
Once home again, I knew things were on the change, as just before going away, a client of mine had asked me to help her find a new event horse for the grassroots level as her previous one had proved very unreliable and tricky for her. Of course I said yes and the search began. I mentioned this to Jason my husband and his immediate answer was what about Forrest? I hadn’t even given young Forrest a thought, but Jason and I had talked about the possibility of finding Forrest a new home at the end of the season because he was reaching his comfortable limit with me and I didn’t think it fair to push him our of his comfort zone.
I suggested this to my client and the rest as they say is history! She came and tried him 3 times got on very well with him, then to top it off he sailed through a 5 stage vetting with a glowing report from the vet and before I knew it I was delivering him to his new home!
This is a very very sad and difficult decision to have made but definitely the right one I am confident about that. He really is one genuine, honest and reliable horse at the grassroots level but to push him further up the levels where I would like to get to just wasn’t for him. I am very lucky in that I am still going to be seeing him and training him regularly and I can’t wait to watch his progress with his new owner who keeps updating me with her progress. She can’t believe how much her confidence has grown already in such a short space of time and this is all down to the lovely Forrest. I couldn’t be prouder of how far he has come in the 3 years I have trained him and I wish them both all the luck for the future.
So with Forrest gone, the youngster definitely had to start stepping up to the mark, so both Tilly and Milli were entered in a local unaffiliated dressage with clear round jumping after. This was to be Tilly’s first proper party so anything could happen! However, she behaved impeccably apart from being rather vocal during the warmup and spooking at the white boards to start with! She did some fabulous trot work which earnt her all 8’s, then we wobbled a little on the canter but we finished the test with a very respectable score of 66.8%.
Milli was up next and this was only her second dressage test. She produced an accurate and smoother test than previously and scored 65%. So the final result was Tilly finished 3rd and Milli 5th.They both then jumped a small round of show jumps confidently which is a big step forward for them both, so all in all a good educational outing for them both.
Lastly, the weekend just gone saw Crysto out again running at Aston le Walls in the Intermediate class. I have never had such late times, my dressage was at 4.12, Sj at 6.07 and xc at 6.43pm and this venue is 120 miles away from home, so you can imagine what time we got home!Crysto produced a fair test with one error to score 34, the showjumping caught us out again for a couple of rails round another tuff, tight and twisty track and the cross-country required riding as there were a few tricky skinny combinations which Crysto made light work of, until we reached the second water which was a decent one strided double of brushes dropping straight into the water, 3 strides to another brush on the way out.
I knew I would have to ride positively to the first, which I did and we jumped this confidently however, I think he then caught sight of the water and landed shorter requiring me to kick like mad to try and make up the one stride distance which we did to a degree and then lept! The photos show this well as I am truly hanging out the side door over the second brush and upon landing in the water, but somehow, mostly due to my experienced horse he stayed straight and knew there was a third fence to jump which we did and through the finish clear again.
We finally made it home about 10.30pm on Saturday night. We made a quick turnaround though as Tilly and Milli were due to be cross-country schooling again the following day but the weather forecast wasn’t looking good so we thought we would try to beat the rain. We managed to leave home at 7am the next day allowing me to be onboard at a local xc venue by 8.30am. Tilly jumped very well once she remembered what she had to do and I was very pleased with her.
Milli on the other hand took plenty of riding to get her round. She maybe a year older but is nowhere near as bold as Tilly and questions everything I ask of her. However, when she does it, she does it phenomenally well which is what keeps me trying with her. We shall see!
A regular flow of schooling liveries are still keeping me busy on a day to day basis along with the many lessons I undertake with clients old and new.
Our next stop will be another outing for Tilly and Milli and our Gatcombe debut, so until next time…”
I went to Upton House with Hector, Boo, Arabella to do the Novice and also took Rosie to do the Pre Novice, they were amazing. Boo, Arabella and Hector all did double clears and ALL got a top 10 placing, I couldn’t have been happier with the way they went, they have all got so confident, its so rewarding to feel them coming on.
Rosie is coming on really well but she is just having confidence issues in the cross country, she is amazingly careful and sometimes she over jumps the XC fences and slightly scares herself but this is all in the learning, she will start to understand that she doesn’t need to jump as big.
Harriet Upton image credit MDR Photo
So many of you may know that I tried my first advanced on Danny at Aston Le walls… I was so excited to go up another level, he did a 37 dressage test which I was so happy with because it was the first time I had ridden a dressage test at this level, it had flying changes and everything! We then went onto the SJ phase and I have to say it was massive, but we rose to the challenge and he jumped a cracking round, next up the XC phase and I was feeling a little nervous! I thought come on Harriet you can do this, anyway we started out and it was going really well until… we got to this combination of two skinny brushes with very big ground lines almost like a concrete water tray with rocks and mini water fountains, anwayyyy we came round the corner and went to jump the first one, he spooked and jumped it enormously, I wasn’t expecting it, I sat back and slipped my reins, it was a long four strides to the next brush, we just couldn’t meet it. I felt I could have helped him more by putting my leg on a bit more but I think I was feeling the nerves. I was so annoyed with myself. So I have booked into Wellington to give it another go and this time I am going to nail it.
Boo was placed 4th at Borde Hill in a very wet Novice class, there were 4 double clears in total, Boo being one of them but the hunting last season really paid off. She was so sure footed and actually seem to enjoy the mud and the rain!
The highlight of my year so far with the horses is when I took Hector to his first intermediate at Aston Le walls he was amazing, he gave me the most amazing ride cross country, I was just so proud of him, he had such a hard life before his owner Sarah brought him from Ireland, he is a sensitive soul and since being at Upper Barn has gone from strength to strength and really started to put his trust in me. The reward when I went through the finish of the cross country was just the most amazing feeling!!!!!!
Very happy jockey.
I also became a show jumper this month! Now registered with British Showjumping. Hector did really well in the Foxhunter and Rosie clocked up her first double clear in the newcomers, cant wait to do more.
Next outing is Wilton Intermediate with Danny, Smiths Lawn with Arabella and Rosie and then its Boo and Hectors first CCI*
