What a great month we have had leading up to Shelford ode. Preparing Guy we took him to Arena Uk to do some riding club showjumping, which he did a lovely clear round and we also took him to Field farm XC to get some xc practice under our belts where I learnt to not take him for granted,he is a horse and can stop at fences which is unusal for him but I think he was testing me!! Better to do that in practice than in competition!! Meanwhile I had been selected from 200 entries to go on to the next stage of getting nearer to be the next Super x Country sponsored rider, where it was now down to who would get the most votes on a polldaddy poll via facebook and be in the last final 5.
Shelford ode would be our first proper ode where anything could happen. I walked the xc course the weekend before-BE was running- knowing it would be the same course, weather was beautiful even being on the hot side. It came to Wednesday 29th May forecast was dry for a couple of hours then turning very wet. My times were 11.38, 13.22 and 14.06 I think I was going to get wet!!! We arrived in plenty of time as we have new transport now and a new routine with less space. Tacking up in the sunshine we wondered whether they had the weatherforecast wrong!? Guy warmed up fantastic for the dressage and did a super flowing test, I knew as soon as I came out of the arena where marks could have been picked up but was very pleased with the test as a whole. There was quite a wait until showjumping just as the rain started. The ground was getting more slippery and churned up so I made sure Guy was studded up with the biggest studs I had. Keeping the showjumping warm up to the minimum as I didnt want to risk over doing it in these conditions Guy was absolutely flying, unfortuately I think the ground conditions was a factor in having one pole down but he made the course feel very easy-coming out with a huge smile on my face:) By now the rain was constant both mum and I were drenched to the our socks lol! many people were withdrawing, Guy felt awesome so we carried on.Warming up for the xc I made sure he popped a warm up fence well as the ground in front of the practice fences were extremely muddy and didnt want to risk guy loosing his confidence sliding into a warm up fence, soon we were called over to start, rain dripping off my silk, we got our countdown. Guy knew what this was all about and did a mini rear as it was 3.2 and off we went taking a flyer at the first then settling for the course over the logs, hedge and onto the water which was catching people out as it was so deep but guy plunged through it and over the steeplechase fence out onwards out of sight to the back of the woods, couldnt see where i was going taking a short cut past the pre novice fence to a skinny and over the roll top to a drop, 3/4 of the way round now a seat,step up a few more skinnies and we were home. What a fantastic feeling Guy was back on form!! Quickly getting back to our little lorry to wash him off get him rugged up and get some dry clothes on. We were in a strong class with some professional riders so wasnt expecting the world but a placing would be great. After sorting ourselves out I went off to see how we had got on, alot of the tests were between 35-40 and we had a mark of 31 WOW!! I think that was the second best mark in the class, with the one pole down it would be down to how riders had got on xc, many people had got pens and time faults but as usual we were clear. The last marks of our class went up and I had won, I really didnt know whether to laugh or cry. My boy was back to where we left off last season and he had come through from a bad injury to win-marvellous!!! To top it off my main concern would be a few days after the competition to make sure he wasnt sore and we hadnt reoccured any of his injury but he was fine-thank god!! He will be defiantly going BE now probably BE100 yipeee!!!!!!