Both did reasonable dressages of 60, which was quite respectable as the French judges weren't that keen on our English riding!
Then the XC, although not huge, was quite technical. Both were very bold XC, but not quite as bold as the French as they do seem to like going flat out everywhere on a long rein. MC picked up a few time penalties which brought him way up the order. However, Hermes stayed in about the same position.
They both trotted up well and Hermes had 1 down in the SJ, and MC had 3 down - which was quite good for him and the competition. I think it was a great event and good experience for them both.
And apart from getting lost in Paris on the way home, it was good fun!
... and then there was a series of cancelled events and nowhere to run!
Sonic managed to squeeze a few events in and now seems back to his usual cheeky self, so he is entered for Weston Park CCI**.
Hermes has been very consistent since getting back. I think jumping a couple of foxhunters and his trip abroad have sharpened him up. He finished 4th at Winkburn in the Novice and 6th at Purston Manor in the PAVO section so he has qualified for the final at Twesledown.
Maybe Cavalier has unfortunately finished his seasona little early. He wa going to run at Weston Park CCI** but for once he got balloted out. Normally not a good thing, but he had a little knock at Burnham Market on his first run back and he is now on box rest.
Hex came back for a couple of runs. He was 7th at Winkburn in the IN, although 2nd after the dressage. One SJ down and a few time penalties proved to be expensive.
Star Quality has made a reappearance! He did the ON at Purston. He was a little on the lively side, but seemed to really enjoy it. He did a lovely double clear, but I went slowly XC to finish 11th. I'm very much looking forward now to running him around a few OI's to see how he copes with the strain.
Burghley CCI****
I find it very difficult to ride at Burghley as I have a ridiculous amount of pressure on me, mainly put on by myself, but also from the well wishers who I feel like I need to please.
Troy, however, decided it wasn't to be his Burghley.
He did quite a reasonable dressage test (although I'm looking forward to improving on that next year). But the XC wasn't his day. He jumped very well over the first few and for once they were big enough to stop him pulling my arms out. However, I put him onto a babyish line at the first big complex which made the distance wrong for the final element. The whole experience seemed to bother him after that and at the next fence he seemed very unsettled. So after stopping very quickly there (I didn't realise my position was quite that secure!) he completely lost the plot. Finally, I decided to call it a day.
However, onwards and upwards as they say.
Since then Troy has seemed to be suffering from the hard ground. It does make you ask if he was suffering before he went to Burghley? And I have just decided to run him in a couple of OI's and then call it for the year. We will try again next spring.
The search for the next Troy keeps continuing and I will keep you posted on that too. I have a particularly nice 4 year old in at the moment. So fingers crossed he is it!
Julia x
