Mid-Season Round-Up

June and July are funny months for eventing, it feels like there should be lots on but we just seem to be at Aston-Le-Walls a lot.

Kojak had another good run at Nunney in the CCI3*, jumping double clear after a dressage test that contained a few too many 4* moves.  He’s been really enjoying prepping for his 4* debut at Burgham and wanted to show off his changes a bit too much.

Having opted to not run Zorro at Nunney we re-routed to Howick, which had been beefed up since my previous visit.  A really good and challenging Novice track was just what we needed and helped us deliver a 2^nd place finishing on his 25.8 dressage score.

Back to Aston for the International with Crunchie in the 3* and he produced some great work, just rubbing an unlucky pole.  He’s such a class horse and with so much scope and enthusiasm.

Breaking up the trips to Aston we headed over to Upton House, which is always a super event, and they put so much effort into the ground there.  Lulu very much enjoyed her first run back since Badminton, breezing round the OI.  It was also another great run for Zorro, who finished 3^rd in the ON once again completing on his 28.8 dressage.  Upton do a great job producing some challenging courses, in both phases, and really giving the horses something to look at and think about.

The July highlight (not another Aston trip) is always Burgham.  I’ve got some great memories of this event, having won the 3* with Lulu here in the past.  This time in the 4* Lulu had a blast galloping round a great track, for another good finish.

It was Kojak’s turn to step up to 4*, and as much as we’d originally planned to do this at Aston, it turns out that Burgham was the perfect place for him.  He produced some great work in the dressage, still getting to grips with the work required at this level and went on to jump two really confident rounds.  I could not have been more pleased with him and for his super supportive owners Molly, Lucy and Sam.  It’s been great having them along for the journey, with so much more to come from this special boy.  With the first 4* safely out of the way we can now focus on refining everything ready for the Blenheim 8/9YO Championships in September.