So it has been a little while since I have updated you all on my wonderful event pony Roo! She’s completed her check ligament rehab programme and has come out the other side fit and sound with all the scans showing a full recovery. I don’t have the words to describe how thrilled I am! But I’m getting ahead of myself… so let’s back-track a bit.
I got the email that we’d qualified for the BE90 Eventer’s Challenge at the SsangYong’ Blenheim International Horse Trials while she was currently off work. I opened the email shortly after receiving the two Regional Final qualifications and frankly… it was just depressing. It was another thing that would have been AWESOME that we couldn’t do. But I checked out the date anyway and realised it MIGHT have been possible to get her back before then. I sent it to my vet and physio and both, like me, were sceptically hopeful. So when the entries opened I sent mine in. It was only a £40 entry fee and provided me with two tickets that retail at just under £20 each anyway. To me this was a win win. If we make it back in time to compete… then cool. If not I use the tickets for a day of spectating at Blenheim.
We hired a local venue to have a jump around a ‘proper’ course so I could make my decision about if she was ready or not. She flew round and didn’t touch a pole. So I knew the fitness and ability was there and after looking at lots of videos of the course in previous years I decided to go for it. We were going to take wide lines and stay steady… it was just a dream come true to compete somewhere with a big name that she’d qualified for.
The 4.30am alarm was set and all nine horses were sorted before we hit the road at 6.30. It was a lovely smooth journey up sticking to all the main roads. We arrived at good time, checked in and started course walking. The course stayed true to its reputation of being very twisty and tight on the time. The ground was a little slippy and poached so I walked our wider lines where most people hadn’t ridden. Then it was a quick tack up and into the warm up. The rain held off right until the bell rang as I went in. Typical for me! But Roo didn’t mind and we bossed it! The rain actually made the photos look more impressive! I rode her a little deep to the double where she tapped the rail for 4 jumping faults and we racked up a load of time penalties… but who cares? It was so much fun and Roo and I loved every minute of cantering and jumping in a competitive ring together again.
We finished the day with a bit of shopping, an interview with Gracie Tyte from Ponynuts (my first interview so a little cringe-worthy but pleased with myself on the whole) and walking the 4* course. It was the first time I’d been to Blenhiem and it certainly won’t be the last!