A day of complicated logistics with 7 horses heading to Hartpury International for various classes over the next few days and 6 from the yard heading up to Aston le Walls in Northampton. So it was the Didi that went to Aston and the Maxi that headed up to Hartpury with Rosie in the Didi and Jess heading up the Hartpury crew in the Maxi.
A very early start for Tim and Jonelle and a cool start for the day for Tim with Garcon (Tibo) who posted a 28 dressage and then show jumped a very smart clear. Tibo is polite at one days and can get quite rude down to a fence cross country at the bigger ones where Tim has regretted his bit choice some five fences from the start! Today he ran Tibo a bit quicker before his trip out to Arville in Belgium next week for the 4*Short and in picking up just 2 time he duly went and won the section.
The Highlander (Ivar) won his last start at Aston as well but today was a steady affair with Ivar’s first 4*Short next week as he also heads to Arville. A 28 dressage, a really smooth jumping round and a cruisey clear cross country ticked all the boxes for his prep. Most horses are better jumping before cross country but Tim commented today that Ivar is actually easier to showjump at a three day as he is not so exuberant and is easier to ride. He is a tricky one at a one day, not unlike Ascona M (Ava) as you never quite know what jump he is going to throw at any of the fences but he does do his utter best to give them as much space as possible!
Jonelle had Capitaine de Hus Z (Alvin) out for prep run before Scone 4*Long, Senor Crocodillo (Diego) for his first run since Luhmuhlen 5 star and I Like it de Rohan (Kiki) in the intermediate. Alvin did a credible 31 test, Kiki a reasonable 35 which was much more like Kiki’s half on your side, half not and a world away from her pyscho Burgham behaviour, and Diego a very grown up 26.
Alvin jumped such a beautiful showjumping round he picked up 2 time faults which is the price you pay for having such a smooth and artful display of jumping! Jonelle cut some corners with Kiki and jumped another classy clear and Diego sported his Liquid Titanium hood and he also jumped a very impressive round.
They all went well cross country with Kiki learning loads and Alvin and Diego finding it all very easy as they are supposed to do. Cosby Green rode ex Jonelle ride Illico de l’Esques into a solid double clear in his intermediate for 6th spot and that was Team Price done for the day by 1.30pm. Cosby also piloted another ex Jonelle ride, Cooley Seeing Magic (Guthrie) into a solid double clear in the OI and she also heads to Arville next week with an appearance on the USA Nations Cup Team with ex Jonelle and Chris Burton ride Clever Louis. Cosby is having a dream season on so many fronts and is mightily enjoying it!
Tim and Jonelle headed off in the car for Hartpury with the Audi absolutely rammed with gear that had to also go to Hartpury. From competition clothes to tack, spurs, hats, number bibs and so tight was it all that puppy Mico had to travel in the footwell of the passenger seat….which he did seem very happy about to be fair!
Meanwhile at Hartpury Louella had swapped her jods for jog gear and trotted up Faerie Good Golly and Gloire de Marchenval (Louis) with Beth and Jess as her able helpers. Jonelle and Tim were planning on riding those horses on arrival at Hartpury for their 3*Long dressage tomorrow and also Global Quest (George) in the 4*Short, Happy Boy and Vitali in the British Open and Chilli’s Midnight Star (Ollie) and Grappa Nera (Grape) in the British Open for Jonelle.
I think they will sleep well tonight!
Photo credit Rachel Good
