Hot was the order of the day at Farley today with very few riders opting to wear jackets and plenty of cooling off required. Farley had done their best with the ground and for the horses that love top of the ground it was good and for the mud lovers it was firm. When the UK has a mini heatwave the water evaporates pretty fast when it hits 30 degrees!
The BE entry system had a major crash whilst everyone was trying to enter Farley but secretary Josie Brettell had done her absolute best to accommodate riders. Sectioning meant that Tim and Jonelle had three rides today and one novice apiece tomorrow which is not perfect but better than not getting a run!
Jonelle had Faerie Usain (Maude) and I like it de Rohan (Kiki) doing her first intermediate and Hiarado (Jools) running HC in place of Faerie Good Golly who had to give up her place as Jools was not given a space. Maude posted a 34.3 on the flat, jumped a very scopey clear in the tough showjumping track and sped around the cross country for just 4.4 time and eventual 3rd spot which was very impressive. The jump arena at Farley has more of a slope than you first realise and the course builder revels in his downhill verticals and his uphill trebles! Maude has a style very similar to Classic Moet’s in that it’s pretty hollow but she has more scope and she is really learning to use it and be more consistent. It was a classy round.
Jools bounded around the track looking delighted to be back out again and having posted a classy 26 on the flat also ate up the cross country with just 1.6 time. Jonelle has a smile on her face that goes from ear to ear when she jumps Jools and it’s a very happy partnership. They head to glitzy Aachen next which I am sure Jools will find right up her street!
Kiki scored a credible 31 for her first intermediate test and then backed that up with a superb clear round in the jumping. She’s a really game little mare and has an expression of extreme concentration on her face which is so cute. She attacked her cross country with gusto and having jumped bravely into the coffin gawped at the ditch for a second, stepped sideways and then launched over it and jumped the out. It was a fair test and she came out the other side of it well. Jonelle came back and said she “might have picked up a 20” but clearly the jump judge likes drizzly grey English summer days and not nice sunny warm ones as she gave Kiki 60 jumping for 2 stops which is a bit mean!
Tim had Vitali in the OI and he won the dressage in his section for a 21.1 and then he took the lid off for the showjumping and was very fresh! He sat on a back rail of a downhill over for 4 faults and then much to his disgust was untacked and withdrawn from the next fun bit. Tim commented that Vitali “would learn nothing from the intermediate at Farley” and that he would far rather prep him for his first Aachen with some arena exercises at home and a Shane Breen lesson over coloured fences at Hickstead. Ever the professional our Tim!
Gloire de Marchenval (Louis) and The Highlander (Ivar) are heading off to Jardy 3*Long in France as their next target in mid July so despite Ivar scooping 2nd after dressage in his section with a 26.8, Louis a 32.5 and them both jumping superb clear rounds they both had the brakes on cross country. Ivar added 18 whilst Louis really did take the scenic route for 29.2. Tim rarely goes quick at a one day and today was no exception.
He was hot between rides though and resorted to removing his crash hat and ducking his head into a bucket by the truck! Both Tim and Jonelle were quick to jump in the shower after their three rides and don shorts and tee shirts.
Cosby Green is still on a roll after her amazing Luhmuhlen and today she piloted two first time intermediate’s to 2nd and 9th and a great placing on Illico de l’Esques (Nico) for 4th. Doris Day, her novice that Tim and Jonelle bred, was a bit greener in her second novice for a couple of rails and two gawps cross country but she always wants to come home which is all you can ask of a baby!
Tim is back tomorrow with Indy du Loir and Jonelle with LSF The Boss. Eventing in the sunshine really is good fun!