Well where do I begin! This year has definitely been an up and down rollercoaster!
We begin the year with Guinness being off games and Alina being incredible and end the year with Alina being off and Guinness going really well!
Following the winter regionals in February Guinness started to go downhill, his performance was reducing and he just didn't feel happy, after a thorough vet examination was carried out and given the all clear we decided to stay at home for a bit and see how if he had just lost his love for competing, unfortunately it went further downhill and he started rearing every time we turned left and tried to trot, after multiple investigations nothing was picked up until we finally found an issue, the saddle! So a change of saddle thanks to Ellie Norrie and Custom saddles I have my old boy back and now awaiting his new saddle which is being made at present. It seems his time off has done him the world of good and we have a happy and more co operative horse and I'm really looking forward to putting the novices behind us in 2019 and looking at moving up to medium. We also made it to the BRC Dressage to music championships at Elementary, the Under 25 BD championships and had a go at our first Quadrille which he was impeccably behaved in!
Nutmeg has also had quite a year! At 26 years old she still doesn't want to be outdone by the younger ones, She qualified for the BD VHS Dressage championships however we decided to concentrate on he showing this year, We attended Royal Windsor where we were just outside the placings and then went to the Royal Three counties show where she was placed in both the in hand and ridden! We then followed this by winning our first in hand show championship at Churchfield Farm and then went to the ESUK Championships where she won 3 20+ championships and went through to the evening performance. What a year and we hope to be back out again in 2019! At this point I have to thank BettaLife who have supported us with PharmaQuin for Nutmeg which without we definitely would not have made it out this year and during the winter season we have been using the higher dose to keep her comfortable.
Alina became my team competition horse this year whilst Guinness was off work, she attended the BD Youth Inter regionals with me and although a little out of her depth as she is still very much at the start of her competition career as a dressage horse it was a good experience for her and I hope we will be back out again in 2019 contesting the Senior teams. She moved up to novice level earlier this year after being placed 3rd and 4th at our first championships together at Prelim. We then took to the affiliated scene and she has proved to be miss consistent and qualified for the PetPlan championships. Unfortunately she injured herself in November whilst jumping around paddocks and misjudging the post and rail and caught herself in it. After 6 weeks off she is now just coming back into work and looking 100% again.
This year saw Martin and Diane compete in their first Regionals and becoming Champion and reserve regional champion giving her her ticket for the Winter Championships which was great experience for her and hopefully she will get to return their again one day!
And last but not least I have to mention this special one! Gucci (my 21st birthday present), Daughter of Diane who started her ridden education only a few months back, we will hopefully be out contesting the young horse classes next year together.
So as 2018 closes and 2019 begins I'd just like to thank my Sponsors BettaLife and also to the support that ReesRussell, Equine Innovations and E-rider have given us over this past year and I hope to work with them again in 2019! Also to my Parents who constantly support me and help me everyway they can to reach my goals.
So happy new year!
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