Pandora Briselden – A mixed season

Owen and I have had a very mixed season so far, some hot dressage tests early on in the season, a silly trial of new kit at an event and me almost fainting mid cross country round meant we have had a bit of a odd and frustrating final season together but a 4th place at Aldon pony trial, a wonderful clear round our first Withington manor CICP* and a long awaited WIN at Aston le walls pony trial meant everything was crossed for Brand hall British pony championships.

A very fit and hot Owen meant a test that could have been better in my eyes but it still left us 5th after the dressage phase in a huge field. He then jumped the absolute round of his life cross country round a very testing track just picking up some time faults on the hard ground with a very quick optimum time. He flew the second trot up and left us in potentially a good position if we had a half decent showjumping round, unfortunately horses are great levellers and a complete freak mistake meant we ended with the opposite of the result we wanted which was gutting to say the least.

We put that out of our minds and headed to treborough for the open novice (It’s very exciting, as Owen has now gained enough points that he needs to be in the open novice class!!) where he did a lovely test and a super easy double clear with a steady XC round on firm ground to put us 4th. He’s then had a few quiet weeks while I’ve been on holiday etc. He is now aimed at Sapey and Gatcombe open novices before heading off to Belgium to compete at Waregem in the CIC* class which everyone here is vey excited about. We are hoping to maintain our 100% clear cross country jumping record at 1*! He will then devastatingly be up for sale as I am out of ponies this year.

Millie has been put even more to the side while I’ve been doing GCSES and then focusing on Owen but she had a double clear at moreton at the beginning of the year and has just come out after nearly 6 months not competing and done a foot perfect double clear inside the time at Smiths Lawn Be100 open. We are really gelling now, especially in the showjumping which is our weakest phase. She is aimed at Bicton and Sapey 100u18 before possibly making the step up to novice with me at Gatcombe novice.