Sally Dent Eventing

A soggy, fun week at the last Blair!
Ritchie and I got to dressage in the main arena which was a fab experience, we did a nice test leaving us right in the middle of the class for 35.9.
Sadly the Scottish weather meant the ground wasn’t ideal for Ritchie, he really tried for me in the showjumping around a big 1* track but was getting stuck in the mud, we had to compulsory retire as did half the competitors in my section.
Gutted we didn’t get to cross - country but it means his legs have been saved for another day.
We had a lovely time experiencing Blair with great friends too ☺️

Last Sunday we competed HC at Burgham horse trials.
Ritchie produced a lovely test for 25.8 and then jumped double clear inside the time!
He’s being such good fun this season 🩵🩵

On Saturday we competed at area eventing in the chairman’s cup.
We had a fab day doing a nice test, jumping double clear to take the WIN!🥇 🥇, qualifying us for the championships.
He’s feeling great and looking forward to our next event 🩵

Ritchie is back in action after a long 10 months of rehab! Ritch did a lovely double clear inside the time with a 27.5 dressage competing HC at Alnwick Ford.
So very pleased to have my happy boy back.
The rider was quite rusty🫣🫣
Hopefully we have a fun season ahead of us🩵🩵

Ritchie in our xc lesson, both having a tune up after floors. Was a very good boy 🤍

Today was not exactly how I thought our first 2* would go together, a nice show jumping lead me to feel confident about the big xc we had coming but sadly got an elimination at the C element of the water. Gutted is an understatement as he felt so good at the beginning of the course but these are the things that happen so we can learn and improve from them, time for some more training and then hopefully we’ll give that 2* another go!

Well today was definitely just far too exciting for Ritchie at his first event back this season at Lincoln in the Novice, two added movements of a buck to the dressage ended up in a not so great score, he was jumping really well for his first time show jumping on grass since last season but we sadly just rolled two, and Ritchie ended the day doing a nice clear XC however it’s felt like not such a great day with Ritchie having a breakdown before he went xc but I can’t thank the stewards enough at the event who allowed me to go and also got me out on the course, hopefully we’ve got all the excitement out of him today 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Ritchie had his first grass xc session yesterday, having lots of fun over some tricky lines. Fair to say he’s raring to go!

He’s also been having fun at Park End Equestrian Training Centre doing some grids, as well as showjumping last weekend, doing two lovley clears to win both his classes

A very bittersweet day last Wednesday waving Captain off to his new home, his character will be so very missed but we are also excited for what’s to come for him. Learning together as a 13 and 6 year old wasn’t always smooth sailing but I’m so proud of the amazing little pony he has become, he will definitely always be the most fun pony I will ever go xc on. Can’t thank him enough for all he’s done for me and taught me, Have fun in your new home, Rosabella Harrison - One Girl and Her Pony💙💙

A great way to finish the season for Ritchie and I doing our last two events for the 2022 season last weekend at Allerton Novice u18 and on Saturday at Alnwick Ford’s Open Novice (unless I persuade mum for one more!). We sadly rolled the last fence at Allerton but had a lovely clear xc which was causing problems, and yesterday Ritchie jumped his socks off for a double clear around another technical track for 8th!

Yesterday felt like we have really formed a partnership at this level now, making everything the more exciting for next season. Thank you to my Instructors for helping me have a successful season, Ridley Park End Equestrian Training Centre, John Hill Equestrian Training, and especially to Barbie Clarkson for your continuous help, support and advice ☺️

I Started the week at champs finding out my A levels, thankfully I was super pleased to have A*AB. Then I was competing in the 100+ class for the rest of the week.

I’m really happy with the test Ritchie and I produced, a couple mistakes were made but the movements we have been working on I finally felt were starting to come together, however Ritchie was not to the judges taste, receiving quite a disheartening and undeserving mark. Ritchie was keen in the tight show jumping arena, not having the space meant I couldn’t quite get the right rhythm out of him that he needs, however he stormed the cross country doing a foot perfect round and I couldn’t be more pleased with how I feel the dressage is coming together at the next level and how amazing he feels around the xc course. Special well done to the SNPC 100 team finishing 8th!😊

Another great event for Ritchie and I at burgham horse trails competing in the Open Novice. Got our PB dressage score for 26.5! Then a lovely double clear just adding some time penalties, being cautious of the going, to finish 9th in a competitive section. Such a dude 🤍