Life is returning to normal here at the Shannon Eventing yard after the highs and lows of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
We took Louie (Zero Flight) home early on Monday from Badminton (pictured). We dropped him straight off in the capable hands of Flawborough Equine. Louie spent time there last year with a small injury (unrelated to his new one) so everyone there was happy to welcome him back. I cannot recommend their care and expertise enough, I wouldn’t trust anyone with Louie more than them.
Flawborough also put me in touch with Gilliyan Carter, who has been giving Louie the sports massage he needs after such a big event. He is already a lot more comfortable and he tells Gill this by yawning and licking his lips loads when she’s working on him! He is also going in the spa as much as possible and obviously having an unlimited supply of carrots, which I am sure is helping the situation.
Life on the yard won’t wait around though, we are taking three horses to Aston-le-Walls tomorrow and then another two for their unaffiliated classes on Sunday. Crunchie (Kilcannon Watlings Crunch) and Quality Purdey are doing the intermediate, which is Purdey’s first ever. Purdey is definitely on the fast-track with us, she has completed seven affiliated events, two of them BE100, five novice, and now is moving up.
Holly (Riffala Du Buisson) is also going to compete in the novice and then she will be qualified for intermediate as well. She will move up at Bishop Burton later this month. Crunchie will contest the CIC** (her second this year) at Rockingham before having a bit of a break. She is going brilliantly for such a young horse, and it will be great for her to compete at Rockingham, which is fairly local and where her owners, Watling JCB are sponsoring a fence.
Sunday will see Jess Shiach, my working pupil, take her horse Tiny (Jamacain Me Crazy) out alongside a new addition to the yard, Billy (Belimo Nique). Billy is owned by Watling JCB, and he is a new project for this year. He has jumped in young horse classes on the continent, but is new to eventing, so fingers crossed he proves to be a star for the future.
It is also only eight weeks now until Delphi’s (Quixotic) foal is due, which unfortunately is the weekend of Barbury Horse Trials. I hope Delphi can hold onto the foal for a few extra days to make sure I get to see it first thing, but even if I don’t, I cannot wait to have the next generation here so soon.
There is plenty enough on then to keep us busy and out of trouble, at least for now!
Lauren
Full 28-page report from Badminton Horse Trials in H&H out tomorrow, 16 May.
