Well, after a hectic day yesterday we’ve had a great chill out today at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
As I’ve done my dressage, I took “Louie” (Zero Flight) for a nice hack with a light gallop this morning. I think he was happy to be out and not have to do any shoulder-in, half-pass or flying changes.
I then got “Crunchie” (Kilcannon Credit Crunch), the horse owned by myself and Watling JCB ready for the Burghley young event horse five-year-old final. Mark Kyle rode her, as I had to go to the doctor today, but she went well. Touching a couple poles in the showjumping, just from jumping too big at the beginning and “bursting her bubble”, meant she missed out on the top 10. However, I was over the moon with her temperament and how she dealt with the crowds and so on.
I went to the doctor today to get a final X-ray on my wrist and make sure I was 100% to compete cross-country. Luckily, I have been given the final all clear so now I’m ready to crack on!
I walked the course this afternoon with some of Crunchie’s owners. We had a great walk round, taking plenty of pictures in the ditch at Cottesmore Leap.
Then it was back to the celebrity talk area, for another chat with Jonty Evans and Claire Lomas and Lucinda Green — I’m starting to feel a bit of a celebrity myself!
So now it’s time for an early night, as I feel the cross-country course tomorrow will shake up the leader board considerably. I’m in equal 35th at the moment, but anything can happen tomorrow so I’m just concentrating on getting round and having fun.
Lauren
Lauren will be blogging from Burghley every day this week. Keep checking the homepage for her diaries or find them all at www.horseandhound.co.uk/laurenshannon.
Follow Burghley as it happens with H&H Live. Visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2011live to re-live the dressage action and join in tomorrow.
