19.10.2010 von Julia.

A truly incredible week!!! Obviously one always hopes for a good result, but as a ‘first-timer’ in Boekelo and with all these Stars as competitors I would never have expected to end up on 4th place..

But let’s start from the beginning: After weeks of meticulous preparations, trying neither to forget anything nor do something wrong, we were finally on our way last Wednesday! The first trot-up didn’t pose any problems and being the last one due in the dressage arena Thursday afternoon was certainly no disadvantage. After the Battle did a nice test with just a little tension in the second canter, that may have cost us some points, but a score of 50,4 pp meant 12th place before cross country. Certainly not our best result ever, but the judges generally made no presents, and 12th rank in a field of more than 100 didn’t sound too bad after all…

The xc course was quite challenging, sporting demanding lines and a wet and heavy ground due to the constant rain on Friday. Especially the first water  (fence 9a), a skinny V which had to be approached in a tight left turn and could only be recognized by the horses in the last moment, and fence 22c, skinny on a hilltop after a right turn and equally belatedly to discern, caused problems. The optimum time of 10:45 min was challenging enough and proved difficult to ride into… After half of the competitors had already been through, it was finally our turn: Buddy was just marvellous, I can’t put it any other way!!!  100% focussed from start to finish, never pulling but always moving forward, confident and trusting at every new task, it’s been pure fun And as he always fancies a good gallop anyway, he didn’t have the slightest problem to meet the time, I am convinced he would have gone another round just for the fun of it, he is a true Thoroughbred…

The Sunday morning trot-up went smoothly in spite of his being already 15 years, he had coped with the heavy ground and long course admirably, what makes me hope for several more exciting years with him. The final showjumping didn’t ask for maximum height, but was quite technical with some rather awkward distances. Clear rounds were rare, but Buddy made a last great effort, and we were the only team to finish on our dressage score on 4th place!! It actually got quite tight for the leading teams,  Michi’s margin was a mere 0.2 and Mark Todd’s 0.4 pp, if now in the dressage.. But I couldn’t have asked for a more favourable outcome, and I am over the moon with that result!!

Now Buddy will be sent into his well earned winter break. I suppose it will last quite a while, as he knows his job truly well and there is no real need for him to learn anything new during the winter… I ought to start making plans for next year someday soon, but for the moment I am just happy that all my plans for this season worked out so well and my horses can go into their holidays sound and fit :-))

Best regards, Julia

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12.10.2010 von Julia.

Last weekend, as a sort of warm-up for Boekelo CCI***, Ben, Bettina (Hoy) and I travelled to Ströhen to compete in the last (German) CIC* of the season. The weather was brilliant for a change, a little chilly but bright sunshine all day long, thus we really enjoyed the weekend in Ströhen Wildlife Park, and the results definitely came up to this standard, too:

Kaiser’s very convincing dressage performance got him 41 pp, and after a speedy and super confident xc round we were on runner up-position overnight. In Sunday’s  showjumping, he did his usual easy and style-perfect clear round, and as the overnight leader had a pole down, we won our section!  I am immensely pleased with this finish of the season, especially as Kaiser is for sale and we will probably not spend the next season together anymore. But we will hopefully find him a new rider, who I am conviced will have as much fun with him!

Ben managed to win the other section of the  CIC* with his new ride Revenue. They finished on their dressage result, too, after a speedy xc round, which sent the leading team after dressage, Bettina and Designer, down to 2nd place

All in all a top result for our little party, keep your fingers crossed for a worthy outcome of our season’s hight next weekend…

Until then, Julia

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5.10.2010 von Julia.

After having succesfully completed the qualification for  Boekelo, I used the opportunity to have a go with Kaiser.  Last weekend, we went to a “combined Novice” in Rees-Haldern as a warm-up for  CIC* Ströhen. In spite of the rather unfavourable weather and ground comditions, he performed brilliantly in all 3 phases. We won the dressage with 83%, had a clear round in showjumping (5th place) and collected some time pens in xc, which proved rather wiggly and slippery, but owing to the healthy dressage margin it still meant victory in the combination!

Next weekend, I intend to compete Kaiser in CIC* Ströhen, otherwise is the oncoming CCI***  Boekelo my top priority. Currently I am doing my best to keep Buddy as fit, confident and motivated as possible, what is not an easy task 

Until next time, Julia

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31.8.2010 von Julia.

Last weekend, Schenefeld near Hamburg staged it’s well known annual  Three-Day Trials, and it has been a great event again. Though small in number, the field of competitors comprised most of the German top eventers, and the organizers made an admirable effort to keep up conditions (and morals ) in spite of the dreadful weather.

As many others, Ben (with Wild Thing Z) and I (with Buddy) hoped to achieve a qualifying result for CCI*** - level. Thus, we decided not to compete in the CIC***-W (which was the Individual German Championship for Senior Eventers and the last compulsory trial for Kentucky), but in the CNC***, in order to “minimize the risks”…

In spite of mud and rain, Louis’ and Buddy’s dressage performances were satisfying and got them 41,4 resp. 45,8 pp, what amounted to 3^rd resp. 7^th rank. The CNC xc course proved to be a mixture of  CIC** and CIC***-W fences, lots to jump, but no technically questions at the limit, especially the first water fence was definitely more inviting. Both horses jumped brilliant clear rounds, Louis being obviously impressed by the hundreds of umbrellas around. Buddy was absolutely fabulous, we really are becoming a team in xc, it has been pure fun!

In showjumping, they both went clear, thus Buddy finished on a total 3rd and Louis on 4th place! A very satisfying result for both horses, for Louis it means the end of this year’s competing, I am grateful that he did so well and stayed sound after the intermission (ready to tackle 2011 ) For Buddy, another highlight is scheduled: We hope to be accepted in Boekelo CCI***, that would be immensely exciting and an absolute dream finish of the season!

Ben managed to win the CNC*** with Wild Thing and has thus achieved the necessary qualification for Boekelo, too!! Woolpit Amble finished her first Advanced on a rewarding 7^th rank.

Krispe competed in the CIC**, performed well in dressage during the trot and canter movements and the first part of the walk, but these “turn about the haunches” and all this walk-canter-walk business still upsets her a little, thus we collected 54 pp. With a speedy double clear in xc and sj, we finished 3^rd, and received the “Best  Style Award” for our xc round! For Krispe, another CIC** in Varsseveld is scheduled.

Yours, Julia

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16.8.2010 von Julia.

I must admit that I am a little ashamed to realize that my last entry here has been quite some time ago, but I am glad to tell that it has been a similarly happy occasion!

Last weekend we went to Bad Harzburg for a “warm up” after the summer break. Sadly only Buddy was able to compete, Krispe was on sick leave, she had had pus in the foot last Monday. Very unsuitable, but at least harmless… Buddy and I were able to continue were we stopped last time: In the Dressage test he was somewhat irritated by the myriads of flies around, and maybe I didn’t give him 100% support, thus we got 46,1, we should surely be able to do better than that!

Then he did an absolutely brilliant and motivated xc round, which brought us into the lead. We did not give way due to another clear round in showjumping, and I am especially happy about that as it is my first victory with Buddy

Also very good news:  Ben and Woolpit Amble finished on 4th place in the CIC**!!

My next competition will be Schenefeld, were Buddy shall hopefully aquire the necessary qualifying result for a start in CCI*** (probably in the national Advanced, which is also the German Individual Championship). Louis is also entered, it will be his first Advanced, but after the victory in Hünxe I am very confident! Krispe has been rescheduled for the CIC** to gain some more experience. We will be quite busy, but, as we all know, - no pain, no gain

Yours, Julia

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30.6.2010 von Julia.

A short week after I returned from England with the whole kit and caboodle, we were on our way again to Strzegom (Poland). In order not to waste a whole day travelling, we drove the 700 something km through the night (Tuesday to Wednesday), what proved to be somewhat exhausting, but worked out quite well, especially as we were lucky to get even two days to rest and recover due to our dressage test being scheduled first on Friday.

Believing that once we are on it, we can do the whole thing as well, I had decided to tackle the CIC***-World Cup with Buddy. The sojourn in England had done so much to improve his confidence, and my faith in him was justified! He did his dressage test quite relaxed and in his usual correct manner (it’s not his fault that he has no spectacular gaits to show off despite the arena being, let’s say, somewhat sub standard. We got 46 pens, what meant 8^th rank overnight.

The xc course was quite big (as could be expected for a world cup) but that was just what we had practised in England. There were also several technical questions, especially at the first water complex, which gave me some headache beforehand. But when finally on the course, Buddy did a brilliant round, was really eager and enthusiastic right from start to finish, fighting with me all the way to produce a clear round within the time!

In the final showjumping, our good fortune momentarily left us for a genuine “Buddy moment”, a stop at a diminuitive ditch… I have no real explanation for it, could certainly have been more alert , but if’s and when’s don’t help after the event. We ended up on 7^th place finally, what leaves me really happy as a result for a first 3star and with Buddy, too! He will get some well-earned rest now before we tackle the autumn term and hope to produce some further nice results

So long, Julia

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15.6.2010 von Julia.

Last Saturday, I went for the last competition of my present sojourn in England. I took all five horses to Hexham for what was meant to be a just-for-fun training session. ..After 8 weeks in England I should have known better: BE Intermediate xc-courses are usually not just-for-fun…

But let’s start from the beginning: Dodo had been entered for another Novice which he did with great confidence, got 28 pen in the dressage (1^st place) and double clear. As I went extra steady through xc (no use to risk anything last moment here) we collected a number of time penalties and finished two out of the ribbons. I am really satisfied with the progress he’s been making in competing over here and hope he will continue like this…

I competed Krispe in the Novice, too, she was very calm during her test (33 pen), maybe even a little too sedate, but better this than the other way round. In sj we had one down out of carelessness, in xc she was quite motivated again. I tried to take her steady,too, thus we ended on 10^th place.

Buddy, Kaiser und Louis were all to go (Open) Intermediate. All three did nice dressage tests, Buddy and Louis scored 30 pp each, Kaiser in the other section 23 ! (best result, and there were also Ruth Edge, Nicola Wilson and Oliver Townend in this section!) Buddy and Kaiser both went clear in sj, Louis hit the 3^rd fence, that obviously aroused him and he jumped the remaining course superbly. As I should have expected, the cross country course was quite massive, with a number of drops  and no chance of a respite after the first three fences. Buddy was really eager from the beginning and it has been fun to take him through, but I think we should practice some water fences before going to Strzegom, the rather uninviting water jumps at Auchinleck and Brigstock seem to have strained his confidence… Kaiser jumped also well from the beginning, but became obviously somewhat intimidated by all those massive fences and lost a shoe (again!) on the turn to the 3^rd last fence. I had to do a volte and got penalized 20. I have the impression that he would prefer the more technical courses to ‘old-fashioned english’, but maybe he will grow accustomed to them after all… I finally decided to withdraw Louis before xc, as he is usually very confident and has proven in Brigstock that he can do big fences comfortably, I felt that there was more to risk than to gain (in experience, if not in winnings anyway

Tuesday evening we will be heading back for Germany, I am happy to say that I had a great time here in England, gaining priceless new experience and practical knowledge. Difficult to say what was the most important if it, but as a first guess it would be the development of my cross country seat (“safety seat”) thanks to Chris’ invaluable coaching and my new saddle: A PASSIER “Eventing”, which has been graciously provided by the Passier Company. Additionally, I learned that even a small slope can be a great advantage for flatwork and I will certainly try to continue that in Warendorf… There is much more still, not to mention the unestimable practical benefits to be obtained from eventing in Britain..

See you soon in good old Germany!

Yours, Julia

Kaiser at Houghton equipped with Passier saddle and bridle (earned by himself by winning the VL in Hannover in March

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8.6.2010 von Julia.

Last Saturday, Dodo has competed in another Novice in Brand Hall, and he did really well again! Up to last season, he tended to be a little unreliable in xc, had the odd run-out at technical fences when he got confused or tired. Therefore I planned to make use of the time in Britain to let him gain lots of experience in competitions at a moderate level.

He had a superior dressage result of 20,0 pp. Unfortunately, we then had a pole down in sj, but that was definitely my fault, tottering towards a wide oxer without any distance (really sweet of him to jump at all! ;-))… The cross-country course was built attractively, we approached it steadily to allow him to focus on the fences. He went across very confidently and finished on 3^rd place!

So far, Dodo’s performance (and results) has been very promising, it looks as if my plan works out…

Next weekend, I will already be heading for my last event in UK: With all 5 horses (hopefully..) at Hexham.

So long, Julia

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30.5.2010 von Julia.

about how 2 mm spoiled the perfect weekend…

Already Tuesday morning I had been on the road again with Kaiser and Krispe, to compete them in the CCI* in Houghton Hall. Tuesday afternoon the Trot Up for the first section was scheduled (besides the CCI* divided in two sections, there was also a CCI** and CIC*** with altogether more than 300 competitors!) thus I was in for a relaxed week with only two horses and five days to ride in a 3-Day Event. To say it at once: Both my horses were just perfect, it was really a super event, the English know how to organize things and are enthusiastic hosts! Though I am meanwhile getting accustomed to competing in the breathtakingly beautiful parks of the grandest English Houses,  for all those who want to have a look, too, here the link to  he very informative website of Houghton Hall

The  first start was Dressage with Kaiser, our score of 45.6 pp meant a 3^rd place overnight. I was quite satisified, especially as I believe I could achieve even more by a somewhat riskier performance… My personal highlight was Krispe’s test, after having been ridden already twice that day, she gave a very relaxed and correct performance, which was rewarded with a score of 44.7 pp, 2^nd place overnight! I was really glad about it, as she usually tends to be excited, but obviously we are getting a grip on things

The xc course was quite long with nearly 8 min optimum time, but fair and invitingly built with several technical questions. Both horses went smoothly and with confidence, Kaiser was nicely motivated from start to finish, Krispe sometimes even a little too much, but we are still learning to get on with each other (it was, after all, only our third event together…)

The  Trot Up  Saturday morning was when it happened: During the presentation on the graveled ground before the Hall, Kaiser was suddenly lame (at the stables, I had only been able to test him on grass). I was really alarmed, as he had seemed fit before…  The lameness obviously was situated in the hoof, when the farrier later removed the shoe, he discovered that one of the nails had been set quite high and narrow to the White Line(Kaiser had been freshly shoed on Monday, quite close, but I had had no other possibility). Possibly the strain of the long gallop on the hard ground had caused the pain…Such things happen, let’s hope that he will get well soon, and be fit to compete at Hexham! Krispe was ok, jumped an easy clear round in sj and won the section!!! Eventing in Britain really seems to be her thing: two starts, two victories

(This Magnum bottle of Champagne for the winner of each section came just right as a present for Greta’s birthday who had had to stay behind and look after the other three horses this time)

So long, Julia

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25.5.2010 von Julia.

Also my third competition in UK, last weekend at Brigstock, has been a real success: Krispe and Dodo won their respective sections of the Novice with their dressage results of 23,5 resp. 18,5 penalty points! (I suppose that will stay my lowest result ever to finish an event with - I really like the British dressage score system The dressage marks of Louis und Buddy in the CIC** were not quite as spectacular, they will have to get used to dressage arenas situated amongst the stalls in direct vicinity to a bouncy castle…

When walking the course of the CIC**, I didn’t believe my eyes at first - thus I decided to make this picture book  out of the photos we took. For those who want to know the complete results, here the link (fill in “Krajewski” at the bottom of the page and press “submit query”).

So long, Julia (already in Houghton Hall)

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