Well what a month team Jackson has had, apologies for the delayed update. After Luke ran so well at Blenheim we decided to postpone his winter holiday and aim him for the 4 star at Pau in the South of France, and to aim Jack for the 2 star as he had such an interrupted season.
In preparation we ran both horses in the OI at Oasby, where they both did reasonable tests, had one down each show jumping and nice steady clears XC. The main objective being to give them a happy successful outing and return in one piece in time to make the 2 day trip to Pau.
I travelled with my sister who was the worlds best super groom all week for me in France, and two members of the Irish team, Lousie Lyons and Captain Brian Curran Cournane, his groom Anto and Laura Shears Groom Caroline, so the lorry was fairly full! We left Tetsworth at 4am on Sunday morning, and arrived in Pau on Monday afternoon after a short break at Poitiers to rest both horses and drivers.
After a couple of days light work for the horses to recover from the journey Luke had his trot up on Wednesday, and Jack his dressage on Thursday. Jack performed his best test to date and scored a very respectable 51 which left him in 14th place. He coped very well with the atmosphere and made very few errors in a nice flowing test. Sadly his owner Gill Watson was busy with British Eventing duties and missed his international debut in the dressage but arrived in time for Luke's dressage on friday. Luke's test was certainly a personal best for him. He scored 58 which was higher than i'd hoped for but again was very relaxed and tried really hard in his first 4*.
XC day dawned so misty that neither Jack nor I could see an awful lot for the first 5 fences of our round! He ran really well though for certainly his biggest challenge so far to jump a clear round with 11 time faults, very respectable given how twisty the track was. I have to admit walking the 4* track for the first time filled me with awe! Pierre Michelet is a genius course designer producing not only a huge bold attacking course but also extremely twisty and technical. Luke gave 100% the whole way around jumping quite beautifully. He was extremely unlucky to have his score card marred by 20 penalties having jumped so high over the middle drop element of a combination that he landed on his nose and wasn't able to see the final part. Apart from that he was brave and straight and for the most part fairly obedient. Completing our first 4* XC felt like a real milestone. Something I have always dreamt of doing and finally had the chance to go for it.
Both boys trotted up well on Sunday morning and looked as immaculate and fresh as they had on day one which is a massive credit to my wonderful back up team both out in Pau: Gill Watson, my parents, and my sister, and the gang back at the yard. Huge thanks to all.
Jack didn't show jump particularly well with 16 penalties, but i think he and i will have both learnt a lot from our trip. Luke on the other hand was jumping the round of his life, giving the sizeable fences some serious air time. Then disaster struck on the turn between the treble and the last line when he saw himself in the big screen, whipped round and i fell off. Mortified doesn't even come close. Of all the things to happen, that was not part of the game plan at all. Some very supportive comments from fellow competitors and their trainers made me feel somewhat reassured that Luke was so quick that I didn't have a chance to stay on but to be honest I'm sure there was something I could have done to avoid such a catastrophy! It is a total NIGHTMARE to end on such a bad note. I am hoping it is all part of a master plan to make me a better rider, stronger competitor and nicer person!!
On the plus side both horses travelled home well and I am pleased they are happy and sound enough to enjoy their holidays and aim for greater things in 2011. I too am now going to recharge by not riding a horse for a day or two and spending a few days away between now and Christmas.
Thank you everyone for your support this season through some great highs and some very pesky lows. As we all know that is the nature of our sport and I can't wait to come out and make 2011 a season to remember for all the right reasons.
