Posted on 2nd October 2019 by Kate Rocher-Smith
Remembering one of Sue’s earlier blogs, “Baby Steps“, it is days like today that keep me so happy in my job. Not only do I absolutely love matching horses and riders together, but I get such a feeling of satisfaction and joy from helping guide lovely young horses around their first event – as much satisfaction as I do riding around the big International tracks.
Today, Amelia rode the super smart Connemara, Dassett Cool Enough, in his second event at Aston Unaffiliated..and he WON! They did a lovely test for 30 and added nothing to it in either jumping phase to take home a lovely big red rosette! Amelia was smiling from ear to ear and really feels this little chap has so much talent. I expect we will now give him a break over the winter and look towards producing him up the grades in 2020.
I was riding another trio of first timers, but his time first timers meaning first event rather than an upgrade! Both Dassett Showman and Dassett Future have needed careful and sensitive producing this year, hence why they are only starting their competitive careers’ at his point. My final ride was William and Kristen Nott’s lovely Little Lord (pictured).
Dassett Future was first in the dressage and did such a lovely test, so I was a bit disappointed with a score of 31. He jumped a lovely clear SJ, but somehow we added a time fault?! Safe to say we started out rather green on the XC and to be honest, I so nearly fell off over the first XC fence! However we regained composure and gained in flow and confidence at every fence. By fence 5 we were away and I was thrilled with this exciting, powerful jumper. A few XC time faults dropped us a few placings, and we ended the day in a very credible 10th place.
Dassett Showman also did a lovely dressage test, but a few wobbles left us on 32. This is such a tall, leggy horse, co-ordination is still a work in progress! He jumped a great SJ round, but we had one very spooky corner, resulting in a missed turn and the subsequent pole fell. But overall, a great round. And XC, I can not speak more highly of this horse – I nearly felt tearful as I came over the finish! Dassett Showman has taken a bit of getting going this year, and to feel it all falling into place and most importantly, to feel him absolutely loving this phase, is such a wonderful feeling. His good performance earned him 7th place.
And last but by no means least, was Little Lord. At 14 years of age, a change in career can be tricky, but not for this wonderful little horse. He nailed a brilliant dressage of 25 and added nothing to it in either jumping phase. The SJ fences actually felt a bit small, and he popped around for a spot on clear. He then flew clear and inside the time XC to finish a very exciting 2nd!
We were all delighted with these lovely horses’ performance today, and so happy to feel and see them all loving their jobs. When I trot down the centre line for the first time, I always wonder what centre lines lie ahead for each horses’ career…I expect some big ones for some of these horses.
