Eventing Blog - through the eyes of a groom

Burnham Market

We made the long trip up to Burnham Market last Thursday lunch time with Away Crusing, Tenareze, Cavalier Crystal, Vrolijk and Catherston Definitive.

We have had a busy week or two. With a lot of packing for 5 horses for 3 days and working out where it was all going to fit was a task!

We worked the horses before we left on Thursday morning and got them washed and ready to go before we set off for what was a slightly longer journey then we anticipated! 7 hours later with having plaited two for their dr tests on Friday and me lying on some haylage suitcases and half a bale of haylage for comfort we arrived in the evening and got the horses off and settled Into their stables.

It was an early start on Friday Morning with Vrolijk ( Dude) and Away Cruising (Spot) doing their dressage tests. Dude was in the CIC 2* and Spot in the CIC 3*. They both produced nice tests of 49. Dude made a few little mistakes and Spot was very good just one mistake near the end which was quite expensive but Harry was pleased with them both.

Saturday was pretty full on with Catherston Definitive ( Fin) Cavalier Crystal ( Nell) and Tenareze ( Taz) competing in the novice and Open Intermediate classes. Taz went very well to produce a very nice test of 26.5 in a competitive section and then went on to produce a lovely double clear. Nell also did a lovely test of 28, one down SJ and went really well XC. We were so pleased with her and look forward to the future with her. Fin did a super calm test of 29 and jumped a lovely clear SJ round. He then went was going beautifully XC until he had a very rare and unfortunate fall down a step, 3 fences from home where he would have won! we think he trod on his shoe which brought them both down but thankfully both horse and rider were fine.

As my alarm went off at 5.15am on Sunday I was starting to feel the 3 day feeling as I call it! Spot and dude had their SJ and XC today and both were on top form. Dude produced a lovely double Clear and Spot did one of the best SJ rounds he has ever done but was very unlucky to have one pole down. He was then excellent XC.

It was then a mad dash to get everything packed up and to head home as soon as we could late afternoon to make the long trip back. We arrived home at 9.15pm to give them all a walk and graze before putting them to bed and then un packing the lorry. After what felt like a very long 3 full on days and keeping Harry awake for the journey home I was very much looking forward to my bed too!

One day at home on Monday to unpack, crack on with some washing, re pack and plait and wash the five young horses before setting off to Portman on Tuesday.

It was so good to be back out staying away again and catching up with such great friends. I feel that I really get to know the horses so much better and they were all lovely to do and we are looking forward to the future with them all. I always feel very proud of them and am very lucky to be able to be looking after such wonderful and talented horses and working with a great rider.

Until next time,

Jess