Busy life as a jumping groom ...

BGA Member, Daniel Tarpey, has recently returned from the sunshine tour in Portugal, he updates us on his latest adventures....

We arrived home safely from Portugal after a really successful show with wins and places in young horse and open classes. The journey back was somewhat less eventful than our outbound travel and the horses all arrived back in good condition but ready for a little holiday!   

The young horses were immediately turned away (although I think the temperature drop and the rain came as some surprise to them after the sunshine in Portugal), but they enjoyed some time in the field. Thus we had a chance to do a little more work on the four year olds who had been off since being backed, or in the case of the stallions, since the stallion event at Bury Farm in January.

Our first outdoor show of the season in the UK was Wales and West.  This is always a great venue with good rings and easy access from the stables/lorry park to the arenas – when you are a groom and are going backwards and forwards to the rings, believe me this is a real bonus!   A good few days culminated with a win in the first main Grand Prix of the year (Glory BV)  as well as wins in the 6 yr old classes (Funnycan) at her first show back after her holiday.

Last week I had a change of discipline venue to join in with the eventers (!) as we popped down to Badminton Horse Trials to contest the Burghley Young Event Horse four year old class. I love my horses to be turned out immaculately but this class is more like a showing class with turnout being a really important factor.  

Our young stallion (NPS Supernova) looked immaculate (even though I say so myself!) and after doing a good dressage he got top marks for jumping with 39/40 and then good conformation marks put him in second spot!   The final ‘show phase’ was judged by a different judge with the two sets of scores being added together.  We were pleased to finish sixth in the rosettes and highest placed stallion.   

In contrast to Wales and the West the walking from lorry park to arena was what seemed like a mile in each direction – those eventing grooms must be a fit bunch!   I did manage a bit of a look round the trade stands afterwards but was pleased I had been wearing comfortable footwear!!

We are now busy getting ready for Royal Windsor and all the ‘Second Round’ shows which start this month.

It is quite hectic at the yard – I think days off may be being saved for later at this point when there is so much going on both at home and so many shows.  Even the planning of County Show entries and where we will be and when is a major work of juggling, as entries for many shows close so early.  A good diary and wall planner are most helpful in working out where we will be going and when!

Summer seems to have arrived at the yard this week  - the swallows are back and the sun is shining. Here's hoping for some good weather over the coming couple of months and some good results too.   

Off to load the lorry now for the first Area Trial of the season at Pyecombe this weekend.  

Catch up again soon !