Sparkles (Lassban Diamond Lift) in the sun at Aston-le-Walls Photo courtesy Fiona Scott-Maxwell
So we are one month in to the start of the eventing season here in the UK and the good news is that the sun is out! However the previous four weeks have felt like winter was never going to end with a surprisingly cold, grey and wet March which has made things a bit dull for all at Team Levett.
We’ve not let rain stop play but we have had to flex our plans quite a bit this month in order to ensure the horses plans are not too disrupted and our loyal owners get to see their horses out and about competing. It goes without saying that it has been a huge headache for organisers and volunteers alike and I take my hat off to them all for their persistence in making many events stay on track despite what the weather throws at them and for those that have to cancel I feel for them as must be a tough decision given how much hard work and planning goes in to making events happen.
Our season started with the babies at Aston Le Walls – I have three young horses to ride this season Tonto (Piltown Colours) a young coloured horse purchased from the Monart Sale last autumn and owned by great owners who I’ve ridden for the best part of 20 years, they have been so wonderful and we have had many ups and downs over the years with the highs and lows of being involved with event horses. They really enjoy eventing and the process of watching a young horse progress thru the grades.
Tonto with his admirers Photo courtesy Fiona Scott-Maxwell
Alongside Tonto we have Dylan (Midsummer Focus) who is a precocious but talented young horse, I used to ride his mother and she was a fantastic jumper and competitor so if Dylan ends up a mirror of his mother I’ll be a very happy jockey. And finally the ‘nanny of the babies’ is Cassie (Irish Angel NJ) bought as a 3 year old in 2013 from the Monart Sale she is 5 going on 25 and has been the most uncomplicated horse I’ve ever had the pleasure of breaking and producing at a young age. It’s just as well she is such a poppet as Dylan and Tonto can be a handful – often the way with super talented horses so having Cassie as a voice of reason and taking it all in her stride is helpful in terms of the other two when we are out and about at competitions.
Tonto, Dylan and Cassie all enjoyed their first outing at Aston and have since then had several more runs over the course of this month. Their score sheets are reflective of their ‘baby status’ but overall I have been really pleased with how they have all taken to eventing and the progress they are each individually making with runs at Oasby, Stafford and Somerley Park - they will continue to gain experience without pressure at BE100 level over the next few months and to ‘learn their trade’ and we will endeavour to have some fun as well along the way!
The season for the ‘older horses’ started at Oasby – Oasby is always a firm favourite with me as an event to start my season at as the Buntines ‘run a good show’ and the ground at Oasby drains well and you can 99% of the time be guaranteed good going – it didn’t disappoint and again we had every event horse in the yard (10 in total) there over the four days of competition. Sparkles (Lassban Diamond Lift) was the star of the show coming home with a win, he’s a young horse who will if all goes to plan do a CCI** later in the year – he’s a horse Jenny and I bought to produce and sell at some point, he’s got potential to go on so we are not in a hurry with him – something I believe is really important with the young horses – help them learn their trade without too much pressure.
Alex at Gatcombe Park Photo courtesy Fiona Scott-Maxwell
Oasby was by and large an uneventful event for me – which is just the way I like the first run of the season to be! The older boys were if anything a little too pleased to be out and about with Womble on the naughty step for his circus tricks in the dressage closely followed by Alex. Drax who is new to eventing in the UK was also keen to join in with the party and so suffice to say bar Alfie I was a little off the pace in the dressage! However I’m not worried as in some respects it’s nice that the horses are so happy to be out and about – as long as their tricks don’t persist! Interestingly I understand that in NZ the horses don’t often do dressage while cross country is going on during the same day, so there has taken a little adapting for Drax who is finding the jumping phases going on alongside his dressage test almost too exciting to contain himself – this will change in time I’m sure as he gets in to the swing of eventing in the UK.
The plan for the older horses was to head to Gatcombe post Oasby but sadly the second day of Gatcombe was cancelled due to the persistent wet weather that just didn’t seem to let up in mid March. Thankfully Jenny had planned ahead and we already had a plan B, C and D so plan B was rolled in to action with Womble (Improvise) and Alfie (Shannondale Titan) heading to Burnham Market for the Advanced and the intermediate horses going to Weston Park. So plans have stayed on track.
"We've had our fun - let's have some hay!" Alfie and Womble by the lorry at Burnham Market
Photo courtesy Fiona Scott-Maxwell
The rather wet March was a bonus for Burnham Market, which can some years be on the firm side in the spring - Alec Lochore’s team had pulled out all the stops with changes to the courses and continued investment in the ground and this was much appreciated with some interesting changes to the cross country and the ground being the best I’ve ever known on the cross country – this enabled me to have a quicker run cross country on both Alfie and Womble which was really helpful given its not long before Rolex and Badminton will be upon us. Alfie put in a solid performance in all three phases being third after dressage and just rolling a pole in the showjumping where he stood on his over reach before a nice clear cross country, for a minor placing. Womble was back on form in the dressage with a good test just behind Alfie in the dressage before again just one down showjumping. Cross country I had a great round on him bar one blip where he left a leg going in to the first water we stood up but were off our line and so picked up an annoying 20 penalties, frustrating but hopefully that’s our blip ahead of Rolex!
Aside from competing we are in to our regular routine of weekly dressage lessons, weekly combined training and/or showjumping outings and twice weekly trips to the gallops. So the yard and team are in the swing of things and alongside the usual system which we’ve refined over the years to one I feel very confident in we’ve had the added excitement of preparing for Rolex which has been a first for us – there has been much planning and list writing which I can take no credit for, Emily, Ali and Jenny are making it all happen and I’m grateful to them all.
Jenny sporting some bling on Ricky (Ballymore Rich Cat) Photo courtesy Fiona Scott-Maxwell
My only slight nervousness is Jenny getting carried away with the bling and dressing the horses and I up for the trot ups at Rolex and Kentucky! I am confident I’m in safe hands as I’m lucky enough to have some great RM Williams clothing and AHume jackets to wear for the trot ups – and with the guidance of the AHume team they keep Jenny on track and I get to look pretty stylish even though I say so myself – I’m no catwalk model but I don’t scrub up to badly for an aging Aussie! However, when it comes to Womble’s bridle and Jenny’s love of bling I’m on shaky ground. Just watch this space to see who wins out in the end, the battle lines are drawn between the two of us – I may yet be sporting a bling brow band at the trot up and dressage phases at Rolex although I draw the line for cross country!
Alongside the competing and training of the horses I’ve been hard at it on the rower and with Pilates to keep myself in shape and ensure I put my best foot forward - it’s a constant source of amusement for the kids in particular as they ‘join in’ with me each morning before they head off to school. Suffice to say I’m typically in third place but being beaten by two 10 year olds I can cope with and they make the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Alfie is headed to Belton Park then Badminton Photo courtesy Fiona Scott-Maxwell
It’s all coming around very fast now with a last run at Weston Park this weekend for Womble and then Belton for Alfie next week before Rolex and Badminton will be upon us. Everything is crossed that we get there and then are able to put in good performances at both events – we need a little luck but I’m optimistic if I keep focussed on the task at home we can put our best foot forward. I’m also determined to ensure I enjoy the process and will be trying to remind myself of this throughout! I’m lucky enough to be picking up a prize at Badminton this year whatever as I’m receiving an Armada Dish for five completions so that’s a good starting point to build from!
Cheers,
Bill
