CUTLER EQUESTRIAN - END OF SEASON UPDATE
October 2020- The final leg of the season
What a whirlwind of a season this year has been. I feel extremely privileged to have been able to make a positive out of Covid-19 - without it I wouldn’t have moved yards and set-up base myself, I wouldn’t have met the fantastic team of professionals I now work with and I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take that plunge into the unknown!
On the 11th October Team Pearl ventured to Tweseldown for the BE100. The event was run beautifully, with some hot competition trotting around the venue.
Unfortunately for me, Pearl had learnt the dressage test (we had the test 4 events in a row!) and navigated herself around the arena. She still produced a good mark of 30.2 but by far wasn’t her best test.
She then pinged around the SJ with a confident clear, followed by one of my best rides xc on her to date! It was a big track with plenty of questions. She stormed around it coming to the last with almost 20secs!!! I eased off on the accelerator to make sure there were no time faults.
She finished in a HUGE section of 41, being 1 of 6 double clears.
On the 18th, I headed off to Great Witchingham for the Easton College ODE. I was meant to be piloting Skye but unfortunately she came into season and took a rather large chunk out of her nose when loading to go xc schooling on the Thursday prior.
This meant baby Beanz was chucked in the deep end! Due to the last minute decision, I was unable to change him into the 80 as planned.
He went into the dressage warm up like a fire breathing dragon - I can assure you, you have NEVER seen nostrils so flared! He took a bit of time to settle and for the switch to flick but once I gained his focus he produced some really quality work. Going into his test, some silly person put 2 white things on the floor (!!) so obviously Beanz ‘pooped his pants’. We were kindly allowed to start again, he had some lovely moments along with some not so nice ones - for a score of 34.2.
In the showjumping warm-up he was very similar to the dressage…. NUTTER! But again once he settled and jumped beautifully. Just the first down in the course, being his first 90 SJ… and his breastplate broke over number two, so we stopped I reached down and fiddle and carried on to continue clear.
The xc was a massive ask for the poor chap. He was totally mind blown by the whole situation, and after picking up 160 penalties between fence 3-6 (think that maybe a record!) he settled to jump his first 3 part coffin combo, and trakehner first time!
It may not sound like a great day, but I didn’t stop smiling. I cannot express how much I adore this young horse and all of his character.
Finally we finished the season at Oasby, my first time riding there and I can safely say I’ll be back.
It was touch and go as to whether or not I would make it, Beanz stood on my foot and twisted, taking the tip off my little toes 3 days earlier! I walked the cross country course on crutches, getting one or two funny looks.
Pearl produced her best test yet, and enjoyed having a change of pattern, we lay in 4th place after a score of 28.
She then tried her heart out in the SJ which was causing absolute carnage for every competitor - I don’t think I’ve ever seen poles fly like that! Just taking 1 down after not being able to leave the sticky mud. This was followed by her usual storm around the cross country, cruising around making the time a doddle.
We finished a strong 5th, however that one pesky pole unfortunately cost us the win!
I really do feel extremely lucky to have such a fantastic network of people around me. The support I have received is unbelievable.
One more thank you to my incredible sponsors. You have made a HUGE difference to my career and cannot wait to continue to share my journey with you all!
