links 1
Home Sponsorship Hannah's Blog
 

Hannah's Blog
 

Jun 2009
 

This month we have been busy training I had a lesson with the BYRDS which was taught by Debbie Beseant at Gainfield. On the 10th July I competed at East Soley I came 2nd with 70.80% missing out on first place by 0.6% which was frustrating. In the second Novice test we came 1st with 71.54%. We received huge compliments from the judge. With first place and a qualifying percentage I have gained my first part of my qualifier for the Regional's. For the past few months I have been on the hunt for a new trainer and this month I have had 2 lessons with Matt Hicks. He has been brilliant I have noticed a difference already in Deco. In the next few months we hope to move up a level to Elementary. On the 26th I also received the news I have been picked for the inter regional Central BYRDS team. On the 11th and 12th July I will go up to Bedford to represent the region. This also means I have achieved one of my goals this year which was to get on the BYRDS team!
    May 2009
  On the 10th May I entered East Soley which was an affiliated event I did 2 Novice hoping to bag two of my three needed qualifiers. Both tests went really well, the weather was warm which made a change and didn't seem to affect us. In both novices I came 2nd which I was over the moon with. I gained 2 impressive scores of 67% and 70% it was frustrating though because I missed out on qualification by point of a % which is the equivalent to 1 or 2 marks. This month we have also moved yards not far from were we are. The move was unfortunate as things left complicated but we are now happy and Deco I enjoying top facilities which include a wash room and solarium area, horse walker and a full sized arena which has surprisingly had a positive impact on training.
  Apr 2009
  This month has been another month getting involved with BYRDS I entered a Central region event which took place at Gain field EC. I took part in my first Elementary which ran first. Warming up everything came together Deco was a dream to ride. We were receiving compliments from everyone people couldn't believe it was our first Elementary they thought we fitted in perfectly. The first test went ok I thought we managed to get through which was most important however I feel the harder test did push Deco but with more training I'm sure more stamina will come, then we can worry about getting as many marks as possible. After a break I did a Novice test which is more in our comfort zone. I felt the test was really good with few faults apart from one canter lead mess up. However it was shock when the results came out the Elementary which I was expecting a low mark in came out as 62% which I was thrilled with and put us in 2nd place. Then the novice which I was expecting a high mark in left us with 61% and placed me in 7th. Over all the day was an experience and got me involved and seen at more BYRDS events which will hopefully increase my chances of getting on the central team.
    Mar 2009
 

March was our official start to the 2009 competition season and we didn't give our selves the most easiest of starts with our first competition being with the under 21's. This was Deco's very first under 21's event so there was some pressure to make a good first impression. We arrived at Addington on Saturday 14th we arrived about 6, later than expected as sat nav decided to take us the longest and most complex way there. Because it was getting late the first thing I did was ride whilst mum was left to introduce herself and "mingle". After a good nights sleep Sunday arrived, I was on early and did the arena walk to ensure there was nothing to spooky for Mr Deco. The first test went ok with a few mistakes, we scored 64%. The second test had to be better as this was the one that counted for our team score. Deco pulled it out the bag on the second test with minimal mistakes scoring 69.73%, a great improvement on the previous score. The results came leaving us 3rd individually, 2nd in the young horse class and 2nd in our team, I was over the moon. I also saw my old pony Lenny there and he won the FEI classes. It was the perfect end to a great weekend. 

  Feb 2009
  This month we have been busy training, things have got into full swing now Deco is fully recovered from his previous injury. On the 20th February I had a clinic with Suzanne Davies where we were told our goal are to qualify for both the Novice open and Novice free style regional. On the 15th March I am competing at Addington Manor with the BYRDS I am competing in both the novice individual and team tests. We will be staying over night, this will be the first time we have stayed over night with Deco. The last few weeks we have been preparing for Addington. It will be Decos first competition this year and Addington will be a good opportunity to show the Central squad what we do, and hopefully make us a contender for team selections and Byrds competition throughout the year. My new long term goals are to qualify for the novice regional's and compete with the BYRDS Central team.

  Feb 2009
  This month not a lot has happened. Deco's leg has fully recovered know and he is back to his old self. I am schooling him 5-6 times a week and preparing him for competitions. We will hopefully go out and start competing in February for the first time this year. I learnt a new skill last week on how to clip a horse! I have always wanted to learn how to usually it would take you around an hour to clip a horse. It took me around 5 hours to complete the clip I think that is a new record for the world's longest hair cut. Deco stood there patiently as we both hoped I didn't mess up. I mentioned previously that I was competing a friend's horse Tana. We did extremely well at East Soley winning the prelim and 3rd in the novice. Tana's owner was thrilled as that was the first time her horse had ever won so it was smiles all round. Hopefully some more promising results will be logged during February.
  Jan 2009
  Happy new year! It hasn't been the most positive end of 2008 or the best of starts to 2009. At the end of November I bought Deco in from the field to notice his leg was swollen the following day we had the vet out and diagnosed Deco with a damaged splint bone. We don't know how he done it but this led to 17days box rest and 3weeks field rest. Since November 27th I have sat on Deco once and that was last week. I have know been given the ok to bring him back into steady work but have been unable to as the cold weather has made our arena frozen solid. We now have a new arena surface and it was definitely worth the wait. I'm not completely horseless as I have started riding a friend's competition horse and am hoping to compete her horse, Tana this year as well as Deco. Hopefully the end of January things will start to get better and the next update I will be back riding Mr Deco.