Not quite the result we wanted at Chatsworth. So pleased with Orange's dressage test. He was relaxed and calm in the big atmosphere ring with only a few small errors keeping him from a top score. So much more to come and who can complain at a score over 70%. He looked fantastic in the show jumping warm up and was jumping beautifully in the ring until something went horribly wrong leaving Andrew sitting on Orange's ears and Orange with no bridle! Early home time ... Disappointing, but the pony is fine, the jockey is fine and the sun shone. Little Downham advanced for both Orange and Baz.

Brilliant first event of the season for Basil at Aston le Walls with new jockey Izzy Taylor. Baz was delighted to be back out again! He produced a beautiful calm test to score 30.5, a rail jumping and a super speedy round Xc to win the section. Come on The Baz!!

 A freezing cold day at Withington, one of our more local events for the advanced. His dressage was much more uphill and was rewarded with a 26.5, only bettered by Chris Burton and his beautiful black horse, Santano. A small miscommunication in the rein back was the only hiccup in Orange's test, and gives us something to work on before Chatsworth.

Orange enjoyed his show jumping as much as ever and flew around a strong enough Xc. He was  beaten into second by Sam Eckroyd by virtue of a serious speedy Xc round. Perfect going was a huge credit to the organisers

 Fortunately by cross country day the sun was back out and no snow or hail in evidence. The going was excellent and a credit to the organisers, although we did make quite a mess being towed out of the lorry park!!

Orange did not have a happy time at Belton last year but showed no sign of remembering and skipped around a tricky course picking up just 7 time penalties. That left the way clear for Mr Townened to snatch both first and second place but delighted with 3rd. A great result 

 Our showjumping time was moved forward due to the weather, a good thing as I'm not sure with the black clouds it would still have been light enough to jump at 6.45. We experienced every extreme that the weather could throw at us from snow to sunshine, rain to huge hail stones. Orange enjoyed his round in front of Belton House and jumped a beautiful clear that put him into the lead overnight

 We we worried that Belton was not going to be able to run after torrential rain, but huge credit to the organisers for their stellar efforts battling the elements. Orange performed his advanced test in the main arena - which was slightly quieter than normal due to the weather. Again, he almost pulled off a great test with just a mistake in the canter. Still thrilled as we had not planned to come to Belton and Orange was a last minute substitution and had therefore not been prepped for the event. A score of 33.4 left him in a competitive position, just off the leaders.

 First event of the season for Team Orange, first event back for Mr Nicholson and a win for Orange at Aldon Horse Trials in Somerset. They led the dressage on a great score of 28, and a beautiful double clear made them convincing winners. A great start and a boost for Team Nicholson. Thrilled to have Andrew back in top form.

This weekend it was off on the long trip to Burnham Market in Norfolk for the CIC***. Orange produced some lovely work in his test but a mistake in the counter canter was costly. A score of 45 left him 16th of 79 in a super competitive class. He jumped an effortless steady double clear, so no prizes but his qualification for Luhmuhlen is now complete.

The young horses are making pleasing progress. Diego is looking stronger each day and his attitude makes him a pleasure to train and work with. Heidi has grown into a big strapping girl and we are hoping that she doesn't grow too much more!! Both of them went for their first outing to have a loose jump at Angie Thompson's yard. We were delighted with how they behaved, loading and travelling well and both showing great promise over a fence. Exciting futures!

Two exciting new additions to Team Orange over the winter. Heidi is a 4 year old Dutch bred mare by the same sire as Orange, Hors la Loi. She went off to Nigel and Karen Ridouts to be started, and impressed us with her sensible attitude. She has beautiful movement and will hopefully be athletic over a fence. Heidi is now having a break and will start work when the weather improves.

Diego is a striking young Irish horse found for us by Wayne Garrick. He is very sweet natured and kind and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do. 

 Apologies for the very belated update! Orange went to the Festival of Eventing at Gatcombe Park for the British Open. He produced a brilliant test and clear round show jumping and was in the lead going into the XC phase when Andrew suffered a horrible fall on one of his other horses and was unable to continue. Fortunately Andrew is making a good recovery and hopefully there will be another 4 star opportunity for Orange instead of Burghley.

Blyth Tait kindly agreed to take the ride on Basil and they had a great double clear at Gatcombe first time out, finishing just out of the placings. Their second outing at Dauntsey was almost a brilliant end to the season. Going into XC in the lead, they were having a fantastic round cross country when they found an awkward stride through the bounce combination that left Basil unable to jump out and poor Blyth on the floor. Gutted! 

New arrival Flash has impressed, being first or second every time out in his dressage outings. Basil had a great win at Hunters with Brioney, scoring an impressive 72%, and Stan has been stacking up the rosettes, qualifying for area festivals and on his way to gaining his regionals qualification. Even Ace has had a dressage outing, giving Brioney her first ride at medium level. He will be competing in some advanced outings. Orange has had a trip out show jumping, jumping a beautiful double clear and making me very happy!

We are planning a busy winter of dressage and jumping and are looking forward to next season.

Good couple of days for the Orange one at Aston le Walls - our all time favourite event. A 30 dressage put him in a competitive 4th place behind Persimmon, Easy Target and Campino, with a mistake in the halt rein back being expensive. He had an uncharacteristic rail down SJ in an otherwise exemplary round - his first SJ penalty since Blair last year. A super confident steady round XC was good enough for 5th place. Good boy Orange! He will now head to Gatcombe and/or Hartpury 

 Having been wait listed for Carlton, we took Stan and Pinky to Aston le Walls unaffiliated for the 90cm. Stan did a beautiful test for a 26, one down SJ and a steady XC clear for 10th place. Another solid performance from Pinky, with a respectable test, one down and clear XC. Great to jump on the new surface at Aston, especially at this time of year 

A fantastic week at Bramham for Team Orange. The weather was very hot for Orange's dressage, and his test was a little bit flat, scoring a 46. The terrain at Bramham is well known for being challenging but Orange coped well for his first fast 3 day XC round, coming home clear with just 2.8 time penalties. His usual stunning clear SJ pulled him up to 8th place in a super competitive field - his best result to date, completing on a score of 49.2. A huge thank you to Team Nicholson.

Basil travelled to Houghton in Norfolk for his CCI**. We have never been to this event before, it is a stunning setting with beautifully presented courses. Basil's test was a bit disappointing. He was relaxed and going well when he tripped, changed legs and got very cross with himself! Exciting to know he is capable of very high marks in this phase.