Huge news from Team Orange HQ - Pinky wins a prize at his 3rd ever BE event! We had a great day at one of our local events, Ascott under Wychwood. Pinky was relaxed and obedient in his test to score a very respectable 33. He then jumped a foot perfect double clear with .4 of a time fault XC to finish 6th. So excited that Pinky is starting to live up to his poetential - a credit to Brioney's patience and training.

 Amazing weekend at the beautiful Chatsworth horse trials in Derbyshire where Orange was competing in the advanced. We were thrilled with his dressage, which apart from one early flying change, showed off his ability in this phase. 26 was good enough to to take the lead and stay there. He jumped a beautiful clear SJ, and we decided to run him faster XC and see what he could do. He did not let us down, jumping a fantastic clear round, and one of only two horses to make the time so finishing on his dressage score. So lovely for the whole team to have a win and a huge thank you to everyone who is a part of Team Orange

 Orange and Baz had a midweek outing to Aston le Walls intermediate. Basil keeps getting better and better. A 29 dressage put him in a competitive position and he jumped a lovely round showjumping around an up to height track. A good clear XC was good enought for 4th place and more points. 

Orange and Andrew are getting to know each other better and produced a lovely test with one small blip. He also jumped a good round SJ but did not run XC as he heads to Chatsworth this weekend.

So while most of the eventing world was busy at Badminton, the Team Orange C Team were busy at Broadway - the second outing of our big comeback! Stan did a lovely test for a 26. Pinky's test was also much improved but his additional freestyle moves did not impress the judge! Our showjumping may not yet be stylish, but Stan had only one rail down and Pinky two, with a small difference of opinion over steering. Pinky redeemed himself with a super confident clear round XC just over the time. Stan also went clear and would have been well placed had the idiot jockey not got lost between fences 5 and 6 clocking up an impressive collection of time penalties! Progress is being made and I am sure that prizes will not be far off!

 Good outing for Basil and Orange at Withington Manor horse trials. Withington is a big, bold track, and a tough enough test for an inexperienced horse. Despite a rather jolly dressage test, Baz rose to the occasion and jumped a beautiful double clear which was good enough for 7th place. He will have one more run at Aston before going to Houghton 2 star.

Orange needed a confidence giving run after Belton and we are very lucky that Andrew Nicholson has agreed to take the ride. He did a good test and jumped a super double clear, not seeming to have been upset by his last outing, and we were delighted with 6th place.

Belton 3 star did not go to plan for either Orange or Nancy but everyone is fine and ready for another day. Baz was the superstar of the weekend in a tough intermediate. He did a fab test for a 29, one down SJ and a steady clear XC. Time penalties left him just out of the prizes but we are very excited with his progress and he is looking a very smart prospect for the future #comeonthebaz

 Busy weekend at Aston le Walls unaffiliated event. Saint finished 4th in the pre novice, and will move up to novice level at Solihull.

Zippi was having his first outing of the season and his first event with Neil. He did a good test, two rails SJ and enjoyed his run around the XC.

Stan scored 30 in the dressage and jumped a beautiful round SJ and was unlucky to tip a rail. A clear XC left him in 6th place in the novice.

Pinky was also at his first event of the season and produced a credible test, one down SJ and also clear XC. All good boys!

Good weekend at one of our local events, Swalcliffe Park Horse Trials, where we were blessed with sunshine, perfect going and a freezing cold wind! The two French ex racing ponies, Stan and Saint were competing in the BE100

Both horses did beautiful tests for a 26 and a 22. The show jumping was surrounded by trade stands and each fence beautifully dressed with flowers. The boys both had the same rail down - nothing if not consistent - then stormed round the XC to finish 6th in their respective sections. They will now head to Aston unaffiliated in two weeks time.

 Off to Oasby with Nancy and Orange in the OI and Basil having a novice run. Journey from hell with two roads closed due to accidents and then roadworks in Grantham left us short of time, so a less than ideal preparation. Nancy was a true professional and trotted off the lorry and into her least favourite phase with a respectable score of 35. A beautiful clear in the showjumping and a clear inside the time cross country left her in 10th place.

Orange was not so cooperative in his dressage test, and demonstrated a full range of movements not required within the confines of the White boards. He redeemed himself with a lovely double clear and will be better for the run.

Star of the day was Basil, who produced a great test to score 29, then double clear inside the time to finish 3rd. Worth the early start.

Stan and Pinky also had an outing to combined training at Elmwood on Sunday - the last time I jumped competitively was in 2011 so poor Stan had a lot to contend with. He jumped a great round despite his jockey, and was unlucky to tip the last fence. A good performance in the  novice test scored 26.3, with an error of course from the rider leaving him 2nd and costing him the win. More practice needed

 First event of the season for the pre novice horses at Aston le Walls. Saint found the dressage rather exciting but we were thrilled with a great double clear from him. Stan was having his first eventing outing for about 3 years and was delighted to be out! After bouncing around the dressage and being somewhat over keen at the first 2 showjumps he went on to jump brilliantly. 

Special well done to Hayley and Oaken Eddie - 24 double clear at their first ever event. A very exciting future prospect purchased from the same yard that produced Orange, Fox Farm Equestrian.

 Good last event of the season for Team Orange at Oasby. Basil was 2nd after dressage, a rail SJ and a great clear Xc. We are thrilled with his progress this season and he is now having a well deserved holiday. Nancy had a tough act to follow in the dressage, following Landvision into the arena. He scored a 19!! Nancy finished her season with a good double clear and hopefully will be able to contest some 3 stars next season.