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BRITISH DRESSAGE SUNDAY 7TH MARCH

UNAFFILIATED DRESSAGE SATURDAY 6TH MARCH

Emma LeButt and Secret Harmony

ARENA EVENTING RESULTS

Saturday 20^th February (Dressage Phase) and Sunday 28^th February (Jumping Phase)

Despite absolutely dire weather warnings we were lucky with the weather and able to run the jumping phase of our Arena Eventing competition one week later than scheduled on 28^th February.  We had to postpone it because of the five inches of snow that fell on the arena!  This week weather forecasters predicted gale force winds and torrential rain but luckily these didnt materialise and we had a very successful day.

Katie Frost and her lovely dun Connemara, Keerans Choice won the Mini class finishing on their dressage score of just 36 penalties.  This partnership regularly competes here at Eland Lodge and they completed a super clear round over the show jumps and cross country fences.  The photo below shows them successfully negotiating the steps out of the arena.
		Katie Frost and Keerans Choice
Winner of the Training Class was local rider, Bev Parker, and her lovely grey Arab gelding Monte.  This is the first time the pair have completed in an event of this type as they are usually seen in the dressage arena or completing Endurance Rides.  Bev did take him cross country last year too and I am sure they will be competing in all disciplines this coming season.
		Bev Parker and Monte
Eland Lodge livery client, Jo Shaw, was triumphant in the Intro Class riding Vondel Van De Melle.  This pair will be competing in British Eventing Horse Trials this year so this was an apt start to the season.  They had a very low dressage score of 25.50 and were penalty free in the jumping phase.
		Jo Shaw and Vondel Van de Melle
The final class of the day with fences at 1.00m was taken by Lindsey Hinton and her stunning grey horse, Caesar Galore.  They took the lead despite 4 show jumping penalties as they were well in the lead after the dressage phase with only 36.50 penalties.  They compete at Pre Novice level and last year did their first Novice class.
		Lindsey Hinton and Caesar Galore
Amy Foster and Celtic Gamble  3rd in the Intro		Dani Cuomo and Dakota Lone Star
		Josie Coupland and Tommy
Jenny Swinson riding Pink Dream

FULL RESULTS:

UNAFFILIATED DRESSAGE - SATURDAY 27TH FEB

ARENA EVENTING DRESSAGE SCORES

We were all very disappointed to wake up to five inches of snow on Sunday and the decision was made to transfer the jumping phase of our Arena Evening competition to Sunday 28^th February.

The dressage phase ran very smoothly and competitors’ scores will be carried over to next week.  Leaders so far are:

Sunday’s jumping penalties will be added to competitors’ dressage penalties and the winners of each class will be the riders with the least penalty points overall.

CHARITY FUN RIDE

Now that the snow and ice have gone we are back to normal here running our Winter clinics.  Peter Tomlinson taught at the end of January and will be back again this Saturday to check that his pupils have been doing their homework!  He taught from the floor and also rode several horses in order to demonstrate what he was looking for. 

The next day Brook Staples came and taught around our brand new Arena Eventing course.  He gave riders tips on how to ride the new fences and was very enthusiastic about the new steps and water out of the arena. 

Last Friday Kate Attlee gave one of her regular dressage clinics inspiring all her riders and giving them lots to practice while the following day Di Fairclough taught over a series of grids enabling horses and riders to concentrate on their style and fluency over fences.

Yesterday whilst some riders concentrated on their posture and poise with Lindsay Wilcox-Reid enjoying an Equi-Pilates session a further 96 riders enjoyed our annual Charity Ride which is held to raise funds for the County Air Ambulance.  The weather was kind, although quite cold it was at least dry, and riders could choose either a six mile or a twelve mile route.  The ride took them through Bank Top woods and then out the other side through normally private woodland.  They rode through Agardsley Park and on to Jacksons Bank which is an area of woodland owned by the Duchy of Lancaster.  They returned via the village of Newborough and then came back through Hollybush Park and returned via the top end of our cross country course, being able to view Eland Lodge from that very elevated position by the Brick Kiln Steps, almost an aerial view!

In excess of £1500 was raised for the County Air Ambulance and John will once again be presenting a cheque for this very worthwhile cause.

ARENA EVENTING SUCCESS AT ELAND LODGE

Eland Lodge Equestrian ran its first ever Arena Eventing event on Sunday 24^th January.  This was originally scheduled to be a two day affair with dressage running on Saturday and jumping on Sunday.  However the decision was made a few days prior to the competition to cancel the dressage phase because of the inclement weather conditions which we have suffered over the past few weeks. 

Because of this Eland Lodge just ran a practice Arena Eventing jumping day rather than a full blown competition.  This proved to be very popular and a great success.  The day started with a round of fences at a height of 70cm and later in the day there were opportunities to jump around the course at heights of 80cm and 90cm.

The courses consisted of six show jumps which then ran on into a course of cross country fences.  These were not just rustic, working hunter style fences but sturdy, robust,  portable cross country jumps consisting of a hanging log, a house, a roll top which changed to a skinny fence in the larger classes, a corner and  a sloping oxer.  Eland Lodge had even carved out a set of steps into the bank surrounding the arena to be used specifically for these events.  These led horse and rider out of the arena and up the grass bank towards the drive.  They were then asked to turn right and splash through a newly built dew pond before skirting the outside of the arena and popping back in through a gap in the rails to finish the round with the Wave fence which has also featured on the cross country course at hunter trials and horse trials. 

Riders were very enthusiastic about the new course.  Many completed two rounds, wanting to experience the fences a second time!  Everyone was very keen and Eland has already started receiving entries for the full scale competitions which will run on 20^th and 21^st February and also 20^th and 21^st March.

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