Trailblazers Journey 

 

At beginning of 2019 I started my campaign to qualify for the 2019 Trailblazers Cavaletti Collection showjumping Championships at Stoneleigh Park with my 13 year old Irish Sport Horse Lucy. We got a first round double clears at Barleylands equestrian centre in Essex in the 75,85&95cm which meant we had qualified for the 2nd rounds in April! We competed in the 2nd rounds again at Barleylands where Lucy jumped brilliantly meaning we had qualified for the Championships in August for the 2nd year in a row but this time in the 75,85 &95! Once we had qualified I had entered the Cavaletti Collection Senior Brand ambassador competition and we started training for the Championships which was going brilliantly until a week before the Championships I had the worst jumping lesson I had ever had with Lucy where I fell off & she refused to jump a single fence(not the greatest thing you want to happen before a Championship!). 

 

The Trailblazers showjumping Championships finally came around and we were on are way to Stoneleigh! We arrived at Stoneleigh in torrential rain and wind but Lucy settled into her stable quickly and we were all set for warm up day. I couldn’t have asked for a better warm up to the Championships with Lucy jumping a double clear in 70cm and getting into the jump off where she jumped clear and quick to come 6th out of 50! Competition day 1 arrived, i was incredibly nervous for the 85cm but Lucy again jumped brilliant to only have a few unlucky faults but I couldn’t fault her! We had a rather unlucky start to Championship Day 2, we had a pole & run out in the 75 and a few unlucky faults in the 85 however my luck changed were I had found out we had won the Senior brand ambassador competition where we won some incredible prizes including a saddle! I couldn’t believe it and I cannot thank Cavaletti Collection enough for the opportunity. The final day arrived where we jumped a brilliant round to have only 8 faults but I couldn’t fault Lucy with how well she had jumped all week! We had a brilliant trailblazers, I hadn’t expected to come back with a rosette let alone coming back as a brand ambassador! Im hoping to qualify & compete next year as it is such a brilliant show with amazing sponsors! 

 

The day after arriving home from Trailblazers we went to pick up my new project horse Louis, he is a unbroken 5year old Dutch warmblood who I had viewed and had vetted before Trailblazers. He’s settled in incredibly quickly and has started to be backed by myself & is taking to it very well. I cannot wait for what the future holds with Louis & hopefully he’ll be my next jumping horse. 

 

However unfortunately a week after Trailblazers Lucy sadly came in from the field lame & with a very swollen leg and was treated by the vet with Bute and then steroids however she is still not sound is currently undergoing lameness investigations :(. Fingers crossed she will come sound soon so we can crack on & hopefully qualify for Trailblazers next year!