Last weekend saw us eventing at Bickenhall in the glorious sunshine, although the downside to this weather is the ground is now already very firm. On the Saturday i took Archidamus (Big Archie) having his first event outing for nearly a year. Whilst the dressage was disappointing and he rolled a pole in the show jumping form just getting rather strung out, he really performed cross country to post a lovely clear inside the time and felt great. I also took Tilly for ther BE100plus, but only run her in the dressage. She unfortunately had developed a swelling around her fetlock  a few days before and although completely sound it just didn't seem worth the risk on the hard ground. She warmed up great, but we both tensed a little trying to fit the movements of Novice into the 40 by 20m arena to score a respectable 36 which can definitely be improved on so I was very pleased. I did however feel so guilty taking her home without the fun bit as she was raring to go, but better safe than sorry.

Sunday was the turn of little Archie who felt rather important having the lorry to himself. A dressage time of 3pm meant a leisurely start, but unfortunately by then the temperature had risen enough to bring out lots of flies which really made this connie crazy despite puring copious amounts of fly spray all over him. As a result I did not manage to get him to settle before we had to go in for the test and we made it round with a lot of head shaking, grabbing the bit, running and a couple of minor explosions breaking into canter; so infuritating when he had scored 70% last time out.

He did however redeem himself slightly with a clear show jump round and then a foot perfect cross country round in a new bit we are trying, a cheltenham gag. In the warm up I found he jumped rather stickily if I checked him too much in it so I decided to lengthen the reins and just keep coming to every fence and it worked a treat, definitely helping to keep his head up and saving my arms being pulled out. Fingers crossed it continues to have this effect as in the past different bits have lost their effectiveness after 2 to 3 events. In the end he finished 11th on his dressage of 40.5; with the winner on 32, he really could have had a good placing if he had just behaved in that first phase.

Archie arrived at the yard a couple of weeks ago having had a holiday at home where he had very quickly reverted back to his natural state of Irish Bog Pony! Despite being all clipped out and trimmed in October he had grown amazing amounts of hair everywhere and a mane on each side  to look decidedly shaggy.  Alongside a rather portly tummy and a nice red tail from the mud he looked a far cry from the little eventing superstar of last year.

Archie on Arrival

Something had to be done fast. With 3 inches of hair on his body the clippers came out straight away and much to his annoyance his mane was attacked and his tail washed.  The farrier provided a new set of shoes and viola! Event pony rematerialises. Amazingly his tummy was mostly fluff so he has escaped a dreaded diet.

Archie after some TLC

Archie is a serious workaholic and is very happy to be back being ridden, but does have a very cheeky sense of humour.... After a few days power hacking I took him in the arena for a gentle school and he was exceptionally obliging in his trot work. However having lulled me into a false sense of security I gently asked for canter and was answered by a high pitched squeak and some impressive bucks across the school! 10 minutes later and countless transitions Archie was still sounding like an irate mouse and was completely adamnant that he had completely forgotten how to canter, but surely broncing would do just as well! Eventually we manged to hold a few strides of canter without an explosion and as we were both getting rather puffed left it at that. Fortunately things have improved over the last week although there is still a lot of work to do before the events begin in March.

The next aim is to give him a little jump at the weekend although Archie, who hasn't had a jumping fix for three months, may have other ideas. After his break last year he did his very best to put me into orbit, so I am prepared to hang on very tight.