Last Minute BSJA, rather rushed but worth it

Plans to go to Hand Equestrian for BSJA today were cancelled yesterday when the Met Office forecast heavy rain and 40 mile an hour winds for the morning which would have made the journey treacherous. However I woke at 6am with an uneasy feeling that something wasn't quite right having not heard any wind through the night. A quick look on the BBC website and the so called storm seeemed to have disappeared, so I hurried up to the yard texting Fiona (Millie's owner) to say that jumping was back on! Zooming through the mucking out, we groomed and loaded up for just after 8am with Millie and Ben on board as poor Fling is still on box rest.

Arriving just as the British Novice was starting it was all abit of a rush to get both into the class. Millie first was a bit flat warming up, but then was very strong in the arena and unfortunately spooked on take off at the 4th fence landing in it and managing to break a pole! Luckily it didn't put her off and she finished the rest clear. Back at the lorry I quickly tacked Ben up and got on leaving Fiona to try and persuade Millie to load back on the lorry. She obviously felt she hadn't done enough yet. After taking 5 minutes to get to the collecting ring with Ben having other ideas, he felt very tense and rather grumpy to warm up. This gave me some doubts that I should have brought him at all as he has only had a couple of jumping sessions at home and hasn't yet shown the power and pure joy he usually gives me. Luckily Fiona managed to get down for me to jump about 3 practise fences before I had to go in. However once in the ring any fears were unfounded as his ears flicked forward, he fixed on the fences and popped nicley round for a double clear and 4th place. Rather blurry video of only a few fences please click here. Photo below of him waiting for his prize and showing that his diet still has some way to go!

Given that he really isn't fit yet we decided to leave it on that good note and get back to yard to sort out the rest of the neddies. We have plans to go back a week on Wednesday when hopefully Fling will be able to go too and we will endeavour to be more organised....