The National Championships 2015
 
It was a pleasant start to the day and Grace and I were up early preparing Eddy and Sky for today’s event. I was hoping I’d done enough with Sky as he had Monday off which is not ideal, but after jumping so brilliantly at Addington on Friday I was feeling somewhat optimistic. He was 10th in the Foxhunter (another double clear) and 6th in the Grade B and C and that’s probably one of our best achievements to date.
 
We had a leisurely drive to Stoneleigh where the championships are held. Two hours and a very easy drive and such an advantage the Sat Nav in now on a mobile. We arrived in plenty of time.
 
Well as a rule Sky does need an hours warm up, and chilling and walking around the venue, so thank God I did as he was pretty wild when I got on him. However after a bit of work he settled nicely and so I took him back to the lorry.
 
There were many horses here on the Equine Pathway, some which I’ve always felt were better than me, but I have to say, they never do as well. Sky always goes clear, he is just like his dad, he only doesn’t when he hates the show which has been twice this year, so I just avoid small noisy venues. Then he is a dream.
 
So my first round was great and I was lucky with a late draw, so I could see I had to get moving as it was a very tight time. We did it easily to be fair. In the jump off he was amazing, it was 1.40 all the way and he just pops round, he isn’t really very flash, not like some of the other scopey horses I was watching, but he is keen and he is always jumping with ease.
 
So far I never felt him swallow, and that really excites me, he is a bit sharp but together we have a partnership and I think he knows I know what I’m doing so he does listen. I would have been 2 nod today if I hadn’t got a bit wide to the last and got him a bit too far off which caused him to clip it. I just wished I’d say up and found a better one, but he was a bit flat. That can happen on his turns as he does get a bit behind in his canter and then a bit off the stride, but I’m aware of this and I am working on it.
 
Grace had a stop and a fence down. She isn’t accurate enough and Eddy just had enough, but she put it right, as the classes get bigger she’s just got to get a better eye, but it will come.
 
Tomorrow I go back again to try and qualify for the final, it is indoors and he won’t like it so I’m not optimistic to qualify but I will did my best. 
 
I’m having a lovely evening in my lorry. I managed to locate a farm which hired us out a couple of stables, cheap as well and full of lovely straw, very close to the show ground, how wonderful Facebook is and how faithful God is. It made the whole show very affordable. 
 
Robert is at home working hard on the horse walker. The ground is nearly done and I’m so excited to see it finished. He is such a wonderful man, always doing things at the stables and he is so good to walk the dogs and check on the puppies when I am away.
 
Anyway I’m off to read a few chapters of my new book, The Mistresses of Clivedon. Once I’ve read it Robert and I will go and stay there for a night or two.