International Eventers Forum 2015 - my take on it

Busy weekend, we went to to visit MDR photo to look at the the new website and a new business idea (watch this space), stopped of to see the bro in Oxford, met Lisa Sparrowhawk (My performance coach) there and then the following day we went on to Gloucestershire and Hartpury! Mum, Lisa and I had a great time, we were joined by Michael Rogers from MDR Photo and Jenny Gray-Wallis . We came away from there...well inspired would be the word overall and personally I took away a lot of things that I could start using immediately.

Start the trot, not finishing the canter' This was one of many things Christoff Hess said that really made me think differently about doing 'gymnastics' (flatwork) with my horses.  

What a way to start the evening forum, Christoff Hess is such an amazing trainer, every horse that entered the arena left a better horse. We watched him train Sam Griffiths on a youngster and on Happy Times and we also watch him train Nicky Roncoroni. 

I really liked his techniques, in my opinion he worked with the horse, harnessing its natural movement, I have already started putting it into practice with my horses and it really does work, next I'll be trying it out on all my clients that I teach!

Next was a very insightful talk about how to get your horses up to eventing fit by Hugh Suffern, Irish Team Vet, Charlie Logsdon Racehorse Trainer and Andrew Nicholson. I think keeping records for comparison was the theme of the whole talk whether you are taking bloods, looking at how much fitness work your horse needs or recovery rates. I already have fitness plans for individual horses but taking a record of each of my horses fitness plans and comparing what stage they were at when they performed at competition, so that I can refer back to them to look at what each horse particularly needs to perform at its peak is something I will be now be doing. (Mum informs me it just a case of a simple spreadsheet)!!!

The day was rounded off with a jumping demonstration with Andrew Nicolson, what a character...Not entirely sure we agree with galloping 4 year olds on a weekly basis but I still learnt a lot from him and we all really admired his honesty.

He did some really interesting exercises in his demonstration, helping to train the horse to pop the fences and not over jump because this could land you into trouble in the cross country course

Little diagram of my favourite exercises Nicolson did. It really helps the balance and its a lot harder then it looks.

Quote of the day by Nicolson: Question: Do you believe in using calmer at events? Nicolson Answered: You've got the wrong man......

International Eventers Forum 2016 is already in the diary. Special thank you to Laura Lucas on Facebook's Twitter Eventing  Group who organised group tickets this year.

Pre Season Catch Up

So it's been a little quiet on the blogging front over the winter, but here at Team Upton HQ we've been ramping up for the season ahead and there have been a few changes...

First to introduce Sian Barden our new groom, Sian has had experience working in a hunt yard and a livery yard, she is very quiet around the horses and all our horses love her. You will definitely see her out and about with us over the season. Only problem is she is even smaller than me, so we need step stools everywhere we go now!

Sian, Boo and the new Team Upton mobile HQ!

We have a new mobile HQ, its big, blue and shiny. Yes Mum passed her HGV test so we have new wheels, lots of storage and the ability to take a string of horses out in one go. I think Dad checks on the lorry every morning and every evening and gives it a pat before he goes to work! Dad is now going to do his HGV as he is teensy bit jealous of Mum behind the wheel!

We have a new dog called Daisy, who is in fact Wally's sister and Milly's daughter. Keeping up? Well long story short we bred her and due to a change in circumstances she has returned, she does not leave Mum's side and is her protector at all times, particularly if anyone is thinking of sitting on the same sofa as Mum!

Kilkenny Lady

So on to the horses, I am very proud to announce that I will be riding Kilkenny Lady (Rosie) for Lydia Roper this season. She is a 6 year old, liver chestnut mare with no experience but huge amounts of talent, so much so 2 four star riders were also interested in her. We are taking it slowly, taking it all the way back to basics and although she was more than capable of jumping 1.30m when we got her, she is learning to jump 90cm properly! (She actually jumped the top of the wings and jumped me off when I first got her)!


The other horses to compete this season Rocklodge Nasdaq (Hector) is back from his winter break and looking fantastic, Carriage Dubh (Danny) just started cantering, Arabella and Dramatic Effect have both been in light work all over the winter and are both looking and feeling amazing.

I feel so excited for this season, my horses are mostly youngsters but they are all so talented,  I love producing them and I am very, very lucky to have been given the opportunities that I have.

Meanwhile through the winter I have been mostly show jumping and doing a little hunting. We've been having fun competing in inter hunt relays. Our team has had some success. We came 3rd in our first competition and we won the next, we may be persuaded to get together again for some more inter hunt competitions depending on the event calendar.

Me, Julia Martin, Tina Cook (Interhunt relay team)

Official Blog for British Eventing on the Junior Europeans 2014

Here is the link to my official blog for British Eventing during the Europeans

http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/news/item.aspx?id=4969


Here is the link for the final blog: Reflecting on the Europeans for British Eventing

http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/news/item.aspx?id=4999

Road to Team GB selection.......

"Although I have worked hard for this and really believed I could do it, when the decision was finally made and I was told I had made the squad it took a while for it to sink in!"

After the U18 championships it was back to reality I only had a couple of days to get used to the new horse on the yard Peanut and then we were off to Tweseldown with four, Peanut, Boo, Arabella and Hector. It was a Hectic day helped enormously by Emily Bennett who is Ken Spencers groom
and Lisa Sparrowhawk who as well as being a good friend is an Equestrian NLP Performance Coach (handy)!! We had a great day some average results but Boo got placed and all the others ran well.

A week later we were off to Nunney International Horse Trials with Hector and Arabella, they ran brilliantly coming in at 6th and 7th within 1.5 points of each other. It was Arabella's first Novice and she did a stunning double clear.  I will never forget the shock and disbelief of the tragedy that happened very shortly after I had finished and what a tragic day it turned out to be for the eventing world.

Rackham was next up for Boo and Peanut. We moved Boo up to the 100, she was so bold xc, got confused at the sunken road but went second time but took the one strides as bounces and generally gave stewards and commentators heart failure. This was mine and peanut's second event and we had had a couple of weeks to get to know each other resulting in a 29 and a double clear for 5th place.

Eridge the week after and another double clear for Peanut and another top ten placing, Boo was also really good. Her 40 penalty points xc were purely from the fact she over jumped and I didn't want to haul her round to the second part of the jump, we circled and approached it properly.

Barbury International was our next port of call with Danny, it was the final selection trial before the long list. What a fantastic event. Michael and Lisa came from MDR photo and captured the whole day on film. Danny felt on top form, Antonia Brown warmed me in for dressage and showjumping. Danny's dressage was just brilliant, rider error in the show jumping meant that Danny had to take over for a bit but he got us clear and then he did a beautiful clear xc in the time. It was an exciting finish and we ended up in third place. Absolutely over the moon. We didn't stay for the party, I knew I had 2 competing in two days time and wanted to get back to ride them. But next year.....
Here is the video of all three phases https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIuKhNw6pw4

On the Monday we received a letter from the Head of Selectors inviting me and Danny on to the long list for the Junior GB team.

On the Tuesday I was back at Tweseldown in the Novice with Arabella and Hector, Arabella did another beautiful double clear for a top ten placing. Hector did the most beautiful dressage and then the heavens opened and an hour and half later we had completely different ground, poor Hector slipped everywhere and rolled a few poles I decided not to take him xc as I didn't want to shake his confidence as he had been running so well.

The end of that week we were running at Brightling - huge thank you to Brightling and in particular Sarah Hayter, we put Hector on the wait list for the 100 to give him a run and the morning of the event they managed to get us in. So we were now three up for Brightling. Thank you Carolyn Gorman and Ellie Thorman for all your help. Peanut had yet another top ten placing and double clear, Hector ran really well but was HC so couldn't be placed, Boo had a stop at the ditch but went second time but again was really good.

And then it was Aston le walls, Lisa Sparrowhawk came with us (thank you Lisa for getting up at 2.30am)!! First up the Novice on the Friday with Hector and Arabella. Both did brilliant dressages, but we had had a horrendous journey m40 closed, huge diversion, it was the hottest day of the year, they were exhausted when it came to the show jumping they both rolled the poles, they just could not pick up their feet, they went xc both clear but very slow. The really did try their hearts out. Back late Friday night, afternoon off Saturday and meal out in the evening to take my mind off the following day - the final GB selection trial before the final squad announcement........

Sunday arrived, we left early so that we could do the course walk with Caroline Moore. Lisa, Grandad and Michael and Lisa from MDR came too, it was great to have their support. I was very nervous before the dressage and Antonia who was warming us up kept telling me to breath, the thing is I usually leave my nerves behind when I get in the ring and that is exactly what happened. I was so pleased with the test. It is not one I can practice a lot because it is in a long arena. Danny did brilliantly, next time we need to improve the halt and the leg yielding to get even better marks. The show jumping was proving tricky for quite a few sections before us and about two thirds of my sections had poles down but yet again Danny was a pro and he did a beautiful clear we went straight back and got ready for cross country. I had decided not to ride for the time as I wanted to make sure he didn't sustain any injury or have a mistake that could take us out of contention. We did a nice forward, rhythmic clear, without overdoing it and ended up in 3rd place. Really could not have wished for a better run in our last trial. Out of 8 completed runs this year Danny has got 6 double clears.

 The whole squad went to stay at a stables nearby, we had such a great evening, all the parents did a joint BBQ and we had our last supper together before the announcements the following day.

I was up at 5am (actually neither Mum or I really slept) to feed Danny, we had the trot up at 6.30am, then the physios came an looked over the horses and then the long wait. We were finally called in and told who had been selected. I knew I had had a good season with Danny, I knew we had been consistent but I still hadn't dared think that we might be selected. Such an amazing feeling, we went out a celebrated that night (I daren't tell you the time I got back)! But the very next morning (well 3 hours later) I was back out riding the other horses and focussed for our next event with them.

Europeans is 14th - 18th August Bishops Burton, Yorkshire. Before then I have team training in Nottingham, 3 horses to compete at Chilham, then I go to concentration and from there straight to the Europeans. I will be blogging for British Eventing on the run up and the actual competition and will post the links from here. So for now goodbye and see you on the other side.....

Racesafe Under 18 Championships 2014

 

Day 1

Journey went without any hitches, no blow outs (due to 6 new tyres ) we were not going to take any chances!
We arrived to thick mud and having to be towed on by tractor, it was pouring with rain, not the greatest start!
We had our rider briefing, sooo much information to take on board, the main thing that concerned me was that the buck stopps with me, apparently I am responsible for my team (basically Mum). So came straight back to the lorry and hid the wine ! Then........ Mum lost the lorry keys with everything locked in the lorry! (I actually put a haybale on top of them, but we will skip over that part). At the same time we found out that I was on first for trot up. Our neighbour Tor Gloag very kindly lent us some plaiting bands and a comb, I plaited whist mum turned the lorry inside out! The keys were found (under the hay bale, how we all laughed) and we headed to the trot up, I was dressed as cat woman and as I was first on, I got a lot of very funny looks from the pony team whose trot up was obviously in formal clothes, I needn't of worried bob the builder followed me and someone in a tutu, I thinks they got the idea! I was so worried about the trot up and when they announced no 1, Carraig Dubh accepted, I felt like whooping!! I walked the xc course with Caroline Moore and then once we worked shout how the generator worked........ we had tea and pretty much crashed by 10pm.

Day 2

Dressage, I was first on (obviously), to be honest I was a bit nervous, I don't usually get nervous but I think first on and felt I had a lot to prove . It was a solid test, he was much more in front of my leg and jaw was not as tense. The medium trot work could have been a bit more balanced but I was pleased and it was an improvement on Aston 2 weeks ago. So with a whole day ahead of me, we walked the course again, had lunch, a little afternoon kip and then I got back on Danny to stretch his legs. Another rider briefing, another walk of the course, this time we did our minute markers, by now I had got a bit nervous, then about 9pm Tina called, half an hour on the phone to her made me feel so much better, I promptly fell asleep straight afterwards. I know I am incredibly lucky to have someone like Tina to turn to. So another early night as I am SECOND ON. Final dressage result 46.2, 11th after the first phase.

Day 3

We got up at 6 to feed Danny and I wanted to get on at 8 to give myself a good 40 mins to warm up, all was going well until I tried to knock myself out in the lorry. Took me a few moments to recover from that, then we were off! Caroline helped me warm up and right on time 9.02 we were on our way. To say his was strong was an understatement, even though the course was not as big as some we have done, it was technical and caused a lot of problems. some of it was not pretty but we went clear inside the time. Yay! Yay! Yay! Lots of icing and washing off and walking, we satisfied the fei vet and team vet and went back to the stable. Next trot up for team vet and physio at 2.30pm went well and we spent the rest of the time in the sun, walking Danny in hand. That evening the juniors had a hog roast and we watched a film of the pony Europeans at bishop burton, which is where the junior Europeans are being held this year. Actually a really great evening, finishing with a final walk of the show jumping course, I would describe it as technical with some large fences. Final result after cross country 8th place going into final trot up.

Day 4

Show Jumping day.... Safe to say I was feeling nervous!
He passed the trot up and looked great!!
The SJ was causing a few issues, poles were rolling and time penalties were clocking up.
Danny warmed up super and then it was my turn 8th from the end to go.
He was jumping well, in fact he was jumping absolutely huge, he was going awesome but sadly he just tapped the last which was a shame but I was still over the moon with the way he went!
Watching the rest of the SJ was incredible tense and very exciting, Connie did an amazing job and had an awesome win!!!
Danny boy and I managed to get in the top 10 with a 6th which I was absolutely chuffed with, he has been on such good form this year being very consistent.
I had such a great weekend met some lovely people!!!

 

             

Three new horses, two blows outs, and an aborted trip to Devon

So my blog has been a bit sparse lately, owing to the fact I am struggling to fit in anything that doesn't involve riding and that includes a social life! My day is starting at 6am and often not finishing till 9pm but I am loving every moment. Since last writing we have had two blow outs on the lorry, a new horse that I own, Pearl has come back to Upper Barn, Frankie a little TB has arrived and we have a new competition livery called Peanut. We are full to the brim and have recently had to turn down another livery. Mum says we will need to build bunk beds for the stables soon!!!

 

My last blog was left on a high from Belton with Danny, he was then kicked in the shoulder by a naughty horse on a hack, which then had to be stapled, he wasn't lame but it was in an awkward place and so was on walk work for 5 days, then the following trial at Withington was cancelled and we rerouted to Bicton - IN DEVON! Danny didn't feel right in the dressage and nor in the show jumping and he was just a bit off, we didn't chance him cross country so came all the way back (7 hours as we had a blow out), it turned out to be a corn, so few more days off and then back on track with fitness for Aston Le Walls. Our dressage not amazing we got a 35 but to be honest we had been concentrating on fitness work and my lovely dressage trainer Fiona Bigwood also had a horrific accident which put a halt to any training and then a beautiful double clear, (although we nearly came a cropper at the water) coming 9th in the section and 3rd top junior there so we were over the moon.

 

Arabella limbering up!

So for those of you don't know Arabella is back and the best news of all is that I now own her! She is a beautiful talented horse and I am still pinching myself. I can't believe she is mine. She has done brilliantly since her return to Upper Barn, we have done three competitions and been placed twice in 2^nd and 8^th place. She has a long, long way to go in her training and sometimes in attitude but boy is she talented. We have decided that she is ready to go up to Novice, our first one will be at Nunney.

 

Boo and a ditch!

Now Boo, well she has provided some challenges, she just didn’t want to do ditches and did we know about it. After Munstead, we pulled her out of all competitions and just concentrated on training and got a little help from Kieran Crumley with the ditches and now she has changed so much, we took her out to her first proper event at the weekend and she was amazing and is now almost too bold! We are so ridiculously excited about her. She will move up to 100 very quickly. Oh and I nearly forgot to tell you… she also came 8^th



Hector is jumping out of his skin at the moment and he is settling into competition again. Its a shame we couldn't complete his run this weekend because of the ground, he got a great dressage and I had a feeling he was going to do well with his jumping. He was on great form at Aston Le Walls for his1st novice of the season. We forgive the dressage - a another blow out on the lorry caused him and arabella a lot of stress and they were lit up for the dressage! But he jumped like a pro and really took me round the cross country.

 

Frankie is a new to Upper Barn, she is a four year old TB owned by Lottie and Sarah Platt, that I am producing as an eventer, she's got a great attitude and will be out competing soon.

 

Peanut .......watch this space, new to Upper Barn, I am riding her for Emma Mills and we start with our first event the weekend after next! She is a beautiful, 7 year old coloured mare.

 

In other news our really good friend Lisa Sparrowhawk is now based with us, Lisa is working alongside me helping me train and ride the horses, she is also a great sports performance coach and has helped me set my goals and gets me in the right mindset!

 

And finally Yara who I used to ride for David Foy has had a foal, a beautiful colt called "Harry"! He is the cutest thing.....

We are just about to change all our feed over to Pure Feed (I am not sponsored by them but after a lot of research and then meeting the founder of the company, I am really excited about the product). I heard about them through LMEQ who are one of my supporters. Danny has been on it for two weeks and we have noticed a difference in that shorter a time.

Next time I will get to blog will be after my final junior trial and National Under 18 championships, going to give it our best shot.......

Belton International Horse Trials - Junior Trial

How long since I have wanted to do a junior trial? I remember three years ago having such high hopes for Estella after France and then she tore a ligament in the field and we had to retire her and with that went my hopes for Juniors for 2012 and 2013. In 2013 came Danny a horse that I could potentially do Juniors on with 2014 being my final year of having a shot at it. Well Danny is a tricky ride and we spent 2013 getting to know each other and the winter building up our training for our first trial and there is still a long way to go and we can still improve in all areas but if for any reason I don't get any further, Belton will stay with me!

First of all Belton is in Lincolnshire which is near Nottingham = long drive! We had our dressage on the Friday and show jumping and cross country on the Saturday. Our journey was made longer because as you might guess we got a little lost around Grantham, mainly due to signs telling us one way and Sat Nav telling us another. Eventually a cyclist stopped us as he had seen us a few times going round and round in circles and thought we might need some help. Bearing in mind it was lunchtime, he did ask if he had seen us at 6am that morning - now I know we are bad with directions but we are not that bad!

When we eventually arrived at the event, we were not prepared for how big it would be, it really is like a mini Badminton. It was a beautiful venue but the nerves kicked in when I realised how many spectators there were! They kicked in even more when I realised the dressage arena was in the middle of the grounds with shops and spectators all around! When I warmed up I really concentrated on us and not on everyone else, he felt really good. He did a smashing test and I have to say at this point thank you Fiona Bigwood for helping me make him look like a dressage horse, he will never have those flash paces and he is long but he held is own up there and in a very hot section of  60 of the very best juniors and young riders in the country, my Danny was joint 6th after dressage!

After dressage we stayed and walked the showjumping and watched some but wish I hadn't as it was all going wrong for every rider I watched. It was tricky and a lot of people were getting cricket scores! We then walked the cross country and gave Mum heart failure!

Over night we stayed at Nicole Mill's yard, it was a prefect choice for Danny as it was quiet and small. Nick Gauntlett also had about 6 of his horses there too. We had a few issues like our leisure battery on it last legs and gas running out, but we had a spare which mum replaced, was slightly concerned on my return from the stables to see mum under the lorry with a spanner and hammer in her hand!

We were on first thing in the morning so early start and back to Belton. In the end the show jumping rode well. We did roll a pole  but it was at the triple. It was a long stride followed by a short and that was always going to be tricky for Danny and the pole was unlucky, it dropped after we had jumped the fence! There were only 10 clears in the whole section!

By the time it came for the cross country Danny and I were more than ready. I had a few butterflies, it was the biggest track that I have ever jumped and there were some difficult lines but it rode like a dream  (apart from a jump near to the end where Danny locked on to the wrong one, but we got it sorted in time) and only got 1.2 time penalties. There were tears of happiness at the end of the course. I saw Tina at the end and she was emotional too! You can watch the video of the round here. : Belton Int. Horse Trials 2014 - Harriet Upton 750 - An Eventful Life http://www.an-eventful-life.com.au/riders/rider-videos-belton-int-horse-trials-2014-harriet-upton-750#.U0riBzgPQO4.twitter via @AddThis.


I couldn't believe it when I heard the commentator announce the placings. I came 5th and was the highest place junior! Tears all round then and am pretty sure Mum cried all the way home! Great Withington is our next trial....