Huge apologies but I'm back...

First of all I just want to apologise for the lack of blog posts since Houghton Hall. Back in February I was asked to write for an on line horse magazine, Everything Horse UK. Understandably they did want me to use the same copy as my personal blog which of course I honoured, but unfortunately I did not have not had the time to do both. However they have very kindly said that they are happy for me to do both, so here is a catch up on all the articles I have done. From now on, you will see me blogging on here at least once a month. Happy reading!

March

http://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/Horse/harriet-upton-first-blog-with-everything-horse-uk/

April

http://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/Horse/celebrities-and-naughty-stops/

May

http://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/Horse/lows-to-appreciate-the-highs/

July

http://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/Horse/dressage-success-and-riding-over-50-horses-in-one-week/

August 

http://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/Horse/harriet-upton-blog-eventing-has-its-ups-and-downs/

Harriet Upton Blog: Eventing has its ups and downs!

Eventing has its ups and downs! Crickey what a busy month I have had.

I went to Upton House with Hector, Boo, Arabella to do the Novice and also took Rosie to do the Pre Novice, they were amazing. Boo, Arabella and Hector all did double clears and ALL got a top 10 placing, I couldn’t have been happier with the way they went, they have all got so confident, its so rewarding to feel them coming on.

Rosie is coming on really well but she is just having confidence issues in the cross country, she is amazingly careful and sometimes she over jumps the XC fences and slightly scares herself but this is all in the learning, she will start to understand that she doesn’t need to jump as big.

So many of you may know that I tried my first advanced on Danny at Aston Le walls… I was so excited to go up another level, he did a 37 dressage test which I was so happy with because it was the first time I had ridden a dressage test at this level, it had flying changes and everything! We then went onto the SJ phase and I have to say it was massive, but we rose to the challenge and he jumped a cracking round, next up the XC phase and I was feeling a little nervous! I thought come on Harriet you can do this, anyway we started out and it was going really well until… we got to this combination of two skinny brushes with very big ground lines almost like a concrete water tray with rocks and mini water fountains, anwayyyy we came round the corner and went to jump the first one, he spooked and jumped it enormously, I wasn’t expecting it, I sat back and slipped my reins, it was a long four strides to the next brush, we just couldn’t meet it. I felt I could have helped him more by putting my leg on a bit more but I think I was feeling the nerves. I was so annoyed with myself. So I have booked into Wellington to give it another go and this time I am going to nail it.

Boo was placed 4^th at Borde Hill in a very wet Novice class, there were 4 double clears in total, Boo being one of them but the hunting last season really paid off. She was so sure footed and actually seem to enjoy the mud and the rain!

The highlight of my year so far with the horses is when I took Hector to his first intermediate at Aston Le walls he was amazing, he gave me the most amazing ride cross country, I was just so proud of him, he had such a hard life before his owner Sarah brought him from Ireland, he is a sensitive soul and since being at Upper Barn has gone from strength to strength and really started to put his trust in me. The reward when I went through the finish of the cross country was just the most amazing feeling!!!!!!

Very happy jockey.

I also became a show jumper this month! Now registered with British Showjumping. Hector did really well in the Foxhunter and Rosie clocked up her first double clear in the newcomers, cant wait to do more.

Next outing is Wilton Intermediate with Danny, Smiths Lawn with Arabella and Rosie and then its Boo and Hectors first CCI* 

Next blog due first week of September and there is a lot to catch up on...

Houghton Hall International

Houghton Hall International

Under 21 National Championships and My first three day 2*

The week of Houghton came round quickly, the beginning of the week was filled with last minute preparations including a dressage lesson with Lisa Ford, Osteopath appointments for Danny and I, the packing of the lorry and Mum of course baked enough to feed the whole lorry park for the whole four days!

Slight panic on Wednesday when we got a call from the Hardings to ask if we could let them know what happens in the riders briefing at midday. Panic set in…were we supposed to be there Wednesday? Yes apparently! However nothing we could do, Mum still had work to finish and we hadn’t finished packing.

Thursday came round and we were ready to rock and roll the lorry was full to the brim with mums amazing homemade cakes, Danny was looking very smart and we set off for our 4 and a half hour journey.

Houghton Hall is an amazing place. It's a deer park and has cool pieces of art dotted all over the place. As we walked to the trot up we walked past the xc and I could feel the adrenalin starting to kick in.

But first I had to think about the trot up and then the dreaded dressage.

I was so lucky as Timothy Foxx my sponsors had sent me the most wonderful jacket to wear. The trot up took place in front of the house, we were one of the last to go and then finally the words “For Great Britain, Harriet Upton and Carraig Dubh…accepted”

So back to the stables and quick tack up for ring familairtisation, whilst Mum started supper. Thursday was also our good friend Nicky Harding’s birthday, Mum had packed champagne and candles for a little celebration. We amalgamated our suppers, put up the side stables on our lorry (now known as the party area) and had a lovely evening catching up with Nicky, Mike and Harry. Much wine was consumed (by the adults)!

After a good night’s sleep in the lorry, Mum and I met Emma Fisher (U21 Coach) at the start of the cross country to do our first walk. It was big, bold and required you to get a good line on some of the combinations. But as I walked it I felt confident that it was within our capability.

It rained and rained that day. We watched a few dressage tests, cleaned and plaited Danny and got ready for our test.

In the meantime Michael and Lisa turned up from MDR photo, they had come to support for the whole weekend, which was so kind of them.

I met Gill Watson at the warm up of the dressage we prepared for our test. Although it rained before, it stopped when I went into the arena. We all thought it was a lovely test but unfortunately the judges did not! He was very correct and consistent but sadly not what they were looking for.

After my dressage I walked the course with Tina Cook, Swede (Nathalie Blomquiest) and Michael. It was great to do it with Tina as she knows Danny and me so well. We got a plan together.

That evening we combined food with the Hardings again, it was a lovely warm evening and the rain had stopped. Shortly after supper Mum, me Nicky, Mike and Harry were joined by Sam Ecroyd and Adam Gillespie, then Mary and Emily King, then Gill Bleloch came over, swiftly followed by Katie and Amber! A good time was had by all! The young ones all headed over to the entertainment a little bit later (just before we were needed for the clearing up)!

I wasn’t on till the afternoon so that morning so we had time to help Tina out for the day. Tina’s daughter Isabel and I went for a hack around the estate. Meanwhile Tina had cross country so Mum went to help her and Belles and I made it back in time to watch her. Whilst Mum helped out in the 10 minute box and washed off Tina debriefed with me and went through each jump of the course and how it rode.

I walked the course once more and watched a few of the trickier combinations. Lisa Sparrowhawk and her other half Paul arrived and so did Dad and my boyfriend Jake and then finally it was our time!

Tina and Belles came over just before I started to wish me luck and then I was being counted down. The cross country rode amazingly well, Danny was an absolute machine there is nothing better then riding him XC . 

Mum, Dad and Swede met me in the 10 minute box, Danny cooled down well and once his heart rate had been checked by the vet and a quick look over by Mark Lucy (U21 Team vet) we went back to the stable. Mum iced his legs whilst I got changed and then Michael walked Danny round. Shortly after we had an unofficial team trot up for vets, physios, selectors to look at how all the horses were after cross country. Danny passed with flying colours.

That evening we had a big bbq outside the lorry and we taught everyone to play a French game called Palet, which became VERY competitive. We did pop over to the evening entertainment on site and certain someone got very very drunk, I had to pretty much carry them to the lorry but I wont be naming names!

The final day Sunday dawned and it was raining again!

The final trot up was again in front of the house, all ok so we were cleared to jump the final phase.

It was a combined team effort all day as Tina was on her own with the kids and a bit of role reversal took place. Tina walked the sj course with me, there was unaffiliated sj going on so I walked Belles course with her whilst Tina was showjumping.

Then showjumping for the u21’s started. It was so exciting and not many clears so all to play for, as it went on the order changed and the time was tight to get too. Finally my turn came I knew when I was warming him up he felt good, we went in and he jumped a beautiful clear round not touching a pole and in the time. We came back from our disspointing dressage score to end up in the top 15, we were actually 13^th. 

I am really pleased with the way we preformed especially as it was my 2nd ever 2* and first ever CCI2* (3day)

Next stop for Danny and I is Brightling where we will be doing another 2*

Chilham Castle - From the groom's side!

So this is  blog take over!! We thought it would be great for Sian to guest blog about our day out with four horses at Chilham Castle! Sian had a much deserved day off the next day!

Over to Sian.....

So Chilham Castle this week for the BE100 and Novice with the three girls (Boo, Arabella and Rosie) and Hector (lad of the day) and it was another busy one!

Whenever I have to wake up at 3am I always wonder why on earth I decided that I wanted to be in Eventing because I am very rarely a morning person (in fact I don’t think anyone is a morning person at 3am, it’s just a silly time to be awake!) never the less! With my three alarms I managed to pull myself out of bed and be out the door by 3.30am to be at work for 4am, although with the roads being so quiet (I wonder why) I did get there before 4am and all the ponies were wide awake ready for breakfast (I wonder when they woke up..)?  What was quite exciting was trying to find Rosie in the field, in the dark and in the rain with only my phone torch…so as I trundled round her field in the rain clicking my tongue to try and gage where she was ( I didn’t want to shout….bit rude)! After walking around the whole field, I heard her galloping around the top half of the field trying to find me…cute but I was wet and wanted to get her in. Anyone who has met Rosie will know that she is a very inquisitive horse and my shortness of stature plus her head height when she is being nosy and looking up at something does make for somewhat of a problem when trying to put anything on her head. Finally she was in and eating, I inspected the damage to find she was clean and all plaits were still firmly in place!. Harriet came out just after I bought her in and helped get them all booted and suited and on the lorry and we were off at 5am ( after a brief panic as to where the sat nav handle thing was).

I would like the say that the journey went without a hitch but then that wouldn’t be very exciting! Anyway after a while Harriet and I had both fallen asleep (which I always feel a bit bad about leaving poor Justine awake and driving on her own!) About an hour and a half into the journey I was woken up by Justine saying that we had a problem, so we pulled over (on the motorway, of course) and the haynet cupboard was open and haynets were hanging out! Luckily we caught it in time, the door remained on its hinges and we didn’t lose any haynets or Justine as she struggled to get everything back in on the side of the motorway! We arrived at Chilham (still raining) at about 7.15am and everyone re grouped and woke up a bit before we started.

Harriet then announced that she was going to run around both courses and on went her running gear (yes I know, RUN! And Chilham is a very hilly, undulating course too! I then turned to Justine and said ”Only Harriet could run round two courses, ride four horses and then intend to go out clubbing!” (To be fair Harriet clubbing is a rare event and you can probably see why! So off she went and that left Justine and I trying to stud Rosie. Now people who follow my blog will know that Rosie isn’t the most helpful of horses to stud and can be very trying, so keeping her mind occupied and keeping her quiet and relaxed was our plan of action….it didn’t work…  We were parked next to some loud and stressy horses and two horses next door escaped too, so we decided rather than stressing Rosie and possibly hurting herself (and us) she was to go studless for the dressage and we would try after. When she was all ready to go, I went down to lunge her before Harriet got on. Lydia (Rosie’s owner) and Justine then went with Harriet to the dressage which left me to get Bella ready and studded up (she is a dream to do!)

Fred Ford by chance was parked behind us and came over and said “hi”, he asked me how it was going. I told him the story of Rosie’s studs and he very kindly offered to do then for me! Which was a blessing because he is much stronger than me and she was a dream to do when she realised what she had to do. She is just so inexperienced and doesn’t really fully trust anyone but is learning to slowly.

As Justine and Fred did Rosie’s studs, I lunged Bella (still raining) and Harriet got on did her test. Next was Rosie’s show jumping and bless her cottons she went clear! She pulled a very nice 28.8 dressage and clear cross country as well as Show Jumping! (See she’s a little star really). Arabella also did well only had one pole down and went clear cross country and did a 25.5 dressage! (Back on track Bella).

Then we had a mad dash as (groom error) I thought I had waaaayyy more time between Rosie finishing her cross country and Hector doing his dressage, (I didn’t) with all hands on deck he was still ready and lunged for his test in time whilst Lydia was very kindly walking a very tired Rosie around. When she was done and on the lorry (thanks again to Fred who de studded her and put her up) I made sure that I had Boo ready and looking beautiful. This time I had a chance to sort and clean the lorry, wash the cross country boots ready for the next lot to go (by this time it has stopped raining and was beautiful sunshine).

Boo and Harriet then went to do their test whilst I got Hector ready for show jumping. Thankfully we had a fairly long break as Harriet and Justine came back with a reporter from An Eventful Life magazine who had been filming and taking pictures of her and wanted to do film an interview! So Justine made everyone lunch, drinks and served up cake whilst Debbie the reporter talked to Harriet. I had my lunch on the step staying out the way, so I didn’t say anything embarrassing or fall into the living of the lorry (Definitely something I would do). I think Justine and I may have been caught on camera at the end!

When that finished Hector went jumping and came back with one down show jumping, clear cross country and did a lovely 30.8 dressage. Boo jumped last and after a smashing 27.5 dressage, had a clear show jumping but got tired round the cross country (which is very hilly).

So a good day at the office with Arabella placed 3^rd ( I got a bit over excited about her winning a bucket), Rosie coming in 9^th and Hector in 14^th, YES we are back on form!

I managed to get all the tack cleaned before we left (this is a big plus), we were finally on our way around 6.15/6.30 and got home around 8.45/9 (Still cannot believe Harriet went out) and I got home at about 9.30/9.45 so it was a looooonnnnggg day.

Next week is Harriet 19^th birthday, she is taking a couple of days break away, so we’re not eventing but after that we’re heading back up to Aston Le Walls with Boo, Arabella and Hector (He loves going out with his girls) so until then….

Peace!

My first International CIC 2* at Belton!!!!

There was great excitement in the lead up to Belton International not about the fact it was to be my first CIC 2* but the fact we were going to be staying overnight in our new lorry for the first time! Much fuss was made of the lorry, Mum and Dad spent days making sure everything had its place. There are plenty of hooks I know that much and it did in fact make my life a lot easier having everything really organised! It was also sparkling. Mum even got the window cleaners to clean the windows!!

We set off with a sparkling white horse and sparkling blue lorry, all went well till we missed the BIG yellow sign saying horseboxes (for the second year running). So after negotiating our way round Grantham town centre in rush hour, in a 36 foot long lorry we arrived! We kept under the radar that first day just doing the dressage, not walking any courses, we just checked the score board and then went to our overnight accommodation.

Danny performed a nice test, it was our first ever dressage together at that level. I think we could really improve on the medium trot work and the pirouettes to get a better test and dressage judges said he needed more lateral suppleness, so we will work on that for Houghton. But it was a big atmosphere and he was so soft and willing. I was really pleased and then found out we were lying in 12^th  place after the first day of dressage and out of 60 competitors.

We had previously arranged to go with some friends back to Hannah Westropp's farm to stable overnight, thankfully Bella and her Mum Madeleine were not ready to go at the same time as us. Inputter error into the satnav the small 15 minute journey turned into 40 minutes. We ended up in the middle of a housing estate with a very unhappy bus driver trying to negotiate round us, he had to go up on to the pavement and very nearly took out a lamppost!  When we did eventually arrive at Hannah’s and found Danny's stable, it was a lovely big stables with his own pen. We were all invited in for supper, I say all… there were 35 of us! When we first went in we were introducing ourselves when someone said “Harriet Upton? As in one of the ones to watch in the programme?” Well Mum and I had not looked through the programme so I said “No, I think you much be thinking of someone else!” “No definitely it says Harriet Upton, you are trained by Tina Cook aren’t you?” We had no idea what they were talking about and then it was all forgotten as we got into the swing of the evening.

It was a fun night, some of us (Bella and I) didn’t partake in alcohol and some of us (Mum) did!! Actually I think we have Tristan Owers to thank for that, he kept topping up Mum’s glass, poor Tom McEwan that is all I can say, the conversation started about fitness and core strength but egged on by Matt and Kate Tarrant and with some not so little help from Emily Llewellyn he soon learnt that he had a pelvic floor and where exactly it was! Great dinner table conversation and I wasn’t embarrassed at all! In true eventers style as nearly everyone else had early starts our evening ended at 10 and everyone had lights out by 11! Then we suddenly remembered to look at the programme, oh my god, I could not believe I was in there as one of the five riders to watch. Right under Izzy Taylor and Sir Mark Todd!!

So after we had stopped giggling over the programme, we had a great night’s sleep in our lovely lorry and we went back to Belton Park, it only took us 15 mins going the right way! We had plenty of time as I was not on till 1.10pm. We walked the course bumping into all the junior selectors on our way and having a massive hug with the legend that is Ginnie Keen. Ground was super and the course big, bold lots of galloping and lots of combinations. It was a great course for Danny, I walked round it feeling quite confident that he would take this all in his stride. I walked the show jumping a little while after and to my dismay spotted the dreaded water tray. Danny hates water trays and it was under an upright. (I needed a plan and quickly)!

We checked the results at the end of the dressage put us in 22^nd place out of 85 starters, not bad and achievable to finish in the top 20 which was my aim for my first competition at this level.

So I went back to the lorry contemplating my plan for the show jumping, I wasn’t too worried and Lisa Ford had said she would help me warm up so I had someone else to talk it over with. Not sure we ever get through an event without incident but Mum managed to bang her forehead on one of the locker doors, a little dazed she came back into to the lorry to tell me but  in order to hear her I opened the door and managed to give her another knock on the head in exactly the same place. So there is a nice bruise forming. 

So when we put the entry in for this event Mum asked what I wanted in the commentators notes, we decided nothing as I wanted to do this quietly and no fuss being my first one. We just added in my sponsors as we always do and left it at that. In the meantime the intermediates had finished and commentary turned to talking about the event and who was at the event. You can imagine our surprise when the commentator started to tell the story of how Danny and I came to be a partnership. It is a lovely story but as we stood in the lorry listening I felt a little under pressure when he told everyone to look out for me!  We don’t know how they got all the information but it was so lovely of them to highlight us and our story and I think having that pressure on as one to watch made me raise my game even more!

Photo credit to "The Bit". Many thanks

I met Lisa over at the warm up of the show jumping, she was just so great at helping me structure my warm up, we talked through the plan for the water tray and before I knew it, I was in. Danny just felt like he was on springs and did a beautiful clear. Only about 30% of the section went clear, I was so proud of him. Shaun and Janie Lawson were there too, who I co own Danny with and they were over the moon. I knew this would have moved me up the leader board and I think we worked out I had moved up to 18^th place.

Quick change and on to the cross country. I was determined not to be a Granny around the cross country as going slow could seriously affect my top 20 placing I wanted so badly. We ended up with only 0.8 time penalties. Going back to the lorry to get Danny washed off we then had to wait as the results trickled through. Dad, Ross (Bro) and Michael Rogers (MDR Photo) were all tracking the live results at their respective houses. It was so exciting sitting in the lorry getting the texts each time I went up the leader board. Eventually it was confirmed we came 7^th, I was so shocked and unbelievable happy. Huge shout came out of our lorry when we heard! Apologies to the lady and her dog going past at the time!

I love Belton as an event, it has a really special feel to it. I had a good ride there last season in the Junior Trial too and next year I want to bring more horses, even better we now have a great place to stay too!

It's back to training for me, I may have some last minute entries at Hambledon this week and I have four horses at Chilham next week and lots of training to do before Houghton U21 championships.

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To Tina Cook and Shaun Lawson there are not enough thank yous for giving me Danny!

Big thank you to Lisa Ford who helped me prepare for my dressage before and helped me with my showjumping at the event and for taking all the videos!

Sponsored by: MDR photo, Timothy Foxx Clothing, LMEQ, EQU Streamz, The Pure Feed Company, Lisa Sparrowhawk and Sue Chinn.

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