08/10/2025
Blimey, what a couple of weeks it’s been for championships! 😳🤠
This time of year always seems to go from 0 to 100 - you forget just how many things you’ve qualified for until they all land at once! 😅
First up was the Riding Club National Championships, where we were part of the showjumping team. I’ll be honest, I hate jumping at Lincoln with a passion, and it always shows 🙈. The courses are huge (though, looking back at the photos, they somehow look tiny?!).
We had 4 faults in both rounds, but Ziggy’s attitude was brilliant, so I couldn’t be happier with him.
After Lincoln, I decided it was time to find a new jump instructor; someone who could help with my own confidence and Ziggy’s spookiness. We’ve found one, and he’s been a total game-changer.
His advice: keep a “channel tunnel” to the fence, ride every stride, and stop letting Ziggy choose long or short ones. At 15, he says Ziggy needs to start helping me out for a change! 😂
Next up was the British Riding Club Combined Training Championships in Northampton - one of my favourite venues. We actually won the Prelim Championships there 3 years ago, so the pressure was on for the Novice class!
Zig came out a little stiff in the dressage, so our score wasn’t quite what he’s capable of, but we sat in 5th after the first phase.
The showjumping was twisty and technical, catching a lot of people out… but Zig absolutely smashed it and jumped clear! 🙌
Our first championship clear in a year and what a place to get it! We finished 5th out of 28, so I was thrilled (even if I was secretly hoping for a sash 🥲).
Then came the big one; the British Dressage PetPlan Championships. Cue one exhausted rider after a concert the night before and about 2 hours’ sleep! 😂
Zig came off the trailer full of beans, and once we entered the “arena of dreams,” everything else faded away.
He danced his heart out and scored 67.23%, finishing 12th out of 27 against some of the best novice horses in the country. For my little £250 pony, I couldn’t be prouder. ❤️
And at the other end of the scale, it was also Jumanji’s first ever dressage outing! At just 4, he handled it like a star. I won’t lie there’s a weird pressure knowing people are watching after my success with Ceaser and Ziggy.
It almost feels like imposter syndrome like I don’t deserve to have such a nice young horse. But he’s proof that hard work pays off.
He did two Intro tests - a slightly spooky 67% in the first, then a lovely, more confident 66% in the tricky Intro 4. For his first ever competition, I couldn’t have asked for more. 🥰
It’s been surreal having two ends of the spectrum in one weekend - a seasoned horse at a national championship and a baby horse doing his very first test.
Both of them fill my heart completely. 💕
Onwards and upwards - a huge thank you to everyone that’s supported us these last few weeks! I’ve decided to withdraw from the Veteran BD champs as it’s Zigs first year he’s eligible anyway so we’ve plenty of time for that - we’re going to finish the season with some fun ❤️
