Last year I decided that I wanted to have a go at British Dressage Novice Freestyle to Music. I looked into it, then created my own music and floor plan.

However, we struggled to get the qualifying scores needed for Winter Regionals. This year we thought we’d start as soon as the qualifying period starts, so that we have enough time to collect the scores necessary (two scores over 68%). Our first two planned outings turned out to be a success – completing our qualification with a 2nd on 70.56% and 1st with 69.44% under a List 1 judge. In the same week we gained 9 out of the 19 points needed to qualify for Winter Regionals at Novice Silver.

Next on the agenda was Great Yorkshire Show with Rupert our yearling. This was touch and go as he had 3 stitches in his eyelid due to a field accident which occurred in June. We have a Le Mieux comfort shield fly mask which has been instrumental to his recovery due to the hot weather and pesky flies! Rupert was impeccably well behaved at Yorkshires Show however unplaced but will return as a two year old when he is more developed.

On Saturday the 14th we headed to Rochdale to visit Longacres Stud, as we have put a deposit on a filly by Samara Fly. She’ll be Rupert’s half sister and is arriving at the end of September.

Norbert then attended Driffield Show on 18th for the Ridden Coloureds. We didn’t go expecting anything as he is still novicey and can panic in group situations. He had a much better go round this time out and a consistent show, resulting in a 2nd place. We feel like he’s finally going in the right direction but I’m sure he’ll soon show us otherwise.

We had British Dressage Regionals at Port Royal EEC on the Saturday. We had a dressage lesson on the Thursday, Ruby went really well despite the heat. I treat regionals as just another competition as we didn’t have the best luck last year at winters or summers! Winters consisted of a hormonal Ruby finishing 35th out of 35 . Then Summers she was tense and spooky at Somerford Park.

It was an early time of 9:32 am and the 4th one into the arena out of a class of 37. We got there early allowing time for the arena walk and for Ruby to have her Equilibrium Massage Pad on before her test, to help warm her muscles up. We came out of our test with an average score across the three judges of 69.54%, with the judge at C having us on 72.24%. I was really pleased with and was lying in 2nd, however the agonizing wait until 3pm to see where we would finish overall was a nightmare! We took Ruby home and I had a friend messaging me who was there in the afternoon for her test, keeping me updated.

I’m very pleased to say that we finished 2nd out of 37 and have qualified for the British Dressage Summer National Championships at Stoneleigh in September! We finished as the highest paced BD Youth member and have also been selected to ride for the Northern Region at Novice at the Sheepgate U25’s Championships!

-Victoria Turner

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