The team were out in full force on Saturday for a long day of competition at Keysoe horse trials, with both lorries needed to accommodate all the horses!. This effort was definitely worthwhile as Kate and Amelia had some great runs round the testing courses.
Dassett Select (JJ) did a lovely dressage test for 29 in the Novice, before jumping a classy showjumping round, just unfortunately breathing on a rail. He then put in a stylish cross country performance to come home inside the time, bagging himself a 4th place rosette in the process. JJ is finding these tough Novice tracks very easy now, and we think he’s looking forward to jumping some bigger courses soon.
There was a lot to look at in the huge main showjumping arena, however mega mare Dassett Showgirl (Lola) didn’t let this faze her. She jumped a super clear in there, before following it up with an immaculate cross country round, jumping her second Novice double clear in a row. It was so nice for her owners Lesley Rocher and Sheena Hawkin to see her jumping so confidently round this testing Novice course. She’s really one to watch as she’s progressing all the time, and is bound to put in some big performances this season and beyond.
Alice Rocher’s Dassett Code (Smartie) also jumped some great rounds, making nothing of the Novice track to fly round the cross country clear and just two seconds over the optimum time for 10th place. Kate has taken the ride over this year as Alice is currently pregnant, and we are all very excited for her and her partner Will! Alice has been so supportive from the sidelines, and Kate and Smartie have built a fantastic partnership in what seems like no time. We’re sure they’ll have some exciting runs in the rest of the year.
Andrea Burdett’s Dassett Forever Autumn (Autumn) started with an elegant dressage test to score 30, and jumped a foot-perfect clear in the showjumping. She was looking brilliant on the cross country, but we were gutted when an unfortunate spook at a wooden owl statue right at the end of the course meant she missed an angled brush, dropping her out of what would have been a very competitive position. Although it’s frustrating to miss out on a placing, this talented mare has come on so far this season and is sure to bring home plenty more rosettes this year.
Amelia was riding a couple of young horses in the BE100, and had a super run with Keynote Dassett (Wilson). He did a smart dressage test and a neat showjumping round, before storming round the cross country inside the time to take home 9th place. He’s really coming into his own this year and is such an exciting prospect for the future.
Hawthornstud Dassett (Lexi) also jumped some fantastic rounds in the BE100, flying round the cross country with a fast clear. She just missed out on the placings this time having not scored her normal competitive dressage mark today, but will have undoubtedly gained lots of experience from jumping under the atmosphere of this big event.
Kinetic Dassett (Brownie) didn’t have his best day on paper despite a very competitive 27 dressage (!!) but we feel he has actually really come on from the run – he lost a bit of confidence in the jumping arena and needed to take a second look at the water! This horse was just so brave in his first few events, it is probably a good thing he is now starting to properly look at all he is doing. We’re sure he will come out the other side all the better for it.
The team at Keysoe did a brilliant job organising this lovely event, and it was definitely a beneficial trip for the horses. A special thank you also has to go Katie and Krzysztof for doing a great job holding the fort at home whilst everyone else was at the horse trial. A day like this certainly wouldn’t have been possible without all their hard work behind the scenes!
