Young Riders Blog: Rosa Onslow, March 2019
7 Mar 2019
While it has been quiet on the competition front, it has been anything but quiet at home. Although Sunny and Kaiser had a well-deserved rest after their last 2 events (Ballindenisk CIC3* and Blenheim CCI3* respectively), we are now ‘full speed ahead’ in preparation for the coming season.
So what are the aims for this season? Kaiser has now qualified for CCI 5* L (was CCI4*), including Badminton and Burghley. With Badminton so early in the season, I have decided instead to aim for Luhmuhlen in June and then Burghley in September. These may be a long way off and anything could happen, but you have to dream! I have ridden Kaiser since he was a 6 year old and we have come up the levels together which is great fun. He is a family pet as well as the most amazing horse, and we know each other inside out.
Sunny is now qualified for CCI4* L (was CCI3*) and the aim is to get him qualified for CCI5* L this season. Also, I am still eligible for the GB Young Rider team, and so I hope I might have a chance! It is so competitive.
I have spent the last few months concentrating on dressage with both horses, with lessons from Ian Woodhead and his daughter Amy. I really feel both horses have come on and have improved. I have also been competing in various show jumping competitions to prepare us for the season. They seem to be enjoying it and are jumping well. Next week we go to Somerford Equestrian Centre to school over some big cross country fences. I have done this every year for the past 5 years and have found it really useful to be taught by Andy Heffernan who has ridden for Holland at the Olympics and competed at the highest levels. He is brilliant, although a hard taskmaster. He tells it as it is and he is an amazing coach.
The programme after that for both horses is then Lincoln (OIU21), Belton (Adv U25) and then Burnham Market (CCI4* S). Fingers crossed!
Finally, we have a new addition to the yard. Crispy (Parkfield Baroque) has joined us from Sheridan Sport Horses. He is rising 5 years and has got off to a good start. It’s great fun working with a young horse and I am really excited about him. Our aim is to do a few BE90s this season and then hopefully his Age Classes (BE100). He is very talented in all phases but also very green. Everything is new to him and he walks about with his eyes on stalks most of the time!
The horses are loving their Harbro feeds. All 3 eventers are fed on Harbro Horse & Pony Conditioning Cubes, Country Horse AlfaAlfa and Harbro Haylage. I couldn’t recommend these feeds more highly and my horses’ results last season up to 4* level speak for themselves.
