Ginnie Turnbull - January 2012

Ginnie gets to grips with Arena Eventing

With the weather staying so mild, we have been able to get the event horses very fit and they seem to be further ahead of schedule than normal. With the idea that February will be very cold at least then if they need to have a quieter few weeks we won't be panicking about the event season looming.

The youngsters had another expedition to a dressage at the beginning of the month and Warlord was the winner with his enormous paces and great attitude. I think the judge was a bit generous but it was a great way to start his career winning for his owner Alan. He is a very handsome boy (Warlord that is!) and he will be heading for the young horse classes this year. The other four year olds have very happily settled into the new career and some of them are very smart. Standing on the lorry, loading and getting on are no longer such a risky business – phew!

The grown up horses all had a play at Weston Lawns Arena Eventing and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. All did good tests and jumped well although I had sat-nav issues on JJ forgetting to go through some flags! At least I've hopefully got my blonde moment out of the way for the start of the season! I was especially pleased with the less experienced horses who coped well with high winds and strange looking water jumps. I think Arena Eventing is great but it is a bit weird to jump out of schools and go through odd looking puddles! Maybe I'm just a bit ‘old school’!

We put down our version of some gallops in one of our 10 acre fields last autumn and surprisingly they have worked really well. At least the horses have all managed to get some cantering done in January. They are a bit home-made or should I say ‘Will-made’! It does save a fortune in time/diesel not having to start the canter work going to some gallops.

The youngsters went two days later to use the same arena eventing fences but just as a clear round schooling. They were surprisingly green and took a while to get the hang of it. It was interesting seeing which ones coped the best and who needs a lot more confidence. We've planned several more schooling trips out before competing. At least then it gives them half a chance to cope when they are under pressure.

We also schooled Franklyn Sugar and Primitive Academy at the same time in preparation for the Stallion Shows at the beginning of February. I rode Frank and Will rode Academy. Both thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I keep telling Clair and Lucy they would love to go eventing! They have a great attitude to the job.

Percy, Sam and Flo have all been working hard on their flatwork especially as they find the jumping bit quite easy (except Sam who doesn't leave the floor any more!) Sam has his regionals up at Myerscough at the end of February so its back to putting on my iPod and trying to remember where on earth I went last time. Brain-strain! We have changed his music again in the canter and are hoping that just helps us impress a little more. The changes are definitely improving – but then they need to!

The yard is so busy that we have had to add two stables – we just don't seem to ever have enough. Hopefully these will tide us over until we have caught up a bit.










Image caption: My old eventers Ace and Sam, now retired venerable gentlemen, aged 28 and 29. Both were advanced, both taught me everything when I hadn't a clue, and both looking amazing thanks to their Allen & Page feed.


With the weather staying so mild, we have been able to get the event horses very fit and they seem to be further ahead of schedule than normal. With the idea that February will be very cold at least then if they need to have a quieter few weeks we won't be panicking about the event season looming.

The youngsters had another expedition to a dressage at the beginning of the month and Warlord was the winner with his enormous paces and great attitude. I think the judge was a bit generous but it was a great way to start his career winning for his owner Alan. He is a very handsome boy (Warlord that is!) and he will be heading for the young horse classes this year. The other four year olds have very happily settled into the new career and some of them are very smart. Standing on the lorry, loading and getting on are no longer such a risky business – phew!

The grown up horses all had a play at Weston Lawns Arena Eventing and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. All did good tests and jumped well although I had sat-nav issues on JJ forgetting to go through some flags! At least I've hopefully got my blonde moment out of the way for the start of the season! I was especially pleased with the less experienced horses who coped well with high winds and strange looking water jumps. I think Arena Eventing is great but it is a bit weird to jump out of schools and go through odd looking puddles! Maybe I'm just a bit ‘old school’!

We put down our version of some gallops in one of our 10 acre fields last autumn and surprisingly they have worked really well. At least the horses have all managed to get some cantering done in January. They are a bit home-made or should I say ‘Will-made’! It does save a fortune in time/diesel not having to start the canter work going to some gallops.

The youngsters went two days later to use the same arena eventing fences but just as a clear round schooling. They were surprisingly green and took a while to get the hang of it. It was interesting seeing which ones coped the best and who needs a lot more confidence. We've planned several more schooling trips out before competing. At least then it gives them half a chance to cope when they are under pressure.

We also schooled Franklyn Sugar and Primitive Academy at the same time in preparation for the Stallion Shows at the beginning of February. I rode Frank and Will rode Academy. Both thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I keep telling Clair and Lucy they would love to go eventing! They have a great attitude to the job.

Percy, Sam and Flo have all been working hard on their flatwork especially as they find the jumping bit quite easy (except Sam who doesn't leave the floor any more!) Sam has his regionals up at Myerscough at the end of February so its back to putting on my iPod and trying to remember where on earth I went last time. Brain-strain! We have changed his music again in the canter and are hoping that just helps us impress a little more. The changes are definitely improving – but then they need to!

The yard is so busy that we have had to add two stables – we just don't seem to ever have enough. Hopefully these will tide us over until we have caught up a bit.










Image caption: My old eventers Ace and Sam, now retired venerable gentlemen, aged 28 and 29. Both were advanced, both taught me everything when I hadn't a clue, and both looking amazing thanks to their Allen & Page feed.