Area 17 Horse Trials Qualifier 8th June Moreton

by Jo Young

Last week, everyone in the Moreton WhatsApp group was on tenterhooks, waiting for the times to be released — and hoping against hope there’d be a chance to walk the course before the first test. It was not to be, so we all made our way down to Dorset on Saturday to walk the course in various groups — some of us ending up just slightly damp, others completely drowned!

The rain, though, was a blessing. Expecting hard ground, the organisers had already added 10 seconds before XC time penalties would kick in, but the rain transformed everything. Still… that vast water obstacle (puddle) in front of the first show jump was…er…surprising.

We set off at an unearthly hour, meeting Diane, Tiff and Clare on the motorway — who’d already had to deal with a flat tyre – and arrived to a beautiful Dorset morning: clear, soft, warm, with our plaits still intact and only minimal extra poo stains collected en route. The ground was perfect — soft and springy — and Toby felt full of bounce heading into dressage. For perhaps the first time ever, “needs more impulsion” didn’t appear in the comment sheet, though several of the usual favourites (“more consistent contact needed”, anyone?) still snuck in, leaving us on a respectable 33.2.

As always with eventing, things suddenly accelerated. Before we knew it, we were show jumping — thankfully, the first fence had been moved so the take off was no longer in the middle of a lake — and we flew round for a clear. Then it was back to the lorry for a quick change into Meon yellow and black, ready for XC.

Two weeks earlier, Toby and I had a complete XC disaster at Larkhill, eliminated when he took offence to what I can only imagine was some kind of a horse-eating butterfly under fence 3. I was determined not to let history repeat itself. Georgina’s voice echoed in my head: sit up, shoulders back, drive with your seat. Toby felt fantastic in the warm-up, giving me hope — and then we were in the start box and off!

My word. Toby gave me the best XC ride of my life — six glorious minutes of attacking every fence and loving every stride. We galloped up and down Moreton’s hills, finishing clear, one second inside the optimum time, and Toby was hardly even breathing. I was also hardly breathing, but in a different way and as a result of not taking a breath the whole way round.

I’ll admit to having a little cry to myself crossing the finish — I was so thrilled and proud of my wonderful pony, who truly pulled it out of the bag for me this time. Perhaps he remembered me threatening him with the huntsman at Larkhill? I’ve never gone that fast XC — didn’t actually realise quite how fast you truly have to go — and it was absolutely blimmin marvellous!

Still riding the high, we spent the afternoon mooching about, eating, drinking, watching the Meon 70s strut their stuff, marvelling at Alex’s dressage score when it was announced over the loudspeaker, and catching up with Meon friends around every corner. A typical Meon day: friendly, supportive, and enormous fun.

Meon results-
90cm
Alex E 1st
Heidi O 7th
80cm
Team 2nd
Chloe W (Individual 2nd) Jo Y (Ind 3rd) Diane W, Tiffany C
Tess B Individual 13th
70cm
Team 1st
Dan S (Individual 2nd) Phillipa C (Ind 5th) Sara G, Sharon E