British Olympic dressage rider Laura Tomlinson on latest journey chaos and her European marketing campaign
Having just lately come again from European soil, it feels just like the competitors season is nicely on its method. From epic journeys resulting from strikes in Calais, leading to modifications of plan, to a variation in how the brand new noseband machine was applied, it’s been an journey to say the least.
First, I used to be at Addington CDI with my home-bred nine-year-old, Full Moon, who was making his worldwide grand prix debut – and it was additionally my first time competing internationally with my cousin’s pretty horse, Issey.
It was an effective way to check the waters at that degree, and each horses carried out nicely, giving me the arrogance that they have been able to journey additional afield and achieve priceless expertise.
They actually gained mileage, though not fairly as we had deliberate.
On the Wednesday, we set off for Dover however needed to flip again resulting from strike-related delays and being denied a spot on both the tunnel or the ferry. The horses then got here residence and spent the remainder of the day within the discipline, to be reloaded within the night to go to Portsmouth.
A six-hour ferry adopted, then just a few hours’ relaxation at a yard in Rouen earlier than heading on to their ultimate vacation spot, Lier in Belgium.
The horses lastly arrived late on Thursday, and I have to say I used to be almost in tears by the point I had the boys off the lorry, walked them and put them to mattress.
Had it not been a Nations Cup present, we’d have given up, however because of my super-groom, Hannah Good, the boys seemed in nice nick and by the point Issey needed to compete, he was as blissful as if he have been at residence.
In motion
Issey was first to go for the staff and the primary to exit of the entire class, and I used to be delighted along with his calm, clear check. After all, there may be room for extra oomph sooner or later, but it surely was each bit the confidence-giving spherical I’d hoped it will be for him.
As all the time at this stuff, the World Class assist staff have been fabulous and it was nice to a part of a staff with Lottie Fry, Andrew Gould and Lewis Robertson-Service. We got here fourth as we lacked the one extra-high-scoring pair, however we have been positively essentially the most constant staff.
Issey and I then did our first-ever particular, and he proved himself to be fairly dependable within the ring.
“Moony” had a few straightforward days in Belgium whereas Issey was doing all of the work, however come Sunday night, we travelled two hours over to Germany to compete at Aachen CDI3*.
Now it was Moony’s flip to take the helm, and – regardless of being inexperienced – he felt like an outdated pair of your comfiest slippers.
He, too, did a quiet and clear grand prix within the huge stadium – a fantastic expertise for a younger horse to absorb that type of setting, however with out the total hype and depth of the standard CDIO5* environment at Aachen.
Noseband measuring machine
It was fascinating that in Lier, the tack, spur and noseband verify occurred after the check, however in Aachen, it was executed beforehand.
The stewards in Aachen argued that if a horse fails the noseband verify earlier than the check, there’s nonetheless time to regulate it. However if you happen to fail the verify after the check meaning you’re disqualified.
We additionally noticed some fascinating diversifications of padding on the edges of noses in order that the tester may simply match the measuring machine down the entrance with out the edges being too unfastened.
It is going to be fascinating to see how issues adapt and settle inside this new system. Most significantly, no British riders had any troubles.
My subsequent cease shall be a straightforward journey to Wellington CDI3* with Issey, after which it is going to be Full Moon’s flip to fly the Nations Cup flag in Rotterdam. Hopefully, we’ll be again to a standard journey throughout the tunnel, with none delays. Fortunately, Moony is sort of a huge canine and thinks life is one huge journey anyway, so he’s fairly blissful to offer all of it a go!
With a fourth spot seemingly vast open for the European Dressage Championships this summer season, the following few competitions shall be thrilling for a number of combos – it’s all to play for, and I really feel privileged to be within the potential combine.
● What frustrations have you ever skilled with how competitors guidelines are utilized – or modified – between venues? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your title, nearest city and county, for the possibility on your letter to look in a forthcoming subject of the journal
You may also be fascinated with:
Credit score: Emma Herrod
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Future