Firle Place International Horse Trials really is one of my favourite events, its lovely and close to Golden Cross, it is brilliantly organised and it has the most amazing atmosphere, it has the feeling of a BIG event, with a country fair, dog show, terrier racing, food stands galore, lots of trade stands with the show jumping arena as the main focal point in this area. Being close to neighbouring towns it is also very well attended by lots of people, many of which are non-horsey and just having a lovely day out in the fantastic Firle Estate.

Saturday I had Candide II & Foxs Castle both in BE100 sections and Pusiden in the CIC*.

Candi did a nice dressage test and after our blip at Wellington we went back to her original bit and she show jumped beautifully, a great round cross country gave us a double clear inside the time to finish a creditable 5^th.

Cooper is amazing, he gives me a fantastic feeling in all three phases, with a 29 dressage and a double clear inside the time he won his third BE100 – definitely thinking he is ready for a run novice. Nice to compete at an event and get great prizes, Cooper won a ShowerKing, portable hot shower for horses!

Pusiden, Sid to his friends only had dressage today. Day before dressage works well for him as he takes time to relax and soak up the atmosphere. His dressage is improving all the time and I was quite happy with 47.9 , putting us just outside the top 10 as I know he has better things to come and he has a great future ahead of him. Hoping tomorrow isn’t a dressage competition and we can move up a few places!

Sundays showjumping saw few clear rounds and unluckily we had a fence down, but the cross country blew me away! Sid ‘cruised’ he was a pleasure to ride and just kept jumping out of his rhythm, he really eats up the ground and as I was told after my round, ‘makes it look so easy!’ I was very happy to go home from the CIC* with a 7^th place rosette, a cheque and an engraved glass memento!

Wesley did his second BE100 and performed very well especially cross country, around what I would describe as ‘a fair but questioning course.’ He finished just out of the places but  I was pleased with how much he is coming on and more than anything, pleased with how he coped with the atmosphere at an event like this.

Next stop Burnham Beeches with NT & Wesley.