The 2^nd March saw us with a  trip to Coombelands for Combined Training with James. James last time out couldn’t relax, he was a bundle of nervous energy, which resulted in him unable to stand still and he thought he was at the races.

Today we kept things very relaxed, he worked in well and did a nice dressage test for this level. Showjumping was calm and more balanced, he finished 4^th which I was pleased with. He has come such a long way since joining me.

A week later, a weekday event saw us travelling further afield. A trip to Aston Le Walls for our first Horse Trials of the BE 2014 Season, albeit Unaffiliated it is still an event run at a BE venue with the same entries system as a BE event.  Due to the cancellation of Tweseldown, we re-routed here and though it was freezing cold it was fantastic to be at event.

NT started the day, he has grown up a lot of the winter and did a respectable dressage test in the (BE)90 to score 34.0, his Showjumping was good, though unfortunately a fence down with a clear cross-country put him into 7^th place.

Bruce was competing in the (BE)100 and I am enjoying having him back, his dressage was very good, straight, balanced, rhythmical and correct, he was a joy to ride. A lovely double clear gave us a win which is definitely the way to the start the season. Bruce will do a BE100 at Goring before going Novice at South of England mid-April.

Pusiden had a lovely time, he enjoyed being back out competing and even though an ‘easy’ run for him in the Novice he felt the same cross-country as how we finished the season last year, I took it very steady, adding 2.4 time to a double clear and a 35.0 dressage to start the eventing season with a 5^th place.