I have a huge soft spot for this wonderful little horse who tried his heart out all week
We have had a pretty busy month since Badminton. It was back to reality with a 2:10am alarm going off and a 10pm finish with 7 horses going to Tweseldown just two days after Badminton. So not much time to recover from our fab week away with Away Cruising (Spot).
We had six horses going to Tattersalls in Ireland at the end of May too, so those horses were busy preparing for their CCI classes with various events and training sessions. They had all been going very well and feeling good.
A few of the team who did a fantastic job in helping me all week.
Two weeks had flown by and before I knew it I was stood in the tack room wondering how and where I was going to fit all my kit for six horses for eight days! We left early on Monday morning to catch the lunchtime ferry. It’s a long journey to Holyhead. I always like to check on the horses every 1.5 hours; to offer them a drink, check their temperature, make sure they are travelling well and are happy. I also like to get the horses off for a leg stretch, a graze and give them a feed. I am paranoid about them getting travel sickness and travelling too long with their heads up. We stopped off at a great place with plenty of grass to let them get their heads down. It is always a bit of a rush to get to the ferry on time so we needed to be quick and efficient! Luckily these horses are all good travellers and most of them had been on ferries before so there wasn’t too much to worry about with that side of things.
Spot the difference! Cooper and Harold waiting for their riders to appear!
After a long journey we arrived at Tatts early evening on Monday. When you arrive it is always going to be a long evening with unpacking everything and we also worked all the horses too. Harry must have been the only one lunging at 11.30 at night in the dark! By the time we had settled them all in and set up camp for the week we found ourselves having supper at 12.30 at night. (better late than never I suppose!)
Harry, Taz and Gus looking on point for the trot up!
Between Harry and Tim (our work rider) they had four horses in the CCI 1* and Harry also had two in the CCI 2*. Myself and my team were incredibly busy all week and by the end of it we were running off adrenalin and hardly any sleep. I think the earliest we were in bed was 11pm and the latest our alarms were going off was 6am! A grooms life is certainly not a glamorous one!
There were a few mixed results but both of Tim’s horses were very good ending up in the top twenty. Our lovely seven year old Red Kite (Cooper) was a star in his first CCI producing a stunning dressage test of 24 to be lying 2nd going into SJ on the final day. He jumped very well but had one down to drop him to 6th, but we were so pleased with him and what an exciting horse for the future!
Cooper after completing his first CCI.
We had Tenareze (Taz) in the 2* class. He was on flying form all week and did not put a foot wrong. He did a lovely test and was amazing around a tough XC course to finish clear and 4 seconds inside the time. He was 7th going into the SJ.
Taz on flying form during his XC round!
He is usually a good jumper but you never know how they are going to be the day after going around a XC course. He came out fresh and happy and jumped an immaculate clear round to finish 4th in a high class field! I have a huge soft spot for this horse and I couldn’t have been prouder of him. It’s safe to say I nearly had tears in my eyes! He tried his heart out all week. It’s amazing how suddenly all the long hours and over tiredness suddenly didn’t matter anymore, the job is so rewarding when it all goes to plan!
Taz jumping an immaculate clear round to finish 4th in the 2*
We have such a lovely team of horses who are all so exciting for the future. Tattersalls is one of my favourite events. Everyone is so friendly and helpful and to top it off the weather was beautiful all week.
We made a mad dash to catch the early ferry home. Again we got the horses off before the ferry for a leg stretch and graze. I have to say I hardly get stressed but there was a small doubt in my mind, as we were flying at high speed with a lot of kit in the living flying everywhere, that we weren’t going to catch the ferry on time. The boat was leaving at 6.10 and we just got there in the nick of time at at 6.05! Life is never boring when Team Meade is involved!
It’s so lovely to come home with six safe, happy and sound horses and two riders who are also safe and sound. My thoughts go out to Jonty Evans and all his team who weren’t quite so lucky and suffered a nasty fall. I really hope he makes a speedy recovery.
We arrived home at 1.00am and my great team were all out to help. We got the horses off, gave them a walk and then they all went into the field for a bit whilst we unpacked the lorries before bringing them in for the night. By the time I crawled into my own bed it was 3.15am. I then realised that I had been up since 4.15am that day and no wonder I was tired! I do sometimes wonder how I cope and how I’m still standing.
Thankfully we now have a bit of a quiet time with just the young horses out and about. Believe it or not Spot is back in work. He is feeling good and he will be aiming for Burghley in the Autumn which will be exciting!
This was the state of the tack room at 2.00am! There was a fair bit of un packing to do the following day!
The Monday morning was spent unpacking, washing and resorting kit out. I am pleased to say all the horses trotted up well in the morning and were glad to be home and out in the field! They will all have a bit of time off before aiming for Barbury in July!
We have had such a fun week. Clever horses and well ridden jockeys! A huge thank you to my wonderful team who helped me at Tatts and for the guys holding the fort at home. I am lucky to be surrounded by lovely horses, great riders and a great team of owners, sponsors and staff. Thank you everyone!
