Competition

Dressage to Music Championships – Sunday 6 October at Bury Farm, Leighton Buzzard
Elsbeth Jeffery and I had a fantastic time at the BRC National Dressage to Music Championships. We both felt really honoured to represent Meon and did our best to ensure our steeds had their dancing shoes on!
In the Senior Novice (no points), Tolkien and I adapted our ‘Rocky’ routine to the 40x20m arena – the early morning arena walk massively helping to reduce the spooking at all the flower pots! The sense of occasion still made for a couple of over-excited (applied to both of us!) halts where we lost valuable points.  Overall, though, he was completely amazing and danced his little heart out.  I was an emotional wreck as we came down the centre line – my first horse in our first overnight stay, our first ever championship!  I was absolutely delighted to finish 13th out of 31 and only just outside the rozzie-winning top ten.
It was an even closer result for Elsbeth and Vinny (My Peggy’s Diamond).  Their gorgeous ‘Lady Gaga-inspired’ routine was a joy to watch – horse and rider in perfect harmony with some beautifully quiet riding, lovely rhythm and obedience.  They finished only just outside the ribbons in 11th out of 26.  Their polished performance earning them 80% from one of the two judges!
Elsbeth and Vinny did however pick up a frilly in the warm-up tests – coming 5th in the Novice 23 despite car alarms blaring throughout.   The venue was fantastic and the event really well organised by BRC.  Our videos are both on the Meon Facebook page if you’d like to take a look.   Pippa Griffin