Alexia’s June Blog: What A Busy Month!

Alexia and Felix Showjumping

June has been another brilliant month, full of fun and successful competing and plenty of training too!

It began with a bang, when I found out the most amazing news- I had WON the KBIS NSEA Bursary 2018! To say that I was excited was a complete understatement; I felt so lucky and thankful to KBIS, and also was so proud of Felix, who helped make this happen!

On the same day that I found out that I had won the Bursary, we had been at  NSEA showjumping at Keysoe. In the 95cm we went clear, but sadly the team just missed out on qualifying for the NSEA Championships, and we finished 3rd. In the 105cm the course had been built up to height, so I was quite nervous, but as always Felix was a little star and jumped his heart out! We, unfortunately, had 2 poles- one due to us having to wait for ages in the arena before jumping, because we were the first in, and the other due to me messing up a stride at an upright! Although Felix and I finished on 8 faults, our team still came 2nd and qualified for the NSEA Championships later in the year!

On the 10th June, we headed off to my Pony Club’s annual ODE at Berwick Farm. It was an incredibly hot day, but with lots of water packed we were ready to get going. Felix did a sweet test with room for improvement for a 29 dressage, which I was pleased about, as there were some really nice parts. In the showjumping he jumped very well, but we just had a slight miscommunication at the smallest upright on the course, resulting in an annoying pole. Felix was very excited to be going XC, and went very fast on the first half of the XC course, which meant I had to watch my time, but with the help of my stopwatch, we went clear inside the time! I thought we would be out of contention due to my pole, but I was very happy to see that we had WON!

In preparation for all our events, we have been having dressage lessons with my regular trainer Amanda Malins. Amanda really helps we with my riding and ensures I ride well to give Felix the best chance of also working well and staying supple.

This month all of the wonderful KBIS kit and goodies have arrived! I have been so lucky to have received lots of KBIS items ranging from sunglasses to a rug!

On the 23rd June, I headed out XC schooling at Berwick Farm with some of my mum’s and older cousin’s friends. I was having a ride on a really sweet 15.2 cob called Oscar, who I am lucky enough to be taking to camp this year! I also got the chance to ride a 17.2 horse (the biggest horse I have ever ridden!) – and he was also a little (well…big!) star as well and popped lots of jumps! I love to ride different horses, as I feel I can always learn something new when riding something so different to what I am used to, and it will hopefully help my riding improve.

The next day, Felix and I headed off to a Pony Club team event called the Calvert Cup. Once again, we were eventing in some really hot weather and the ground was like concrete. We began with an ok test, which was  certainly not the best we have done, for a 29. The test was really hard to ride as it was sloping downhill slightly, so I was pleased with the mark. Next up was showjumping which proved to be very influential, with not many going clear and lots getting time faults. But I needn’t worry, as Felix jumped very well and we went clear, so headed into XC on 29. After Felix feeling particularly feisty and throwing some rather exuberant shapes in the XC warm up, he pulled it out the bag to go clear inside the time! I was over the moon to find out that Felix and I had WON individually and also got a team 4th!

A very busy June ended with me swapping sports to hockey for a chance to represent my county at the Olympic Hockey Stadium. As well as the horses I also love to play hockey and to have to play in such a prestigious venue was incredible.

July is booked up with lots of competitions including Area Eventing and Showjumping, Pony Club Camp and our BE100 debut- watch this space…

All the best,

Lexi x

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