Erin and Pimms
After Hartpury we decided that Loki and I could both do with another outing under our belt and with an International coming up at Bishop Burton it seemed a good opportunity to take him. Despite a superb year with Pimms, we unfortunately just missed out on selection for the European team, where three riders were given the opportunity to make their Championship debut alongside multi-medalist Sophie Wells. However, we were selected as first reserve so Pimms came along with us so that I could continue training with her as they would leave for the Europeans just a week later. Loki had a much more consistent week with top three placings behind established combinations and delivered, as the commentator announced after his first test “very mature performances” despite just being six years old and very new to the international scene. Having proved his temperament I look forward to seeing how much he will change over the next few months, fingers crossed we can learn to get the power and balance under control so that we can work towards achieving the higher marks.
As part of our role as reserve we were required to pack up and take Pimms to meet with the rest of the team in Kent so that we were ready in case any horses weren’t fit to travel. Packing the lorry for a week in the rain wasn’t my favourite experience but I’d rather be ready and not needed than needed and not ready so it’s all part of it. All horses were declared fit and back Pimms came, confused that her road trip and trotting up hadn’t resulted in actually being ridden!
So the following week apart from work, riding and gym I was glued to the live stream keeping up to date on how Team GB was getting on out in Rotterdam. We started with an outstanding performance from all members of the team in the Dressage followed by heartbreak when Charlotte Dujardin was eliminated. As a rider I know how much time, effort and commitment goes towards making sure that the horses are happy, healthy and feeling their best and to have been eliminated after such a stunning performance. I can’t imagine how Charlotte must have felt but she handled it like a pro and it was noted that she was seen helping her team mates as well as Para rider Nicky Greenhill.
The Para Dressage team held their own against strong competition and excelled to come back with Team Silver and a handful of individual silver and gold medals from Soph and Georgia. There’s always incredibly high expectation when Soph enters the arena and although I know that the perfectionist within her will have wanted the gold medal around her neck, the agonisingly close 0.2% margin demonstrates her ability to deliver outstanding performances, whatever the occasion. Georgia might have been making her debut but she’s been working hard in the background for a while and not everyone was surprised by the impressive performances she delivered, her mascot Billy II obviously did a great job of keeping her calm and relaxed! A massive congratulations as well to Nicky and Mari who were both also making their championship debuts and delivered strong performances each day to come back with a team medal whilst both just missing out on the medals in the freestyle after finishing in a strong 4th place.
It’s amazing to be able to show what strength in depth we have in Team GB with a number of combinations vying for places as well as further young or new horses still working away behind the scenes. The Dutch were again out in force and delivered four strong performances but there were also some great results and high scores from many of the other countries. For me, it was a shame that we are all limited to four spaces as there were a number of riders missing, not just from Great Britain but from the other nations too that would have added to the competition.
I used this week to continue training and away from the pressure of competition it allowed me to reflect on why I love this sport - I love to ride, I love the perfectionist element to it that means we are always looking at ways to be better, but most of all I love the connection with your horse and that feeling when it all comes together. I think we’ve had a good preview of what can be expected at Tokyo next year and one thing is for sure, it’s going to be incredibly competitive and there certainly isn’t going to be any room for complacency!