Home Sweet Home

We made it back in one piece!

The horses arrived home to Ballylawn Stud last Thursday night after a rather long trip away (three months... can't believe it...). As you can imagine, being let free into those huge open fields Friday morning caused quite the stir. They had five or six days to relax and then back to work.

As Merlin and I have been selected to compete on the Nations Cup team in Sopot, Poland (9-12 June) his "vacation" will have to suffice as short and sweet. We head off Saturday evening on the night ferry (John Scarff and Pamela O'Rourke in toe) - "We" being myself, Merlins Magic and temper tantrum personified: the infamous Heracross... Here's hoping the Highfort Stud boys bring their A-game - might do well to screw my own thinking cap on.... hmmm there's a thought. CSI3 Roeser (Lux) will be the next show on our way back to Waterford.

Clear CC and Miss Annabelle will have to sit this one out, they're only young after all and still processing their latest adventures I believe.

I had a great weekend over in Ireland. Lovely weather and the shows are always good fun - so nice to be home. There's a very country-specific humour and kindness in Ireland - nothing like it. I jumped Curly in the 1m30 - double clear and fourth so that was a good come back!

Just back in London for the day - off to Cork in the morning and showing in Ballyrafter wednesday I think. I'll let you know how we get on :-)

YOUTUBE LINKS SAN GIOVANNI

Watch them in action:

Annie (aka Fairplay 111) 6 year old. Sire: Chellano Z x Heartbreaker

Owner: Michael McCann

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Af9o8dpFkw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHyf5j1C9VA
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToBR6SFoXyU

Clear CC: 7 year old. Sire: Clearway x Alcatraz

Owner: CC Holsteiner Breeding

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFJJ6j8eNVU

Merlins Magic: YOB 1997. Furisto x Coole Lulu

Owner: Highfort Stud

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybOmfoAb5Vc
• http://youtu.be/j3oHsuz5h6g

News Flash: Merlin and I have been officially put on the Nations Cup team for Sopot Poland (9-12 june). Very exciting!!

CSI3 San Giovanni Week 1 - 2

This was the state of the ring the day before we made our way to San Giovanni. Suffice to say, the 30degrees greeting us on arrival were a welcomed change. The Horses Riviera Resort, set in the heart of San Giovanni in Marignano, is nothing short of idyllic. Its the attention to detail and fine touches that make all the difference, and frankly the sheer cleanliness of the place is quite a novelty in this sport. Hmmm... I could get use to this...

Good results overall, but nothing spectacular over the two weeks. Two placings with Merlin in the 1m50 classes and 1 down the rest of the time and an out-of-character water touch in the Grand Prix (aarrgh!!). For a while there I was really building up a track record of randomn "touches", thought I'd never get rid of that ever so frustrating "4-fault syndrome". Sports psychology really comes into play here, its amazing how things happen just because you convince yourself that they will - as if subconsciously you are already pre-conditioned to make a mistake... In layman's terms you "psyche yourself out".

Week 1 CSI3 San Giovanni

FRIDAY

Fairplay: 6yo class - clear round

Clear CC: 7yo class - clear round

Merlins Magic: 1m50 FEI RR - placed 22nd out of 93 riders.

SATURDAY

Fairplay: 6yo class - clear round

Clear CC: 7yo class - clear round

Merlins Magic: 1m50 FEI RR - 1 down (4fts).

SUNDAY

Fairplay: 6yo class - clear round

Clear CC: 7yo class - clear round

Merlins Magic: Grand Prix - A foot on the tape of the water... and a time fault.

The girls seemed to be handling the heat well enough the first weekend but Merlin seemed to be slightly down in his temperament. He's such a sensitive horse that any bother is reflected in his coat and demeanor. Epson salts work a treat and we gave him a blood booster on the Tuesday night to perk him up a bit - to be honest though I think what he needed was to roam around a field somewhere or at least graze a bit, such a wonderful setting but no sign of grass anywhere! On a brighter note the FEI results for April were taken into account and I've moved up to 350th in the world ranking list and 12th in Sweden (counting solely the FEI RR international results), great!!

Week 2 CSI3 San Giovanni

FRIDAY

Fairplay: 6yo class - 4fts

Clear CC: 7yo class - 8fts

Merlins Magic: 1m50 FEI RR - 4fts.

SATURDAY

Fairplay: 6yo class - clear round

Clear CC: 7yo class - 4fts

Merlins Magic: 1m50 FEI RR - clear round placed 14th (jump off class) out of 89 riders.

SUNDAY

Fairplay: 6yo class -double clear round (immediate jump off)

Clear CC: 7yo class - 8fts

Merlins Magic: Grand Prix - Non-Partant.

Hectic second weekend. Claes and Carin from CC Holsteiner Breeding came down to see Clear CC (their 7year old mare that I've been riding for over a year now). And as luck would have it, we had our worst weekend ever (in terms of results). She is an extremely careful horse and clear 80% of the time (if not more) so I have been quite spoilt with her :-). Here goes with the excuses:

• They decided to run the 7year old class in the Grand prix arena so there was certainly a lot to look at.
• 30 degrees temperature was starting to take its toll, she didn't have her usual spring and felt quite lathargic in the ring.
• We've been on tour since end of Feb and perhaps she's just a bit bored now.

Personally I just put it down to hard luck and bad timing. When she's good, she's very good and it would be nice for the owners to be around to see it (not just on video). It was wonderful to have them there though as they're so supportive of the other horses as well!

Annie's (Fairplay) owners were there aswell - Michael and Barry McCann - It would have been the first time they had seen me compete her in person so absolutely thrilled that it went so well. I'd spent the last few weeks really focusing on getting her to make the same distances as the bigger horses (i.e. cover as much ground) and she's improved massively.

Merlin was in great form but the weather on GP day took a turn for the worst. The arena was holding up well for the first 20 riders but then as the hail came it just became a sloppy disaster.

I decided not to ride him ( I was 40th to go) not worth the risk and he's been consistently clear or 1 fence down in 1m50s since the end of Feb, so I really didn't feel like I had anything to prove.

John, Pam and Alyssa are on their way home to Ireland now with the horses. All going smoothly so far, they ought to arrive in dover this evening. Can wait for them to be let out in the Irish fields :-)

A week's break for all of us and then back to work we go. Speaking of which I'd better get back to planning our next trip abroad. So much to do... so little time... Over and out.

Update: youtube videos coming soon!

CSI3 Pioltello

Pioltello was an interesting show... One of those weekends where nothing goes to plan but somehow works itself out in the end.

As a "comeback" show for Merlin I really couldn't have asked for more. He popped around the 1m40 (clear) on the Friday, clear again in the 1m45 FEI Rolex Ranking class on the Saturday (qualified for the GP) and a fence down in the GP. I rode into the triple combination a fraction strong and he just rubbed the middle part. The track was tough enough (1m50/60) to acomodate the level of riders there - Schwizer, Guerdat, Lamaze, Bost, Whittaker etc etc (basically the entire Swiss team and half the riders seen in Paris Grand Palais the previous weekend). Around 20 riders didn't even qualify for the GP (Etter, Hecart, Lundback, Pellegrin...) and considering Merlin was just back from injury and this being his first GP start of the season; he jumped out of his skin!

Curly took a back seat this weekend - he needs a bit of a rest in Ireland before I take him out again so trying to arrange for him to get home soon. The girls did very well as usual - Clear CC in particular jumped beautifully every day, she's actually starting to relax a bit now throughout the course and giving herself that bit of time to follow through her jumps. Annie is all about the "flash"... as always catching an eye or two...

Hans Horn was there which was wonderful as he really took the time to watch the horses closely and seemed to like them all! I think Merlin surprised him a little with his grand prix extravaganza... Something went my way anyways as I've now been put on the long list for both Lisbon and Sopot Nations Cups, so here's hoping!

Youtube Links

Just back from CSI3 Pioltello, take a look at how we got on:

Fairplay 111 (aka Annie) 6yo: http://youtu.be/80VxxsZO0KQ?a

Clear CC 7yo: http://youtu.be/KSqS82_5Mto?a

Clear CC 7yo JO: http://youtu.be/82BL5r6C4Wo?a

Merlins Magic FEI RR GP Qualifier: youtube.com/watch?v=2Xg3Qn…

Merlins Magic Grand Prix: youtube.com/watch?v=jLnPKa…

Details coming soon!

All in a Day's Work

An eventful week to say the least.

After what seemed to be a very brief escape to London, I returned to Cannes in time to get Merlin conditioned and the others back on track after San Remo. Must say, Merlin was a walk in the park; three days of repetitive bursts of trotting and walking, trotting and walking, cantering and walking, trotting and walking - and now he's fit as a fiddle!

Never without drama:

I got a call from one of my owners Saturday night, and apparently a Swedish family (dealers) contacted him in the attempt to "steal" my 6yo Annie - the arguments being that the sons could develop her further than me, have access to bigger / more prestigious shows, and have wider contacts to sell her. One always tries to remain serene in such situations but how could you not be offended? For a start, I must be doing a good job with her, as is, if they are watching me all the way over there... Furthermore, last time I checked there aren't many riders donning 6 year olds in La Baule Nations Cup, and for that matter, how exactly did they obtain the inside information that I will not be getting access to any of the bigger shows this year? Takes a certain type of character to be so undermining... Enough said.

If nothing else, this just puts more fuel on the fire. Have now decided to ask my federation for almost every CSI4 out there, AND contact the shows directly, surely I'll get lucky and get a spot somewhere?? For now I have asked for Bourg en Bresse, Fontainebleau and La Coruna, also CSI5 Falsterbo - this year it seems they are taking 12 riders and I am 13th in Sweden, hoping to climb up the rankings though at the start of May. No news yet but something's gotta give, we can't just stagnate, not the way we're going, so please please please keep your fingers crossed for me!

On a brighter note it must be about 30degrees down here, absolutely beautiful. Had a great Monday/Tuesday - Francis Connors jetted in for 24hours so we could train the horses in peace and quiet at home. A boost in the right direction, he's gone before you know it - sprinkling just enough inspiration in his footprints. Always such a treat; a magician in his own right.

My friend Pamela O'Rourke flew in yesterday and she'll be staying with us for ten days (aren't we lucky!) - always a breath of fresh air. Today will be busy enough getting everything packed for Pioltello. The plan is to head off around 5am which ought to get us there around 11. Can't wait now, the countdown begins.....

Wish me luck!

San Remo week 2: 8-10 April 2011

How peculiar being at a show with Merlin and not being able to compete him... I've come to the conclusion that he is my "cash cow"; always brings home the bacon (delighted those economics lessons are finally paying off). He played a fabulous martyr though parading back and forth in his most fancy dress, four stitches, and nowhere to go...

The girls (Fairplay 111 and Clear CC) had a great weekend with only one fence down between them; consistent as ever. Curly on the other hand, it seems, has developed a slight case of schizophrenia (Alyssa certainly hit the nail on the head when she came up with that one); jumped beautifully friday and saturday, then took a notion to rear up mid-course in the Grand Prix - perfect timing as ever. We were at nothing, so I thought it best to retire. Clinically speaking; "schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations" (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Hmmm.

RESULTS

Friday:

Fairplay 111: clear round - 6yo

Clear CC (7yo): 4fts - 1m30

Heracross: 4fts - 1m45 FEI Rolex Ranking

Saturday:

Fairplay 111: Double clear (jump off) placed 8th - 6yo (She bucked me off in the warm-up that morning! All's well that ends well, as they say...)

Clear CC: Clear placed 10th - 1m30

Heracross: Double clear placed 11th - 1m45 FEI Rolex Ranking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIee0DFjVgU

Sunday:

Fairplay 111: Double clear placed 8th - 6yo

Clear CC: double clear - 1m30

Heracross - GP (I'd rather not re-live it...)

None the less, an interesting show with tough competitors, and great networking opportunities! Sure I only managed to secure an extra 5 ranking points, but thats 45points so far this month! last week the points for March were taken into account which pushed me up to 13th in Sweden (from 14th) and 397th in the world (from 470th) - feeling rather happy about that right now. Such a funny sport though, you can be up one minute and down the next. You're not the only part of the equation.

Had to jet off to London straight after the GP for an "Offshore Wind Power" training early Monday morning - great fun jumping from one world into another. The horses are taking it easy for a couple of days till I get back (Thursday morning), and then its back to business - first thing's first... getting Curly (Heracross) to "play ball". Wish me luck!

Update: Putting the videos up on youtube now. Check them out: http://www.youtube.com/sfinetto

CSI SAN REMO 1-3 April

First weekend of the month and we managed to round up a cool 40 FEI Rolex Ranking points... and no its not April Fools! My boys and girls certainly brought their A-game to San Remo. Personally I think they were just thrilled to be back in a large grass ring, they love it... as do I. Cannot compare the bounce you feel off the grass to sand (in my opinion that is).

I was worried I'd made the wrong choice with San Remo as it had been downgraded from a 3star to a 2star, but it actually worked out quite perfectly; 3 FEI Rolex Ranking classes, two of which were open to two horses per rider - In essence I had 5 shots at collecting points... and cash! And the people there... both competitively and professionally - Jan Tops, Henk Nooren, Edwina Alexander, Albert Zoer, Geir Gullikson etc etc etc.... The perfect setting for business.

RESULTS

Friday 01 April:

• Merlins Magic 1m45 FEI Rolex Ranking class - 7th place (double clear - jump off)

Saturday 02 April:

• Fairplay 111 6yo class 1m20 - 7th place (double clear - jump off)
• Clear CC 1m30 - 12th place clear round (speed)
• Merlins Magic 1m45 FEI Rolex Ranking class - 7th place (clear - speed)
• Heracross 1m45 FEI Rolex Ranking class - 10th place (clear - speed)

Sunday 03 April:

• Fairplay 111 6yo class 1m20 - 7th place (clear - speed)
• Clear CC 1m30 - clear round but no placing - still thought it deserved a mention as she's only 7! So proud of her...

No joy in GP. Curly was clear until the last line, I turned too sharply to the oxer and he ran out the little devil! I don't blame him though... I lost my head for a second and he just thought "who are you kidding???". He jumped beautifully throughout, so glad to have him back in fighting form. We headed back home (France) straight after the GP so they can get a few days rest to roam the fields before we head back out Thursday morning.

Looks like my superstar Merlin will have to "sit this one out" as he had an accident with the fence in the field this morning. 4 stitches and a shot of antibiotics later and he's feeling particularly sorry for himself... as do I!! He certainly didn't deserve that... Guess we'll be spoiling the "patient" with apples, carrots and grass over the next week... anything to keep him in good spirits.

Videos should be up on youtube this time next week when I get back to London. Fingers crossed for this weekend! keep you posted.

Quote of the Day

"My wish for you is that you fall in love like a burning coal that falls into water and keeps burning."

Rumi

All Set and Nowhere to Go

4.56am almost ready to head down to the bus stop, I took a second look at my watch and realised it was in fact 3.56am... My alarm was set to go off at 04.15am. What's that about? Its like that crazy reoccurring dream you just can't shake... Why do I always do this?

Time for breakfast and Top Chef to kill time. The bus ought to be here by 05.15. Really hope I manage to sleep on the flight!

So long London once again, Its been short and sweet as usual. Wish me luck in San Remo! I'll keep you posted.

CSI3 Follonica Week 3

Sorry for the late post. Its been a hectic week. Got back to London Monday afternoon and spent the last two days uploading all available videos to youtube. They're up now anyhow so please take a look at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SFinetto?feature=mhum

Merlin was by far my star of the last show: Placed 9th in the 1m50 GP Qualifier Friday, 6th in the GP qualifier Saturday, and 3rd in the 10,000€ mini GP on the Sunday. You just couldn't ask for more! He was in tip top form - As he is slightly anemic and felt a tad under the weather the week before, we gave him a series of 5 blood boosters over 5 days. And they certainly left their mark as you can see in the picture with Alyssa and Annie... back to his old tricks.

Curly was just having one of those weekends where you wish you had never bothered to get out of bed. 1down in the GP Qualifier friday and popped him half way around the 1m30 saturday. All sounds fine so far, but he just didn't feel like his usual perky self. He had endured a slight disruption to his routine in the week and it didn't go down well... to be honest i never thought he'd be so particular :-) Anyways; took a shot at the Grand prix and he decided to drop three fences within the first 5 before he got his act together. In fairness a lot of fences fell in that class, only one clear round and even the 8-faulters made it to the second round. But either way this is very unlike him. He is usually clear or one down, and sticks to those odds, but two or three times a year he just says "thats it... I'm not getting out of bed today"... What can I say... He's the boss, I just go along for the ride.

The girls (Clear and Fairplay) were in good form too. A fifth place for Clear and a clear round for Annie. Both exhausted now.

They arrived back at our place in France around 1am Monday morning and spent the last two days roaming the field. I get back to them Friday morning, just in time to regroup!

keep you posted as always.

Update: The organisers of the Follonica Jumping Tour got me to sign of picture of myself and Merlin to use in the advertisements and promotion of the tour next year. So nice of them!

Quote of the Day

"Cynicism is that blackguard defect of vision which compels us to see the world as it is, instead of as it should be"

Ambrose Bierce

CSI3 FOLLONICA WEEK 2

Another great weekend. Can't get over the form my little ones are in! Taller and tougher this time around.

Fairplay 111 (aka annie or miss annabelle...) jumped her heart out as usual in the 6 year old classes. We had the last fence down day 1, just a slight misunderstanding, but then a beautiful double clear (with a jump off) on the second day. She's really starting to follow through her jumps much smoother now and seems more comfortable at a higher pace. As you can see from the picture she was certainly mighty pleased with herself.

Clear CC had a productive weekend too. Double clear the first day - 7th place - always finds a way to bring home the bacon! 1 down the second day in the final. Really pleased with the way she jumped - looked the best so far on the video.

My magic Merlin delivered as always. After a particularly emotional few days, he sailed through two rounds of the 1m50 GP qualifier on the Saturday afternoon to a wonderfully appreciated 6th place. At times i truly believe he has a sixth sense and knows exactly when i need to rely on him. Its amazing. He's not a happy camper this week though as the rain just won't let up! I've kept him out of the ring entirely and just slalomed along the race course for three days. That and a few patches of grass here and there ought to perk him up...

Last but not least, the infamous Curly Wurly jumped his socks off yet again. Double clear (two rounds) and 9th place in the 1m50 GP qualifier on the Friday. fabulous. Popped him around the first 6 fences of the 1m30 on the Saturday just to settle his nerves a bit. And then a very unfortunate fence down in the GP. The awful weather conditions didn't help. After a long warm up full of disruptions to the class, we were both drenched to the core. On our way to the ring with a rug on his back and towel over his neck like a heavy-weight boxer i could feel him thinking "what on earth are you doing to me". Stepping into the giant puddle formerly know as the Giulia Arena I wanted to turn right around and leave. However, fearing the wrath it might incur I stuck to my guns and we made our way safely to the end. Steady steady the whole way through. So proud of my wee one!

So here goes another week. It has rained non stop since Sunday and so far the organizers have cancelled all classes tomorrow. The only thing to do now is pray for a bit of sun to dry the rings and off we'll go again. It seems we might be allowed to ride two horses in the GP qualifier on friday which would be great. Francis gets here late tomorrow night, thank god... sanity is on its way!

I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck.

News From Abroad

One week gone, two to go in Follonica.

And what an eventful week its been! We left the stables in France Tuesday night and arrived safe and sound at the showgrounds Wednesday morning (aside from a minor mishap at one of the tolls... whoops). Just in time to set up the stables, lorry, get the horses out and complete the vet check.

We've been quite unlucky weather wise - a lot of rain and wind - so everything was cancelled on the Thursday. I couldn't help but think: "not again!!". What is it about me and shows??

Day 1.

The jumping kicked off Friday morning bright and early where Annie and I made our "debut" center stage - a lovely clear round in the 1m20 6 year old class. She was a little weary of everything around her, but i couldn't be happier with the way she jumped - a little firecracker...

Curly was next in the 1m35 - a taster class to get him into the swing of things - once again a clear round, top form and no complaints. I decided not to jump Merlin that afternoon as the ground was getting quite deep and loose as the day went on - we've got a long season ahead after all!

Day 2.

Started the day with Clear CC in the 1m25 7 year old class, and a clear round at that. Great form, she seems so much more settled around the course than last year. Its amazing how a nice long break over the winter just gives them the time they need to process everything they've learned throughout the year. She stayed consistent the whole way round the course, just getting the job the done... no fuss no muss... Merlin was next in the two phase 1m40 class - he jumped a beautiful clear round, magic as ever and fresh as a daisy! By the end of the day the weather was taking its toll on the ground, i Jumped Curly anyways - these big irish types aren't so fussy! we've been through a lot worse - I fence down in the 1m45 speed class, we got a bit stuck in the mud on take off. By 8pm that evening: time for bed!!

Day 3.

There's nothing like 3 horses jumping at the same time in two different rings to jump start your morning! I have to say, Alyssa and Fran handled it perfectly so it all went along without a hitch. Annie was clear again in the 6 year olds - a bit fresher that day, playing around inside the ring and disunited at times but boy did she jump her socks off! Clear CC had the last fence down in the second phase of the 7 year olds - I turned too sharply which just took her by surprise. Merlins Magic was clear and 14th in the 1m40 accumulator, perfect start! Later on Curly was double clear in the 1m45 Grand Prix - 16 went to the second round and we ended up 9th. He was incredible, i just need to put the pedal to the metal next time!

We've had a few days off now. I've made sure to keep the horses out of the ring, working them around the race track everyday. Great fun for them and me! I find they jump much happier at the show this way, no need to drill them constantly in the sand ring (unless there's a specific problem) and to be honest i think they build up much more stamina jogging around that track for an hour! It seems as though quite a few people have left (as a result of the arena) but it really wasn't that bad last week and the organizers have been working on the drainage and putting on new sand for the last three days, so you really couldn't ask for more.

The CSI3 starts tomorrow, I'll only be jumping Annie and Merlin (1m45) the first day. There'll be three FEI rolex ranking classes after that (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) so if I play my cards right I should be able to juggle Merlin and Curly between them). Looking forward to it anyhow (sun is shining now, not a cloud in sight!). I'll keep you posted, wish me luck!!