CDI Pompadour, France

Happy Days in Pompadour!
 
Well the 2010 summer season is certainly taking us far and wide. Last week we enjoyed lovely hospitality and summer weather (42 degrees in the arena during the GP) in Pompadour, central France! Our fifth different country to compete in this season, our passports (horses, hunds and humans are all starting to look quite colouful!).
 
Ribery opened my campaign with a second placing and 73.4% in the 6yr old warm up class. He is a beautiful dapple grey Westfalien stallion by Rubels out of of a Ferragamo mare and this was his very first show outing. Unfortunately I let him down by riding the wrong way, throwing away a percent and the first place. None the less I was absolutely stoked with his efforts and whilst very green for this level, I have to say that I have very high hopes for his future. In the final, Ribery was a bit too flamboyant with super expressive/explosive changes that cost very expensive submissive points. Oh well, 3rd and 66% is still good enough for me!
 
Second out for the team was Reli. He is on form and finished with 67.1% and 4th in the Grand Prix from 35 riders. A few little polishing details still to work on before Aachen but I am happy, happy, happy with his efforts! I will let the video do the talking.... By the kur on Sunday afternoon both Reli and I were competely exhausted however he still put his best foot forward pushing through the heat and tiredness to finish in equal secnd position.
 
Last but certainly not least is Ferra. We are still growing together and every outing I learn something new about my super talented new pony. In the GP, mistakes in the one tempis and the piaffe moving too forward cost us dearly but she still achieved over 64% and 13th position from 35 starters. The GP Special is perhaps the best test we have ridden from beginning to end. However we misunderstood each other on the final centreline and left the points for the piaffe and the transitions piaffe/passage laying there in the sand. Whoops!
 
Sunday night was a marathon journey home for our completely exhausted team but now it is time to recover as quickly as possible and prepare for the next journey to Aachen this coming Sunday night where we will join other Australian Team riders, Brett Parbery and Lyndal Oatley to represent Australia in the CHIO.
 
Till next time and hopefully good news from Aachen! Fingers and toes crossed for Team Australia all next week please............
 
HB