What a year !
So what started well in Nice only got better .............................................
Having been selected for Samaur CDI in May as part of the GB Nations Cup Team we were very disappointed when this sadly had to be cancelled due to Equine Herpes as this was to be my first Team selection. We quickly re-routed to Uggerhalne in Denmark but sadly this was not to be either due to the Herpes again. I was beginning to think I would not get enough International runs in to even be in contention for the European Team this year. It was very exciting when in June I was selected for the Nations Cup Team in Hagen Germany at their Future Champions Show. This was an enormous show with the dressage being run along side the Show Jumping.
Aquiro was on form and we got top 10 placings in each test even with the odd error brought on by the incredible atmosphere - he certainly is Mr Constant.!!! We knew we had done all we could now as the final European Team selection was the day we arrived home - it seemed a very long journey and now we had to wait ................................
The phone call came - Aquiro and I had been selected for the Team - needless to say I was over the moon - a dream come true !!!
The preparations began with only a month until the event .
The Europeans were surreal - it was a week I will never forget. The GB Team spirit was second to none and made the whole experience so amazing . The help and support everybody gave everyone else was beyond anybodies expectations which just made it even more special. So, how did we do ...............the photo says it all !!!!
I was the first rider to go in the Team test and Aquiro was so rideable and in great form I knew we had done a great test but when the score came - 70.35% I was over the moon - an International personal best for the Team test and to obtain it at the Europeans was very special indeed.We had a small error in the Individual test which knocked our score but was over the moon to still qualify for the Freestyle as only the top 18 riders go through - and out of 61 this is no mean feat!!! Again another small error just dropped our score to just below 70% and Aquiro was feeling tired - a week in +33 deg temps and riding in the heat of the afternoon were beginning to tell on him. Overall I was so so proud of him - again showing just how consistent he is.
