Scotts of Thrapston

Back on track with Janet and Tara

Posted on 10. Jun, 2011 by Julia Berrie in Janet Hammond, Rider Development Programme

We are pleased to receive an update from Janet Hammond, one of the Scotts of Thrapston development programme winners from last year…

At last, at long long last, it feels safe to say that Tara and I are on track and heading towards the Carlton Horse Trials!

After such an inspiring season in 2010, it seemed particularly hard to start the 2011 season with a visit to the vet clinic for a lameness work-up, following a loss in Tara’s performance. I won’t bore with the details, but suffice to say that my fabulous vet Gavin Hamer (Chiltern Equine Clinic) came to the rescue once again. Tara had a day of treatment and I stuck religiously to a work plan that brought her back into work gradually, and this together with a change in shoes by my farrier, Dave Manning, seems to have done the trick. With 5 dressage tests, 2 arena cross country rounds and an arena event day behind us, it feels like we are back in business!

And with a big sigh of relief all round, not least from Tara. She can become a bit of a minx when her work load consists only of hacking, however long and varied I make the rides. We have had some exciting moments, too. I went on one hack with a couple of friends that took us through a field of cows, only to notice half way through that there was a bull with them. They all became very curious, milling round the horses, and then the bull got cross and charged at us. It was down to Tara, being the closest and the girl, to save the day, spinning round and double-barrelling the bull. Fortunately he quickly changed his mind and left us alone. I think it is experiences such as this that strengthen the bond with your horse, and I believe that Tara and I really do trust each other completely.

I went to the arena event day at Addington on 8th June, finishing 3rd in the 90cm class and with the only clear show jumping round in my section. We had one unfortunate stop in the cross country section, but I think it is fair to say we were distracted as the heavens literally opened as we came into the 2nd jump. But being the sensible Irish horse that she is, Tara put her head down and finished the course in style.

I’ve got some dressage and combined training events planned, plus a 2 day cross country camp with Nick Turner, with our main aim being the Carlton BE event at the end of July. I had hoped we would have moved up to BE100 this year, but I will be sticking to the BE90 for the moment.

This weekend I shall meet the two lucky winners of the Scotts of Thrapston development programme for 2011. They are going to the Piggy French training clinics at Carlton, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet them and also to pick up some techniques and tips from such a top rider. Unfortunately I won’t be riding in the clinics, but I will take Tara along to give her some canter work up the famous Carlton hill!

Janet Hammond

Tags: Carlton Horse Trials, Chiltern Equine Clinic, Janet Hammond, Nick Turner, Piggy French, Scotts of Thrapston