GATCOMBE FESTIVAL

FLORA HARRIS AND MY LUCKY DAY TAKING PART IN THE CROSS COUNTRY PHASE OF THE SMITH AND WILLIAMSON BRITISH INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP 2019

I was only riding one horse at Gatcombe this year: Sarah’s Hughes’ MY LUCKY DAY.

As per usual Lucky struggled in the dressage; a phase he finds very difficult but he did try is best and managed a respectable test with no extra moves or scary moments. Gatcombe is always a wonderful place to bring a slightly hot horse for the dressage as all the arenas are tucked away at the top in a very tranquil setting.

The showjumping arena is very unique in its bowl setting with undulations. Lucky once again showed his jumping class and produced a beautiful round just touching a pole to finish on 4faults.

The cross-country was very influential with the time proving impossible to achieve it was my first competition on Lucky at the level and so we were heading slightly into the unknown. Lucky is notorious for being a tricky starter and the start at Gatcome is on the side of an almost vertical drop which made things slightly tense…but we managed to start very smoothly and Lucky gave me an incredible round. He really has the most amazing gallop and we managed one of the fastest times of the day to finish clear and in 5th place – his career best start at this level.