I was very surprised when I heard that I’d qualified for the British Riding Clubs National Dressage Championships at Lincolnshire Show Ground.  

We left home at 8 o’clock on the Saturday morning and stopped 4 times on the way. The journey took about 7 and a half hours. Maddy travelled really well and slept most of the way.

When we arrived we had to get our vaccinations checked, which we passed, then had to queue up to get onto the fields. The weather had been so bad we had 2 unload Maddy then a tractor had to tow us onto the field, as well as towing the seniors off the field. All the juniors were on temporary grass stables, which were okay and reasonably big.

The arenas were all on grass, and due to the weather they were getting moved around constantly. Luckily enough the Saturday night was dry, as well as the Sunday so there was time for them to dry up. By the time it was my turn, they had dried up quite well, and with Maddy's studs in she went brilliantly.

Whilst warming up for my test, and getting tack checked my nerves started to kick in, the stewards were really friendly and supportive though. Maddy went in and rode a brilliant test.

The results were out very quickly, and we got 5th out of the individuals, and 20th out of the individuals in the teams, with a score of 59.2%. I was very, very pleased with the results, especially as it was our first Championship and we had only had 2 weeks to prepare. I was also very proud of Maddy.

We left Lincoln at about half 3 on the Sunday and had 3 stops on the way home. Maddy travelled brilliantly again, and we arrived back in Yelverton at about 11 and got home by midnight.

My mum and dad took us up there, and they were brilliant support the whole weekend, especially my dad who knows nothing about horses.

It was a brilliant, worthwhile experience.

Sarah.

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