A fabulous trip up north to Kelsall Hill

Kelsall Hill 2024

We had a super weekend at Kelsall Hill for all the right reasons. Ellie and I had fun stabling with Jane & Richard Carruthers. Just 2 miles up the road it was hugely convenient and the facilities were super – thank you Jane & Richard for your hospitality. 

It was our first visit to Kelsall and we will definitely go back. It was wonderful to warm up on the beautiful rolling grassland, the arenas were flat and the surfaces were great to compete on with a decent SJ track. 

Legende P (Leo) did us proud jumping a super double clear to finish 7th in a massive class in his second 3* with Ellie. The poor chap was held again on the XC, this time just before the second last fence, but he wasn’t phased at all. He has now qualified for Bicton, so fingers crossed he will enjoy a run round the whole course without being held!

Pure Trendsetter’s (Trendy) plan was to go for a quiet run round the AI before her big run at Chatsworth 4*. I can’t say she approved of this as she was a bit keen at times but hopefully this proved to be an educational run for her. 

Kelsall was a long way north for us but the logistics worked, stopping off at Rectory Farm en-route to give Megan Elphick a lesson in preparation for Badminton Grassroots, followed by a detour into the centre of Cheltenham to collect Ellie off the train from Cardiff. Thankfully it’s only another few weeks until Ellie is back for the rest of season, which will make everything much simpler and the consistency of rider will help the horses, especially going into the dressage on her aids rather than mine.

This weekend is Leo’s last run before Bicton when he’ll go quietly round Cirencester in the u21 OI. Young homebreds Upsi Britannia and Upper Class Brit have got a busy few weeks ahead with Cirencester, Tweseldown and then their first 2* at Chatsworth.