Team Tottie September Diary

Young show jumping trio Portia Howard, Jemma Kirk and Philippa Dobby are better known on the circuit as Team Tottie. This month we hear about their hectic schedules in September.

Portia

Last month I went to Scope Festival and gained seventh place in the Ladies Championship on Oscar IV and was also placed in the 1.30m Championship on Kartonne De L’Abbaye which was great.

Oscar IV is a 16.2hh Dutch Warmblood and has so much character and charisma in him; I just love to get on and jump him as he loves being the centre of attention.

Kartonne De L’Abbaye is a slightly smaller six-year-old at 16hh and also enjoys the love that she receives at home; also another great jumper.

Apart from competing at Scope Festival, the other weeks have been crazy as I have gained three new rides.

Two of which are from Kurt Smith. AJ’s Faren Froh is a seven-year-old, 16.2hh stallion and Grand Cherie is a 16.2hh, eight-year-old gelding. They are both going to their first show next month which is very exciting.

I also have another horse from Mrs Claxton called MacGarveys Choice. This is a nine-year-old, 16hh Grade A gelding. So a little more experience than the other two horses so it will be nice to get on him and see what he can do.

Next month I am competing at few local shows to wind the horses down before they have a few weeks break after their hard summer competition period.

Will write soon – Portia

Philippa

I have had a more relaxing month this time with having some time away in Portugal with some friends.

We had a great time over the week and caught up on the sunbathing. I haven’t been on a summer holiday for a couple of years so this was a real treat for me.

This month is an exciting time for me as before I went to Portugal at the end of September, I went with my father to France to look at some horses that I was looking into buying.

All three that I bought arrive this month. They are only youngsters so I am looking forward to having a play about with them over the winter.

I think it’s really important to have a relationship with the horses when they are younger. In my experience it helps you have that connection and bond with each other to help you along the way in the show jumping ring.

Winter is also a great time to achieve this as they are in the stable for most of the time and you are constantly going in and out of their stable doing things for them. This way they get used to you more quickly than say in the summer when they are out in the field all day.

Next month I will be attending Horse of the year Show on the Friday to compete on Nirvana D’oc in the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance Championship. I am really looking forward to this as it’s been such a build up and the points were really close in the end – so fingers crossed!

After this month I think all the horses could do with a bit of a break after a hard competition summer. This will also give me a break too and more time to spend with my new youngsters.

Will write soon with more results after HOYS - Philippa.

Jemma

The months are quietening down a bit now, with Horse of the year Show rounding off the summer events and shows.

This month I started out at the Berkshire County Show with Pieter, Tosca and Miss Saigon.

Pieter jumped really well in the 1.25m classes winning first place on both days. Tosca also won the 1.30m class and achieved second in the 1.40m.

I jumped Miss Saigon in the Renault Series which reaches up to 1.50m, gaining seventh place.

I haven’t been riding Billy’s horses much this month as I have had four of my own to do and the other girls that work on the yard for Billy haven’t needed my help.

This gave me chance to concentrate on my own horses while competing them. I entered Weston lawns with Pieter in the 1.30m class and Tosca in the 1.35m.

Pieter achieved another first place while Tosca gained a second place in his class. They have both been jumping really well recently so they are having a well-deserved three week break until the middle of October along with Miss Saigon.

However, Tosca’s break won’t start until after we have competed at HOYS in the Young Riders class.

So fingers crossed that we have a great time at HOYS. It will also give us girls a chance to get together and have a catch-up in between our classes.

Best Wishes - Jemma.