News & Results…

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2010

August 10- What does an International event rider do when he’s not eventing?

Even when the event season is in full swing, event riders often have a little bit of down time.  This is no different for Joe.  In addition to maintaining the horses’ fitness regimes, getting ready for the next event and organising a trip across the pond to teach in America, Joe has also been instructing the great horse people of today and tomorrow.  Joe has just received some great feedback from the local Pony Club: “Just a quick email to thank Joe for taking time out of his hectic schedule to teach some of our Pony Clubbers. He even stopped to autograph photographs for them!
“He is an excellent teacher and brilliant with the kids. I hope that we can persuade him to do another session in the winter!”

To give you an update on Snip, he’s currently on box rest and being cared for by Joe’s vets and the team at Churchill Stud.  He’s in good spirits and making the best of his well earned break…although, obviously, the circumstances are less than ideal.  We will keep you posted with how Snip’s getting on.

Last but not least, Joe’s getting ready to go to Highclere and what a weekend he’s got.  He’s running Toi Ridge and Billy on Air on Saturday, and then Ease on Fire, Sanskrit and Clifton Lush on Sunday- we will let you know how he gets on next week.

August 10- An Intrepid weekend

Ann Black’s Intrepid put in a great performance at this weekend’s Hartpury International notching up his highest placing at a 2* competition.

Intrepid came 11th in the competition adding just 4.4 cross country time penalties to a dressage score 50.9.  Joe was delighted with Intrepid’s performance with his double clear and minimal time penalties proving that this horse is one to watch for the future.

Joe also received some disappointing news and that was that his top horse, Snip, will be out for the rest of the season.  Snip arrived at Hartpury in fine form but it was later discovered that he had fractured a bone in his hock.  Snip is currently at Churchill recovering and we will keep you posted on how he’s getting on.

In other news, we’ve introduced a galleries section to the website to display images of Joe and his team of horses throughout the years.  We’re keen to increase the number of images the gallery contains and would welcome any to be sent to info@joemeyereventing.com.  We are more than happy to credit your image with your name and/or website address.

August 10- Super Sanskrit is runner-up British Open Champion

Sanskrit has had a good season to date, highlights include finishing 9th in the 3* at Barocca (2), 1^st in the OI at Aston-Le-Walls, 12^th at Chatsworth 3* and, of course, taking 2^nd place in the British Open Championships

July 2010- Iping, Little Mattingley and Wilton

Since Aachen, there’s been a lot going on at Churchill Stud, and with Gatcombe fast approaching, it’s going to be a busy few weeks.

Billy On Air and Toi Ridge have competed at both Iping and Little Mattingley in the BE100.  Both performed well, with Toi Ridge notching up super clear cross country rounds for top 10 places at both events, whilst Billy on Air finished on her dressage score for 4th place at Little Mattingley. Joe was pleased with the way they went and says that they are beginning to be more consistent at this level.  Joe also had a catch ride at Little Mattingley in the BE80 class on Cavalier All Done.  Joe had to ride HC but really enjoyed himself, especially as the duo finished on their dressage score of 27.5.

Joe’s next outing was Wilton where he rode Hades Lookout and Intrepid in the Intermediate and Sanskrit in the OI.  This was Hades Lookout’s last event of the season and although bothered by flies in the dressage phase, he did the best showjumping round of the year and was clear cross country.  Joe’s ride on Intrepid went well despite the horse being a little spooky at times, and Sanskrit did a lovely dressage test, and excellent showjumping, but Joe decided against running him cross country to save him for Gatcombe and/or Hartpury.

July 2010- Sanskrit at Aachen

Joe has just returned from Aachen where he and Sanskrit were part of the New Zealand team.  Despite them missing team placings by just six points, Joe’s team mate, Andrew Nicholson, won the CICO*** event beating a field of top continental horses on Nereo.

As for Sanskrit, Joe was delighted with how he performed.  Sanskrit was very well behaved and went really well with just a slight mishap cross country and a pole down showjumping in Aachen’s arena.  The cross country track was formidable and with the huge crowd present for showjumping, this really was a test for Sanskrit who passed with flying colours.

Now back on home turf, Joe’s planning to compete at Aston-Le-Walls and Iping on Sunday before he and Ease on Fire tackle the Eventers’ Grand Prix at Hickstead on Thursday 29^th July.

July 2010- Brilliant Barbury

Joe jumped Kate Lukas’ horse Maestro Z in the AmTrust Eventers Puissance on Sunday and cleared a very impressive 175cm before being knocked out.

In addition to this, Ann Black’s Intrepid got his qualifier in the CIC2*.  Both Ann and Joe are delighted with this.

July 2010- First time out for Billy On Air

Ann Black’s Billy On Air’s eventing debut was a great success.

The mare’s first proper start was at Eridge in the BE90.  She did a nice dressage test which left the duo with a score of 31, and then jumped a double clear.  Joe was very pleased with how she performed.  Her second time out happened a few days later at Shipton Moyne and, again, she put in a brilliant performance.  She was in the BE100 for 5 year olds and after a 33 dressage, was clear showjumping and cross country.  Joe is very excited about her and she’s definitely one to watch for the future.

Toi Ridge was also at Eridge and produced his first double clear to finish the BE100 class 7^th.  Toi Ridge is going much better lately, is a lot easier to ride and beginning to enjoy the cross country.  Joe says he is showing a lot of promise.

The final horse to run at Eridge was Hades Lookout.  He finished 9^th in the Intermediate.  Joe was really pleased with this and says that he went really well.

June 2010- Clifton Lush finishes 13^th at Luhmuhlen CCI****

Clifton Lush had a great weekend in Luhmuhlen finishing 13^th in the CCI****.  The pair were in 16^th place after dressage but a stunning cross country that finished 14 seconds under the optimum time moved them up the leader board to 6^th.  A few penalties in the showjumping phase caused the duo to finish 13^th…but out of 43 starters, this is very impressive.

Sanskrit also went to Luhmuhlen and competed in the CIC***.  He finished 22^nd out of a field of 50 starters.  Joe and Sanskrit had a good dressage test and rode the hefty cross country course well.  Joe was really please with how  Sanskrit tackled the big course and with how he behaved at a big, busy event.

Sanskrit and Clifton Lush are currently having a rest after Luhmuhlen as is Clifton Chatter who has gone to Lucy Allison’s for a holiday, and Joe who has gone on a short break with Deborah and Lexi.  Snip is at Joe’s dressage trainer Richard’s yard and everyone else is being looked after by the team at Churchill.

There are three new horses who join Joe Meyer Eventing: Billy On Air who is from the Funnells and is owned by Ann Black; Intrepid, who is also owned by Ann Black; and Tulip who is owned by Joe, Deborah and Mamaku Stud and is Snip’s niece.  Joe took them to a local show recently and they went well…these three are certainly ones to watch!

Whilst the yard’s a little quieter, the team are spring cleaning and painting stables…although Joe is back early next week and there’s a jam packed weekend of eventing planned for Eridge with a number of horses.

In the not too distant future, Joe’s running two clinics; a showjumping clinic at Wheatland Farm on 18^th July and another at Stratford Hills on 28^th July.  If you’re interested, please email info@joemeyereventing.com

May 2010- Sanskrit wins the OI at Aston-Le-Walls

Joe had another win at OI level on the 13^th May with Sanskrit at Aston-Le-Walls.

Sanskrit, who is owned by Joe, Deborah and Mamaku Stud, added just 1.6 time penalities to the duo’s dressage score, finishing on 28.9.  Joe was really pleased with Sanskrit as he was consistent across all three phases and covered the ground well.  Joe was even more impressed with Sanskrit as when he looked down after fence one on the cross country course, it became apparent that the horse was wearing the wrong bit.  Sanskrit usually goes cross country in a gag…but there was a snaffle in its place!

Ease on Fire also competed at Aston and finished 12^th in the OI.  He added just 4.4 time penalties to his dressage score and Joe was thrilled with his performance; a settled dressage test, a great show jumping round and a good cross country.

After Aston, Chatsworth International was on the cards- one of Joe’s favourite events.  Joe rode two horses: Clifton Chatter and Sanskrit.  Clifton Chatter didn’t have a great score but did actually go very well.  He tried his hardest during the three star test but was a little spooky in the show jumping which meant he had to turn a circle, and misjudged a narrow cross country jump that was in the water.  Joe says that these errors are due to inexperience and this was Clifton Chatter’s first run at three star level.

Sanskrit finished 12^th in the ***W with a double clear.  Joe says he could have done a little better in the dressage phase but he coped with the Chatsworth atmosphere really well.

Last but not least Joe, Hades Lookout and Clifton Lush attended Brigstock International with Clifton Lush finishing 2^nd in the AI.  This is his first run after Badminton so it was a great confidence boost for Joe and Clifton Lush before their Luhmuhlen run.  The pair finished on their dressage score of 34.2 with Clifton Lush covering the ground and getting within the optimum time easily.

Hades Lookout did well and was 22^nd in the I. Joe says that dressage is this horse’s Achilles heel but he has got ‘one hell of a jump’.

Next stop Borde Hill!

May 2010 – Work starts on a new school at Churchill Stud

May 2010 – Clifton Chatter wins the OI at Hambleden International jumping a double clear.

Clifton Chatter, owned by Lucy Allison and Frances Stead, came first in the OI Section U at Hambleden International.  The duo performed an excellent dressage test which produced a score of 25.9, a clear cross country adding just 3.2 time faults to the total and a clear round showjumping.  Joe was understandably thrilled with Clifton Chatter and sees this run as a great build up to the Chatsworth CIC*** which the pair are competing in this weekend.  Joe feels that this will test Clifton Chatter and will provide ‘another question for him’ but with Bramham CIC*** and, potentially, Blenheim CCI*** scheduled, now’s a good time to ask.

Another horse competing at Chatsworth is Sanskrit.  Sanskrit was accepted for Badminton this year but, unfortunately, didn’t run due to his position on the waiting list.  That said, he’s running in the World Cup class this weekend after a successful Barocca *** in March where he finished ninth.  Sanskrit is entered for Luhmuhlen along with Clifton Lush.

Clifton Lush was one of Joe’s two Badminton rides.  Unfortunately the pair parted company part way around the cross country course, but the good news is that they both walked away from the incident, Joe to ride Snip and Lush to the physio…he’s now galloping around the paddock and ready for action!

Snip came through Badminton really well.  He’s an older horse and is currently enjoying a well earned rest.  He’ll have two to three more runs in the run up to WEG and Joe’s got a few potential events earmarked.

Badminton 2010

After the first day of dressage Joe, riding Frances Stead’s and Lucy Allison’s Clifton Lush was in 13th place, the top-placed Kiwi combination on a score of 49.5. “I’m feeling really happy that I did achieve a score in the 40’s, even though we had a little mistake in the transition from the walk to the canter. Clifton Lush is only a ten-year-old horse and for his experience he went fantastically, like a proper grown-up horse.” This is Clifton Lush’s first Badminton, but he was 12th at Pau, the French four-star last year, second at Blair CIC*** and 10th at Bramham CCI***, so he’s got a good record.

On Saturday afternoon just as Joe was doing his final preparation for his dressage test with Snip, the heavens opened. Although Snip managed another fine performance in the dressage despite the heavy rain this was no passing shower and it rained solidly on the Badminton turf for the next 18 hours.

On Sunday morning the decision was made to remove two fences due to the slippery going and when the first horses set off at 11am it was still raining. Joe was 5th out of the start with Clifton Lush, and at that time no horses had made it home without jumping faults. Just as they were entering the start box, there was a horse fall on course, and the fence needed to be rebuilt, giving joe + lush’s supporters a nervous wait before he got the green light to start! As they set off, Mary King came home with a clear round and the riders breathed a collective sigh of relief that the course was jumpable after all!

Joe + Lush were having a great run but sadly took a tumble just after 1/2 way which under the new rules means that they could not complete the course. Joe was really pleased with how well Lush jumped through both waters and says the error was just one of those things with a young horse at 4star level! Both Joe + Lush walked away unscathed and will look forward to the next event.

As the day went on, the weather improved somewhat, however the ground was becoming quite boggy and holding in places after 80 odd horses has galloped around the track. Snip set off looking rather full of himself and happy to be back at his favourite event. You could almost see him say to Joe “let me at it – I know what I’m doing!” They had a really super ride and crossed the finish line with just a handful of time penalties to add to their dressage score. We are very proud of both Joe + Snip as only 4 of the final 20 horses came home clear in the deteriorating ground conditions.

Joe and Snip are lying in 17th place overnight and we look forward to an exciting showjumping day tomorrow.

By Henry Bucklow www.lazy-photography.co.uk

By Henry Bucklow www.lazy-photography.co.uk

By Henry Bucklow www.lazy-photography.co.uk

April:

It’s a really busy time at Churchill Stud at the moment.  Joe’s just returned from a trip to Belgium where he has spent a few days training with his show jumping trainer Albert Voorn, and he’s competed at Belton Horse Trials!

Snip, Lush (Clifton Lush), Sanskrit and Toi Ridge went to the three day clinic in Belgium and returned on Thursday, just in time for Joe to unload, reload and head to Belton Park.

Snip and Lush are both training for Badminton so their schedule is pretty full on.  Last year, Snip had two runs before Badminton but at Gatcombe this year he was so full of the joys of spring that Joe decided to run him at the South of England too.  He’s a fairly old horse and the ground was not ideal, but he went beautifully and they came third in the AI as Joe went deliberately slowly to try and make sure Snip was running on the best ground possible.

Lush had a rail down at Gatcombe and an uncharacteristic three rails down at Burnham Market despite a good dressage and a brilliant cross country.  Joe decided not to run him at the South of England as he likes to try and give the horses time between their events but this year, the calendar dictates that they are all quite close together.

Lush is one of the horses who competed at Belton.  Joe usually avoids taking him to this event as, in his experience, the dressage is quite buzzy as it’s close to the tradestands.  However, Joe felt Lush had grown up a lot since last year and he entered him in the CIC***.  Lush performed a really nice dressage test, had two unlucky rails show jumping and a fantastic cross country where they took on all the tough fences and finished 14^th- which is very impressive considering the show jumping penalties.  This ride has given Joe a lot of confidence for Badminton and was seen as great pre- Badminton training.

Snip also went to Belton and after a really good dressage test, he had two fences show jumping.  Joe decided not to take Snip cross country as he had a great run at his last event and had done a lot of show jumping with Albert earlier in the week.  In addition to this, Snip is an experienced horse and after assessing the course and realising that it wasn’t really going to suit Snip, Joe decided to withdraw before this phase.

Lush and Snip’s schedule continues in the run up to Badminton.  They will have a few more gallops, polish their dressage tests with Nicky Barrett and go show jump schooling but they will be having a less stressful time in the run up to Badminton.

Both of Joe’s Badminton rides have got a good chance of doing really well this year- there will be disappointment if Snip isn’t in the top 10 after being 12^th in ’09, 7^th in ’07 and 10^th in ’06…in ’08 he went to Hong Kong and was 24^th- so he’s got the potential.  Lush was 12^th in the **** at Pau last year, meaning there’s every chance for him too.

Both Badminton horses are on track at the moment and the website will be updated very soon with another report plotting Joe’s progress.

February:
ESNZ Announces High Performance Squads after review – details can be found on the ‘In the Press’ link.
NZNEWSUK – Article on Joe. See ‘In the Press’ Link.

January:
NagMag Interview with Joe can be found on the ‘In the Press’ link in the menu.