Burghley is almost here! Jacky Green works for Team New Zealand and operates out of Maizey Manor Farm in the UK and she is a regular Eventing Nation contributor. Today Jacky has kindly sent us a report as the horses and riders head out from Maizey Manor to Burghley. Thank you for writing this Jacky and thank you for reading.
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From Jacky:
The empty dressage ring says it all. Team USA, Germany and Ireland have all departed from Maizey Manor today for the hike up to Burghley. The convoys we have gotten used to (note to John, am learning American talk and no UK strange references!) drove out around mid day with trucks and assorted hire cars loaded up to the hilt. Bettina’s car and trailer take up as much room as the 6 horse trucks, Meg’s car was full to the brim with Tate’s preferred bedding, Emily Dunn’s puppy Cooper prepped for the journey by finding a last minute piece of horse poo to scoff and then they were gone.
No bunch of riders have tried harder than these guys to give Burghley their all. They have been in that grass arena (Oh yup, thanks for that Team Canada!) in wind and rain and sun and drizzle. Irish Sarah, Meg and Emily are sick to death of studding already but boy have they practiced. Even Arthur has conquered his fear of the corner by K and the pikey ponies in the field opposite who are now experts on the four star test. Bettina Hoy has taught and taught and taught in that ring and expectations are high for Team Maizey Manor as they have left no stone unturned. Alison Springer bribed local super hero Russ Hardy to position fences at his Boomerang cross country schooling venue to mimic Burghley with a bottle of Mount Gay rum. Esib Power and Sinead Halpin went eventing at the weekend on babies to take the pressure off. Bettina Hoy was spotted leaving for a Saturday lunch in killer heels and skinny jeans to “get out of jods!” None of us bought that one!
The normal arena has had skinnys, short backed corners, narrow bending lines and huge oxers for added practice. The wet summer has produced perfect going on the acres of gallops and the horses have been up that hill day by day. I don’t think I have ever had a more cohesive group based here for such a long time that do their utmost to help and support each other. If this was a team competition then Maizey Manor would be going pretty strong right now! Rebecca Howard (Canada) has to wait til Blenheim to strut her stuff and our only blip on the horizon has been the last minute scratching of Sharon White who has been enormous fun, has made the most of her base with Rodney Powell and Alex Franklin and has made us laugh every time we have caught up with her. Sharon is heading up to Burghley on Thursday to support her fellow riders….as long as her first UK drive alone works out ok tonight as she has robbed Rodney of his BMW to go out to supper. Since her first disaster was the electric gate refusing to let her out of Manor Farm, it’s not all plain sailing.
And finally, best of the quotes. Sinead on hearing I am not going to Burghley til Thursday “But what will we eat?” Emily Dunn (by text) “Seb (September Bliss) has already taken a chunk out of my arm with his teeth” upon arrival at Burghley. Alison, “say goodbye to Arthur , he’s not coming back.” Yay! But sadly no more entertainment from the kitchen window watching Irish Sarah trying to turn him out via the International arena, the pikey ponies and the wind. Happy times and good luck to the team!
