Emily Dunn grooms four-star horse September Bliss for Ireland’s Elizabeth (Esib) Powers. Emily was also known as Meg Kep’s “partner in crime” during this summer’s stay at Maizey Manor. Esib and September Bliss were on track for the Olympics, but like Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, they did not make their country’s team. We last heard from Emily with a recap of their Burghley weekend, and today she wraps up their competition season. Thanks to Emily for writing, and thank you for reading.
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Emily and "Seb," photo courtesy of Will Baxter
From Emily:
Over the Irish Sea
Power Eventing has officially finished for the season, Maizey Manor has been cleared out, possibly with the accidental acquirement of a few extra items that aren’t technically ours, and the yard has been moved and settled in across the Irish Sea.
Before the seasonal migration we just had a handful of events left after Burghley. It was a fairly quiet end to the year, first on the list of post 4* events was a pre-novice at West Wilts. As I couldn’t make it, it was left to Jackie Green’s brother to play the role of groom/dog sitter/moral supporter for the day. I hear it was a good day out, but Johnboy will not be volunteering his services in the near future, or indeed the far future, my job, for the moment is safe. I was back for the South of England, where we decided to have a team outing, fellow Maizey resident and New Zealand rider, Jesse Campbell was chauffeur and host for the day, however not bringing any milk for Tea left his hosting skills to be desired, but he did manage to get us there safely and on time. Unfortunately someone had once again annoyed the weather gods, as a month’s worth of rain descended upon the event, so before organisers had to call in Noah and his Arc, the day was abandoned, the lorry was packed up and we were headed home after another failed attempt at British summertime eventing.
The following week was our final event, two days at Dauntsey Park Horse Trials, and despite the milk debacle of South of England, Jesse had succeeded in at least 50% of his responsibilities during our previous outing, so we risked sharing a lift again on day one of Dauntsey. Xavier Faer ‘Hugo’, as he has been all year, was consistent and reliable by completing on his dressage score to pick up fourth place. Finally our last day of eventing for 2012 was upon us, not getting off to the smoothest of starts, it didn’t give us the most reassuring feeling that we were going to have a successful day, having no headlights on the lorry is a slight issue when leaving the yard at 6.30am on a September morning in England. However we got there and our lovely, Soladoun ‘Alfie’ proved us wrong by adding nothing to his dressage score for 7th place, and there ended our season.
Having finished our events, it was time to re-locate back to the Emerald Isle. We had a smooth trip up to the ferry port, car, lorry, horses, 3000 rugs (in their allotted storage bags) and what appeared to be the entire stock of a boutique clothes shop, also known as Esib’s wardrobe, safely aboard for the three and a bit hour crossing to Dublin. After enjoying a questionable looking lasagna it was off to the cabin for a couple of hour’s sleep, only to discover that we had just one single bed to share. Being very used to spending a lot of time together in confined living spaces and lorry cabs, we were both prepared for a snug few hours kip…. Thankfully, before things go too awkward, we discovered there was a top bunk bed to pull down from the wall. What felt like three minutes sleep later we had arrived in Dublin and had only a short journey off the ferry to arrive at Esib’s yard, unload the horses and get ourselves to bed, separate beds that is.
I didn’t spend long in Ireland, just enough to unpack, help set up the stables, settle in horses and hang out with the Power Family. After a day on the yard and an evening spent in the company of Con and Mags Power, for what I can only assume was a traditionally prepared Irish feast…which included the oven door being held closed by broom handle, and microwaved cheesecake, I was on the famous motorway system , ready to fly home from Dublin airport. And with my farewell’s bid to Esib and the horses, it’s on to my winter venture. This year I have joined Team New Zealand, WEG medallist Clarke Johnstone has recently set up at Mark Todd’s new yard, so whilst Clarke is back in NZ for the winter I will be taking care of his horses.
Well that is the last of our Eventing news to bring you for now, Power Eventing’s year may not have gone wholly to plan, but we are lucky enough to have some exciting young horses to build and expand on for the future. But for now along with the rest of the UK eventing circuit I will be hibernating over the next few months, so from Power Eventing, thank you for supporting and following us, have a good winter and see you in 2013!
