01/01/08 - HAPPY NEW YEAR-

Happy new year everybody i hope 2008 brings you all the best. Jayde went for her final check on her leg just after christmas and everything is fine which is fabulous. We've started training properly again for the competitions our first likely to be on the 19th of this month at Willerby Hill. Jaydes going well thanks to Leona putting in a couple of extra hours in on her and Molly is well Molly.

I'm really looking forward to 2008 it's a big year for me. I've got to work hard at school to achieve the results for University and i want to polish off my showing career on a high. i'm definately not saying its the end of my riding and dreams but things may have to be postponed and the future with horses is far from certain. Even if this year or the next few years lead me away from horseriding showing and my dreams one things for certain i'll be back.

I've been to a few to many parties and it's time to knuckle down in what i hope will be a great new year. Wishing you all the best.

Laura Salmon x

4th December - Updates from Southdale -

Since our last competition i've been really really busy with school work, applying for university for next september, choosing courses and meeting work deadlines, it's been hectic alongside riding and caring for Jayde.

Jayde and Molly are both well as is leona, i'm just on the end of a nasty throat infection which caused me to spend a week away from college and a week away from Southdale, i'm keener than ever to get back to the stables and have been back at college for a day so far and am madly trying to keep up because i want the best grades i can get so i can go to my chosen uni to do an english and education teaching degree, whilst i am there i also hope to join equestrian societies, however riding other horses without jayde will be strange im sure it will be a good experience for me.

We currently have no competitions planned until trailblazers show jumping Jan 9th providing all is well when i'll hopefully jump the 85cm/95cm or 95cm/105cm classes, up until then i'm going to be working hard to get ready for my january examinations.

I recently got a comment from America asking about my type of riding, currently i do not compete 3 day eventing as there are many disciplines in England as im sure there are in America however i compete in more than one type of discipline to keep myself occupied and my options open however i am pretty sure that sooner or later i will specialise in 3 day eventing as the one day events i have participated in have been great fun and i love dressage, cross country and showjumping until then i will continue to compete separately, i hope this answers your question, thank you.

I'll probably update you very soon, so stick with me during this busy time.
Laura x

28th October - Epworth Equestrian Hunter Trials -

For the past couple of visits we had only had rain at epworth equestrian despite some ribbons and prizes we still would prefer the weather to hold, the october chill had really set in, the horses were wearing blankets we were wrapped up in winter jackets and drinking hot drinks and keeping ourselves warm before our event. Because the course at ?EEC is so long we only entered one class, the Novice Pairs, it was a challenging novice course having two water obsticles ditches etc and we were just out to have fun.

The event came up very quickly and both Jayde and Molly were jumping very well and we had a very good start setting off strongly and quickly jayde was very headstrong and raring to go unfortunately at some jumps we had some sticky patches and acquired two stops each at the different obsticles, we knew we had no chance of winning but definately enjoyed this fun day and it was well worth it.

Not knowing when our next showing would be we decided to relax our training to give us all a well deserved break.

Laura Salmon x

14th October 2007 - Bagmoor Hunter Trial 2-

I cannot deny i was nervous after my fall at the last hunter trial at bagmoor but i was so much infact that for the novice pairs i took molly round instead of jayde, we did well having only 3 stops between us on the course and being only 0.3 secs off the winners time in clearing the time section, then in the novice individual we both had 20 pens each again we both cleared the time section and we had a lovely day and i even jumped off the drop which means i am now over my scare a few weeks ago.

The next show for us would be on the 28th October at Epworth Equestrian Centre for a hunter trial, also in my next update i will answer one of my reader's questions.

Laura x

7th October 2007 - EDRC Hunter Trials...

We were very excited about the autumn epworth district riding club hunter trials and wanted to get out there and put some pressure on the other riders at the show, leona and i were competing in novice pairs and the individual intermediate class.

We arrived in plenty of time aand was enjoying chilling out whilst waiting for the competition when we got ready to ride there was a sudden rush to warm up because the class filtered through very quickly despite this we still rode very well having a quick time in the timed section and only getting 20pens on the main course, pleased with our performance we walked the horses to cool them off and went back to the trailer to rest before our next class.

Our next class was the intermediate i went round very well just having 20 pens at one fence due to jayde stumbling and ending up on top of the jump because unfortunately i didnt shorten her up enough but i didnt think i'd done very well, leona had two stops so we decided to call it a day and go home. A few days later we recieved a bulging envelope from EDRC to say that i had come 3rd club members in the intermediate and Leona was 4th, what a lovely surprise it was tofind out that we were both in the top 10 of the competition, we were very pleased.

Next week we would go to the second Scunthorpe pony club bagmoor hunter trial.

Laura Salmon x

23RD SEPTEMBER 07- HILL HOUSE UNAFFILIATED SJ FINALS.

We had anticipated this show for a couple of weeks and and were looking forward, with Molly qualified in the green novice and novice finals and Jayde in the open finals we had it all to play for.

Everything was running late on arrival and due to my injury of my achilles tendon, i decided to put Jayde in the Novice Derby Championship instead and let leona take her in the Open Champs. Anyway we walked them round the grounds to loosen them up when it came to Light that Molly is petrified of Donkeys and thats what had been spooking her in that arena.

In the Green Novice Molly had one stop and in NoviCe Championship she went clear and then again in the jump off but it wasnt really Mollys sort of jump off course and she came 11th. Everything now running really late and darkness closing in on the non flood lit arena they decided to time the first round of the rest of the classes, i cant deny i was nervous but i decided to keep it steady to help me build my confidence back and it worked jayde put in the best round and went clear, jumping as and when i asked, unfortunately i was 0.28secs outside of medal positions but i Came 7th in the Derby Championship, now really dark Leona took jayde in the Open Championship which stood between 3'3 and 3'6 and had one rail however with only one clear in the class Leona and Jayde took Fourth place and won a medal too, a great day back for my first show!

The weekend after we went to sandtoft to practice for the hunter trial on ther 7th of october and i'll let you all know how that went later on.
Laura x

BAGMOOR HUNTER TRIALS - 16/09/07-

On the day of the bagmoor hunter trials leona and i were entered in two classes, novice and open pairs, everywhere was busy, parking was a nightmare and the course kept being held up for accidents.

In the novice leona set off on Molly first and jumped a lovely clear round and went round the time section clean in 24secs, i also jumped clean round the solid part of the course and in the time section i went round in 21 secs however i brought down the 2 falling rails to have 20s added on to my time knocking me out of contension, however leona managed to place 3rd, which was very good out of 80 and i came 20th. Fab first round.

We set off positively into the pairs classes knowing that for molly it was the first time she'd tackled this course at bagmoor, so we took learner options at the first table, our strategy was to change so molly was infront at the water complex which involved jumping two barrells then a step in to a passage way of water and then followed by a log pile, infact it was jayde who dropped into the water first leading the way. the rest of the course was going well and jayde was getting bolder. we got to the drop and she leapt off it me loosing my reins, stirrups and balance, and eventually falling off landing on my heal, damaging my achilles tendon and resulting in a hospital trip and a spell on crutches. leona however carried on and cleared the rest of the course and kept the flag flying for our camp. Well done Leona!!! even Jayde and molly were fabulous. But would i be ok to ride in the hill house show jumping finals the next weekend?

Laura Salmon x

MESSINGHAM PONY OWNERS FINAL SHOW 2007- 09/09/07-

Sunday the 9th of September, another show for us and we travelled as planned to messingham pony owners, the show field looked quite busy and the classes were running a bit late so we had plenty of time to relax and inspect before the competition.

We were entered in 2 classes each, the pairs class and the intermediate, for me if time permitted because i was working that night. It was our first pairs class and we weren't sure how either of the horses would react at the change over in this speed class, both horses went really well and we fought off 20 other pair teams to take sixth place, a lovely triumph for our first pairs together. I then had to leave for work leaving leona to jump molly and jayde in the intermediate. Molly went round ok and came back with 12 faults i think and jayde who is on form went round clear until the last fence which she breathed on and it fell. Quite a successful day and definately a confidence boost for this weekend.

This weekend i've gotten down to train Weds, where both horses were shod and i rode both of them jumping in the school, then after college on thurs we got down to take all 3 out and today i expect we'll be jumping or hacking out before going to walk the course at bagmoor at two.

I've been really busy since getting back to school with all the work i've gotten, and also ive been to the hospital to wear a heart monitor just for a ECG recording. But we're really hoping this weekend goes well for us, especially as we ride another pairs class.

Laura Salmon x

MESSINGHAM PONY OWNERS SHOW 26/08/07-

Well after a long time i'm finally getting round to updating the blog, been really busy with work, Essays for college and riding of course, especially with the new term starting wednesday. The summer seems to have gone way too fast.

Well last sunday Jayde and I minus Leona and Molly went to Pony owners at messingham where we jumped only one class, due to the late running and i had to be at work for 5, Jayde went well and performed having 2 rails, one due to a skid which unbalanced her and the other was just a mistake on my part. what can you blame on a horse, but for her first show in so long not too bad.

I must mention that poor leona has gotten tonsilitus and is suffereing so we're hoping she'll be fine to show this coming weekends and to start college on wednesday. we've also had a scare with jayde this week we got a call to say she had an inflamed eye, and it was swollen huge when we checked it out thankfully after three days of saltwater bathing it has cleared up and her eye is just watering a little, but it was a really close shave.

Here's our schedule for the next few weeks.

9th Sept- Messingham Pony Owners Closing show

16th- Bagmoor park hunter trial

23rd - Hill House Showjumping Finals

7th Oct - Epworth Hunter Trials

So we're really busy over the next few weeks but its a good job jayde's so fit. Anyway i'll put some pictures into this entry.

Laura Salmon x

A TRIP TO THE VET: 20/07/07 -

After Her injury in January this year jayde has required several check ups by the vet to make sure she is still healthy. Well on this Friday we drove her up to Swanbridge Vetinary Hospital, Hull for her to get a Scan and X ray on her leg.

We arrived at 11.45am just 15 minutes before the appointment was due and registered her only to find there was delays of about 2 hrs, as a vet hadnt shown up. So we were advised to put jayde in the stable which had been prepared for her and leave her and go off into nearby towns for the day. Jayde in her stable, Below;

We went for a mac donalds and then into a nearby town of Beverley where i got some bargains and last minute things for my camping trip to weston-super-mare for T4 on the beach which was fantastic, it was televised on channel 4. Then at 5 o clock we got a call to say jayde could be collected.

Having found nothing wrong with her leg only a splint, they said they were happy with Jayde's leg and she could be discharged straight away. They also advised to book jayde in for 6 months time for a final check up on that leg. We travelled home and put jayde and molly in there stables as jayde was still a little dozy from being sedated and it was going to be a wet and Windy Night.

We're going on holiday to Newquay for 10 days and then when we get back it will be very busy getting ready for horse shows so until then.

Laura Salmon x

AN UPDATE FROM SOUTHDALE 19/07/07-

Hi it's been along time since i've written but i've finished off my year at college and have been riding jayde and working quite frequently so i've been struggling to fit it all in. I've been on several university visits too.

Tomorrow Jayde is off to Swanbridge vetinary practice for a scan on the leg that she injured preseason this year, so we will be spending the day there with her. They will have to shave her legs but i'm not sure what the judges at showing will think to a horse with its legs shaved.

I'm off on my holidays, from fri night to monday morning i'm off away for a weekend to go to t4 on the beach hopefully the weather should be nice because lately it's been awful for July, and then i'll have a couple of days training before going on holiday to the south for ten days. It gives me time to relax away from college work and horses, obviously the horses are the one i will miss.

So we'll be back showing 5th August and then believe its pretty busy right up to season close in december so i'll update you after that show again, because otherwise there'll be nothing to say until then.

Happy Summer 2007
Laura Salmon.

HILL HOUSE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE 24TH JUNE 07 -

Well knowing it was going to rain we chose very wisely to go to hill house indoor rather than crowle.
If you placed in the top 10 you qualified for the jumping finals in september... which was an aim of mine particularly.

Leona went in the novice 2'6 and jumped a nice clear round and in the jump off pulled some daring turns and came 4th and qualified for the novice jumping finals in september. then in the 2'9 derby leona had a bit of trouble with the water tray.

I took jayde in the intermediate 3'0 and she just had one down but i ended up turning a circle when i missed a jump giving us 8 faults then in the 3'3 - 3'6 she jumped fab just having one down and there was only 2 clears and we came 6th qualifying for the open jumping finals in september.

Also our friend Holly did well at Crowle today.

Talk to you soon

Laura Salmon x

VISIT FROM THE EQUINE DENTIST AND A NEW ARRIVAL AT SOUTHDALE FARM... 11/06/07-

I had thankfully completed all of my exams and i had one last day of study leave before returning to class. This was the Day Robert Ruddy Equine dentist was coming to our stables to give the horses a check up.

Last time Jayde had the dentist she was really stressed so we had chosen to get Molly, Jayde and Jasmin (our little grey mare) sedated. Other horses at the yard were done whilst we were waiting for the vet. Jayde was done first and just needed her teeth filing as they were a little sharp, Molly had the same and jasmin had more extensive work done. They were all really sleepy Bless!!!

My grandparents had bought Jasmin for the dentist from her Loaners in a nearby village only we had in mind training to sell for Jasmin as it's mine and leona's dream career and we wanted to start young. So Grandad decided that her loaners could either buy her or we would have her back after hearing her rider wasnt very interested.

So Jasmin got to stay at our yard until any further decisions are made and be trained and she hasn't half got a jump on her. I'm going to check the horses tomorrow and ride jayde because Grandma and Grandad are taking a well deserved Holiday. And in the case of Jasmin i'll let you know what happens.

Laura Salmon.

MESSINGHAM 102ND ANNUAL HORSE AND PONY SHOW - 03/06/07.

It was already boiling before we set off so there was no doubt that suncream and sun hats would be required we arrived with loads of time at half 12 to let the horses settle in with the trade stands, the fair rides and many other attractions including a vintage car show, the atmosphere was buzzing, the sun was scorching reaching about 25 degrees and after some time around the show ground, we decided to retreat to revising for our exams the next day, mine biology and leona's in maths.Jayde and Molly were looking great and just chilling in the sun, we knew we had a long wait because they were only on class 3 and we were in classes 7 -9, novice to open jumper classes.

After a wonderful day at 5pm Leona rode her first class which was about 2ft6, and she had two stops at a psychodelic filler but got over 3rd attempt and also had one of the skinny double down, 12 faults. But in all the classes many combinations of horses and riders were eliminated. Then i jumped first in the intermediate at 7pm and made a speed error coming into the skinny double knocking both parts down, leaving me on a score of 8, again in the intermediate leona had 3 down, and i decided to wait for the open, which was 3ft 6, and at half 8 i finally got to jump, but we were both tired and had 5 rails down disastrous i know but at least we had no stops, so that built my confidence alot, knowing she would go round bigger tracks now and she seemed to really enjoy it.

Due to the pending exams on the monday, we got the horses into their travelling gear, and left them with our grandparents and a friend who would take the drive back to the stables with them, our dad picked us up to get us home for some revision, and as there would be no meal prepared for us at home at half 9, we stopped in at Mac Donalds, before going home to shower, revise and sleep.

Monday morning we were all still knackered, and my grandparents, who didnt get in til 12am!! so they had the day off and leona and i went to school for our exams, mine went fairly well but leona seemed a bit unsure of what she had done, then on tuesday i had french and my final exam yesterday in chemistry,which all were reasonable. Molly's getting shod today and having a weekend off cos leona is of away with her friend. We'll next be competing in a fortnights time at Crowle Show or Hill House Equestrian so you can catch me there!!!

Overall, Messingham show this year was great fun and a great chance to catch up with some of our old riding buddies, the atmosphere and weather were great, and even our jumping was ok, compared to alot of other riders, but next year i would leave it later til arriving so there isn't such a long wait. i want to take the oppertunity to thank my grandparents and my parents for being a huge help and making it possible for us to do this,for this show and the rest of this season and previous seasons, Thank You. So Messingham this year was great and we'll be back next year. And I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!

Laura Salmon x

EPWORTH EQUESTRIAN CENTRE SHOW CROSS 27/05/07 -

It was raining and i mean throwing it down, but it was show time and not even the weather was going to stop me from trying to win and get my hands on the money. We arrived with little time to spare, we quickly registered our arrival at the secs office leona number twenty two, and myself number 19, i was riding at 1.03pm for the show jumping phase and twenty minutes later, for the cross country i only got on at 12.55pm in a bit of a panic but i managed a fifteen minute warm up because due to the weather everything was running a little bit late. at 1.10pm i went nervously into the ring, feeling ever so slightly cautious due to the ground been a little slippy, although i was only the novice phase with jumps up to 2'6 and xc jumps up to 2'9, and i'm used to going in the 3'3 classes i was still doubtful of my performance. It started off a little unsmooth and jayde was pulling but she settled down and turned it into the dream clear round, then i walked for ten minutes before popping the practice xc fence a couple of times to get jaydes mind into the next part of the competition. We set off strong on the xc course and considering how long it was only had two stops giving forty penalties overall, This left me and Jayde in the top ten finishing line.

Leona took molly, in for sj who really wasn't going to perform well in the down pour we was having and she got 16 faults, even though mistakes set aside it was a very stylish round, and in the xc leona missed out a couple of the more challenging fences leaving her with no chance of a high position finish. But we did all enjoy our ride.

A couple of days ago Leona recieved a letter saying she had placed in the top 30 of the region in dressage and had qualified for the Stonelege dressage championships, but dressage isn't leonas favourite discipline and she decided she wasn't going to be in the finals at willerby next weekend.

As for me after i finish my A level exams in 08, i want a gap year & i have decided i wanted to do something horse related for a year, to earn some money before uni, so an apprenticeship or yard work and so i can really concentrate just on jayde, showing and horses without any school work, which would be something i've never had the chance to do. I look forward to that. Anyway its the Annual 102nd Messingham show next week and i'm in the intermediate and open jumper classes, see you there!!

Talk to you soon
Laura Salmon.

RIDING YESTERDAY...SCHOOLING AND HACKING....

Jayde is still looking a little bit under toned so i've been riding her alot to try and build up some extra muscle because i'm on study leave from school, obviously i'm working hard at home, riding and work, but this week i wanted to put some more into my riding and try and get Jayde a bit more toned for sundays show cross competiton.

So i flatted her for half an hour really concentrating on stopping her leaning habit especially in canter which made me use my leg, then i jumped concentrating on a straight approach into fences using barrels i'd layed down as a guide and then i took her onto the fields for some cantering before walking her back to cool her down.

Due to the slight obstacle of a 4 mile xc course, i took molly out for a long hack, incorporating, trot canter and gallop, i'm just trying to strengthen her a bit for leona, whos not on study leave, today me and my friend Izzy are going to ride and take both the horses out before the farrier comes at half 2.

Laura Salmon.

EPWORTH EQUESTRIAN SHOWJUMPING - 13/05/07 -

Despite drastic weather warnings we made the 1hr trip to Ep Eq anyway where soon after arriving it began to rain. We could see that there would be a long wait until the intermediate and open horse classes so we kept jayde inside and we sat in the car eating our packed lunches kindly made by our grandma.

2 hrs later it was time to go and i was number 14. Jayde went well in the intermediate and we ended up in 4th place, pleased i was ready to tackle the open which also came well and ended up against one other girl in the jumpoff unfortunately i came 2nd rather than winning but also got my hands on some money. Quite a successful day all round.

Now i'm getting ready for show cross at Ep eq on 27th May, where i take part in a sj and cross country phase, i'm really looking forward to it, and now i'm on study leave from school, and about to sit my AS level exams in Biology, Chemistry, English Lit and French, i can also spend a little extra time getting jayde ready for the shows alongside Revision for school.

I Hope all goes well for us on Sunday.
Laura Salmon.

MESSINGHAM PONY OWNERS SHOW- 06/05/07-

We arrived nice and early at the show where we were ready to win. Leona even bought some new travel boots in cerys for molly and grandma bought us each a whip, mines bright pink :-P
I rode first in the 2ft 9 having just 2 poles, seeing us out of the competition and in the 2ft 3 leona had 4 faults. Then leona took molly in her first 2ft 9 since willerby last year and molly went round with a couple down. I had to leave to go to work as i could see the open would be outside my time range but leona jumped it 3ft 3 and came 4th.

So i was really pleased with both our horses and us.

Laura Salmon xx

HILL HOUSE EQUESTRIAN SHOW JUMPING- 29/04/07-

Another boiling day in the UK and another Showjumping competition for me and my Family. We travelled down to Hill House Equestrian centre for their competition in hope of winning some prizes.

Leona firstly took molly in the 2ft 3 class in which she cleared and then in the jump off went clear again and ended in 3rd place and then in the 2ft 6 class in which she came 6th having a pole in the jump off. So for Leona it was quite a good day.

I was a little nervous but jumping 1.15m in the practice ring but it didnt really go my way and in the 3ft i had 12 faults, all careless rails down and in the 3ft 3- 3ft 6 i had two stops at fences so it wasnt really my day.

But Family wise we had 2 prizes so it ended up ok.

Laura xx

EPWORTH SPRING HUNTER TRIALS 15/04/07 -

Well the weather in England really has gone a bit funny hasn't it, i'm not used to competing in 20 degree + heat til july and August, so to have it in April is slightly bizarre. We arrived knowing our classes Pairs and Intermediate were about to start so we quickly went to register our arrival only to find there would be a 3hr wait in the boiling sun til our first class. So we kept the horses in the shade with plenty of water and a hay net. We waited around and we sunbathed and had some food and then finally it was time to prepare for our class.

We started off well in pairs clearing the time section until i missed a fence, i just didnt see it lol obviously the heat got to me so i turned around and jumped it but i knew that it cost us our chance of winning and later in the course i had a stop at a jump which i would never expect to be in it but after that we had a good home straight.In the Intermediate both Molly and Jayde cleared the time section and went out on the main course with a strong start however Leona and Molly missed 5 jumps out knocking them out of the competition and then Jayde stopped at one jump which i couldnt get her any where near so i went round it eliminating us too. But Jayde cleared every fence except that one so although disappointed i was kind of pleased too. i just hope that this weekend at Hill House EQ

it's not so hot!!!!!

Laura Salmon x