Holly Wray Captures the Eventing Pony European Championships Action in Arrezo, Italy

All the ponies and riders arrived on Sunday and quickly settled down after a 4 day trip to arezzo,Italy. We began training in 40 degree heat on Monday morning with dressage trainer Sue Smallman. Baxter (Holiday Chase) went really well and went from strength to strength from day 1 of training to the competition. I was really pleased with how he reacted to the heat and I think it actually has made him preform better. The high temperatures have also seemed to chill Holiday chase and has now began a routine of a midday power nap!

The morning of the first day of dressage approached but I wasn’t competing until 4:38 that day so it gave me lots of time to take baxter out for a relaxing canter and stretching session in preparation for a good test. When I began warming up we got the times mixed up and I was out an hour early which actually seemed to be useful in the end because it meant that I could do short periods of work in the heat that weren’t to exhausting. I was number 13 to go in the dressage and as many people would protest with such an unlucky number, I was actually very pleased as it is my lucky number and I have always competed successfully with it!

I was really pleased with my test, I even managed to smile from start to finish! The extended work and walk were definitely his best movements but I was quite annoyed at myself for making a costly mistake in the rein back. I was in 4th position after my test but after day one of dressage I was 8th.

There was a large water sprayer which was the only cold thing I could find to cool down in after my test which Baxter really was grateful for. I’m sure he would have preferred the onsite swimming pool although somehow I don’t think the other riders would appreciate an Irish pony swimming with them!

We would like to thank the grooms Jessica Foster and Megan Hatherell for doing such a good job with the ponies from travelling with them through to the preparations for each phase of competition.

The XC starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 9am and I go into this phase in 18th position. All the placings are fairly close and all the nations are on top form so it will be a nail biting competition to the end. Baxter would like to thank all of his fans and I would like to thank everyone for the huge support that we have had and a huge thank you to all the sponsors that supported the team with fantastic kit.

Also a big thankyou to Tom slattery for showjumping training, Sue Smallman for dressage training and to Sue Short (chef d’equipe) for keeping the team on track and for all the support, its much appreciated.

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Category: Eventing, International, News