Chelsea Skelton

The year started rather quietly as my best two horses both picked up a virus around the same time last year. We followed all our vets recommendations and had them regularly blood tested and when they finally started to pick up we turned our attention to our goals for this year. 

We brought them back into work, and had a visit from Sarah just to make sure all was in order and cracked on! After one local show where they both jumped a 1.30 well we threw them in at the deep end and made the long road trip down to Pyecombe Festival with 4 horses as the following week was Chepstow International (the trial for young rider teams). On the second day there they both jumped the 1.50 class, Rumba for an unlucky pole and Louis for double clear and 4th, after a good couple of days competing there we felt ready for the trials. 

We took the same four horses to jump the international classes at Chepstow, and had another really good week, with Rumba only having one pole down all week and placing 4th in the 1.40 GP, Louis also jumped fantastic to finish 8th in his first world ranking GP, the other 2 horses Chilli and Clover both also jumped really well, Clover jumped some of the biggest tracks she’s ever jumped with the 5 year old GP scheduled at 1.25! She just had the unluckiest pole, but I’m really quite excited about this young horse! 

From the trials we were selected to jump on the young riders team in Holland and whilst we were over there we also went to a show in Deauville, France. It was a fantastic experience and I was really pleased with both Louis and Rumba coping well with the different style of courses abroad. Since coming back from France we have not stopped! We have been busy with lots of shows in this country, Rumba and Louis are back on tip top form jumping double clears at 1.45 and I’m really pleased with how all the young horses are progressing. I’ve got lots more shows planned for this year with and with the support of my fantastic owners and sponsors we’ve got some big things planned!