A good start to the season...

Hi All! I'm back after what seemed like a very very long and quiet winter, but I'm about to chat about the fantastic start to the eventing season Neyo and I have made, with three events and three double clears! Over the winter I kept Neyo on Medium Energy which I was put on for the feed trial last summer and to my relief Neyo has kept a perfect weight and is very healthy! He is currently living out 24/7 with breakfast and dinner, a slice of haylage and he couldn't be happier :-) 

 

After the horrendous snow over christmas, I decided to get going and sort out a plan for the Eventing season by upping Neyo's workload and starting the beloved interval training. All I kept panicking about was Neyo's fitness levels for his first event of the season (Aston Le Walls UA90) as well as the ground conditions due to the amount of rain we had at the end of February, but luckily for me it was dry - still cold though! My dressage was tense but accurate in my opinion, unfortunately the dressage judge wasn't so keen! With a disappointing score Dressage, even though I went double clear inside the time, I didn't get placed.

 

The first Affiliated BE90 event I did this year was Munstead at the end of March, being the first time I have competed here I wasnt sure about how the ground conditions would compare to other places. We rocked up at the crack of dawn, I walked the course and then warmed up for my dressage. It wasn't until I got into the warm up that I realised how excited Neyo was to be at another event! A couple of control issues later and a long walk on a long rein I thought it was time to do my test. Neyo pulled it out of the hat again, with a very accurate test marking 31% leaving me in the top half after dressage. Neyo jumped another double clear inside the time without looking at a thing, even at a particular jump where I couldn't make my mind up, whether to play it safe for the long route or risk everything on what I would call a PreNovice styled fence. You wouldn't believe how many problems the xc course caused! I was ecstatic to hear I came 3rd :) happy days!

 

Still on a high from Munstead results we arrived at Twesledown UA90 on April 15th, and boy was it busy! Neyo was wild in the Dressage warm up but yet again performed accurately in the actual test. As I halted and saluted the judge she asked me to go to her car, there was me panicking thinking I must have done SOMETHING wrong, but all she did was ask if Neyo was a warmblood! If that doesn't get your heart pumping I don't know what will. We were second after the dressage on a score of 31.5% following the leader with 30%. Getting a fabulous double clear inside the time bumped me to first place finishing on my dressage score and followed by 36% at 2nd place so couldn't be happier with my convincing win.

 

What a great start to the eventing season 2011, with a fit and healthy horse I couldn't ask for more :) I have lots more events entered and look forward to keeping you all updated! Don't forget to check out my youtube page with all these events uploaded! It is 1989hayles1989.

 

Hayley and Neyo x

ODE at BCA

Hi all

It's me again, to fill you in on last month's antics.

This month has been a quiet one for me and Neyo as our Eventing season finished at BCA doing a BE100. I spent 2 weeks in Cyprus and Neyo had a little holiday, his first proper holiday since I backed him 2 years ago.

Let me start by telling you about the Event at BCA (Berkshire College Agriculture), what an amazing day it was! Very long as usual but great all the same. The courses (SJ and XC) looked HUGE, but lovely. Although the XC was very long and up to height, I fel quietly confident about mine and Neyo's chances. Neyo's fitness and performance was really at it's peak, so it was all down to my riding - no pressure!

The dressage went well (it didn't feel great but it never does!) It was an average score on the day of 35.5% - not fantastic but better than I thought so no complaints from me.

After a four and a half hour wait between dressage and SJ we had two poles down due to slippy ground and my riding (or should I say lack of!).

I was one of the first on the XC course and as I was warming up all I heard was problem after problem - this is when panic sets in. However the ground was amazing on the XC course and although the jumps were big, they were perfectly positioned. Neyo was fab and took me clear ( even if a few were without stirrups!)

Unfortunately, I still ended up with time faults of 4.4, even though Neyo was an actual machine! We didn't hang around for the prize giving as I didn't get placed, but I was still pretty pleased for my first half season Eventing, I couldn't have asked for any more from Neyo :)

The plan next month is to try some show jumping, so I'll look forward to updating you next blog!

Hayley and Neyo x

Hayley and Neyo - an introduction

Hi there everybody! My name is Hayley Jeffcote and this is my first blog for Winergy Equilibrium!

I thought I would start by explaining a little bit about me and my gorgeous horse Neyo before anything else. I own a 16h 5yr old Dutch Warmblood Gelding who is ALMOST perfect! I looked at Neyo as an untouched 3yr old, wanting a ‘project’ but soon fell in love with him as well as feeling sorry for him! When I bought him he had been in a field with many other youngsters since he was imported from Holland until a week before we saw him. They were all in appalling condition and Neyo was so nervous he was sharing a small stable with a confident colt to gain some confidence! I knew he was the one when I saw him loose schooled and jumped.

Once I had taken Neyo home (and given him his name!) I spent every free second with him to bond and build his trust which to me was the best decision I made as he has always given 200% effort to doing what I ask, lucky me! I started backing Neyo in December 2008 and we have been out British Eventing since July this year. We started with BE80 and am now currently competing at BE100 with a consistent 8th place in my BE90s! No complaints from me!

I couldn’t believe my luck when I was asked to join a feed trial shortly after applying at Winergy’s stand at Badminton 2010, and we have loved every minute since. I have had constant support and regular updates from Winergy, allowing both Neyo and I to maximise all the benefits I was experiencing with the feed as it was. Check out my YouTube account at: 1989hayles1989 with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0PDBUyQGTc  - the latest video is of Neyo and I at the Milton Keynes BE100.Please feel free to visit it and see the improvement yourself!

The feed plan was so easy and was tailored to Neyo’s every need as he has struggled so much with condition and energy as he has a very very laid back approach to life. The Medium Energy feed suits him perfectly, as it gives him everything he needs and I no longer have to give him a shelf load of supplements. I have one more Event of the season and have planned to do some Dressage and Show Jumping over the winter! I will keep you all updated via this fab blog and my YouTube site!

Thanks for reading, Hayley and Neyo xXx