Well 2012 is looking up for Inonothing and myself. Mannie as he’s known at home is back in full work under myself and feeling fantastic. In 2010 after winning Badminton and gaining our ticket to a team representation at WEG at Kentucky, disaster struck part way round the Kentucky championship XC course when Mannie inexplicably fractured the patella bone in his left hind stifle joint. This led to extensive surgery upon his return to the UK and no competitions for him during 2011. Mannie has actually been in work for most of 2011, but I was only allowed to sit on him a couple of times during this rehabilitation period. Truth be known that neither my rider Zoe Wilkinson nor my wife Georgina trusted me not to get too keen and put him under too much pressure during this important, patience filled, time. But now it’s all systems go and we’re confident that a return to Badminton Horse Trials for us is a reality. At the time of writing this, during the last month Mannie has had one gallop training session, one XC schooling session, and two show jumping competition outings, all of which have been important milestones for our confidence for a full return to competing at the top level of Eventing this season.
Our first competition together since September 2010 was show jumping indoors at West Wilts Equestrian Centre. Our first competitive round was in the 1.15m class and to say that both of us were a little distracted is an understatement, and not that I want to admit this, but just a little emotional also! A few rails down and a less than confident start left me quietly stressing that maybe Mannie wasn’t actually ready for this first outing. After much debating within my own head, I decided to stick to my original plan and ride Mannie in the next 1.20m class. The focus made a quick return to us both in this next class, with a smooth and easy double clear that left everyone smiling.
Next on the agenda was to tackle some XC fences, so with a keen eye on the weather we managed to get to Boomerang Stables schooling ground for this next nail biting step. There was certainly no nail biting on Mannie’s side of partnership, he was as confident and as skilful as ever over all of the fences we tackled, much to the relief of myself and also his owner Jenny Waaler who had braved the freezing temperatures to carefully and intently watch every step of the session.
Another show jumping outing followed, this time outdoors at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre, where we were right on track from the first footstep, for another double clear in the 1.20m class which was good enough to gain us 3rd place. So again smiles all round at gaining our first competitive success since 2010.
After two show jumping outings and a XC session successfully out of the way it was time to let the hand brake off and do some gallop work to start the true fitness program leading up to this year’s Badminton Event. The freezing temperatures and snow of early February got us wondering when this would ever be possible, when finally a gallop was found that was not frozen rock solid, away we went. Mannie was as keen as ever, we worked totally within his fitness capabilities, which meant that without ever actually tiring him, he kept me on my guard by living up to his old “spin head” nick name. With the soundness checks on him out of the way the following day without incident, our confidence for a return to top level eventing for Mannie is very high.
There’s a fair bit of hype around at the moment that the entries for Badminton are now open. Personally this means nothing for me, the important date for me is when they close, that’s normally when my entries will be sent in. I work best under pressure, so deadlines normally motivate me to do whatever is required, whenever the deadline for the entries is, that’s what’s important to me! However at home today, Mannie has just given me some of the best dressage work I think I have ever felt from him, another personal best in the dressage phase could give rise to another fantastic result………..let the build up of excitement begin!
Paul Tapner
Twitter: @TapnerEventing
