So Belvedere has been with Tor Brewer for the last few weeks to take him back to basics in his schooling and re-teach him etc. The first few days/week she had him she said that she was very impressed with his improvement and that she had been thinking that I would be able to do ''a very nice novice test by April, and a very nice CCI* test by Hartpury'' on him. However, the next few days he went downhill a bit. He was nowhere near as bad as he had been but was not as soft and relaxed as the previous few days. Tor felt that he was tensing and running away from some pain. So on Thursday the vet came back out to have a look at Tor riding him, and sods law he went brilliantly! So Chris said that he doesn't think he needs any more veterinary treatment yet and just see how things go. So, as I am on half term, I am going to go to Tor's for a couple of days and have a go on him again with Tor's instruction.
Edited to add - I just got a phone call from Tor saying how well he went today and how excited she is and how I must come and ride him in the next week or so!!
Now the exciting news, a little while ago I saw an old experienced horse that had 166 points for sale. I enquired about a loan and she said no, but would sell him very cheaply. So on Thursday we travelled up to Aston Le Walls to try him! I didn't really know what to expect as he had been turned out over the winter and had only just come in from the field, therefore had only been schooled/jumped once by Emma before I got on him! However, he was lovely! Nothing flashy and impressive but very sweet, simple and straightforward. He also has a lovely jump, really comes up through the shoulders! So, after getting permission from my Father and my Gran we are getting him vetted next week sometime! So lots of fingers crossed that all goes well. Will be gutted if it doesn't!
He is quite old but Emma was talking about me doing intermediates on him and then maybe an advanced or two this or next year (erm....maybe next year!!). She was also talking about us needing to renew his FEI passport so she seems to think he is still up for everything! Another nice thing was that when my mum spoke to her on the phone yesterday she was very nice about me and said that she ''liked the way I rode'' and that I was ''a good little jockey''.
Here are some pictures (click to enlarge) and a video:
