06/08/2009 08:56:00

Halliday pleased with ‘educational’ Iping run

Halliday pleased with ‘educational’ Iping run  Dual sportswoman Liz Halliday gave her young horses Billy (Baldaghade), Vimto (Redos) and Ollie (Volien) an educational work out at the Iping Horse Trials at the end of June, achieving three strong results in the process. 

Billy took part in the Novice category and led the entire field after Dressage. Two rails down in the Show Jumping before a clear Cross Country round left him eighth at the finish and Halliday confident about Billy’s CCI* debut at Hartpury in a couple of weeks time. 

“He did a superb Dressage,” said Liz, “and was excellent on a difficult Cross Country course. Eighth was another strong result for him and I’m feeling really good about Hartpury at the moment.” 

Vimto and Ollie continued to gain experience in the Pre-Novice section and were both ranked in the top three after Dressage. Vimto then jumped a double-clear to finish ninth, while Ollie had two rails down in the Show Jumping and a clear Cross Country to claim 11th.

Their finishing positions would have been higher but for a handful of time faults on the Cross Country section, although Halliday explained that it was a testing lay out for the young horses: 

“It was a very good education for them because the Iping Cross Country course is different from anything they’ve done before,” she said.

 “It twists and turns a lot through the woods with many tricky fences jumping from light into the dark woods.  I don’t think either of them could have gone any quicker without jeopardizing their rounds. They were both clear and tried hard though, and it has been a very useful, educational weekend.” 

Billy then moved to Wilton the following weekend for another Novice event ahead of his scheduled step up at Hartpury, finishing a strong seventh overall.  

Halliday also took Ollie, Vimto and her new ride, All Inclusive, to the Mattingley Horse Trials. 

Having worked with All Inclusive for just a week, Halliday guided him to seventh in the Pre-Novice class and was particularly pleased with his Dressage and Cross Country performances.  

“There’s some technical things that need addressing on his Show Jumping, but considering I’d only worked with him for seven days before the event, it was a pretty good start,” said Liz. “I think I’ll give him another Pre-Novice event and then we’ll step up to Novice level.”

Vimto and Ollie again impressed in the Pre-Novice+ section, comprising Novice-level Dressage and Show Jumping tests and Pre-Novice Cross Country, Vimto only missing out on the win after a mistake in the final test. 

“Lack of sleep must have caught up with me I guess!” admitted Halliday, who had only just returned from a whirlwind trip to her native California. “I missed a fence on Cross Country meaning we received a technical elimination, which was annoying because Vimto had done so well and would almost certainly have won.  These things happen I guess, but hopefully it has sharpened me up enough to help me avoid any more blonde moments this season!" Liz will next be competing August 13-16 at the Hartpury International Horse Trials with Billy in the CCI* section.