2022 Season Roundup
Well what a year we have had here at Sara-Jane Lanning Dressage, our best season to date!
A very exciting year with a lot of stay away shows!
It started back in January with two trips to Vale View in Leicestershire for both the High Profile Show and then the Regionals for Lyra. 5 out of 5 wins was just a dream! We did have an elimination in a High Profile PSG where she got her personal best to date of 73% but sadly bit her lip whilst concentrating so hard! So tickets gained to the Winters at Medium and Medium Freestyle.
Then Henrys turn for Regionals at Wellington in Hampshire where he gained his ticket to the Winters in the Advanced Medium Freestyle with Dannie Morgan on board.
Lyra then contested two more regionals at Merrist Wood in Surrey with two more wins in the Advanced Medium classes. All the day after we had a fantastic time as a demo rider for the legendary Ingrid Klimke in her masterclass at Wellington Riding. Ingrid was an inspiration and so complimentary about both Lyra and my riding!
In April a busy trip to the Winter Championships at Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire with three horses. Amazing results; 2nd for Lyra in the Medium Freestyle, 4th in the Advanced Medium and 8th in the Advanced Medium Freestyle, which Dannie and Henry also came a fantastic 3rd in! Smurf didn’t let us down with consistent tests and 6th in the PSG Freestyle and 8th in the Inter 1 Freestyle!
Then on to Keysoe Premier League in Bedfordshire, where Dannie and Henry gained international qualifying scoes in the PSG, sadly Lyra picked up a cough at Hartpury so stayed behind but I took advantage of our entry and substituted Henry in her place on the last day. Despite having only ridden him a handful of times as Dannie has done a fabulous job helping produce Henry from young horse classes I stepped in and came 2nd in the Advanced Medium and 8th in the PSG also gaining international scores!
Hickstead Premier League in Sussex came next with 2 4ths and a 5th for Lyra and more great scores for Henry and Dannie.
The yard then welcomed a new livery in Japanese competitor Yuri and the lovely Choice. Yuri’s aim was to ride for Japan.
Then the long drive to Somerford Park in Cheshire for the next Premier League. Henry and I had miscommunications in the PSG but a 4th and a win in the Advanced Mediums, even winning a bottle of champagne! Lyra was 3rd, 5th and 7th in top class PSGs and 2nd in an Advanced Medium.
Then the highlight of my dressage career to date with the news that Lyra and I had been selected for Wellington CDI 1* and my first chance to represent my country! Mistakes in the small tour classes but respectable 12th and 15th, then back for a Premier League PSG a few days later and 8th. Sewing on that Union Jack felt surreal!
A second International followed at Hartpury CDI 3* in July with a phenomenal 3rd in the PSG, 5th in the Inter 1 and 8th in the Freestyle. Memories were certainly made! Yuri ambition was fulfilled as she and Choice came too and competed in her first ever international!
I think Vale View is Lyra’s favourite venue so we went back in July for the Premier League where she again won both her PSG classes gaining direct qualification to the Nationals! What a mare!
Summer Regionals came round so quickly and we made the trip to the lovely Bicton Arena in Devon. Lyra continued her form from the previous year at the venue and remained unbeaten to win the Advanced Medium sash and ticket to the Nationals while Henry was hot on her heels in 3rd and hoping for a wild card, as well as 8th in the PSG.
Henry and I then started doing more local shows really getting to know each other in the ring, polishing our test riding and gaining our winter qualifications.
Smurf and I gained a personal best 70% at Inter 2 and the great news of a wild card to the Nationals shortly followed. Henry got his wild card so now we had the prospect of 5 tests at the Nationals, just wow!
September and back to Cheshire for the Nationals and a great week with friends.
11th PSG with Lyra 69.62%
15th Inter 2 with Smurf 67.21%
6th PSG Freestyle with Lyra 71.68%
10th Advance Medium with Henry 69.47%
8th Advanced Medium with Lyra 70.37% Those percentages all made me so proud!
And my first go at radio commentary too, and a baptism of fire in the Grand Prix of all classes!
A third International invitation came for Lyra along with one to the Future Elite Championship at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show. The two sadly clashed so we opted for the CDI 3* at Keysoe as she will still be eligible for HOYS for a couple more years being so young.
Yet again a wonderful 3rd in the PSG, mistakes but still 9th in the Inter 1 and 6th in the Freestyle brought my first year as an international competitor to a memorable end.
I then moved onto more training, with huge thanks to Spencer Wilton and Ryan Shannon, as well as looking forward to my twice yearly Rafael Soto lessons in a few weeks time. Preparation goes on for the winter regionals which will come round all too fast in January. The horses also get to do different things in the quieter time now like polework and lungeing.
Then young horses to produce and an unbeaten streak on little Bea a 5 year old mare. She gained her novice winter straight and freestyle qualifications in her first few shows and has been a joy to take out.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my kind supporters, firstly my lovely clients and owners, Nicola, Helen and Yuri. Everyone who comments and likes my posts and keeps me going in this mad life.
Secondly the person without whom none of this would be possible my other half Andrew. Xx
Thirdly our lovely Sybil who keeps the yard going and enables me to go away and compete, so grateful!
My generous sponsors with whom I feel honoured to work with;
Mikado Equine (for all beautiful things Dressage! And lots of bling!)
Dressage Test Pro (especially needed now I have started competing youngsters again and I have forgotten where to go in the novice tests!)
Childeric UK (Every horse is now in a Childeric!)
Omega Equine (keeping everyone in top condition)
Harry Hall Riding (keeping me looking good and warm through the winter!)
Flying Changes Bespoke Tailcoats (making me look extra smart at shows!)
Equilibrium Products (for the gift of the massage pad which all the horses love!)
If there is anything special I can do for you please shout!
A massive thank you to Laura Cutter at The Equestrian Sponsorship Hub, who has taken over my rider management and finally dragged me into the current age and got me to finish my website, a project started many years ago but never finished!
Winter Projects are lots of online judge training including webinars, more judging as I am riding at a few less shows while its cold and wet, writing articles (which I love to do) and hopefully time for a few more doodles!
With gratitude for all your support and best wishes for next year!
xxx