Aston-le-Walls (1)

First run at Novice proves no problem for “Atty”

We’re still buzzing from an exciting day at Aston-le-Walls (1), where CENTRE OF ATTENTION, affectionately known at home as Atty, tackled his first Novice run—and absolutely rose to the occasion.

This was Atty’s first real taste of the bigger tracks, and to say he handled it well would be an understatement. He stepped out with all the coolness and class of a much more experienced horse, never looking out of place over the larger questions. In fact, he made the step up look easy, bouncing around like it was a Pony Club course—ears forward, confident, and game.

He started strong in the dressage with a tidy 30.5, showing good rhythm and focus throughout. There’s still plenty to come as he gains strength and maturity, but we were really pleased with how rideable and settled he felt in the arena.

Show jumping was equally positive—Atty delivered a clear round that felt smooth and economical. He didn’t touch a pole, and his attitude in the ring was spot-on: calm, responsive, and eager to do the job.

The cross-country was where he really showed us what he’s made of. This was his first time seeing combinations of this scale and technicality, but he locked on and answered every question with confidence. He came home clear with 9.2 time penalties, finishing on a very respectable 43.7, placing 15th overall in a big section.

This run was a huge confidence boost for both Atty and Alex, and a clear sign that the training and groundwork we’ve put in behind the scenes is starting to pay off. For a young horse on his first outing at this level, he showed tremendous potential—and we couldn’t be more excited for what the season holds.

Big thanks as always to the team at Aston-le-Walls for putting on a great event with brilliant ground and a fair, flowing track that gave the horses a positive experience.

We’ll give Atty a bit of a breather now before planning his next run, but one thing’s for sure: this boy has a very bright future.