Little Downham – Intermediate

What a weekend it was at Little Downham for Rachael and Friday in their second ever Intermediate event – and wow, did they deliver!

Kicking things off with what was without a doubt their best dressage test to date, Rachael looked confident, Friday moved like an absolute dream, and the whole test just came together beautifully. The movements were clear and polished, and you could really see the partnership growing between them. They scored a 33.6 and we’re honestly so happy with that – it reflects the progress they’ve been making in training and just how much they’ve come on as a pair.

Next up was the show jumping, which was proving tough across the board. There had only been two clear rounds before Rachael entered the ring. No pressure, right? But they handled it like pros. The girls jumped an absolutely stunning round and came out with a clear – making it a double clear overall. It was one of those moments where all the hard work and graft really started to shine through. So proud.

Then came cross country – with a delay (of course!) that pushed the whole thing back by an hour. Not ideal for the nerves, let’s be real. The course itself turned out to be pretty tricky, with several riders retiring or being eliminated. At one point there was even an unfortunate spook that meant a competitor couldn’t continue. All this while Rachael was warming up.

Thankfully, she had a strong team behind her – and plenty of friendly faces popping up at the fences to cheer her on. Alex was darting around the course to support as many places as he could (hero). And soon enough, Rachael and Friday were galloping to their final fence, finishing their round clear with just a few time penalties and grabbing 11th place overall.

We honestly couldn’t be prouder. Double clear at only your second Intermediate is a serious achievement. Rachael, your dedication, your grit, and those very early mornings are really starting to pay off. You and Friday are such an exciting combo and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Here’s to the next one – let’s keep this momentum going 💪✨