Use Me and Matti go to their first International
Our mare Use Me and young rider Mathias Schwentke travelled down to Mannheim in April for their first international competition. The dates clashed with the Royal Wedding but we were not going to miss our 'International debut' so packed up everything including the children and made the five hour drive down to a very pretty part of Germany. The prestigious Mannheim Maimarkt Turnier attracts many international riders and the first week is dedicated to junior and young riders. It is a fantastic introduction to the pressures of a big International competition and I think I was the most nervous I had ever been. The fences looked enormous but Matti was his ice cool self!
Use Me was totally amazing - she finished 10th in the final and was the highest place youngest horse. Matti also rode her in a 'Joker' class - the final fence was 1.45 and she just tipped it! I am not quite sure how I managed to video and please excuse my deep breaths!