Tamsyn News Update 17th Oct 2008
Twenty two year old International Three Day Event Rider, Tamsyn Hutchins is returning to her home in Looe, Cornwall for a brief sojourn following Weston Park International Three Day Event.
Tamsyn has spent the last four months at the yard of fellow International Event Rider Sarah Cohen (Nee Cutteridge) in Leicestershire competing and preparing youngsters as well training intensively with her own horses. Based at the yard of former International Event rider Vin Jones, who also organised a Horse Trials in Cornwall for fifteen years, Tamsyn feels she has benefited greatly from her time there. See www.precihorses.com
“My Dressage has improved so much now that I am worried about wrecking it!” was her reply when asked about the Point to Pointing plans which were in place at the beginning of the year. “Certainly to ride in two such diverse styles will be a challenge!” However it is a challenge that Tamsyn is willing to accept, as she feels that learning to ride at a Racing speed will also benefit her and the horses, and her judgement of pace.
Tamsyn is hoping that a couple of her other horses will be back on form after a brief spell on the sidelines, and that she will have her full team ready going into 2009. The most recent addition to the Team, 12 year old Badger’s Best, proved himself to be a worthy Team Member at the recent Weston Park Horse Trials. Competing in the CCI**, he was having a final run before enjoying a brief break, with the pair having spent an intense three months getting to know one another.
The course was causing plenty of problems, and Tamsyn went out to have a final look. She found herself waiting for some time as horse after horse failed to appear. Finally after three had started and failed to materialise, one combination eventually did. Tamsyn then had to wait for another three contenders before seeing another successful combination. Not the most encouraging precursor to riding a challenging course!
Once out on course Badger settled into his rhythm and stormed round clear. He completed on the Sunday jumping one of the very few clear rounds showjumping, to move up from 66th place to 19th, some 47 places in total. Tamsyn was also the best Under 25 Rider. They appear to have now cemented their relationship which is great news heading into the next season.
Tamsyn will be spending a couple of months at home working on the youngsters on her own yard, and has two vacancies available at the moment. She will then be hopefully enjoying a visit to see some fellow Eventing friends in South Africa, and then journeying to Val D’Isere for a 21st Birthday skiing trip.
Shortly after the New Year Tamsyn will be returning to Leicestershire as Sarah Cohen (Cutty) is expecting her first child and Tamsyn is deputising in the saddle for her. (As per ‘Stable Talk’ in the October issue of Eventing magazine.) Already the 2009 schedule is being planned, and it looks as though Tamsyn has a very busy timetable riding for a number of people. She has probably deserved the short break she is taking in the next couple of months!