Fiona Iszchak freelance instructor/ event rider

04/08/2026

I was waiting for my pro pix to arrive before posting my event report.
So at 6am Saturday I set off to Swalcliffe for the BRC horse trials champs. We had a 8.30 dressage and needed to passport check on arrival. Satvnav had said 1.hr15 in car so I thought maybe Just over an hour and a half.
Turns out 50 miles from Bedfordshire to Oxfordshire is mostly roundabouts and 20mph villages so I was running a little behind schedule on arrival.
The parking attendant found me a nice little spot and I jogged down to the stables to declare.
When I got back to the box these two miserable looking women told me I couldn't park there, they were saving that spot for a friend. The fact they'd scowled at me on arrival, but didnt say anything until I was already unpacking I thought was really rude.
I told them they'd have to wait for after dressage and left Luke's poo for their friend.
Anyhow Luke and I headed over to dressage warmup and had 20 mins to try avoid running any stewards over and bump into other riders (it was very busy!)
Luke had his head in the game and was really pleased with our test, where the only downside was canter circles just got abit unbalanced and walk abit choppy at the end.
I then popped him back on the box and moved us about 10 rows back!! But at least we had nice neighbours now. And a mile walk to the stables.
I went and walked the cross country, which got me so excited. I literally couldn't wait to give it a go. There was plenty of technical questions and some long uphill stretches that would test our fitness.
Had to pick up a champs plaque and a champs hoody on my way back up to lorries before getting ready.
Luke started the xc a little looky at the first few fences, then after the first combination at 4ab he freewheeled down the hill and back up again taking hold of the bridle a bit to 5, and I thought Here we go!!
We had 1 scrappy moment at the combination 10 & 11ab where I got him right back for the downhill turn, then tried to ride a forward 3 and it just wasnt there. He popped in a pony stride and pretty much banked the 'ice cube' with his back legs!
I apologised profusely and let him fly over the steeplechase fences and through the final water bang on the minute markers, then my watch started beeping just out from the final fence... I thought we might have just made it but was just 2 seconds over the Optimum time.
A good dressage of 31.8 !!!! (A personal best) and 0.8tp put us on 33.6 and 5th place.

Sunday was an early start at the stables and wash and replait for trot up, which he sailed through.
I didnt realise how good he was feeling until we popped to trot afew hours later in the SJ warmup and realised that he was On One! I suppose listening to the xc tannoy all morning got him all excited.
Anyway I didn't have much control in the SJ, which was very undulating and cleverly built. We sadly caught the 2nd part of the double going down hill and had an argument about the speed and change of direction coming to the upright fence across the middle, getting abit deep to it and knocked that too.
I knew that put us out the running for a top 10, with SJ maths but actually relaxed and rode the 2nd part of the course much better as a consequence. Who knew pressure made me forget how to ride?

Anyhow the main thing is we had a marvellous time, and I was home in time for the ponyclub camp presentation, where Violet had done especially well, with Dad in charge at camp.

28/07/2026

Preparing for the BRC eventing champs by running through the dressage test at our local r.c evening dressage in the pyo section last week.
Luke bossed it with a 71% (29 eventing dr)
Which was definitely all thanks to a fantastic lesson with Beth the night before.
Now with the hard ground we haven't done much prep this week- we could really do with a little jump but the grass is absolutely baked and Luke was a little bruised afew losing a shoe and half his foot. Not ideal!
But we can both do 90 in our sleep so afew quiet days is probably better training than jarring him up in the current conditions.
Anyhow Saturday morning we have a 8.30am dressage so a super early start. Then cross country 11.30am.
Sunday is trot up early doors and showjumping in reverse order.
Any suggestions on trot up outfits ?

18/07/2026

**Having seen the awful sad news from Swalcliffe, i'm rather glad we weren't there today. Lucky we are both safe to ride another day. Today was not meant to be for a reason 💔 my heart goes out to the riders, their family and the whole eventing family. **

Today was not meant to be. Sadly Luke was kicked by his friend Willow while they were tied up on the yard yesterday. Tiny cut on inner hock and he was sound at the time but Today it was fat and swollen. That on top of a slightly wobbly shoe, we'd have needed onsite farrier for, and the hard ground, it wasn't worth running him.
I'm not horribly disappointed, which is telling me I made the right choice.
Save him for the champs in afew weeks time.

09/07/2026

Something exciting is happening!!
Luke will be attending his 2nd National Championships this year. 😵🤪

Reminder - BRC Howden Horse Trials Championships closing date is:

💥THURSDAY 9 JULY!💥

We cannot guarantee late entries can be accommodated, if they are then a late fee will apply. Please continue to keep checking club Sport:80 accounts for invites that have been passed down & wildcards. Entries must be paid for via Sport:80 by the deadline.

Team managers who qualify from late qualifiers will be contacted directly about how to enter.

If you need any help with entries please contact the team via phone or email [email protected] for assistance BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE.

28/06/2026

Ah I do love a pro photo and only £5 each for digital downloads.

Anyhow fresh of the back of our fantastic run yesterday, I've entered swalcliffe BE next month 😀

27/06/2026

Super day out eventing today at Little Downham for area7 r.c qualifiers.
I nearly didnt go, due to the heatwave all week, I hadnt ridden since monday, but rain overnight and a cloudy start, plus the arrival of my trailer fan meant I thought we'd give it a go.
Lukey had the warmup to himself due to so many withdrawals, but was nice to have space and go when we were ready. He did a much improved test for a 33.
Then I went for a walk around the xc course, which was rather technical and twisty, before getting ready to show jump.
Luke warmed up horribly, having both the upright and and oxer down and noone around, i had to get off myself to fix it!
He then knocked the first fence down as well before getting his act together!
We had a quick change and headed down to the Xc.
Luke cruised round making nothing of the ditches and waters. There were lots of skinnies on course and after the flag issue at champs, I played it very safe, trotting or collecting the canter right back for the majority of them. This didnt effect our time negatively, as once again he jumped the last fence as my stop watch started beeping for a lovely clear bang on the time for 5th place!
Super pleased for a confident clear around a technical track. He is probably ready for a nice 100 now. Also thrilled with his dressage improvement after just 2 Beth lessons. Definitely going in the right direction 👌

17/06/2026

Never even thought I'd be riding her again, never mind strutting our stuff down the centreline!! So pleased with Miss Ricky for doing a beautiful dressage test despite not having been out in over a year or ridden in an arena either. Here's to miracles and the power of dr green and time.
Got to love an evening trip out to R.C dressage.
Ricky will be getting some shoes on Friday and I'm tempted to try some ridden show classes with her.
Still no jumping yet, but shes feeling stronger all the time.

30/04/2026

Pants news that our next Event planned has been cancelled! And an absolute highlight event too. However quick pivot and I have rerouted to Tweseldown on same date. Lucky just pipped the ballot, which is today.
Not been in about 13 years, but I remember it being a good challenging cross country track, which will suit Luke. I should book some dressage lessons in then.

12/04/2026

One of those not a great day on paper days but still a really fun day out.
We headed to Tetworth for our first BE event, well my first one in 8 years.

Plan for dressage was a good canter round the park, a lollop on a long rein then work on putting him back together with some transition work. Luke was going beautifully until we left the safety of the warm up and into the test arena. Held the anxious needy Llama together for a 40.

Onto Showjumping which has been much improved recently. A really unfair 4fts as he'd already landed and ridden away when the pole he breathed on fell down. He also jumped the 2 stride double in 1, in classic Luke style. He was really adjustable and kept a lovely rhythm.

Cross country I had walked the day before but I probably should learn to count properly as we took the direct route from 7 to 9 , entirely missing the whole other loop to 8 both when I walked it and when I rode it too.
However there wasnt anything that phased or taxed him in the slightest and we coasted home with 10 sec to spare (might have been bang on with the extra jump) 😉
As far as Luke is concerned we jumped a clear round.

Saw lots of friends and had loads of support today which is what makes eventing so special.

Our next event will be Princethorpe 2 day event and possibly some dressage practice before then.