Well the move has well and truly begun! I now have 11 of my horses back and off to get the other 5 tomorrow. I so pleased that Tristan and I and my long suffering family have been able to paint the stables and brighten them up as they looked rather unloved. They look fantastic now, thanks to everybody!

My kind owners have also been helping, thanks to Sue Cross, Vivien Jupp and Sue Howard ( part time groom! is that right Sue?). Also an enormous thanks to my family (especially my sister who is helping me muck out etc!) and who all seem pleased so far I am back. Perhaps after a few weeks they may change their mind, I have an even bigger team than before now…

However this is due to change as I do have two horses for sale and have passed the reins of Bomber onto Becky so I hope they will both be happy!! I am selling Tweedy, 7 years, fantastic horse but won’t be suitable for me as won’t be 4* but is a fantastic dressage horse/ jumper and I will sell him to a good home for a very reasonable price. Also Imp, 16 1 as I have decided his forte is dressage as he wins everything! Won again an elementary with nearly 70%. Is working at advanced medium level with established changes. He could be a very exciting prospect for a young rider or is so good on the ground would be ideal for a lady too.

I am also looking for staff, I am short staffed with one member sadly leaving as clearly not keen on packing!! Hopefully won’t be happening too often!! Please email me about any of these subjects! Oh and also potentially still looking for a yard (although very much enjoying being back at home so far!) so that too! many thanks! )

 

Apart from all that the horses have been going brilliantly. We went to Gatcombe for the advanced. Luckily we had rain just before and the ground was very good. Maisie was a little tense still in her changes which was a little disappointing as she warmed up so well. Red was in his first ever advanced, he has just learnt changes, half passes etc and was a superstar in the test and scored 35 which was very respectable. Maisie show jumped very early, for some reason this year it seems all the entry secretaries have ganged up on me and any possible lay in and gone for 8am dressage/ jumping every time. This does mean several of my supporters aren’t always quite there to see me but I really don’t blame them!

 

She jumped a super clear, the course is always up to height and causes problems and this year was no exception. Red just had coming out of a double down but jumped superbly otherwise. They both excelled themselves XC, Maisie was unbelievable, as straight as you could wish for and very brave. Red was extraordinarily brave and jumped clear in fine style. I lost my silk at fence 3 on a tree which luckily was returned as it’s from the Bejiing Olympics; sometimes they don’t come back as are trophies for spectators!

 

Maisie finished 11th, I was surprised as I felt her performance deserved a good place but I was still so pleased, Red was 9th and we are all over the moon, he is an exciting horse and good to have a 2nd advanced horse. He will now go to Blenheim 8/ 9 year olds…

I also went to Aston Le Walls with Bert and Romeo. I was exhausted from moving things and it is pretty stressful at the best of times but you try mid season! I had to go though as I had been informed one of the schools was being re worked in September, Blenheim time and I felt it fairly important I could ride before that! There are too many horses there for my needs sadly but I wish them all best of luck for the future with Bedgebury.

 

I arrived late and there was some confusion if I could still run one of them which I was quite upset about as we do spend a fortune on entry fees and feel there must be some give and take. I appreciate I do take most of the time but let’s face it without us and our horses there would be no competitions. I am sympathetic to secretaries as I am disorganised at times but I do supply wine/ chocolates when I really make a blunder!! Eventually they fitted me in later but it took a little while. I shall do my best to never be late again!!! This did mean that the XC was pretty firm by the time Bert went around so I didn’t go too speedily. He performed an excellent test for 26 and clear sj so a shame I couldn’t go as fast as I’d like but he is very precious to me so we finished 4th. Romeo also performed a good test, 30 and clear sj and was super XC until the 2nd last where he ran out at a corner. This is unlike him so I did wonder if he was feeling the ground perhaps? A good day generally though.

 

I went to Chilham on Sunday with 3, again an 8 30 dressage! The judge in Columbos’ section must have been blind. He did the best, most perfect test. I thought no lower than 8′s every movement but scored 31!!  I wouldn’t have minded but someone got 21, there was no horse that much better than him. Nevermind he jumped a super double clear and was 5th. (Still won in my eyes!)

Elsa scored 27 and clear sj but still not playing ball XC, more work needed. Bambi competed in her first competition in a year and was excellent. She scored 35 in the dressage, was a little excited and then jumped a double clear to be 6th. Nice to have her back she is a lovely mare. Next stop Milton Keynes….

Well I shall go back to moving/ packing / unpacking. Any help gratefully received please!!!

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