Despite a few manic days moving house and yard all of the horses seem to be beautifully settled in their idyllic new surroundings.  We have stacks of grass, increasingly plump ponies and about 10,000 swallows nesting that, whilst rather pretty, seem to be on a permanent mission to cover not only my car but also the horses in bird poo on a daily basis. One of my lovely owners, Anne, has visited from the Isle of Man to see her boys new quarters and we thought it only right that she should help me road test the local drinking holes.....a big thumbs up!!!  Anne has two super geldings with me that are aimed at Small Tour next year, so hopefully they can accompany Pasoa and I on our overseas adventures soon.

The latest trip for us has been to Aachen as part of the Nations Cup team - perhaps not my best ever performances but an incredible show to be part of nonetheless. The weather was typically inclement; cold with perpetual drizzle which put paid to the sought after photo opportunity and Pasoa
felt a little 'on the hand' and sat behind my leg which meant rather costly
mistakes in the canter work.  Somewhat frustrating as she has been on
fabulous form at home.  Whilst surmising and munching my twelfth cheese and tomato crepe a rather illustrious trainer/rider and judge astutely commented "looks like she needs one in the chops and two in the guts!!" Succinctly put and rather stopped my après show over analysis in its tracks. On my return home I therefore headed off to The College at Keysoe to run through a Grand Prix in the pick your own class. What a great plan! The percentage was irrelevant as it was a perfect chance to school her through the floorplan, correct mistakes as they happened and take a strong half halt or kick on as necessary. I think the horses sometimes get wise to the fact that we 'sit pretty' in the ring and need a reminder to give that extra ten percent.

I have also been fortunate enough this month to squeeze in another filming session with the horse hero team. This time round we filmed Erik and I working with Blackie and Pasoa, one of Georgies lessons with me and a typically erratic schooling session with the infamous B! Sadly before the cameras started rolling B had one of his characteristically special moments......so a real pity that we didn't  manage to catch it as it's spectacular viewing!! I wanted to use him as its all to easy to float around the ménage on more advanced or straightforward horses making it all seem terribly easy, talking about what we should and shouldn't do - but a tricky ride is a much more realistic portrayal of the day job and will hopefully help anyone else persisting with a difficult ride take comfort from my struggles and feel less alone! 

The other big bonus result from my move has been to spend more time with my family. My elder sister has three young kids that she is determined to make pony mad(all under 5years so she's both brave and crazy), therefore for Henry's fifth birthday we headed to the Lavenham and District Riding Club local show......Billy(the gorgeous Exmoor pony) and Max the dog were entered in every class possible; veteran, fancy dress, best handler and waggiest tail to name but a few. The fancy dress class was an epic display from my sister and brother in law of imagination and steely determination to raise them from last years second place - and I'm pretty sure it must have left the other competitors quaking in their boots. Billy was dressed as a valiant knights steed forming part of the tableau of 'George and the Dragon,' with one nephew a courageous knight, the other a fire breathing monster and eighteen month old Princess Jemima aboard Billy with a sacrificed pashmina flowing from her headdress. It was without question a red rosette and a definite 10/10 for effort. It really made me think that there's a lesson for me here - an approach like that towards my next competition and the sky's the limit. Hence an auf wiedersehen from me as we are off to Perl CDI4* today.......where with renewed confidence and a determination to be 'infront of the leg' I hope we can be the jewel of the
  show!!!

Finally I can reveal my secret….I hate tempting fate so I have been uncharacteristically tight lipped for a while, but since signing on the
dotted line makes it official, I can let you know that I am MOVING!!!  The only downside is that orchestrating moving both yard and house whilst competing internationally (I head to Compiegne in France the week of my move for a show) is like juggling fish…that or herding cats.  Whichever is
worse.  Unfortunately I also have to leave the pseudo Greek god that I currently share the yard with behind - his presence has boosted not only staff morale but possibly my horse sales during the warmer weather.  He’s perfected a Lady Godiva impression of sorts – with Ray Bans on and cantering around topless in skin-tight beige breeches, I’m convinced my clients head home with the feeling they have just viewed a horse through rose tinted glasses!  He’s probably none too happy that I’m whisking Sophie away with me, but I’m sure he’ll be inundated with offers to soothe the beating of his lonely heart in her absence; after all, he was highlighted as ‘Horse and Hounds’ top totty during his Badminton vet check….

My new base is in Essex, back near my family, near to where I grew up and close to my boyfriend’s new job at Newmarket Equine Hospital, which
means I get to see even more of him.  There are 2o lovely boxes, two ménages, sand turnout paddocks, fantastic grazing and heaps of off road hacking.  I have known the landlady Annie since I was a child, she is a wonderfully kind and generous person, so I feel the summer will feature plenty of BBQ’s and champagne toasts once afternoon teaching is done. 
A long term pupil of mine Georgina Weedon is coming to work for me
alongside Sophie, so whilst it’s a period of change and possibly new beginnings, the sense of familiarity makes it feel like not only the right move but very much like I am going home.  Pictures to follow for next
time.

My horses have all been training well at home – my thumb is mending slowly (vet wrap makes the best bandage) and B is finally out of the dog house.  I have taken to replacing his very mild French Link bit with a Waterford.  My reasoning is that he doesn’t show a very healthy respect for me and this must change, the bit is only as severe as the rider’s hands and with this substitution I’m able to keep control of his head and neck instead of being flung around like a rag doll.  I’m quietly confident that I am winning…..

Wiesbaden in Germany was the next port of call for Pasoa and I felt hugely excited in the run up, she’d been on fire in training and I reallywanted to capitalise on our performance in France.  It’s an unbelievably beautiful show – set in parkland with the backdrop of a huge pink castle and if my memory served correctly a very generous champagne sponsor! On arrival I wasn’t disappointed. Except with the weather.  I attended the same show a year ago, bathed in glorious sunshine (also complete with a million mosquitoes, give or take) so perpetual rain somewhat dampened our spirits.  Our first test was the Grand Prix on the Saturday.  P felt wonderful in the warm up, light and easy in the bridle and very biddable.  We made a small mistake in both sets of changes and could have had more expression in the piaffe which lacked a little energy, but she had some
fantastic moments and finished on nearly 68% - still taking some decent scalps despite the errors. Determined to improve our mark in the Special on the Monday she trained like an Olympic Champion inbetween….but on Sunday afternoon the rain began in earnest.  The arenas are basically sand dumped on top of sheets of rubber matting on grass.  Not so slowly the sand began to wash away from the mats and a pond formed in the main arena.  The organisers desperately tried to dig trenches to release the water but to no avail. Worried that I would have to ride on slippery surfaces I began to ask the showjuming contingent to lend me studs for
her shoes – a somewhat crazy plan but borne out of desperation to keep her upright as she lacks the webbed feet that are a prerequisite to cope on such surfaces.  Thankfully by the Monday morning the show admitted it would have to cancel.  What a debacle.  I have to admit that driving for a day and a half each way, and taking a week away from home only to perform in one class rather tested our stoicism on the journey home.  Chocolate helps.  However, deciding to take a ‘glass half full’ approach, with my show in Holland in March being a non-event, then Addington in April and now Wiesbaden falling foul of the weather, that is three things that have gone wrong so there can’t be any more….positivity is the key.

I have sold a few super horses as well recently and bought a rather interesting project for myself, a 12year old gelding by Sandro Song that is nearly at Grand Prix.  He’s a complicated character to ride but has huge ability so by next time I write hopefully I can give him a proper introduction. Sadly for now, back to packing
boxes………

How fateful the last sentence of my previous blog proved to be!! Addington CDI was supposed to kick start the 2013 season.  The night before we were due to leave my lorry was fully packed, I’d crammed in extra training
sessions with Erik, Sophie was beyond excited that we were finally off to
another show and I really felt that‘P’ and I were ready to strut our stuff……that is until the moment that Hannah(Biggs) rang to ask if I was still going to the CDI because of the EHV risk.  Withdrawals had started in the Grand Prix, with the start list quickly resembling a landslide, as individuals concerns grew over the risk to the horses being stabled together whilst reports of outbreaks of the EHV virus rumbled.  It’s so disappointing to
have to withdraw from a show when you feel fit and raring to go…….but much better to keep the horses safe and well to fight another day.  More than anything I really feel for the organisation committee at Addington, so much effort, hard work and a real disappointment for them too.  I’m a bit of a believer in fate though – so not wanting to tempt it, suffice to say I’m going to another show soon and I’ll let you know about it afterwards!

With a tiny uplift in the weather and the Easter holidays in full swing I have started advertising some of the horses that I produce for sale.  I always have five or six for sale but over the winter months I tend to hack them a lot and focus on their training, only really starting to advertise now.  Jade (my other full time member of staff along with Sophie) has been chosen to take the place of David Bailey as in house photographer.  I tried to sell it to her as a highly prestigious job but I don’t think that she relished the selection……!  I’m not a very patient model and must confess to hollering instructions continually about resetting the camera, when to take a shot, which is the best angle etc etc.  Our most recent photo shoot has mainly highlighted one thing though.  I MUST learn to lift my damn chin up.  A hundred or so photos can’t be wrong.  It’s not 'coincidence’ that it’s glued to my chest in all of them.  That is combined with the unavoidable truth that I always ride around catching flies with my mouth open……hence the month of April is now dedicated to working on my position.  Erik is a real stickler for a correct classical position and when I focus on it, it seems
without even trying there is always a huge improvement in my horse’s balance and way of going.  My stirrups are relegated to the back of the tack room and my pony tail may even be tied to the back waistband of my breeches……potentially drastic but, no pain no gain!

Talking of breeches, I haverecently agreed a great sponsorship deal with EquiRex, a Dutch clothing company that not only produces beautiful equestrian wear but also has a wonderful earth conscious ethos.  The attention to detail in terms of design is gorgeous, the clothes wear beautifully and the company has a fair labour policy and only uses fabrics which have a low environmental impact such as merino wool and certified organic cotton.  This makes them a great brand to be associated with and definitely makes them top of the savvy and stylish shoppers list.  Having been spoilt rotten with lots of lovely new breeches and tops, now I just have to convince someone at Laurent Perrier that they’d like to sponsor me too……… 

http://www.equirex.nl/?cmid=Y2puQ3ovRmtjTEE9&afid=akVvSmFhbThuMHc9&ats=SlFvVHdLSjNLdm89

A lack of shows has meant plenty of time at home to focus on training.  B is starting to calm down with a change in the weather and I hope that over the summer months I can get his brain firmly on the job.  I’ve been jumping and hacking him a lot and am considering braving a jumping show for his
first outing – perhaps because I’m allowed to wear a martingale and any other tack I like to maintain control!  I think giving the horses an all-round education makes them so much better in the long run.  A lot of my schooling is done outside the ménage – I don’t have an indoor school or even a ménage that’s exactly 20x60m but I’m lucky to have a full mile of all-weather gallops (the stables I rent used to be a racing yard) up a long sloping hill and 100 or so acres of fields that I can school in.  I have worked Seb a lot in this way, trotting and cantering slowly up and down the hills.  He’s a fantastic moving horse but at his vast size, with a huge engine, his balance is often compromised.  I feel the hill work helps to teach him to engage and hold himself upright, on his own legs, without
using the rider for support…….but it’s not a plan for the faint hearted as over excitement sometimes means control can be a limited concept.  At that point I imagine I hear Erik’s voice resounding in my head as we
career towards a hedge…’upper body back, sit up, use your upper body like a lever.’ Sometimes closing my eyes and hoping that I’ll make the turn in time works just as well though!

Recently I have also taken a rare weekend away from the horses with my boyfriend and been to visit a great friend of mine, Jemma, in Dorset, for an idyllic country weekend with friends.  Jemma is the real deal – a proper shepherd with 450 lambing ewes that constantly bleat for her attention and I’m convinced that they all see her as the ‘mother ship.’  Watching lambs skip around in the fields definitely makes you feel like spring has arrived, although mucking out sheep pens feels a little too much like the day job!  Drinking too much wine, eating my own bodyweight in cake and roast dinners (Jemma’s choice of home grown lamb rib might make you a little squeamish) is certainly good for the soul.  It’s brilliant to get away sometimes and have some non-horsey time and afterwards I always tackle the new week with renewed enthusiasm.  I’m really excited to be filming with Horse Hero this week – so it’s probably best to get away from the computer and back into the ménage to start practising…..

Recently, the yard that I rent has seen the arrival of a new tenant - Swedish event rider Ludwig Svennerstal has come to share the stables -
the blond haired, blue eyed stereotype that is rather pleasant eye candy on a daily basis……I’ve had to ban him from dating more than one of my staff at a time though, so trouble is clearly brewing on the horizon! 
One of the other positive side effects of this is that my horses are
jumping more……Lou has no patience with me over cross poles and cavalettis though, so ashen faced, strapped into my dressage saddle, I’m launched down grids, poles hovering at the top of the wings, with the phrase‘get some gravel in your belly’ thundering in my ears.  It’s clearly far too late for a career change.  I’m never going to make a show jumper.  

My year was supposed to kick off competitively with a trip to s’Hertogenbosch last week for the World Cup Qualifier.  It was Sophie’s (one of my lovely grooms) first show away with me, Pasoa had been firing on all cylinders and felt amazing in training, Erik had his flights booked to join us out there, and so with great excitement the lorry was loaded, jelly sweets and chocolate in abundance….and off we set for the relatively short journey to the Port.  It all went rapidly downhill from there.  The weather had been awful both here and in France, operation stack on the M20 was in effect, which is how I imagine the roads in hell to look, and over five hours later we arrived in a crowded Dover.  It took forever to
get a ferry.  Sophie was encouraged to flirt with every official in sight to try and sneak on an earlier boat, but either she’s out of practice or jodhpurs clearly weren’t their thing.  By the time we had reached Calais I was
already worried that Pasoa had been on the lorry a long time and the trot up was only 24 hours away, but figuring we only had another four hours to drive we pressed on.  Our good mood came to an abrupt halt in a snowstorm near Brussels however when a front tyre blew on the lorry.  This was the final straw.  Despite an extremely good looking mechanic arriving like a white knight, albeit in a dirty grey van (every cloud does have a silver lining!), I took the very disappointing decision to abort my ill-fated trip.  My poor horse would have been on the lorry nearly twenty hours by the time we arrived, which wouldn’t have allowed her nearly enough recovery time before having to compete….so tyre fixed at vast expense, back to Calais we headed to stable overnight and return home the following day.

Stabling in Calais was an experience.  The facilities are minimal, the lights are all on money saving eight minute timers - so periodically you’re plunged into darkness – bedding is sparse and the stables look like prison cells, but what it did teach me is that Sophie never stops smiling, you can microwave pasta…& that if you find an open, half bottle of famous grouse in a disused tack room, when desperate enough you’ll drink it.  From now on, it’s an offence…punishable by riding B maybe…..to forget to pack alcohol on the horsebox.

When we arrived home I took Pasoa off the lorry and straight into her field.  She loves her turnout and like all my horses spends all day, every day in the field.  She must have thought I had completely lost the plot – maybe not, maybe she enjoyed her day and a half road trip around Northern Europe with Mum…..whatever the case, it’s not an adventure I fancy repeating!  Addington CDI is next on the agenda……its only 45 minutes away from me so hopefully the next time I write, my performance and not the journey can be subject matter!!