Sunday 15th June 2008- Bramham
Wednesday 4th June.

We left for Bramham at about lunch time, with just Oscar, my mum and me. We are now a little short staffed at home, with Louise about to have her baby, and Jo moving on.

Its quite a long way to Leeds, I decided, from the south coast. It felt as though we should be nearly there when we got to Grantham, but it was still hours and hours. I felt like a child...\"how much further is it....?

We arrived at last and she drove in, I got out to go and see stable manager, and next thing she is off round the lorry park, which to my mind is full. I started to search for the lorry after seeing which stable we were in, and eventually found her in the front row!!! How does she manage it.????

Got Oscar all settled in after a munch of grass, went and chatted to all my friends and settled in for for the night.
Let me catch you up with Posy news. All fine and collected from Newmarket, last Saturday. She has to rest for a few weeks and then should return to normal work and be back to compete for the autumn. An expensive knock to have but the most important thing is that she is all recovered and hopefully no further problems.

Thursday 5th June.

I rode Oscar in the morning and all seemed very well. I trotted him round easily on a loose rein and he enjoyed himself. I was therefore so surprised when at the trot up, I was asked to trot again. Then they asked me to go to the holding box. What a sinking feeling that was, when all my hopes could be gone, before we have even started. I so would like to be able to show that Oscar is capable of bigger things, but it now looked like we were not going to start.!!

The vet checked him and could not find anything wrong, so we re-presented and on the second time he passed fine.
I then had a flat lesson with Nick Burton; Oscar was a little on his toes, but eventually he settled, and went well.

Off to cocktails which we did not get to till late, by the time all was finished off, and cleaned up. Its always good fun going to these parties and tottering down to them in your high heels, in order to try to point out to people that you are not vertically challenged. The fun is to try and arrive still looking as if you have not just walked across a field of at least ankle high mud, and a freezing cold wind, and slightly damp air. Not good when you are wearing a slinky top, four inch heels and have hair that wishes to do its very own thing, unless stuck down with various different hair products usually borrowed from my brother.

Friday 6th June.

Dressage day. I worked Oscar early, just to settle him and loosen him through. He went well and I felt happy with things. He then was bathed and plaited, tack cleaned and ready.

When we went in for the actual test he lit up a bit in the arena and felt a little tense. The test was good, but a couple of small mistakes and a little tension, refected the mark. However he went into the lead, which he held for some time, until Emily beat me by one mark. Nevver mind, all to do tomorrow!!!

We walked the course again for the second time and wheeled it for my minute markers. This time I walked all the lines that I felt I would take and studied each fence carefully. It was of course a big course, and the ground is up and down and as always, which will play a big part in the cross country tomorrow. With three water fences, I knew this would be Oscar's biggest challenge with me, and his for a long time.

I went to bed thinking of the challenge ahead and giggling slightly to the sound of my brother, who had arrived earlier, struggling to blow his air bed up with no pump!!

Saturday 7th June

Well, after a night of heavy continuous rain I was actually resaonably concerned that, in fact, his air bed may have turned into a lilo and he would have drifted slowly off down the hill, all wrapped up in his sleeping bag, into the stream below, without realising at all. Luckily the tent and he were still there and I could return to the job in hand without having to call the emergency services in.

However he did then walk the course with me again in his plimsols, which were the only footwear he had bought with him and he then on return was suffering with a bad case of trench foot.!!

I was number 21, so not too late to go, and enough to know a little of how the course was riding.The first few went well, so I set off reasonably confidently. All went swimmingly well until we reached the double of logs when after a long galloping stretch he had become a little strong in my hand. Well this is good, I thought, but as I turned to the roll top, I saw a slightly long stride and the canter was a tad too fast. He jumped in, but as I said steady with the rein he mistook it for a \"oh, you want me to stop\". Ahh, now too close to the second log to jump safely I had to turn a circle and got the dreaded penalties. Picked him up and rode on, we then jumped a straightforward fence, and then to the brush, rail, ditch hedge and rail. He came in again a touch strong, and decided to bounce the distance between the rail and ditch hedge (one stride for everyone else!). He sent me off balance as he lurched to make the back of the hedge, which he touched but made it to the other side. I had no choice but to miss the next rail, as I had to readjust all the knitting. Another 20 penalties; how annoying. He then continued and jumped through the next fences easily including two more waters. He finished full of running and ears picked. He did not realise he had incurred penalities.

He seemed fine later on, and I was obviously disappointed with the mistakes, but also pleased that we got round, and he finished so well. We were on the minute markers, and I feel would have finished close to the time without the circles.

Never mind, another day...................................................

Partied till latish.

Sunday 8th June

Up early. Check on the boy. A little stiff but all fine.
After the fright of the other day I rode him for a while, to loosen him through and plait, wash, and we prepare him for trot up.

All ok this time, and now move on to show jumping. He felt just a little tired and had two down, but glad to finish.

After the parade, we packed up and off trucked for home. Always a little quicker on the journey home, my mother claims it is because its downhill to the south. I do wonder about her a lot of the time.

Wednesday 28th May 2008- (Finally!) Houghton Hall, May 2008
Tuesday May 20th

Off to Houghton Hall today with 3 horses, Imperial Dancer (Posy) to do the 1*, Ollie Artois to do the 2*, and Nyalli Beach to do the Combined Training and Eventers Grand Prix. We are taking Natalie with us for help, and mum and me.
Just about to load and all horses are ready,when Posy catches her nose on something in the yard and takes a slice from her nostril. A good start. The vet arrives and some staples are popped in, no sedative or drugs as these would show up on a drug test. She was very brave, and within the hour we were away.

On arrival all set up, without too much driving around the lorry park thank goodness, as we were selected a place which mother approved of, and Natalie and me popped the horses to their houses, mum sorted out the lorry and we settled to watch a little telly before an earlish night.

Wednesday May 21st

Decided to ride early so we would have plenty of time to walk the courses for the first time before the trot up, after the riders meeting. Posy seemed no worse for wear, and the nose was clean and only a tiny bit swollen. All 3 horses were good, even Ollie, although his journey back from the warm up area was slightly interesting, and again I was reminded of what it feels like to ride a drunken pogo stick.

The courses walked fine, and my first impression was that there were some questions, but felt reasonably confident that the horses would cope. At this point I felt one long route for Posy might be in order, but Ollie should be able to cope with his course well. A good water question for both horses, and a tricky quarry near the end would be a challenge for both, but not out of reach. Reasonably hard ground at the moment, and no rain forecast.

It takes about four hours to prepare for the trot up and 30 seconds to do it, but we all go through it making the horses look stunning, and dress up for it to. Done at the back of the house the picture is stunning, and its all worth while when you trot up and feel very special, at this amazing venue.

Both horses were fine, Ollie was hyper as usual, and would not stand still, but we managed to achieve trot up with not too many issues. walking back was a little less fun, as he turned into a coiled up slinky again ready to explode upwards, outwards, and sideward's.


Thursday May 22nd

Today Posy has her dressage, and Oscar does his combined training.

Posy was so good, and went into the arena feeling very special, and did all the movements some of which were very new to her. I was delighted with her, and as she is only 6 years old I thought her performance could not have been much better. She had a score of 51, which was not too bad, I felt she could have had perhaps a late 40s.

Oscar warmed up well and performed the 3* test very obediently and was accurate. I was still thinking as I came out that there is still more to come with him. Mum said she felt it was a really good test, but it is sometimes difficult to tell. My score was 38 and I was delighted with this. When I got the sheet back and saw that for my final halt I had received a 10, I was over the moon. He retained his lead in the competition and although he just popped the last fence down, he was ahead enough to win. What a star he is.

Off to the drinks party in front of the house the wine flowed and as I had little to eat, I was a little tipsy, along with Natalie,when we returned to the lorry. She struggled to spell the word \"of\" on her phone,(I dread to think what else the text message said) and I just kept getting a real bad urge for the giggles, for no particular reason.

Friday May 23 rd

This was the day we prepared for the orange bouncy slinky Mr Hottiebottom to do his test. It took pretty much the whole day to do this, numerous tubes of calmer's, endless patience, no end of circling, some thickly padded knickers, a sports bra, sticky tape, some stomach settlers, and plenty of extra strong hair gel.

Putting memories of Portugal to the back of my brain, we entered the arena. For once, he was not too bad and although he could not produce the same standard of work as outside, he was very very good for him. A mark of 54, was produced, which is getting better all the time. My hope is to improve this still with patience and getting him confident in his work, I really hope we can produce a more competitive score. With 150 in the class I lay in 61st place after dressage.

Oscar did an amazing round in the Eventers challenge, and we would have been second, had he not taken a couple of poles out. I felt a little rusty today doing this, my heart was pounding before I went in, but after fence 3, I got right into gear, and whizzed around the turns. No prizes today for him though, but it gave him a good blow and he jumped all the fences with confidence, which is what he has been lacking.

Saturday May 24th

Not too hot which is always good for Cross country Day. I set off on the lovely Posy, at a good pace. She touched fence 2 for some reason, which is unusual, but she carried on strongly. In fact quite strong, that at fence 6 and 7, I had to do a little circle between them, as she jumped the parallel very well and was going to be too bold for the next combination. As the fences were numbered separately this was completely legal. She carried on round the rest of the course improving all the time and jumped the water and the quarry really well.

I was amazed when I finished to find that I had been given a stop at fence seven for my circle, and decided that I would appeal. Posy was washed off as normal and seemed fine although she had a small cut on the inside of her thigh. She recovered her breathing quickly, but her heart rate remained a little high. We washed her off again back at the stables and on walking back to the box, she seemed quite lame behind. We dressed the cut and iced her stifle, and left Natalie in charge of her to ice and monitor, whilst we went to walk the course for the 2 * again.

On returning she was now in a lot of pain, and I immediately called the vet. She was very concerned, with thoughts of cracked bone, chipped stifle, or septic joint. She was taken by horse ambulance to Newmarket straight away. I was extremely worried about her, and somehow had to get my head round riding the next course. Luckily my time was late, so I had an hour to get my thoughts back in order.

Ollie jumped like a pro, and gave me a fantastic ride, finishing within the time. I was delighted with him, and he moved up the places to 38th. We heard that Posy had arrived safely, and was being looked at.

I had appealed against my penalties, and a little later on heard that they had been removed. This cheered me up as I was so worried about her, and felt she did not deserve to have a 20 on her record. Luckily the TD had a video to refer to, so it was all proved that I had not presented her to the fence. Later on the vet called to say that she had in fact got a septic joint. and would have to be operated on immediately. A general atheistic with its risks too, and never sure whether it will be successful, but we go ahead with it obviously and wish her all the luck to be better.

The day ended with me feeling low about Posy s injury, with me running through my mind what I could have done to prevent it, and feeling good about Ollie and his amazing Cross country performance.

Sunday 26th May

The day dawned wet, but Posy was up and well.This cheered me up enormously.
Again we prepared for the Trot up, always more tricky in rain and wet, but achieved and done Mr. Hottybottom was all good.

Show jumping was slippy, and caused a few problems early on but Ollie jumped well and did not touch a pole till the last plank, which he just tapped out. He finished in the same place, 38th.

Later on the following week Posy has recovered well and has made good progress. Prognosis is that she will be able to come back into work within a few weeks and hopefully will have no after effects. We pick her up on Saturday.

Tuesday 30th October 2007- General (late!) update, and Gatcombe
Yes, Yes, I know its all a bit late, and I have been really lax in keeping up with the diary. Anyway, we are off again now, and I will endeavour to get you all up to date with horses, competitions and life in general.


Firstly I need to get you up to scratch with the horses:

Lily has been sold to a very lovely girl, who has been successful with her already. I was very sad to see her go, and felt quite gutted that she had to. Although I understood the reasons, and was even part of the decision, it was still very hard to see her go, as she is such a dude. Then, whilst at Robin’s (during the week she was being sold) I started to ride another one of his, called Gulliver. He is a three year old bought by Robin the previous winter. He was a bit quirky, but something was clicking for me with him. I had a chat with the Mother Superior, and between us we hatched a plan……

Gulliver is now here with us and, although Daddy is still owed the money I owe him, Gulliver is so lovely and chats all the time!!! He has come on so much and I really think a lot of him, although he needs to grow and mature, as his bottom is bigger than his front end at the moment. I will get a picture of him up on the website as soon as I can.

The other new one that I have is Oscar (Nyali Beach). Oscar belongs to Mr Chris Stone, and formerly produced by Robin. Oscar has had a bit of a bad run, and lost his confidence, so Chris has asked me if I would ride him and try to get him back to his former self. He is a lovely big horse, but not strong at the moment. He would be taller than Smokey, but not nearly as strong in his way of going. I am very excited about having him, as he is such a lovely horse, and it is a challenge for me to see if I can get the best out of him.

Herbie (Ace Thyme) belongs to Sam and Chris, who also own the lovely Chester, together with Clare and Tony Chapman, and us. Chester is still a little lame and, despite so many tests, no one seems to have come up with any answers. He has now gone home to Sam’s for some time off, and whilst he recovers, I have got Herbie to do some work with. There will be more news on this later.

Our Smokey (Vanilla Sky) has now come home again, having been with Bill Levitt until more or less the end of the season. Bill has done well on him cross country, and felt there was more to come. We have had to have him back, as it is too expensive for him to stay there, so I will do some more work on his dressage and show-jumping through the winter, and then think again in the spring.

Posy (Imperial Dancer) is going well and is a lovely mare. Unfortunately I am going to have to sell her as Daddy is hoping that he might get some of his money back sometime in the next decade………. More news on her later.

Ollie (Ollie Artois) is well and truly back in work and we have done a number of events with him, finishing his season in Germany.

Archie (Archimedes 11) has been brilliant, and then suddenly a bit naughty again. He had to go on the Naughty step at the end of the season, and we are again hoping to get him off it very soon………

Myrtle (our 3 year old) has been backed and now turned away again until next year. She is the half sister of Lily, moves very well, but has a slight attitude….well, no surprise really.

Inky (our 2 year old) is out with Myrtle (no relation), been handled, and taught a few rights and wrongs

Lacey Lou (ours and Mr Graham Townsend’s 3 year old) has been backed and turned away until next year.

Wally (Jesters Quest) our last, but definitely not least, absolute star. He has had a holiday (after Burghley, and is now just coming back into work, is full of himself, and gorgeous.


Well, that’s the horses updated, and more details now to come in their events:

After Tweseldown, our next stop is Gatcombe.

We’re doing the Novice Championships with Ollie Artois, and doing the CIC*** with Jesters Quest.

We have come with the lovely Nellie as our help this time, and we have arrived and been parked in front of our stables, which is an absolute treat, I must say. The horses have a graze whilst the stables are got ready, and everything is set up for our evening. They settle in well, and are very happy with their accommodation. After dinner we are all tired, so off to bed after making a plan for the following day. I am concerned that Ollie is going to be naughty in the dressage as the fitter he has become, the more difficult he has become to ride on the flat. Much lungeing and preparation is needed in order for him to remain in the arena.

Wally is on first, and he does a lovely test actually, but was marked quite harshly. Never mind, it happens. I am a bit disappointed, as he really tried and was very jolly about it all today.

Ollie entered the arena, and did a lovely straight line down to “C”. I turned, thinking “OK, this might turn out to be alright.” This was my first mistake…..It’s definitely one of my worst faults….thinking.

He then could not co ordinate his legs to do anything in the correct order at all, cantering and bouncing seemed to be so much more fun, and “what are all these flowers anyway? Surely they would be much better off if I jumped them, or spooked at them, or SOMETHING…I don’t know what …..but GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!”

He wasn’t the only one saying that by the end of the test. I was beginning to regret the dinner I had had last night, let alone anything this morning!!! I didn’t knew what it felt like to sit on a coiled up spring doing an impression of a slinky trying to go UP the stairs!!!! But boy, I do now………..

After the dressage, he now was doing an impression of a greyhound, (sucked in and skinny) and I felt like a Zombie…. “Oh, real change from normal” I hear my mother mutter….

After this stunning day of dressage, it’s time to stomp around the cross country courses, and learn at least one of them.

This is one of the good things about the sport. If you have a bad moment, there’s no time to dwell, you have to get on with the next effort, and walking round big Gatcombe is certainly that. Up and down, down and up, its all there, made for the clinically insane.

The course for Wally is big and testing, some huge steps up to a skinny, and a massive table that you and I can lay width-ways across, after a upright gate, and a skinny to follow. I am sure we will be ok, but I am feeling slightly rusty, as I have not jumped a really big fence for a while.

Our evening’s entertainment was spent watching my Dad and my brother erecting their tent, that they had very proudly bought from Halfords. With two large bedrooms and a lounge, plus porch area and two blow up double beds, this was going to be well worth staying up for. Adding to the entertainment value was the fact that, by the time they arrived, it was actually pitch black, and the lanterns (also within the deal) were deeply hidden within the depths of the very large tent bag. My father was also by this stage in what is known in the family as “tepid” mode. Coming home from work ,at which he obviously uses a great deal of thinking power, his brain goes from hot to fairly cool over the weekend. Fair enough, I hear you say, after a hard week at work, but not when it comes to erecting a tent in the pitch black of night with not a battery in sight!!….Jack arrived into the lorry…saying “ he’s not in tepid mode….he’s pretty well frozen solid!!!”


The Course for Ollie is also a test for him and would be his biggest to date. I think he will be okay though, and I am looking forward to the challenge.

Show jumping is in the big arena, where there is always a great atmosphere and many people come to watch. Wally jumped well, but just took one rail out - very unlike him, but he still jumped the course with his usual enthusiasm. Ollie also tapped one today, so I felt I had a bit of four fault-itis… I do hate having a show jump, it’s always such a waste of penalties I think. There I go again…Thinking.

Down to the cross country, and Wally was superb. He had one slight blip at the steps up, which actually did cause a lot of problems through the day. I tapped him on his shoulder coming up the last step as I felt a slight drift to the left. I don’t use the stick on him normally, as he just hates it but this time it had the desired effect and we made the skinny. The rest felt good, and this was his first (and what turned out to be his only) run before Burghley. He felt fit, and made the trips up and down with relative ease, thus proving that the South Downs as always, had answered all our fitness questions perfectly. He finished 11th, and I was very chuffed with him.

Ollie also ran very well, and his enthusiasm is never-ending. He is easy to put in a good place, as he responds to me asking him to steady by just a touch on the rein. He was out of the places, due to his spectacular dressage score, but I was nonetheless very delighted with him, and we will have to devise some sort of plan or action to contain the boingy, slinky, spring in him.

We had watched the de-erecting of the tent at an early time during the day, which had also been fairly interesting …sucking out the air of the inflatable beds is a feat in itself. However, in the daylight, it was at least a little easier…

We all had a great weekend, and thanks to the lovely Nellie for her help, patience and willingness to please. Thanks to Mother for stomping around the hills of Gatcombe, and parking in the place she was directed to.

Thanks to my dad and brother for their support and providing the best evening of entertainment we have had in a long time!!!



More in a few days….

Sunday 8th July 2007- Tweseldown - sorry to do three lots at once!
Having to leave at 4.30am, in order to be there in enough time to walk the course before the first dressage, which was at 8.30, was one of those occasions when even your local event (two and a half hours) meant getting up at 3am. Goody Goody.

We were first in, which meant that Mother had the complete lorry park to choose where to park (always dangerous). When the very nice gentleman on his bicycle asked her how long she was, I could not believe the reply…. “Oh , about 5ft 9in” she says. Even at that time in the morning she has a sense of humour!!! “Oh no,” he says “I meant the lorry!!”… “oh, well about this long” she says… pointing out the window down the side of the lorry……. by now, I am hiding in the back, and hoping he cannot see my name on the side……

Archie is first to go, and did a good dressage today, no problems, at all. Next to go is Ollie, already lunged and slightly de-hinged still, he also did a reasonable test without losing the plot. Herbie was last and again was a good boy. Now to the fun bits.

Archie was brill, and decided, despite the plastic poles, that his feet could be picked up over all the fences, and was jumping for fun today.. A lovely clear.

Ollie too was super, and bounced round like the little rubber ball that he is.

Herbie was so much better but just lost his balance a little down the hill to the double and tapped the poles out. I felt he went so much more confidently though, so I was not overly worried by this. Just a bit more training needed.

The cross country was a decent course, quite twisty as usual for Tweseldown, and two good water fences.

Archie was amazing today, and felt really good. He was ready to take this course on, and I just took one long route, a coffin before the water, so as not to frighten him before the water, which he zipped though very well. He took the water on and leapt in . I was delighted with him, as we have had a few little issues, but now he seems to be loving the job once again. He finished 4th today.

Ollie felt awesome too. He now feels as though he could go up a grade, as he takes on these fences so well. He finished with just a few time and in the same section as Archie just pipped him into 3rd position.

Herbie also jumped with confidence and I was so pleased with him. Again with just a few time, he finished in 9th. Without the show jumps down, he would have had a really good placing.

A good day was had, and no rain today, which is unusual for this summer. Natalie was groom for the day and was a brilliant help - by the lorry all day, doing change-overs. Mother walked up and down endlessly: it’s quite a long walk for each section.

AJ joined us too, with my Dad. He is from America, (AJ, not my Dad) and has come to stay for two weeks, not sure he knows what he has let himself in for…..

Brigitte and Sam also supported, so all and all I had a very good day, all the horses behaved and so did all the adults!!!

Saturday 23rd June 2007- Salperton
We went off to Salperton just with Ollie Artois to do the Novice Regional Final, leaving early in the morning, we went via Southampton as we were returning the lovely Chester home for a while, so he can have some time off and let nature take its course and hopefully heal his leg completely.

We exchanged him for his brother Herbie, so I am able to do a few events on him for a while. Herbie is a year older than Chester, so really ready to step up the work.

On to Salperton from here, a bit of a diversion but we got there in plenty of time. Luckily I was able to walk the course in between dressage and show jumping, so having found our parking space, facing slightly downhill, we were ready for our escape in the now rather wet lorry park.

Mother started to lunge the Ollie whilst I got ready. He always needs a bit of work, and today was no exception, especially as this was his first event since last Autumn.

When I got on he worked well, until I went down to the arena, when he decided that he was a bit lonely, and I felt as though I was sitting on a time bomb. Considering this, we did not get too bad a mark - 39 - which was ok.

The heavens opened, and it just continued to pour for the rest of the day. Luckily, I was drawn early so in the Show jumping, going second helped as far as the ground was concerned. However Ollie felt like a bouncy ball, and jumped a great clear despite the falling rain.

Again, he went well cross country, and made things feel very straight forward. With only 1.6 time to add I finished 6th, and qualified for the Novice Championship, which I was delighted about!! Not bad for his first event for ages!

My mother had her determined face on, having been watching numerous lorries being towed out: backwards, forwards and seemingly sideways…..

“I have a route,” she announced, “Oh gosh”, I thought, “hang on boys!!!”

Off we went, and with grim determination and sheer will power, we made it down, and across, lost a bit of impulsion ,but kept the leg on ,and steadily made our way across the lorry park to the road section.

Amazing.

Saturday 16th June 2007- Longleat
We set off to Longleat the day before, so we could go and stay with Robin and Katy, and I could pop Ollie over his cross country fences for a practice, as he has not been out since Aldon last year, and his first event is at Salperton.

Taking 5 with us, plus Natalie to help, jack Russels all settled the lorry was full as we were staying till Sunday. The weather was a bit dodgy, and leaving sunshine at home, it became a bit rainy and drizzley on the way down. Poor Natalie was not feeling very well either, suffering with tummy ache which lasted all the four days. Arriving at Robins, I then rode the horses in turn, popped Ollie round the cross country fences, which I was very pleased he remembered how it was done. Once finished, tack all done, lorry repacked ready for the following day, we retired indoors to catch up with all the news and a lovely dinner.

Longleat was only about half an hours journey from Robins, so we took Posy, who was competing and Archie, to show him the Sea Lions. The dressage arenas are situated between the lake and the lion camp, so on balance we felt it was best to get him accustomed to it before it was his turn.

The course was reasonably straight forward, but up and down, and therefore quite difficult for a young horse with little experience. Posy di a much better test today, and with Robins help yesterday, I was able to ride her up a bit more. The mark reflected this and she had a good mark of 29.

With just one down in the show jumping, she is beginning to cope much better and the show Jumping was causing quite a number of problems. We were now coping with heavy bursts of rain, everything was getting thoroughly wet through, and the ground was cutting up a fair bit.

Onto the cross country, and the first couple of fences she was slightly sticky, but just because she needed to find her feet I think. She then cantered all the way round very well and we had no time faults. She finished 4th, and I was delighted with her.
I schooled Archie next to the Sea Lions, and he was fine, after a little bit of discussion. We travelled back to Robins, and I then rode the other three horses in between and not inbetweeen showers. All went well and again repacked Lorry, plaited and got the horses ready for the following day.

After another lovely meal, we all calasped in the lounge and discussed this, that, and the third thing.

Tuesday 12th June 2007- Great Tew
Off we went with Archie, Lilly, Posy and Skippy to Great Tew, very near Blenheim, with Natalie to help us for a two day trip. We were exchanging Skippy with Smokey, as Skippy is going to his home for a while as he has a slight lameness, and needs a period of rest. Janet has sent one of her friends to collect him in a trailer, so very soon after arriving he goes off in his new mode of transport, back home.

Smokey meanwhile has been at Rodney’s and although he liked him his owners are not committing, so he has been returned via one of his girls from the yard. Feeling a bit like horse rustlers, we then continue our day…..

Posy did a good dressage today, but was marked quite harshly, and I think it is because I have got her a little too round in herself, and I need to get her to stretch up a little. I was still pleased with her, as we managed to stay within the arena, and she managed to remember which legs to use in the right order.

Show jumping was good, and it seemed to cause quite a few problems, so I was pleased with her round.
Again sometimes she forgets her long legs at the moment, but its only because she is so green, and young.

The cross country was a very nice course with a few questions, and some hills up and down, so she had to think about all her legs once again. She coped very well and I had the feeling that she will be quite bold and have a good gallop when she is a little older.

I exercised all the others without too much problem, and we set off on a beautiful sunny evening to find our stables not far up the road in Heythrop. We put them all to bed, sorted out the lorry, ready for the following day, and then we were kindly offered a shower at the place where we were staying, This was absolutely fantastic as it was extremely hot that day, and boy did I need a shower.

The doggies thought this place was rather splendid, as it was a farm, and they went for a lovely walk with mother up some track, and were gone for some time. She loves wondering around these new places and finding all sorts of walks and things, she is completely barmy. Meanwhile Natalie and I waited for her return , supper was needed!!!

Next day dawned early, up, mucked out , packed up, and away by seven.

Lilly went well, but again received not a brilliant mark, but she was a little downhill, and hates going round in circles. The jumping is so much more fun and she did yet another brilliant clear round. Sometimes she gets so keen that her bottom goes round the corners first, it really is the most bizarre feeling. To the XC and she was again brilliant, keeping on a great rhythm , she is just feeling so good now, over all the fences.

Now to Archie…. Well he has been very well behaved up until now, so what does he have in store for me???

Warming up he feels great and I did not want to overcook him, and they were running slightly late, so we stood and watched for a short while. Still waiting for tricks, I entered the arena with the hope that it was all going to go well , and yes he did behave and did a lovely, lovely test. He was rewarded with a good mark of 21, which I was delighted with.

So, now will he think of tricks for the Show Jumping?? Warming up went well, and he jumped one of the best rounds ever, a super clear…

So now to the cross country. I was so hoping that he would be a good boy, and we set off with a great feeling, and he took everything on and was brilliant. We finished with just 1.2 time penalty, so I was delighted with him, and he was very pleased with himself and was grinning from ear to ear.

He ended up second , as was pipped at the post by Chris King , who beat him by 1.3, third place was 10 points behind!! Still a fantastic result for him. Lets hope he continues to gain in confidence!!!

Packed up four horses and arrived home about 9pm, tucked them all up to bed and put the washing machine on.!

Friday 1st June 2007- Houghton Hall
Well, my week started not very well, with the terrible news that Neighbours is going to be axed from the BBC. This programme is my saving grace, as its story lines are so mindless, and the acting so shocking, but something which I have grown up with, and is the same age as me. How will I cope without it?

We were off to Houghton Hall this week, which is in Norfolk, near our favourite Market Town of Swaffham. The plan is to go with 5 horses, with Skippy doing the one star competition, and the others doing the Eventers’ Grand Prix, and Young Event Horse. Lorry all packed for the week, and Natalie, one of our Saturday Girls, to come with us, trotted Skippy up and he does not look quite right on a circle. Decision made to withdraw him, via his owner, Janet. This gave us another day at home so time to catch up on riding and work.

Off trucking on Wednesday am, with four horses now and the two Jacks. Louise, Jo, and Lex the lurcher left at home to do youngsters, others and lessons. Of course Sallie, our incontinent, deaf (but not quiet) Watford Terrier, was at home too, guarding.

Journey was four and a half hours, with a stop for diesel. We were subjected to some new CD Mother had bought, which I was not entirely sure about. I do know all the words to all the Rod Stewart songs in existence, and quite a lot of other “oldies” but this one is as yet unknown. This worries me, as I know I am going to get it again.

On arrival, we found the stables and put the beds down , and popped the horses away, whilst mother set up the lorry ready for the duration. She has now bought a CD player for that as well, so my fear is that the lorry park may be subjected to the musical taste of the Tattersall lorry too.

I now work through the horses that I have brought with me and ride all four to exercise them, so they are well worked in. Archie, who has come ready to do the Eventers’ Grand Prix on Saturday, decided to be at his most outrageous and canter round in the warm up area pretending to be a cross between a giraffe and a pigmy. A person who was watching at the side did comment that she thought my stickabitily was reasonable, this said as I passed her with Archie’s Star facing my nose!!!

It was all just high spirits though, and he was just trying to remind me how clever he is. All the others were good ponies, so we settled them down for the night, and went for an early night ourselves.

Next day was a beautiful day, and Lily had an early draw in the Grand Prix. These fences were pretty big, and I felt that fence four, off the turn (a big table) was a little too much. Lily went brilliantly up to there, although he had had the first part of the bounce, which slightly concerned her. We were not on the best of strides, so she saw the table and ran to the side of it. I decided straight away to retire, as it was too big. There were so many problems here and I think it was a mistake to site it where they did, as it was a shame that a lot of good horses were eliminated, retired, or had problems.

Smokey’s turn, and he was very good. He had a bit of a smack on his bottom on the approach to fence four, and jumped it fine. He went very fast around the course and ended up in 11th place, out of about 100 entries.

We then went on to do the three star dressage test, in the other arena where he did a super test, and really tried hard to concentrate. He won that competition, so I was very pleased with him today.

Posy and Archie had a non competing day, and Archie was slightly less exuberant when I worked him. It was the most beautiful day, and the sun shone. The house and the grounds at the place are quite stunning, the land is looked after so well, the people are all friendly, it seems to be a most lovely event.

The Cocktail party in the evening was fun, outside on the lawn, with everyone catching up and chatting. My mother arrived with Cindy (Llewellyn) and Natalie on bikes, parked up next to all the posh cars with personalised number plates. Emily and I managed to catch a lift from William Fox-P, who happened to pass at the right moment!! Result!

Friday was a much rainier day, and quite chilly, so all had to be rugged up again. Archie decided to dig a hole in his stable, which made mucking out fairly interesting!! He had decided that Australia was a good option and so there was enough mud in there, mixed with cardboard bedding to build a small bank. Archie also had turned into looking like a bank robber with mud all over his face. He was looking for an escape route out of jail!!!

Posy was in the five year old Young event horse class and she was a very good girl, and behaved well, but had a couple of show jumps down, which made her score not quite high enough to go through to the final. I was still pleased with her though, and all the other horses were very well behaved, and Natalie was brilliant getting my horses ready, and even my mother was on fairly good behaviour!!

Archie then decided as he could not seem to escape downwards out of jail he would try the backwards bum rubbing test. As the sides and back of the stables are rubber this was a interesting challenge for the whole stable block. Luckily the block stood up to the challenge, and Archie continued to think of a plan.

We had a great Bar-b-que in the evening at the Llewellyn‘s new lorry, hosted by Mr Photo-synergy, who provided much entertainment, and some very lovely food. It was a fun evening , if a little chilly. Of course, with no actual X Country to do, as Skippy was not with us, I was very relaxed, and really enjoying the social side of the event. This is something which I don’t usually do until the Saturday night, once X Country day is in the bag.

Saturday was brighter, although still not as good as the beginning of the week, but good for all the horses competing. The Eventers’ Grand Prix had 120 in it and Lily was drawn 8th to go.

I put on my old Pony Club competing head, and off we set to make a challenge for the remaining competitors (110 to go after me!). Lily was a complete star, and she turned on a sixpence and left every fence up. It was magic. With the fastest time so far, all the others had to try to catch her, and although a couple caught the time, no-one left all the fences up, so Lily won. The competition started at 12 noon and finished at 5.30pm, so it was a long wait to find out!!

Archie went really well and was actually the fastest time of the day, but caught a couple of rails unfortunately. Posy also did the competition, but only as a practice, so we went really steady.

We collected a huge bottle of Champagne, and glass bowl, and lovely rosette, and a cheque which will help towards all the expenses. Packed up the lorry and popped all on board, covered up the hole in the stable floor, and made a run for it. Leaving at about 7, a journey home to be back by 11:30pm. All horses travelled well and were happily to bed on arrival. Emptied and cleared lorry, put wash on of saddle cloths and breeches, ready for the next day. Off to bed, Zebedee, tired but happy.

Morning dawned rainy, and to Borde Hill with Posy, to do her first Pre-Novice. Not an early start, but did ride two before leaving. Posy was very good and did a good dressage, and although had fences in the show jumping it was understandable, as the jumps were on a hill, and it was raining and slippery.

In the X country she had to cope with a water at fence 3, with a steep downhill entry to it, so she was a little surprised, and stopped to take a look. She was given a stop for this, which I felt was a bit unkind. The rest of the course she jumped very well, and went back into the water two times with no further problems..

We all got very wet and cold today, but again were pleased with Posy for her first event. She was easy to do, and a pleasure to have in the lorry, no problems for her at all. We got home at about 7pm, tucked up Posy to bed, and collapsed inside with a Gin and Tonic and a hot bath.

Now I dread tomorrow as I have Rodney Powell coming to see Smokey as we have decided to move him on to someone who is a bigger stronger rider than I am. I hope that he likes him, as I have heard that he looks after the horses well, and this is very important to me. It is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, as I have ridden Smokey since he was just broken, but I now think it is the right one, and I have to look forward, and hope that I can find a horse to replace him, which will suit my frame better.

If any one who reads this would like to E mail me any comments on the diary, or questions about the horses please do, my address is Redhotgem@aol.com

Wednesday 9th May 2007- May 3rd to 6th BADMINTON!!
Wow!!!

Well I can’t believe it, we have managed it, and it was fantastic experience, and I am still on cloud nine about it. Wally was an absolute Star.

We spent much of the day on Monday preparing the lorry, and making sure we had five hundred and fifty nine of everything, just in case. We included four bikes, red, blue, black and little tiny. Two Jack’s got in on Monday, were most disappointed to learn they had to wait yet ANOTHER day.

Tuesday morning, after not much sleep as I am too excited, I rode all my other horses, before leaving at 1pm after a quick shower. Clare (Wally’s owner) drove down too, following us in my car, known as ‘the green bogey’, and our two Jack’s, Toot and Tottie, six hundred pairs of shoes, two cocktail dresses, and almost my entire clothing collection.

We arrived three and a half hours later, and Wally was vet-checked in, and yes, his flu certificate was all in order!! He was stabled in the Portcullis yard, just below the house, and it was lovely there with the sun spilling into the centre of it.

My Mother then decided to do her normal behaviour of finding the best, most level spot to park in the “first timers” lorry park at the top of the hill. Much moving went on as the exact spot was selected, and then we had to assist whilst levelling equipment was brought out and the lorry was then subjected to spirit level treatment. “All very important Gem, if you do not wish me to roll on top of poor Louise in the middle of the night” I decided, on balance, that it was better to have Louise a normal shape than to argue.

We then decided to visit the very popular stable canteen, which provides for the grooms, owners, riders, slaves, anyone really, a superb meal and pudding of old school type, but very much scrummier, and we are generously given pink vouchers and grooms vouchers for the purpose.

Off to bed, as have a lesson at nine with Nick Burton, so reasonably early start.

Wednesday dawns sunny, and is the most beautiful day, my lesson went well, and I am feeling good about it, despite knowing that the flying changes (Four of them) will be an issue. We have decided not too attempt the first one as Wally gets very stressed, and I do not want to mess up the rest of the movements. I popped him away, briefly and then Mum and Clare set about washing him again. He had some little brown marks on his side that have come from the saddle flaps and have stained him slightly, so they suggested putting the purple shampoo on neat to try to lift the stain. This done Clare and I set on starting to plait the 21 plaits. This took some time, particularly as we were being very fussy. Suddenly, as I reached the last few, Clare remembered the purple shampoo, now been on half an hour in the sun!!

“Umm it will be fine,” she said, “ Ummm yes, no ,yes it will come right , it will be fine………..”

Next, to the briefing: this is where you meet all the important people, and learn what you are supposed to do (and not to do) and all in the correct order. It’s quite hard for us, so we have to concentrate.

So, off we go to trot up at Badminton for the first time, looking as immaculate as I can, with my hair ironed, skirt and jacket, face on, 21 plaits and purple sides!!!!

Wally went through the archway at the house and stood up in front of the ground jury, turned his head to look at all the people in the stand. “Hey Gem, I think those people are looking at us, come on lets show them how clever we are!!”

He was an absolute Star and looked beautiful.

Popped Wally to bed, changed, and off to walk the course for the first time, armed with J R s, portable toilets(!), water bottles and course plan.

Yes, it looked quite big really, and quite tricky on first inspection, and I was worried about the ground which seemed a bit rough in places and without much ground cover.

The doggies had a lovely time running about the park, whilst I decided which of the jumps looked impossible, possible, and definitely needing the alternatives.

By the time we returned, Clare was gently turning into the shade of a lobster, having caught the sun badly with the wind. Mum had just gone brown, and I was still going through the jumps in my head for at least the third time.

It was now getting late, and after finishing Wally, we then cycled down to the stable café, looking forwards to our lovely cooked dinner. By now it was getting on to about eight thirty, so we were all very hungry, and tired.

On arrival, we realised we had forgotten the tickets, and with a very scary matron on that evening, Mum said she would cycle back to get them from the lorry. Clare and I stayed and chatted and before long she was back, but alas, with the wrong tickets for tonight.

Time was ticking on and serving closes at nine and dinners were getting fewer. Never mind she says, I will go and get the pink tickets, and before you could say Jack Robinson, off she went again.

Back she came, armed with the pink tickets, and handing them to matron, we dutifully got our trays and Clare and I selected our dinners and went on to collect salad, all put in little plates onto the trays. Mum was behind us and the scary Matron scooped the last of the casserole into her plate and popped it on the tray. “This is lovely” she says enthusiastically, “I am really looking forward to this”, and moves onto the salad bar. I turned at that moment to witness her selecting some coleslaw, whilst the rest of her dinner slid unceremoniously, and very slowly off her tray, face down, into the lettuce bowl.

Sometimes, I guess it’s just not meant to be!!

Thursday is a rest day as my dressage is Friday so I have decided to graze Wally first thing, up by the house, then do some jobs for my sponsors Puffa, then walk the course, and ride Wally later on. The day seemed to go very quickly, and I walked the course with Robin, who gave me some very sound advice. One of his comments was at fence 9, - The Oxer: “Gem, don’t miss at this one!”

Wally was again a good boy, and settled - felt very loose and lovely tonight. He has gone on Hunger strike now, though as he knows there is a competition to do, and is getting himself ready. He also prepares himself by sleeping in his bed and covering himself with lots of snowy woodchips. I plaited him up tonight and put his silk hood on so the wood chips did not stick in his plaits. The rest of the family arrived today and also Louise, she will stay in the lorry, and my Dad and brother Jack with Clare and Rob and Gran , and last but not least Mandy, who has seen me through thick and thin, and been the most fantastic support to both my Mum and myself. They will all stay at the cottage kindly hired by Clare up the road in a local village.

Friday dawns early and Cindy has also arrived to help me warm up before my test.

Oli has also arrived to watch and support me, so I can have a lovely cuddle with him too.

Wally has a walk out early with Louise and a pick of grass in front of the beautiful house. I go over my test in my head, and Mum cleans my boots (it’s become a tradition). Everyone else makes themselves scarce, so I can think what I am doing.

My test is at 10am, and so I am on him at 9.15, and he sparkles, as I go to meet Cindy, who as usual warmed me up beautifully, and keeps me calm before the test.

I ride into the arena and feel very excited about the test and have a feeling of just wanting to do the best that we both can. I know that he finds some of the movements hard, so I am prepared to accept that I will miss out on some of the marks.

He was a good boy, and only dropped behind my contact a little. He was a bit cramped in the extended trot, and I bypassed the first flying change. We did the second and then went on to the third: as I asked, he knew what was coming and expressed his displeasure by giving a huge buck in the middle of the arena. I then had to capture it all back, and try to re-focus for the next movement. He was now very tense, so I asked for the fourth change, which he did late but at least it was there. We went up the centre line at speed, and added another new movement to the test…the jog-halt.

I was just so pleased to be there, I was not worried. He was a good boy really, and we had fun. If you are going to do something, you might as well be remembered for it!!

Before long the picture of the buck was on the web site, so he got noticed, perhaps not quite in the right way…..Never mind we will keep practising!!

Off to walk the course again - this time with the ever patient Cindy, and we took our time and walked carefully around the whole way. The jumps did not seem to get any smaller each time, but the lines were in my head, and I made the final decisions on which fences to go long at.

Later on I gave Wally a Jump and a pipe-opener, and he felt pretty jolly lovely actually, and filled me with confidence. Everyone went back to the lorry park and Clare cooked sausages for everyone, but I am already thinking of tomorrow and finding it hard to eat. Very soon, everyone goes off back to the cottage and leaves us to pack off to bed after seeing to Wally once again for the last time. During the week there have been several meetings about the state of the ground and everyone is worried about it. The Ground Jury have taken out one of the drop fences later on the course (at the Quarry), and are working through the night on the going. I am confident that Wally will be OK, as he prefers to be on the top of the ground rather than in the mud, and we have all agreed that if he begins to feel it I will pull up and save him for another day.

Waking early on Saturday morning, I find that I have already jumped the fences at least fifty times during the night, and now know my way round. I think I can do it in my sleep! The times are posted in the morning as the officials want to wait for everyone to decide if they are running before announcing them. There is to be quite a bit of coverage this year by the BBC, so they want to make sure lots of people are going round at the right time.

My time is at 2.05pm, so at 8.00am I am out on the course again walking it for the final time. There are already many people out and about, and crowds of them walking around to see the jumps. Mum also walks the course again, but separately, and we compare notes at the end. She walks the dogs at speed and they are on their last paws when they return.

As soon as the XC started I went up to the tent to watch on the TV so I could see the first few go round and see how the course was jumping. Everyone else in our camp was around and about, but was giving me my space, which I needed at this time. All my good luck cards are pinned on Wally’s door and it is so kind of everyone to think of me and him and when I see them there it gives me an extra boost to go out there and show everyone I can do it.

One o’clock comes soon enough and Mum and Louise have Wally ready for me, and off we go to give him a good warm up before the start. It is really important that I have this time with him, as we get into each others way of thinking, and I link into his mood. He knows what is coming, of course and is a little trembly, but that’s quite normal, so I am not worried.

There is a hold on the course with about 9 to go, so I dismount from him and Louise walks him round, whilst I sat down, and then laid down on the ground. At this point I once again focus on each fence and see myself jumping it. Then I blanked my head and tried to relax, whilst the long delay was sorted. I did not know what had happened, and at that point did not want to, I was just thinking about Wally and me.

On the announcement that the course has restarted, I remount and begin to work Wally again to raise his heart beat up, so he is ready for the test ahead. We then go forward to the other collecting ring through the crowds of people that have come to watch. I am now in my serious mode, and really am not distracted by them. Wally loves a crowd and is not worried either, and at last I go through to the start. An amazing mixture of feelings of being sick, joy and excitement run through me. Sarah Verney is at the start and she makes me feel confident just by being there. To the count down and now away to the first. He feels good immediately, and I gallop to the second, the Keepers Brush, a huge ditch with brush on the back, but he flies it like it is nothing, and I set sail for the little houses on top of the hill. He jumps these fantastically despite the undulation of the ground and now towards the Staircase. A big box followed by two large steps and three strides to a very skinny box at the bottom. He pops over the box, and I brushed the flag with my foot. A long gallop slightly up hill to the Puffa fence, and then to the Shogun Hollow. This fence I have opted for the long route as the corner is very angled and the distance is long. The long route is good and we are away quickly to the bank. This is a big step up, but Wally comes in well, and I sit and ride the stride. He pops up, bounces to a rail, down the bank and then we ride forward to the skinny brush. He is super, and really listening to me. Now to the big Oxer, (where Robin told me not to miss), off the turn, which helps with the stride, Wally flies it, and away towards the Grandis Choice which is a massive parallel, followed by a really skinny thing under a tree, that looks like a spider.

I have decided on the long route here, as the parallel is big and I do not want to compromise this fence. He jumps it well, and turns round the tree to the log out. Now to the ditch-to-rail, which seems big when you stand on the ground, but rides fantastically well. On to the famous Vicarage Vee, and this is one of the fences that has caused so much trouble in the past. I remember Ginny Elliot’s words in my head, and get Wally into a precise canter. I have a good shot, and we are over. I can feel a big grin and I secretly whisper to Wally “Hey, we’ve just jumped the Vicarage Vee”; “oh, gosh, come on, concentrate Gem” and away to the Colt Pond. Here once more, I select the long route, as I do not want to upset Wally by pulling him sharply to the right after the bounce. He jumps well, and whips round easily to go onto the next fence, which is a Hay Cart. Wally still feels good and I look towards the next fence which is a roll top with a brush on top. This he jumps big as he does not want to touch the brush sticking out of the top of the fence.

The next fence is the Sunken Road, and this is quite a tricky fence, as the distances are all a bit strange. Wally jumps the rail in and then thought he should bounce, but at the last second put a stride in to drop off the side of the Road. He slightly lost his back end and although came up the other side OK, I quickly decided that I must take the long route so as not to get the wrong distance to the big box house at 17d. This jumps fine and then to17e and away. Now, there is a long gallop to the Giants Table and I feel Wally take a deep breath. This is normal, it is almost like that second wind. We gather up, and fly the huge table and gallop towards the sea of people that are watching by the lake. Turning to the big drop, I close my legs around him and urge him forward, as it is a big fence. He jumps in with no hesitation and does three big strides and leaps up the step in the wrong place, missing the flag and the skinny on the bank. He did not sight the fence and thought that’s where we were going, and although I tried to straighten him, he had his idea where he was going, and in a split second we where sailing past. I quickly turned him back into the water, so I could jump the alternative back out, which he jumped easily. A loop took me to the Mitsubishi Pickups, and again we were off towards the beautiful house. We popped over the barrels, and then to Huntsman’s Close. Taking the longer option here, as the light and dark in this area is tricky and the corner was a left run out and very narrow. He turned well, and finished over the gate and now we are on the homewards run. The logs at the quarry jumped well despite the big drop in, and he still feels full of running as we approach the Rolex turn, 2nd last.

It’s still a big wide fence, but we gain the correct stride and he pops over, as I gallop into the arena for the final fence I say to myself to be careful at it, it’s still a big enough test. No worries for Wally, I can not believe the feeling I now have.

He still feels so good, and pulls up well, and I am just so delighted with him and the ride we have had. Everyone is so pleased, and whilst we look after Wally, spongeing him and cooling him, walking him and making sure he is ok, everyone congratulates me and many people around seem to be in tears!!

I also found out later on, when there was a knock on the lorry door, and Ibby Macpherson appeared, that she had nearly had her arm broken as my Mother stood next to her and kept grabbing her in the tent, while watching me ride the course. Thanks Ibby, for being there!!

It was the most fantastic feeling and the biggest adrenalin rush I know. Now it is very important to look after my boy and ice his legs and see to his every need. Everyone is helping and once back at the yard he is cared for as the first priority. He seems fine, and has a small bump on his stifle, and a little graze. Louise later took him for a lovely graze once more, and now he knows his XC is over, he begins to tuck into all available food. I am starting to receive many text messages, and it still does not seem to sink in that I have just ridden round Badminton.

Eventually, everyone ends up back by the lorry, and we all have a much needed drink of Pimms and a very jolly time, mainly led by Mandy and my Gran, who manage to drink their way through a couple of bottles of red wine. Trying to keep them under any sort of control was virtually impossible, and by the end, they all staggered off to their cottage. Mum, Louise and I saw to Wally once again and tucked him up for the night, getting ready to be up early to plait and walk him, ready for trot up at 9am.

Sunday, early rise and Wally still seems good, so he has a gentle leg stretch and then down to the plaits. After this I take him for a gentle ride to loosen him up, and make sure he is good. He feels amazingly well and then, on arrival back to the yard, he has his final wash and brush up ready for our final trot up.

He once again perks up in front of the vast crowd, and trots beautifully beside me.

Now, to the Show jumping and I am in the first bunch of riders as I had the little run out, and a number of time faults. Walking the course it seems quite big and long, but usually we do well in the jumping. As I return from the Show jumping, my mother and Mandy are seen biking along together. Mandy is yelling to my mother that if she ever gets hold of her its going to be hell, as I realise that she has the blue bike, which has no front brake and a wobbly front wheel. “I wont be able to walk for a week after this” she yells, but my mother as usual is taking no notice and just yells back “oh stop whingeing on and get on with it woman” They are like a couple of school kids, the pair of them.

Off to the Show jumping and Wally looks lovely and feels good in the warm up. In the ring again, he loved the crowd and jumped the most super spot-on round. He could not be faulted.

Big pats all round - I was delighted with him again, and am on such a high. I think that part of that is because Wally feels so good and has not had one problem from the cross country course.

All the horses are asked to Parade, and this was quite hairy, as they all got very excited. We only walked, but the crowds all clapped and cheered, and it just felt amazing.

I was then told that I had won the best under 25, which was such a bonus to me, so I was so honoured to be able to go into the ring at prize giving. I can not express how I felt. It was really just fantastic.

Wally went to his bedroom for a little while, whilst we all packed up the lorry to go on home. Everything away, we left Badminton at about 5.30 pm to arrive safely home at 9ish. Unpacking the lorry even did not feel that bad, although putting my entire clothing collection away has not been as easy as packing it!!

Finally it’s off to bed, Zebedee, but despite being exhausted, why am I still jumping over fences?

Thursday 26th April 2007- Ardingly and Weston Park
Sorry for taking so long to update the diary - time seems to have run away this last week and I have been having a bit of B and B trouble. (Blonde and Badminton).

Ardingly (The South of England). Lovely sunny day and horses all happy to trundle off not too far for us, one of our local events at only 50 mins away.

Archie and Skippy to compete but took Posy and Smokey to work, as times a bit spaced out, so meant I could get them ridden in the gaps. I wanted Smokey to be good and almost a bit tired, so he would do a reasonable test the following day at Weston Park.

Archie did a lovely test but was marked quite harshly I thought for him, and had a late 30’s score. Never mind, he was good and that is what counts so we were all pleased.

Skippy was a good boy too and got a better mark of 33, again chuffed with that, and still feel there is more too come. The Show jumping course was a proper course as always, which I like. It’s always good to test the horse a bit, and the riders.

A double slightly down hill caught Archie out on the second part, as he jumped in big and just tapped the rail out of the second element. Apart from that he was brilliant, so that was easy to forgive. Skippy being a little more experienced did not make the same mistake, so a lovely clear to add to his dressage.

Off to XC and Archie started well and just thought of Kevin once very briefly when going through one field to another, but it was fine and soon forgotten. He jumped superbly, and went through to the dell, where the rider before me had had an unlucky fall, so I was held briefly. Starting up again, I did not want to stress him with a reasonably difficult fence, so I opted for the alternative, and he was as good as gold, and we finished on a high.

Skippy was a good boy and sailed round in his usual fashion, keen and as long as he sees the fences he goes. He finished third in his section so we were delighted.

The other boys and girls had been good all day, so packed up and left to arrive home by 6.15pm. This was a ‘Wally cantering day’ so the Ardingly horses went away, Wally was put onto the lorry and up to the downs we went, to canter him. It was super up there and with no one about it really is a most beautiful part of the country. There is a long pull up the hill over the top of “the Long Man” and then a huge field at the top, which has about a 7 furlong gallop. Wally was a good man, and we arrived home in the dark at about 9 pm. Pack the lorry for the next day, and off to bed, Zebedee.

The next morning, leaving at 4am was hard but it’s a long way to Weston Park. Determined to get the Smokey boy round his first Advanced, I was undeterred by the early hour. Of course, I am very lucky, as I have the sleeper cab in my lorry, so I can bed down just behind Mum, whilst she drives. She does not mind, she says, as this is part of her job, whilst mine is to ride.

We get settled in a good spot for the day, and prepare for the dressage. A posh test, the Badminton test, as a practice for me, so Top Hat and Tails, and a beautiful arena.

For once Smokey does something of a test that I know he is capable of and does some super changes, and gets a good mark of 27.

Walking the course, the ground is fine and the fences look ok, a few questions, but I have jumped quite a few before on him, in the 2** last year.

The show Jumping, however looks big, and the poles are like pencils, its not his strongest phase so I am a little worried. He actually goes quite well - has two down, but explainable reasons, and it was causing a lot of problems. Now, onto XC. Started well, he did not seem too strong, but I do find that I like to place him a bit, which sometimes will compromise his gallop. He is so straight and does not touch a fence, until the water when he seems to jump in huge, and I have to slightly struggle to turn him to jump the next element in the water. This is ok and we now run along the edge of the lorry park to the second last, which is a double: a skinny, three strides to a corner. His mind is taken off the job by the lorries, and he leaves a leg on the corner, tipping me right out of the saddle, but managing somehow to regain his feet, and cantered on, leaving me in a heap on the floor. I was furious, and when the doctor arrived all I wanted to do was kill someone, and certainly not to be asked where I lived and what my name was. I told him firmly my wrist was ok, even though it was now a glowing shade of purple ( Smokey had caught it on his way past) and I was then told that HE was the doctor, and HE would tell me what was and was not alright!!!

I returned to the lorry absolutely gutted, in pain and thoroughly fed up that things can go wrong so quickly. We had a long chat on the way home, and I have to make the hard decision about this horse that I love so much, but do I admit that he might just be that bit too big and too strong for me. Hence, why the diary has taken so long this time, as I have been in this state of indecision and depression about him. I have decided to concentrate on Badminton and we will decide after wards what to do with him. Next week is the biggest trial I have had so far, so wish me luck, but I wont believe it until we drive through those gates…….

Tuesday 10th April 2007- Burnham Market
We set off for Burnham Market on Wednesday afternoon at about two thirty with five on board, much haylage, feed, water, the lovely Louise our head girl, and also the lovely Nellie (who has come to stay with us for Easter), two Jack R’s, much food and drink, so a very full lorry….

Now this is the story of how things “can only get better” as the song goes….

Actually the drive up was long but not too bad. Slow around the Dartford Tunnel, but it usually is these days because of the road works. We arrived at Burnham at about 8pm, just in time to settle the horses in their houses, and sort out stables etc, set up the lorry ready for snoozing - we were all tired. Very pleased stables are on site, as it makes it so much easier for us all.

The following am, up early to walk the pre novice course for Archie and hoping that he was going to be not a Kevin today and remember his breeding!! He did a very good dressage, and I was delighted with him as he behaved without fault, and got a good mark of 26. Now, the girls and Mum have been running about all morning plaiting, walking horses, feeding, mucking out etc, and everything seems on track. Louise is brilliant at plaiting now, so she had the job of doing Archie and Wally, and Mum did Skippy . This is a challenge as his mane often resembles something between a bog brush and a hedge cutting competition. Hence why she got the job. I expect I will pay later….

Next to Archie’s Show-jumping, in the big arena, lovely jumps, and yes he was a super boy and picked up all his toes and no poles were rolled. Now, to the XC, and a new tactic of softly out of the start box and gently to the first two fences seemed to work. He loved it and flew all the fences with ease.

It was such a shame I missed two of them out…I really could not believe I had made such a stupid mistake and let him down when he had been so super, but afterwards I realised that I had missed a little loop when walking the course. Luckily Archie’s owner Brigitte was so understanding and just pleased that he had gone well. I have never done that before, and do not intend to do it again!

Shortly afterwards I went down to the dressage on the lovely Wally all dressed up with my tails and smart plaits armed with my FEI passport ready for inspection. Handed it in, only to be called back and told that the actual passport was invalid. Something I was not aware of that it only lasts four years. On the vet’s instruction I carried on warming up and left the mother to deal with all the official stuff.

Just as I was about to start the test, I was called out and told not to go up the centre line as I had been changed to the Advanced Class which is a National not International one. Wally thought it was great, as I gave him a long rein he was delighted not to have to do the test!!

Never mind, it’s the same course for both classes so that was ok, I just wanted to be able to gain some FEI points. Another lesson to learn, always check your passports, not only for flu, but that they are valid and in-date too.

So, on to Skippy, off we go passport under arm, but we have our worries. Yes, You have guessed it, 6 month flu bit is out off date….. Oh I am now thinking that everyone must think I am completely useless, but actually it does happen to lots of people. So remember, everyone, to check them, and the rules, the horses must have six monthly vacs for FEI events. Now, Skippy could have stayed in this class, but we would have to pay a fine of £165, so off Mum went again to see the very friendly lady at the secretary’s to see if he could also change his class. “yes, she said that’s ok , we can do that for you”. How nice to have such friendly helpful people when you are feeling completely inadequate.

OK, so lessons all learnt, and three things gone wrong, now things are on the up, I feel sure.

We all walk the course in the evening, and Louise is given the task of remembering all the numbers, as she is the only one with more than one brain cell (whereas we are more like ’one cell’ Lex, the Lurcher, who we have left at home). Jack Russells are enjoying running about and not worrying about the jumps at all, I am walking lines and looking for striding, Nellie sings, and Mum is in every available toilet.

The dawn of a new day and we are awoken by the sound of galloping hooves approaching the lorry and I dash to look out and shout “its ok everyone ,its not Archie!!!”

A beautiful morning and Skippy does his best and gains a good mark of 33.3, which I am quite pleased with. Still lots of improvement to come. To the Show-Jumping, and he proves himself once again and jumps a super round, clears all the fences with ease - he really has a smashing jump.

We set off on XC, at a good speed, and went super until we got held in front of fence five. After a ten minute hold, I was given the light again and wheeled him up and off we went with great gusto. Again he was supa-dupa, until the water where he jumped in huge, and I said “whoa” and he said ”noo” and I said “ step up!” and he said “ Oh gosh, I wish I had listened to you, Gemma because now I have a face full of sand and I feel a bit stupid!!” But somehow we managed not to fall, and he carried on to the end and had a great round with just a few time penalties. He ended up seventh.

The pictures of all of the fun at the water were taken by Mr. Photo-Synergy, so check out the web site and you can see them!!!

Next to Smokey, and the dressage, a little hurried due to the hold on the course, so just a few minutes short of warm up time. He did NOT do his best test, and left at speed during the “medium canter”. He developed his own movement, after watching “Dancing on Ice” and did the high speed lift and twirl, with no legs touching the floor at any one time.

I went to bed wondering how I was ever going to master this large grey beastie whom I love and adore, but sometimes his sense of humour is tiring.

He decided luckily to redeem himself in the Show jumping and jumped one of the best rounds ever, clear in the time and I was delighted. He felt so super, I just had to pat him and pat him. Perhaps I will keep him after all……

To the XC and again he was great today, He felt good and scopey, but not too strong and was copy-book through the water. I was so pleased with him and chuffed for getting it right. We had a few time faults, but that was ok, as we only went to get round. We ended up fourteenth - it was a big class so we were placed.

Now to the little star man - Wally. He show-jumped as a pro would, he was fab, and gave me a good feeling, doing a lovely clear round. The course was big and the time was tight but it was no problem for my Team Gold Medal horse today.

I had a long wait before I could go XC as there was a hold on the course, and then the air-ambulance helicopter was going to come and land, and they obviously stopped the whole course for that, and then it got an emergency call from somewhere else, and didn‘t land on the course after all! This was all very well, but all I wanted was to get going, and I was then in this state of needing the toilet, do I? don’t I? I hate it when that happens… Anyway, at last we were away and Wally felt good and jumped fence four, which had been causing a number of problems, really well, so this gave me added confidence and we had the most super round. Again I picked up a few time but I wanted to look after him, so we would be safe for the next run ……… BADMINTON ……. oh no, I need the toilet again….

Oh someone is in there…. Its my Mum!!!!

Sunday 1st April 2007- Somerley Park
My week has started with some bad news, hearing that my very good friend and teacher Kenneth Clawson has been told he has a very aggressive leukaemia, and will need to take the next six months having treatment has once again brought me into a realisation that life is a fragile thing and must be embraced. Kenneth, myself and my mum went to look for some horses in France in early January and ended up travelling the width and length of France, with my mum driving Kenneth’s car, me in the back sleeping or providing entertainment and Kenneth navigating and paying all the tolls. This in itself was a fairly amusing entertainment. If my mother did not get the car exactly in the correct position for him to reach the ticket box, much wiggling and waggling was needed!! Of course this was not done without comment!! Gradually after the three day period of travelling absolute perfection was mastered so he was then very happy indeed. We had a fantastic three days of horse searching, laughing, chatting, wine drinking, cheese eating, and I can only say that I wish him well with all the luck and love in the world to make him better and see him through the next few months. Get well soon, my friend.

So, I get back to my horses with a renewed ambition to do as well as I can and show all the people who support me that their choice is correct and I am so determined to get out there and do the best that I can for all of us.

We leave for Somerley Park at 4.30am with four horses. Louise and I sleep on the way in the cab bed, with the Jacks (Toot and Tottie) under the blanket too, not wishing to be left behind, but not particularly happy about the very early wake up call. Lex, the lovely la la lurcher has been asked to stay behind again to look after the house and stables, with her friend Sallie, the 17 year old Watford terrier, who is now deaf, incontinent and slightly mad, so at least we can leave feeling confident and in the safe knowledge that everything at home will be looked after and there will be no chance of a break in.

After a brief check with mother that she knows the way, sleep for us girls is lovely. When we wake, we are just arriving in the slight mist, and five million sheep with a death wish on the drive.

Mother is extremely happy as we are the first to arrive , and no body is up to tell her where to park, so she can chose, out of the whole field, the best location for the lorry. Front, flat and close proves to be very popular. That’s good - she will be in a good mood for the rest of the day!!!

Louise is in charge of getting the horses ready, and terriers, myself and Mum walk speedily around both courses. The ground is perfect, with a bit of give, good cover and the fences are well built and prepared, with a few tests and distances to think about.

Smokey is being ridden by Oliver Townend today, so he can give me his opinion of what to do with him on the XC when he pulls me hard. Lou has him all ready and off he goes to do dressage with his new jockey for today. It seems strange to see him go away without me on him, but I know I need his advice, so I have got to get on with it.

Meanwhile, I get on with Skippy, who actually gives me a good test today, and then just one down show jumping, which was a tricky course and it is slightly misty, so I was pleased with him.
Smokey was ok in the dressage, but not easy in the show jumping and Ollie had a few problems with him, but he can be very tricky in this phase.

However on the XC he went very well. He pulled down the hill and Ollie was very brave ,of course, and let him run, and then Smokey thought that perhaps he would not risk it after all…and then steadied himself up. Now I just have to do it.

Now Skippy was brilliant and went superbly until the second last when he was distracted by the ring side and thought he was home already, did not really see the fence which was a narrow box on a turn, so missed it. I turned him back, and he said “oh, sorry Gem, thought we were going the other way” and jumped it super. Really annoying as I am sure we would have had a place.

Now to our Wally, who was such a happy boy today as the sun was out. We sprung around the dressage arena, and then leapt all the show jumps like the pro that he is. This time there were no mishaps on the XC and at last I get my double clear. He felt good again today, so I am crossing everything in existence to keep us safe and sound for the next month and my dream coming true……Badminton.

The lovely Lily Lady was next and she really does not understand the point of all these circles and things, and “Gem, if I go round really fast, surely that means it will be over quicker and then we can get to the important stuff…jumpsjumpsjumps” but I contained her enthusiasm and we did not leave the arena once in the wrong place and managed the movements all in the correct order.

She then was a complete star and went double clear again with only a few time faults, she really is such a little darling, and I love her to bits.

I then rode Herbie (Ace Thyme) for Sam who just wanted me to guide him around his first novice for her. He is the older brother of Chester, so he is a lovely horse and was bred by Sam too. He was also a very good boy and ended up eleventh after a good dressage, just two down as he was a little green in the show jumping and a super clear across the country.

All in all I had a great day, the weather was perfect, and the horses were all well behaved… mainly.
We packed up and left at 7pm, and arrived home at 9.30pm, having jumped all the jumps again on all the horses. I wonder if I will ever stop doing that, going over the courses again and again… and usually again.

Popped all the horses away and tucked them up, swept out and emptied the lorry, put a wash on, and in for a long bath.

Next stop is Burnham Market, so look out for the next entry, and if anyone wants to make any comments on the diary or my Website, or has any questions please E mail me on Redhotgem@aol.com

Sunday 25th March 2007
Today, we all started early so I could get a few ridden before travelling off to Munstead with Archie and George, (Gigondas). It was a lovely morning so a hack out on Smokey was no big issue, even for me, as I am not really truly a morning person….

I went on to school Posey, (Imperial Dancer) who is a lovely mare who needs to find an owner. She is five this year and is lovely to ride and has a super jump. I heard yesterday that I have been accepted into Badminton, so my thoughts at the moment do not seem to wander far from either flying changes (which Wally does not really like doing ) or jumping the Vicarage V. Riding at Badminton has been my dream for as long as I can remember, so it will be fantastic to make it through the gates !!

So we left for Munstead with the steeds formerly named, and two Jack Russells as usual. Lex the lurcher was elected to stay at home to look after the house and be responsible…this is not easy for a lurcher who was unlucky enough not to be given more than one brain cell at birth….. but a very lovely dog! It had decided to turn to sub zero conditions with a wind enough to freeze your ears off, and after my first test on the lovely George my mother had actually turned into an Ice Block. This was not very helpful at all as I needed her to do things so I then insisted that she wore a very fashionable Puffa hat, which was a mistake, as I needed it later and she would not let me have it back.

However, I did get some help, so I guess the sacrifice had to be made.. The second test on the naughty but nice Archie, was lovely and I thought he deserved a better mark than he got, but hey never mind, worse was soon to come… We had decided to stay over night as we had early times and were losing an hour due to the clocks moving, so after a few people had trotted off home, my mother decided to move the lorry around the field in order to find the best place to park over night…It has to be flat, have a good view, not be too close to anything and certainly nowhere near any sort of noise which may disturb the much needed beauty sleep!!

It is so embarrassing being driven around the lorry park whilst the most suitable spot is selected, with everyone looking at us like we are the “blondes r us “ truck. An exciting evening was to follow with us in the lorry watching ‘Dancing on Ice‘, whilst dressed up for the show, in hat, gloves, scarf, and layers up to five. I am reminded that Eventing is such a glamorous sport.

Next day up bright and early (well maybe not so bright) the show jumping was fine, George had never jumped outdoors before and only once indoors, so he lost a little concentration and just tapped two poles out but was a very good boy and I was pleased with him. He is an ex race horse and does not know what he is doing really, but is so willing to learn and loves his jumping. Archie also tapped two fences, which was due to him being a bit casual. He needs a bigger fence really now to make him think. He does quite a lot of thinking does little Archie, which is not always such a good thing, he is one of those that has to be kept busy or he will find something to break, kill or chew. Now to the XC, the best bit……

George, who has only been schooling once did very well and jumped all the fences and nearly all in the right order.. just sailed past one as he did not see it, (he thought he was back on the track!) It was quite tricky - down a Dingley Dell and round a corner just two strides to a narrow palisade. I was delighted with him as he loves it so much and has a big clean jump for a race horse.

Then our little Archie: he decided that today he might be a bit naughty so after the first fence he stopped and stuck his head down and said “right Gem, now is the time for you to sit on the floor in front of me!!! HA HA!!” Luckily I was quick enough with my reply “Actually no Archie not today, I think we will carry on……” (or words to that effect) anyway he then thought that perhaps he would continue, and after fence three jumped like a complete pro and felt as if we could easily go Intermediate. I am sure that he will be fine and was just having a teenage moment…

We left not long after eleven and were back home in time for me to ride four more, then have a lovely roast dinner (I did not cook it) and a lovely glass of red wine. Still, went to bed thinking about Badminton, and wondering how I am going to get the lovely Wally to understand that flying changes don’t have to mean six strides of flat out gallop across the arena, and how to you say “calm and collected” in Portuguese?

Monday 19th March 2007
Our first weekend of eventing did not perhaps go quite according to plan, but isn't that eventing all over?

Off to Lincoln with four horses and Louise, our girl, and also Mum, leaving at five am, we had a good drive, and arrived at about 9.30am.

Lily was on today, so we unloaded and put the horses away in their houses, and then off to do dressage, Lily's not so favourite phase! However she was good, if a little forward, but apart from that a nice test and got a good mark of 33.

She was so excited to be show jumping outside, she very enthusiastically turned towards what she thought was the first jump, but I had to say 'no lily, not that one, this one!' She turned and shot off and caught her front shoe with her hind shoe and so left her leg on the front pole of the fence, then she jumped a lovely clear round.

Luckily, the shoe was safely on, so we carried on to the next phase. On the cross country the ground was perfect, and the course had a few questions, some skinnys, and a reasonable drop, three strides on a turn to a skinny, but she took it all in her stride, and I let her go at her own speed, so we went clear but just had a few time. She was brilliant today and felt fantastic across the country, and I immediately remembered why I love eventing so much.

She ended up ninth, which was brilliant I was delighted with her, she is a lovely lily lady.

Then things started to go wrong...

The wind got up over night, so much so, not much sleep was had as it felt in the lorry like we were on a high sea, with it rocking back and forward so much!! Wally, being a Portuguese Guy, does not really do Cold, or rain, so high freezing wind, and odd snow showers were not indicative to a good dressage test. When the seagull landed in the arena 2 metres in front of his nose with its full wing span out, he left, at the gallop, with his head vertically in the air.

The judge then came out and ran around the arena, chasing the seagull, who was intent on staying in this space. It finally got the hint that it was not wanted and left squawking in annoyance. Show jumping was brilliant, he was a complete star, jumped with ease. Onto the XC, and all went swimmingly well until the bounce at an angle, where he seemed to misjudge the fence, and then stumbled on landing, between the two, tipping me out the plate sideways.

He stopped and came back to find me on the floor, laying between the fences, having wiped out the fence flag. He then stood over me waiting for help to arrive. I was winded, but determined to carry on, so remounted after a doctor check, and finished the course steadily. It was a great shame, but these things happen, so we must put it behind us and carry on. Smokey was also a little explosive in the gale force wind, but we managed to stay in the arena, which was itself a miracle.

Show jumping was brilliant the best he has ever gone, (this may have been due to the sideways snow storm which arrived as the bell rang! I could not actually see any of the fences!!), so I was on a high to go forward to the cross country. Unfortunately, after my fall, I was a bit sore, and he got a little strong half way round, so I had a bit of trouble stopping and steering. We may have to think of another plan before his next run.

As I was so sore, I decided just to do the dressage and Show Jumping on Skippy, he was very good in the dressage and did a better test than the more experienced boys! Show jumping was ok, but just tapped the last two fences out.

By now we were all feeling exhausted, so we packed up the lorry, and popped all the horses on and they happily tucked into their nets all the way home which we reached at 10pm.

Unpacked, swept and tucked up to bed, it was also time for bed Zebedee for all three of us too.....