So this weekend we should have been heading to our 2nd event of the season but unfortunately as some of you may have read mid week on Twitter Eventing Harley experienced what we believed was heat rash & then deteriorated the next day needing veterinary attention. Basically Harley has suffered an allergic reaction possibly set off by a virus. After a steroid injection he appeared much more comfortable but that along with a course of anti biotics has meant we would not be drug free to compete. More worryingly a heart murmur was detected and investigating this will be a priority before making any further competition plans but we've been advised to wait a while to try and ensure the virus has fully gone before running tests. Over all I'm just greatful Harley is much more comfortable and fingers crossed it is just a minor bump in our road to success this year.

But just because we won't be competing doesn't mean I didnt still want to experience eventing this weekend and as Breckenbrough is one of our local event I felt it was only right to volunteer! So if you are there on Sunday and spot a girl in a Purple EquiFeast and Regatta Jacket do come over and say hello!

I've just got my fingers crossed the weather is nice and the pollen/ pollution levels are low being a hayfever sufferer!

So over all its not been the week I had planned but I'm greatful for where we are. However, I'm also extremely lucky to have such great supporters who are so caring and understanding when our plans have to change. My amazing long time supporter The Horse Wardrobe is exactly that & have been with us through the highs and lows. Lisa kindly surprised us yesterday with a fantastic goody box which certainly lifted the spirits in camp; so thank you Lisa! If your ever searching for quality items or struggling to find a specific item get in contact with The Horse Wardrobe & they'll go above & beyond! www.thehorsewardrobe.co.uk

Well we've finally got cracking after all the set backs (none of which were Harley's fault either!). Luckily humans appear to be on the mend, the big freeze is disappearing and the wagon is starting to behave along with my retired elderly girls- who all seemed to get a bit of the winter cabin-fever craziness and tried to kill each other one by one.
Our first party was at Bishop Burton Arena doing the BE Jump Training event. Now this place hasn't always been our favourite place as Harley has always appeared to get a little awe-struck over the lovely, bright arena, but it was a case of go or miss out on this fantastic series this year as the other dates didn't appear to work according to my diary.
Now for those who don't know what Jump Training is, all I can say is that I'd really recommend it. Show jumping is by far our worst phase and this event comprises of a guided course walk, a warm up session undertook by a BE trainer before going in and riding a round of show jumps. After this round you speak to a different trainer and get feedback and then you have the opportunity to re ride the course and hopefully improve/ put in place any adjustments. At the end of the day you also receive a form which normally contains some useful 'home-work' comments.
Our rounds weren't perfect but I felt we achieved our own mini-miles stones. We got one step closer to achieving that fluent-powerful canter and we also managed to go clear in 2 out of 4 rounds- no mean feat for a pole basher and a big dent in his street cred that's for sure (much to my joy!)!
A big reason for his improvement and rideabilty is down to the incredible work EquiFeast has done. Like Harley there were plenty of excited ponies out at their 1st party, but I can proudly say that mine behaved impeccably (which is rarely said in the past!) and concentrated on the job without loosing his spark!
So no qualification but an 8th to start the year isn't too shabby especially considering we only achieved our 1st jump for 3 moths 12 hours before hand!
If you click the link here you can see a video of round 1 and 2 of one class that I posted on #twittereventing. Apologies for the poor quality but YouTube has some technical difficulties with uploads at the moment, but some thing is better than nothing!
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=646870865424792&set=o.398651946893489&type=2&theater#

Here's a list of just a few of the sites I've spotted holding a boxing day sale. Please feel free to comment with any others I may have missed:
Edgemere http://www.edgemere.co.uk/equestrian-clearance Horse and Equestrian wear
Wychanger Barton http://www.wychanger.com/specials Equilibrium, Mark Todd, Ariat, Dublin
Snuggy Hoods http://www.snuggyhoods.com/ Turnout and Stable hoods
Holland Cooper http://www.hollandcooper.com/ Luxury Tweed and Casual wear
Old Mill Saddlery http://www.saddlery.biz/ Rugs and Clothing Sale
Naylors http://www.naylors.com/ Clothing and Footwear
Horse Health http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/ Lemieux, Cool Horse Socks and Naf Products on sale
Ride Away http://www.rideaway.co.uk/ Horse and Rider wear
Aztec Diamond http://www.aztecdiamondequestrian.com/ Clothing: 50% off order
Maxavita http://www.maxavita.com/ Equine, canine and human supplements
Dubarry http://www.dubarryboots.com/ Clothing & Footwear(warning some footwear options are 2nds so do not have a warranty)
Equestrian Clearance http://www.equestrian.com/page/clearance/ Horse and rider wear
Dressage Deluxe http://www.dressagedeluxe.co.uk/ Pikeur, Anky, Spooks, Kingsland
Musto http://www.musto.com/ Clothing Sale
http://www.equinesuperstore.co.uk/ Clothing Sale
Exclusively Equestrian  http://www.exclusivelyequestrian.com/shop.php?cPath=308 Autumn Winter Wear: HKM, Cavallo, Eurostar

The winter is typically a time where professional eventers take some R&R time and get away. Well I’m no professional but I certainly loved the fact that I had the opportunity to get away from the wet and cold and enjoy some holiday time of my own on the other side of the Atlantic.

I was having an amazing time, eating and drinking far too much and experiencing some new countries, sights and cultures until the very last moment.

You often never know what’s around the corner. Equestrians probably understand this better than anyone as you can be on cloud 9 one moment with great things ahead to then go into the next day with your dreams shattered or put on hold due to often bad luck or even a daft moment thanks to our four legged friends!

But despite this the above can ever prepare you for a phone call that starts with “Your Mum and Aunty have been taken to hospital.”

A frantic few moments resulted in me deciding I needed to leave early alone. I could get back within 15hours via connections.

All was going fine until my final flight was cancelled as I was travelling over the ocean, I arrived in Paris tired and confused being told I had been put on the flight for the next day.

Managing to get on standby for later flights, exhaustion and reality hit and I broke down. My mobile wasn’t picking up a signal and I didn’t have any correct change on me to use a payphone and the foreign exchange desk was shut.

I couldn’t even tell you how many people walked by me as I sat there crying in Paris after a 10hr flight from Atlanta. I was in a place I’d never been in which could barely speak the language, with no reception to communicate back home with or at that point any clear communication/ plans in place as to whether or not I could catch that flight.

However, one man did stop, he asked if I was ok and I told my tale.  

I didn’t know this man and still don’t, we both were strangers and still are. All I know is that his first name was Neil, despite him probably being tired himself he still sat there and listened and even offered to buy me a Eurostar ticket if I couldn’t get on the flight.

Somehow, during my rambling time passed by quickly and I got the good news I was hoping for and at that point Neil and myself parted ways.

For his time and his patience I am so grateful and truly wonder back now how I would have coped without him at that point.

I could go on about humanity, selfishness, wanting to avoid situations and the need to get on with your own life… I’m guilty of them all,

But

Sometimes it’s just nice to hear someone ask “Are you ok?”

Maybe we take it for granted, it may not always be well received but it’s nice to ask. Too often it too easy to get on with it especially with horses; but you never know when you might need help. It might only be for something small like to borrow a few plaiting bands but you never know how quickly circumstances can change where you find yourself needing to be asked “Are you ok?”

ETA Luckily my Mum and Aunty are both relatively fine, thank you for all the support we have received x

The clever guys at Likit HQ have done it again and created three new fabulous limited edition flavours that your four legged friend will love!

Grass, Blueberry and Caramel are the three limited edition flavours now available in Original and Little Likit formats; and once again they provide a tasty, entertaining treat for your horse to enjoy. They also manage to please the humans through their smells alone!
For me the Grass flavour managed to create the same smell as freshly cut grass on a summers day in its small pot, which was a lovely pick-me-up on the damp, windy day that I was experiencing in reality when opening it up!
The smell of the Blueberry Likit sent me back to my childhood of eating Chewits in the car whilst listening to S Club 7 (yes I really was that cool!).
And Caramel brought happy thoughts flooding back as it smells exactly like a Werther's Original sweet. Ok so that doesn't mean a lot to you all but when put in context if I explain that they were my Granddad's favourite sweets, you'd probably understand better especially when I say how influential and supportive he was in my riding life.
Of course its all well and good me saying they smell lovely but what to the tasters aka the horse's all think???????

But the three new flavours aren't just limited to four legged equines...... No way! Hounds also love the smell and are desperate to try and test one even through packaging when they shouldn't be having them in the first place!

But if your not 100% sure about getting one of these new flavours for your horse or perhaps are looking for something with a more festive theme or even a complete Likit Package, don't worry Likit have that covered too this year!
Once again the Likit Selection Box is available to buy. This fun box not only contains 3 treat bars and 2 packets of Likit snacks but also offers a fun game and a unique code for your chance to win instant prizes. Plus everyone gets at least one selection box at Christmas why should your horse be any different?
However, if you really do want to splurge Likit have also created a new Starter pack containing  a Likit holder, 3  Likits and 2 packets of snacks to ensure your horse has a very merry festive period in the yard this year! Even if your thinking "I already have a Likit holder." This pack offers great value and its an opportunity to buy a newer model in a funky new colour (Some Likit Holders even contain glitter for the Bling Lovers!).

For more information on Likit products visit www.likit.co.uk where they offer advice such as finding the right challenge level for your horse. Via www.likit.co.uk you can also keep up to date with blogs and sign up to their newsletter where there's always opportunities to win Likit prizes!

We're currently in the 'not much to blog about' phase, mainly as H has been turned away after a hard and successful season. It can sometimes be difficult (especially seems the weather has been so mild and even sunny at times!) to stick to the plan and keep him turned away especially as he's my only competition horse currently.
With hunting season upon us, more and more training and winter competitions available the pressure to compete/ to be competitive can maybe sometimes over ride the need or even ability to turn away.
I'd never think ill of anyone's decision to not turn away, as each horse is an individual and what works for one may not work for another, but I am traditional and do believe that horses just like humans sometimes need that 'down-time' in order to recharge the batteries, put on a bit of condition to get through the winter months and time to remind them that they are horses in the end of the day.
So I'm currently sat counting down the days until I'll be back on board, sure enough its glorious sunshine outside at the moment so I'm sure the minute I can get back on board it'll be 20ft deep snow by then! However, one of the main reasons I've managed to avoid  bringing him in early is the thought of A) cleaning the mud off of him as he's absolutely covered in mud dread-locks! and B) the thought of having to clip him and feel itchy for the week after!
Luckily though I know he's in good condition thanks to The Likit Padock Likit providing him with oils and nutrients and thanks to EquiFeast's Winning Edge he's managed to chill out and adapt to being turned away much quickly this year and enjoy his holiday!

Well I've finally wrote my last report for Eventing Magazine for this season. Its been an exciting year, I've reported on my first FEI competition and European Championships and talked to some rather lovely folk along the way with inspiring stories!
 Its also rather scary to think how quickly my 2014 eventing year has gone as this Sunday at Eden Valley is possibly our last horse trials run too!
Hopefully we will finish on a good run and then we'll be registering for a winter of posh dancing and prancing and pole bashing (not sue BS will be prepared for Harley's version of show jumping but we'll have a crack at it anyway!).
 But needs must and the aim of Novice in 2015 is firmly set in our minds (Eeeekkkkk- where are those brave pant's?!?!?), so winter homework must be done!

11 days at work in a row and what do I choose to do on my 1 day off?
Well we went off eventing of course! This time to one of our locals ( Richmond) and we still managed to get lost thanks to the A1 road closures, despite being to this venue a million times!
H managed to overreach his front shoe despite wearing over reach boots 1 rider before I was going in. Luckily stewards & riders due to follow me in were lovely & accommodating to give us time to find the farrier (thank you if that was you!)
Sadly don't think judge cared or just simply didn't like us as got some strange comments and only 5s & 6s to get 40.5 despite it being a better test than our last outing.... But I guess that's how it goes sometimes.
In the show jumping my pony was jumping great until the idiot on top set him towards fence 7 when it should have been fence 3! A jump off move that never comes off was required (to avoid crossing tracks). But it unsettled him so we ended up with 4 down & time. Although despite me labelling him a pole basher he's actually barely touching the poles & was very unlucky with
two poles as they fell late.
So we had nothing to lose XC ran purely for the fact I had to face my demon aka the corner which I fell off at last year. I'd never been
  worried about corners before but this one had psychologically got to me & in my head is built this one up to be 1.20m but in actually fact when walking the course I'd realised we've don't bigger & more difficult. 
 Still when the time can't I probably overrode it by 100 times but we flew it for another XC clear inside the time ! 
So not great on paper but at least my balls up SJ happened on a day where we were never in it thanks to our dressage. Next stop Allerton. If the sad news regarding Wild Lone at WEG is anything to go off let's enjoy it, be safe, smile & kick on along the way.

Working through your birthday is never ideal but eventing is such an expensive sport, needs must. And if I had to choose a weekend to work going off the recent weather, yesterday was definitely a good day to choose as at least I was indoors and dry and wet jodhpur free!
The ponies also seem to enjoy my birthday as they were all bought a Likit bar to celebrate (they're all a bit like the queen with multiple birthdays!).
I was very fortunate to get some lovely messages and gifts but the two pictured below have to be the best! XC coloured duct tape was rather impressive and the possibilities of what I can colour coordinate through tape are endless!
However, if I am allowed one birthday wish it would be to get off the waitlist for Drumclog. So if you/ any one you know is thinking about withdrawing please do so as I'd love to get a run (otherwise I'll have to wait until 31/08/14 for our next run!), our entry money is ready & waiting for you if you do withdraw (hopefully for no serious reasons!)!