Guess who’s having a mini-camp?! Well clearly us. Buddy, Bert and I headed over to Forest Edge for a dressage camp.

Yes, you read that right. Dressage camp. Two words I wouldn’t have thought I’d be saying. I didn’t think I could do the full six lessons, so we’re here for two and a night away in Toby.

We had our first lesson this afternoon and we’ll have another one tomorrow before heading home.

Not the best planning on my part with Buddy jumping yesterday, so he was a little confused when I brought him in from the field and lead him towards the lorry.

He seemed very happy with his camp treats. The arena here seems vast with no jumps in it. That fact wasn’t lost on me or Buddy. Still it was a lovely lesson and we learnt stuff as always.

Bert has been for a good run round the forest. So many of the campers have watched him grow up too. He came for his first camp when he was six months old. He’s as much of a pro at these as Buddy and I are now.

I may only be here one night, but it’s good for my heart and soul. My legs may be telling a different story tomorrow of course…

Buddy and I headed over to Easton College today for our first show jumping competition of 2026. I can’t quite believe it’s June and we’ve only been to two competitions this year.

I know why. It’s not been plain sailing this year. Still we made it. It wasn’t without faults. But once more, I know why.

I left myself what I thought was lots of time to get there. It wasn’t enough as they were running early. So once more I missed the course walk for the 70cm. I watched a couple go so kinda got the course. It didn’t necessarily help my cause that the person in front of me fell off! So that was my last opportunity to see how the course rode.

It wasn’t the smooth round we’ve been working on as I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going. Poor Buddy definitely trusted me as I threw him at a few fences. The lack of actually walking the distances and lines meant we ended up on 12 faults.

I wasn’t missing the course walk for the 80cm! Good job too as it was a very twisty turny course. Having nailed the course in my head, we had a rather long wait till it was our turn. Buddy had totally switched off by the time I rode him in. Still he gave me the most amazing feeling round the course till we got to fence 9. I got greedy and overcooked my turn. He had it down but we recovered well. Sadly by the time we reached fence 11, I could feel his tank emptying. He had that down too and I nursed him to the final fence.

Overall it looks like another bad day in the ring, but I am really happy with my little boy. I know he’s not as jumping fit as he has been. It was our first 80cm of the year. So to end on 8 faults is OK in my book. He tried so hard for me and it wasn’t that long ago that he would have jacked it in if I got it a bit wrong.

And Operation Get Us Jumping Fit is on…

I had the weirdest dream about my Mum last night. Couldn’t tell you where it came from, but it really unsettled me this morning. So I took Bert out for a long walk to try and process it.

Being out in nature really helps me to clear my head and sort out some of the random thoughts that exist up there.

I didn’t draw any conclusions but did have a few realisations. I’m making some changes that will be beneficial in the long term. I feel like for the past six or seven years I’ve been swimming against the tide or treading water. This will allow me to float for a bit.

While it’s what I have been craving, it also feels rather scary. Hence my subconscious having a bit of a field day I guess.

It’s amazing how much we can deal with but what tips us over the edge. Buddy is a prime example. Today he held it together when a car speed past with a very rattely trailer went past. But a crow on a pile of manure was a step too far for him. Thankfully he walked past in the end.

And I guess that’s the point. It always works out in the end.

My day got a bit turned around so I decided to clean and rearrange my boot room. As you do on a Friday.

It had become a bit of a dumping ground. Hardly ideal as it’s the main entrance to my little house. It was a little bit of a squeeze getting in. I cleared so much stuff out and had a shuffle about. It looks vast now! So much lighter too.

Amazing how just sorting can give an area a totally different feel.

I shall henceforth sweep through my entrance rather than stumble. OK, this is me, I can trip over air, but you get my point.

I’ve been given a little project – to clean a rather green bell and make it shine again. First step was to give it a good clean. Then came the brass cleaner…

OK so it may have taken me a bit longer to get to step two, but today I picked some up. As a child, I used to like the smell of Brasso. My grandparents used it so I was expecting it to invoke happy memories.

What I actually got was a nasal assault and a head rush from the fumes. Jeez, it’s strong stuff. Might be cause I went for the wadding version. Still it’s made a dent in the green and I can start to see the brass underneath.

It’s going to need a lot of elbow grease too. And I might go back and get the version of brass cleaner I’m more used to. It’s going to take much longer than I thought. I’m sure the result will be with it though. I love a bit of a project.

I popped into the supermarket on my way back from peopling today. I was in a bit of a rush, so didn’t stop to fully read the label on this one. My goodness they pack a punch!

I wasn’t expecting whole cloves of garlic either. Vampires beware! In fact people beware. I apologise in advance for my garlic breath tomorrow.

Pity I didn’t buy mouthwash while I was in the shop…

Today is an exciting day. I paid the balance for Big Camp.

Even though I go on a few camps each year, Big Camp holds a special place in my heart. It was the first camp I ever did. OK, so that was a bit of a disaster, but since then, Buddy and I have been going most years. I think I missed one when Buddy was off games, but i still made a guest appearance.

I’ve made so many friends through camps. I’ve made so many friends through horses. I’ve also made so many memories.

Last year, I had a photo shoot with Bert. I think I need to have one this year with Buddy and Bert. I may been helpers for that…?!

I have so many photos I know, but I do love this one from last year’s Big Camp. So here’s to July and the BHS Summer Camp 2026.

Buddy and I completely misjudged the weather today. It was light drizzle when we left the yard. Which turned into torrential downpour halfway round. And resulted in soaked to the skin by the time we were on the way back.

We looked like we’d been snorkelling by the time we got back. A lady even stopped and wound down her car window to tell me that for once, she wasn’t the least bit envious of me riding my horse.

I discovered my jacket is showerproof, not waterproof. There’s a big difference. Now I’ve been soaked before, but this was the first time my socks were soaked! I had squelchy feet by the time we got back.

Buddy was steaming and I was giggling as I squelched and dripped my way round the yard.

My tack was soaked too, so brought it home to dry. It’s still damp now! My boots are dry on the outside, but the insides are still very wet! Hopefully they’ll be dry by tomorrow. I do love the smell of saddle soap in the morning. This could take a lot!

I love the fact my horse is so easy to please. He’s a bit like his Mother – loves anyone who feeds him. He happily takes the leftovers from the other horses. He’s become the yard dustbin in a way. Waste not want not and all that. This included a garlic lick block.

The smell was heady! He was in rapture. I swear his eyes rolled back in his head. I had to take it off him as he was transfixed with it.

Then I had to navigate my way round him without getting smeared with garlicky molasses. That was more of a challenge than taking it away from him…

More productive time spent in the potting shed this evening. My tomato seedlings are now big enough to go out in the hanging baskets and into the planters.

It’s rather exciting to see the first tiny fruits on the ones I’d already planted up. The cucumbers I planted a while back have lots of flowers and tiny little cucumbers too. So cute!

The courgettes have been planted out as well. I managed to rehome a number of them so I now have a more manageable number. I love courgettes so still hoping for a bumper crop.

All in all, very satisfying. There’s something magical about growing your own. And getting your hands in the soil. I’m no Percy Thrower, but I love the process. The results taste so good too! And with the rain, I didn’t need to water them in. Let’s hope they don’t drown though.