I’ve spent a lot of today getting ready for camp. My last camp was only back in September, but it’s like my mental checklist has been erased or misplaced or something.

I think the fact that so much lives on Toby is throwing me off. With the Buddymobile, I had to take a lot of things on and off. Toby is luxurious and spacious in comparison. I kept thinking ‘where is that?’, then I remember – already packed.

I nearly forgot the dressage squares I now need being the proud owner of a fancy pants dressage saddle. It’s been a very long time since I took two saddles to camp. Let’s hope it makes a difference to my riding. Otherwise we really will look ‘all the gear’.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little apprehensive about camp. I know I will have an amazing time. With some wonderful friends. And with the Oversized Labrador and the Baby Sprocker. So where does the apprehension come from?

It was two years ago at the April camp that it became very clear that Buddy wasn’t right. That thought is always at the back of my mind. I’m not sure where our fitness levels are either. Is he fit enough for six lessons? Am I?

But there’s are normal questions. I know that whatever happens, I will improvise, adapt and overcome…

It was Bert’s first camp a year ago. That was a baptism of fire in my compact and bijoux lorry. It definitely planted the seed that I needed a bigger lorry. I made that happen too. Dear Toby came into my life at the right moment. A bit like Bert.

Of course, I wince at the moment filling Toby up. My old lorry wasn’t cheap to run either. Right now, I think we’re all wincing at the price of fuel. And everything else for that matter.

I could focus on the negatives and the downsides. Of course I could. I’m an optimistic realist. It’s pretty crap right now. But there is so much good out there too. I took Bert out for a stompy walk. I sat in the garden drinking a coffee and then did a bit of weeding.

Life is an adventure. Let’s see what happens on my next one…

We’re heading off for our first training camp of the year on Sunday so I thought I’d stock up on camp provisions.

I have feed, hay and haylage for Buddy. I have food and treats for Bert. I will be fed while I’m there. But you can never have too many snacks. Right?!

Toby is stocked up with water, sports drinks, cereal bars, crisps and other bits. One of the modules on my Centre10 course was about peak performance. I make sure Buddy is hydrated, well fed and rested. Whereas I am often over-tired, dehydrated and in a calorie-deficiency. Yet I still expect myself to be on it. And not just riding, I often forget to eat.

So this is my attempt to try and be better. Whatever I don’t use at camp, will stay on for other trips.

I’m really excited about our first camp. I know Bert will be excited to be back in the forest. Let’s hope Buddy is happy to be back too. I know he’ll enjoy the two bags of carrots I bought for him.

Now we all know that I love a camp, but today was a very different one. It was the Centre10 Spring Camp at Onley. Now that I’m a Centre10 Accredited Coach, I got to join the other coaches for even more learning.

It was lovely meeting people who are further long with their journeys. Quite a few of my cohort stayed too, so I got to spend more time with them too.

The theme for today was Confidence: Built by design. Confidence is so hard to explain. It’s very personal, fluid and a bit fickle at times. But there are some guiding principles which we explored today.

We were also treated to demo by the one and only Jason Webb. I’ve seen his work on TV, so seeing him in action was a thrill. He’s a Centre10 coach too. He took two different combinations through a groundwork lesson. It was fascinating to watch.

He has a sixth sense with horses. Made me want to come home and try stuff with Buddy. It also made me see where I’ve been going wrong with him and giving him confusing messages. Clarity, consistency and confidence go hand in hand it seems.

It’s been a brilliant two days away. Bert was pleased to see me when I picked him up. He’s had a lot of fun playing while I’ve been away. Once more, I’m grateful to the amazing people I have in my life who look after my boys while I’m away.

Bert is snoring. I’m chilling after the drive home. I spent most of it processing the past two days of learning. Looking forward to seeing the Oversized Labrador tomorrow.

More learning next week as we are off to our first training camp. So that’ll be fun…

Well that’s another certificate for the collection. I’m very proud of this one. I started the Centre10 APEC programme six months ago with three days in Bath. Since then I’ve been plugging away at the modules. Today was the final part in Rugby.

I’ve really enjoyed this course. I found the subject matter interesting. It’s based around sports psychology, but aimed at Equestrian Coaches. Some of it I grasped quickly as it aligns with some of the other courses and qualifications I’ve done. Other bits really challenged me. In a good way.

I wasn’t expecting to do a deep dive into my own stuff along the way. It’s given me insights into me as a rider as well as means a coach.

One of my reflections was how I felt like a total imposter on Day One. I’m a BHS 0, an enthusiastic amateur (focus on the enthusiastic) rider. Being in a room with Fellows, Performance Coaches and people who’d achieved things I couldn’t imagine was rather daunting. Then we started the course and I realised my life experiences, career and coaching qualifications brought a different perspective. Things I found easy and comfortable, threw others for a loop. Just goes to show we’re all different. And all have our strengths.

I’ve learnt a lot about myself. It’s highlighted more areas that I need to look at. And given me more strategies to help. Sure I have a lot of tools in my toolbox, this has given me even more…

I’m off on another jaunt. This time to Rugby for the final part of my Centre10 course and a CPD day.

Looks like a little bit of Bert came with me. I found one of his balls in my coat pocket. How ball will travel! He’s having a blast on his holidays. He’s found a ball already. A spaniel obsessed with a ball, whatever next?!

One thing I enjoy about a road trip is that I get to catch up on training or podcasts. I had to stop one I was listening too as I couldn’t hear it over the sound of the rain. It was so heavy I could barely see the road. Talk about April showers.

I’m really looking forward to the next two days. Let the learning begin….

I’m not one to get all political, but jeez, what is going on in this world right now?! It’s all gone a bit mad again.

Just when you thought it could get any madder, another thing appears. This week has been mental. Right now, if a portal to hell opened up, I think we’d all just laugh. I feel like we’ve slipped into another social experiment or something. Social media and the media aren’t helping matters. We weren’t designed to be bombarded like this.

I woke up feeling distinctly meh. When the world feels crazy, it’s hard to stay grounded. So I took to nature. And left my phone on the side. Over the years, I’ve found that when I feel overwhelmed or stressed, being outside massively helps. Even being able to see greenery is enough. I remind myself that the world is still turning and this moment will pass.

OK so right now, I wish this moment would hurry up and pass, but you get my drift…

Does anyone know where the reset button is? Feels like we could do with one.

I went to meet a friend for lunch today and spotted this beautiful peacock on the way out.

How stunning does he look?! I love peacocks. They are so majestic. Well till the squark. It’s a rather odd sound.

I remember when I first bought Murphy, the yard I was on had peacocks. They used to love running across the ménage. Now Buddy has to face the odd cat, pheasant and killer pigeons. Not sure how he would be with a peacock. Oh wait, he met one during a lesson once. He wasn’t a fan… unlike the peacock who put on a full show for him.

Buddy got rather impatient while he was being shod and has managed to take a chunk off his hoof. He was a bit footy when we trotted him up afterwards. It’s now part of his post-shoeing routine after he had a tiny bit of nail bind a few years ago. My farrier recommended a few days rest to let it settle.

A friend had asked us to join her for a ride round Blickling today. As Buddy couldn’t go, Bert and I went to be foot soldiers for her.

She’s been working on her hacking confidence. I’ve been helping her. This was the next step – her hacking solo with support if she needed it. She left us several times to go solo. So proud of how far she’s come.

We all have our wobbles from time to time. There’s a great phrase ‘your OK is someone else’s exceptional ’. Hacking is such a part of my horsey life, but I’ve had my wobbles over the years. I guess it’s why I try to help others overcome their wobbles. That and helping others makes me feel good.

Bert had a lovely time walking along. My legs are feeling it. As much as I loved walking round today, I’d rather have been onboard myself. We talked just as much as if I had been…

Buddy had new shoes today. Nothing unusual there. Except this time my farrier had made the shoes himself. You can really see the difference in Buddy’s front feet. I always joke that he has a stiletto and a flip flop.

He has one flatter hoof and one upright hoof. It can mean that he has a slightly uneven footfall at times. There’s nothing wrong. He’s been like that the whole time I’ve had him and he doesn’t seem bothered by his odd front feet.

As horse owners, we can become obsessed with our horses confirmation. I get it, but at the same time, you show me a rider with perfect confirmation. Mine is shocking!

What a gorgeous day it’s been. Not always the case for a bank holiday. It felt really good to sit with the sun on my face. Not that I actually sat for that long…

I tried to spend as much time outdoors as I could. But not do too much. Always a bit of a challenge for me. There was a lot I could have done. Don’t get me wrong, I did stuff.

Buddy definitely appreciated having the sun on his back. I took his rug off when I went to poo pick his field.

Bert was happy to bake himself in the garden. Well when he wasn’t waiting for me to throw his toy. It made weeding a little difficult.

I managed to get two loads of washing dry on the line. There’s something about the smell of line dried washing. It’s very satisfying too as it’s one job done in one day rather than having to wait for it to dry. Of course it meant that I had to put it away.

All in all a rather lovely Easter Monday.