Welcome to blog! I started it in 2020 to chart my recovery from breaking my ankle (hence the name). I guess no-one saw a global pandemic coming. It's turned into a place where I can talk about the things happening in my life, my horse and my cats. Enjoy!
Author: langlep
So 2020 was going to be my year. The year I got my life sorted after being served redundancy notice from my job in November 2019. The year I ticked off more things from my horsey bucket list. The year I got my mental health back under control and reduced stress in my life.
I had a plan. And it was a good one. Then the plan changed dramatically on 2 January. I came off my horse at speed and broke my ankle. Badly. Like all good equestrians, I got back on and rode back to the yard, sorted Buddy out and then drove myself to A&E. That’s where this journey really began...
I was sent home from A&E and told to crack on, only to receive a phone call later to say they’d missed a fracture (and a rather serious one at that). Whoops! So fracture clinic on 3 January, surgery on 5 January and home to recover.
I started this blog as a way to chart my recover back to the saddle. As I cleared clinics and competitions out of my diary and wondered what the next few months would bring, it's been a safe space for me to say how I'm feeling.
The new plan was to get a new job, to keep Buddy is kept ticking over and recover from my injury. Another good plan! I didn't expect a global pandemic, lockdown and all that happened in 2020.
This blog has changed over time but it's continued to be my safe space to share the things going on in my life, with Buddy and the cats. Enjoy!
Bert got to pay it forward today. He met 13 week old Barney for a puppy play date. Oh my day, he’s a total cutie. Reminds me how tiny Bert was when he had his first outings.
Barney belongs to my friend, so while we caught up over coffee, the boys played. That meant that there was a bit of coffee spilt. Bert decided to get himself tangled round the picnic table.
Barney and Bert had a lovely time together. Barney has his first bit of pupcake. He was a fan! Bert is definitely a fan of them. He wolfed his down.
It’s going to be fun watching them grow up together…
This sums up my day. Now you might be wondering why? Well it seems that I spent a large proportion of the day walking around with my t-shirt on inside out!
You’d think by now I would be able to dress myself. Clearly not. It was only when I was telling my farrier that my day wasn’t quite going to plan, did he point out my mistake. See, sums it up.
Thankfully I didn’t have any video calls in my diary. That could have been interesting. Nothing bad happened today. Things just didn’t run as smoothly as I’d have liked. I have days like that. Most days are pretty good. And I can dress myself properly…
I made several mistakes today. The first one was turning on one of my clients’ laptop. I was greeted with ‘the blue screen of death’. Thankfully they have IT support on standby, so I only lost an hour or so getting back in.
Technology is amazing. When it works. When it doesn’t, it’s rather frustrating. Still I got there in the end.
That put me a bit behind, so felt like I was chasing my tail. I forgot to put fly spray on Buddy before our ride so he wasn’t happy. Then I thought I would pop to the shop on the way home. I needed a few bits. And had kinda skipped lunch. When will I learn to never go food shopping when I’m hungry?!
I ended up buying more than I’d planned and more than I needed. Thank goodness for the chest freezer. I also bought something for my dinner that seemed to take an age to actually cook. Imagine a rather hangry Pip having a stern word with said food.
Still it was very tasty when it was cooked. I now have a full fridge, a full freezer and a full tummy. I also got some snacks and drinks ready for camp next week. Let’s see if I can remember to actually take them this camp…
Just finished watching the coverage of Burghley. Yes I’m rather behind. Utterly thrilled for Ros and Walter. What a partnership! To win either Badminton or Burghley is a huge big deal. But to win them both. Twice. Is epic!
This photo came up on my memories from my first trip to Burghley back in 2012. Cottesmore Leap is utterly vast. Watching the horses pop through it like it was a 90cm is awe inspiring to say the least.
Once again, you could see how much the horses love running and jumping. The trust they have in their rider and themselves is there to see. Same with the riders. They trust these horses. But that takes a long time to build. These combinations are at the peak of their game. It’s been years and years getting there.
I’m sure I will always love eventing. Whether watching it or competing. I’ve been very lucky to go and see a lot of top Eventing this year. It’s so inspiring. Now I have a winter of training to see if Buddy and I can get back out there. Bring on the big jumps…
Bert and I headed to Burghley Horse Trails today. It’s XC day! Burghley is always a favourite. I’ve been going for a long time now. I first went in 2012. It’s been a feature in my diary most years since then.
I was very lucky to have a free day out too. A friend of mine had been given tickets for her Christmas present, but her husband didn’t want to go. So I did! I drove as a thank you.
It was her first time. She was rather impressed that I could find it without the need of a sat nav. And how easily I found my way around. She was also very impressed with my 5 star pup!He’s becoming quite the eventing pro now. That was his second 5 star and he’s not a year yet! He’s also been to two 4 stars as well.
He’s really got the hang of this eventing lark. He still dragged me round the course. Which given the undulation was quite welcome at times. He met lots more people who have him lots of fuss. He also wanted to run with the horses. Hence the control halter. I refuse to be one of ‘those people’.
We didn’t walk the whole course. My friend wasn’t up to that. She’s got a few health issues. But we still managed over 7 miles. I’m sure we will all sleep well tonight. Well I will. She and Bert slept most of the way home.
First time for him. First time for my friend. And first time I’ve come home with no shopping… Who knew that was possible?!
One of the liveries was heading off to BD Camp over at Forest Edge this weekend. Her lorry wouldn’t start. The mechanic couldn’t get it going. I’ve been there and know how frustrating and disappointing that can be.
So I got to do a kind thing. I offered to take her horse over in my lorry. Then drove back in her car (I had flashbacks to the Comedy Car). She was very grateful. My lorry is having a holiday over there without me. I’ll go back and pick them up on Sunday.
It does mean that she will have slept more nights in it that I have so far. I will make up for it though…
One of the liveries at the yard suggested we go for a coffee today. Seemed a rather sensible way to wait out the rain showers. So we headed to the village pub that’s just reopened…
Wasn’t expecting this wallpaper. Let’s just say it’s a bold choice! As we were both a bit pungent from the yard, we thought we’d spare the other patrons and sit out of the way. That mean sitting in front of the wallpapered wall.
What we hadn’t factored on was that several people wanted to check out the wallpaper. So suddenly our lunch turned into something akin to a Tate Modern Art installation.
It’s really rather off putting when you’re trying to eat with people standing in front of you looking over your head.
Being good Brits, there was a lot of explaining and apologising from them. And quite a bit of giggle from us.
Can’t work out if I really like the wallpaper or I find it a bit creepy. I mean, I like goats…
Today’s been a bit of a weird one. Things seem to have taken me longer to do than usual. Things haven’t quite worked out how I planned them. A few things have unsettled me. Not the best start to the week or a new month.
September means lots of things for me. Burghley Horse Trials for one! I’m very much looking forward to my outing there on Saturday. Burghley has been a feature in my diary for so many years now.
I love watching the leaves change colour. I love the freshness of the air in the mornings and evenings. I’m sure there will be many occasions when I’m questioning this love as I’m freezing my backside off somewhere with Bert or Buddy. But you get my drift.
It also heralds the return of the geese to the bird reserve. Buddy will be thrilled at the low-flying, honking monsters return. That’ll be spook-fodder for a few rides.
Bert, on the other hand, thought it was great when he met them today. He quickly cleared the field. Fear not, there was little chance of him catching one or upsetting them too much. I’m not sure he has a stealth-mode?! They flew off when he started barking…
I took Buddy for a spot of show jumping over at Forest Edge. As I drove there, I realised this was actually the first time I’d taken him there to compete! Bonkers huh?!
I have lost count of the times we have been there for camps or clinics. But not competitions. After today, I think we will be competing there again. It was a very good competitive debut.
I’d entered the 70cm and 80cm. After our rather disappointing Hickstead, I went with the aim of letting it flow and see what happened.
Arrived in good time to find they were running a bit behind. By the time I got ready, the course walk was on. With my new show shirt and new lucky socks (need to ride in my new competition boots before I actually compete in them), I checked out the course. It was quite twisty, but flowed too.
Thought I’d watch a couple before tacking up. That was a bit of a mistake as the first few were either eliminated or had poles down. So decided to just go with it.
When it was our turn, my little boy absolutely flew round. Till we got to the new Bearts jump. He backed off, I growled and shouted ‘it’s the food lorry’. That worked as cleared it – along with everything else for a double clear!!
There were some speedy ponies in the class, so imagine how thrilled I was to get 5th place. It was a big class too with 32 forward.
That had exceeded my expectations. So moving on to the 80cm, again, I just kept thinking let it flow. It’s our first 80cm competitive round since his injury last year, so wasn’t sure how he’d be. He was awesome. I fiddled and he took two poles out. But I’m over the moon.
My little boy is back and I’m getting my competition mojo back again.
This morning I took the Buddy over to Blickling to meet a friend for a lovely ride. It was my first trip there in my new lorry. Sadly, it was also my first prang in it. I’m still adjusting to the size and misjudged the rather narrow entrance to the car park…
I was so busy trying not to hit the athe gate and fence post, I didn’t notice the sign sticking out. So it took some paint off. It’s cosmetic and can be fixed.
I broke a bit off one of the headlight too as I tried to squeeze in. So frustrated with myself. And yes reader, I cried! Lots.
My wonderful friend scooped me up and made me feel better as she’d done something similar. I’m sure I’m not the first person to do it. But I’m gutted.
I am so thankful that we are allowed to ride on the National Trust estate. They actively encourage it. So it’s a bit frustrating that it’s difficult to park when you get there.
Don’t get me wrong, I know I got it wrong. I held my breath going back out. Thankfully that was easier.
We rode for 1.75 hours round the estate. As annoyed with myself as I was, I tried really hard not to let it spoil a lovely day out.
Tales, Tails and Talus 