I had to go for my mammogram this morning. Still makes me laugh that it was at 9:33am. I arrived early. They started late as their IT system was playing up.

Before anyone panics, this is my 3 year routine scan. Nothing sinister going on. Well the actual scan was pretty uncomfortable. I’m sure the machine must have been designed by a man. It’s hard to get into the right position and painful at times. Still it’s a necessary evil.

The trailer was branded at the Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal, they missed a trick there. It could have been boob-icca. I’m here all week….

I headed to the Spa today for a very well needed massage and Afternoon Tea. My muscles really needed it after last week’s camp. My stomach always needs sandwiches and cakes.

My friend took a photo of the spread and when she sent it over, it looked like I had turned into one of those claw Arcade games. So she asked AI to recreate it. Isn’t it brilliant?! It made me laugh.

I’m all floppy and full. A lovely combo. Good job it wasn’t taken after as there wasn’t much left…

I encouraged one of the yard liveries to come to camp with me. She did and had a fun time. It was her first camp with her horse. She’s nearly 69, so just goes to prove there’s no age limit on horses or camp!

Today, she gave me a gift box to say thank you for giving her the confidence to go and looking after her while we were there.

I’ll let you guess who each gift was for. Let’s just say we were all very happy with her choices.

There are a few old stables next to the field that Buddy is in. My yard owner suggested I clear one out so that Buddy could have a day stable and get out of the sun if he wanted to.

As he was getting a few days off after camp, I thought I’d tackle it. It didn’t take as long as I thought. In fact, fighting with the electric tape took longer.

I thought I’d encourage him to use it by putting a net of haylage in the stable. That worked. He went straight in. Clever boy.

What I hadn’t factored was that the horse in the adjoining field got very confused by Buddy’s ‘disappearance’. When Buddy went in the stable, the other horse called for him. When he came out again, he looked very confused. Several times, Buddy went in and out. The reaction was the same. Clearly the other horse assumed some sort of trickery or black magic.

Horses are very silly sometimes. It did make me laugh though.

Hopefully Buddy will continue to use the stable. Horses are also a bit dense sometimes. He has shade in his field, but seems to enjoy standing in the sunshine. After blistering temperatures, it was actually quite chilly today. No, I am not complaining. Shorts may have been a bit ambitious…

Buddy, Bert and I are back in our respective homes. It’s been a fabulous camp once more. We came home with three rosettes for good measure.

Everyone gets a Camper Rosette. I have nine of those now ( I didn’t get one the year I popped over to help). Buddy got a ‘in great shape’ one for having a pretty perfect body score.

And we topped it off with a red one for winning the show jumping competition.

Given our performance last Sunday, it was just the boost I needed.

Buddy will now get a few days off. I’m sure Bert will be very happy to go for a shorter walk tomorrow after all of his runs in the forest.

Me? I’ll be tackling the now traditional camp clear up. And they say the horse does all the work.

Grateful to everyone who made my decade of camps so special. Considering my first one was a bit of a disaster, I can certainly say that I’ve come a long way in that time.

My partnership with Buddy has too. I often look back at some of our early videos and the progression is incredible. Hard work, dedication and listening to top quality instructors really does pay off.

Here’s to the next one, but for now, I sleep…

We did something a bit different this morning. We did some unmounted groundwork. The instructor had set up an exercise to help mobilise the horse’s ribs. It looked really easy when I watched it…

When it came to our turn. The instructor took Buddy through first. I could see he was working it out. All he has to do was slowly walk from one side of the pole to the other diagonally.

She told me to park him for a minute so he could think about it all. Then it was my turn to take him through. I really struggled to get my body in the right place and my aids at the right time. So she suggested I park for a minute so I could think about it all. That made me laugh.

It worked as I was much better the next time. She’s been teaching us for 9 years now, so she gets us. And definitely me.

This afternoon it was course jumping. It was very hot in the arena. I rode in singing ‘feeling hot, hot, hot’. I know it’s usually for cricket, but it was very apt.

After my unscheduled dismount on Sunday, I wasn’t sure which Buddy I would get. Or whether I would be tight. I needn’t have worried. We were both on good form.

It’s been hard keeping us all cool. We’ve all had a lot of water – on us and in us. I’m so glad I bought extra electrolytes. There has been a lot of sweating.

Last day tomorrow. Always bittersweet. It’s been another brilliant camp.

My lorry has a lovely skylight in the living. I love it, it brings in so much light. A little bit too much sunshine at the moment though. So in true Practical Pip style, I found a solution with a sheet.

It’s really helped to keep my lorry a bit cooler. I might have done a ‘Monica’ in front of my fridge a couple of times.

It’s been rather hot here at camp. We’ve all coped though. This morning I took Bert for a run round the forest before my first lesson. He then retired to sit in front of the fan while Buddy and I went off to sweat.

We had a flat lesson first. We were working on my position and our connection. Interestingly I think I was hotter than Buddy. I’d love to say that I retired to the shade, but there’s always something to do at camp.

After lunch, I did get to chill out in a shady corner and found some breeze, before it was time to tack up again. This time poles. But with wings so kinda like jumping, without the actual jump. It helped work on straightness and positioning. And changing the canter lead. I even got a flying change from Buddy.

After an interesting talk, more chores and dinner, I took Bert back out in the forest as it was cooler. I didn’t see a soul. Bliss!

One of the instructors posed an interesting question today. She asked why I keep coming back to camps. Not in a bad way, but in a curious way. It really got me thinking. I can’t say there’s one reason. There are so many. It’s the learning. It’s the instructors. It’s the venue. It’s the friendships. It’s the time away from life. It’s the lack of responsibilities. It’s the strengthening of my bond with Buddy. It’s the adventure. It’s being fed. I could go on…

We’ve arrived at Big Camp. Decided to come earlier to beat the heat, it’s toasty but there’s a nice breeze.

I’ve got hook up so have had the fridge and the fans going all day to keep Bert cool.

He’s been tearing around and tearing up his toy. There was stuffing and sawdust all over the horse area. His toy had clearly gone in his water bowl too. It was a tad soggy.

Buddy is all settled in too. Eating hay and haylage like he’s never eaten before. He’s clearly happy to be back here, just like me and Bert.

We had a BBQ and a quiz tonight. I was quite impressed with how much I know. Helped it was multiple choice.

Today is an ease in gently kinda day. Tomorrow the lessons begin. The sweating has already started…

Do you think I’ve bought a big enough bag of recovery mash for Buddy?! Not to be outdone, I’ve got more electrolytes for me too.

Do dogs need them?! Sure Bert will be happy to eat some of Buddy’s. Buddy, on the other hand, doesn’t share his mash. In fact, he can’t eat it fast enough!

We’re all packed for Big Camp. This year I will be celebrating a decade of BHS Camps. My first one will forever go down in the history books – for the wrong reasons. Thankfully they let me come back. The eight I’ve done with Buddy have been wonderful (he missed one when he was injured, I still made an appearance).

I’ve met so many wonderful people in that decade. Sad that I won’t see some of them this time though.

Camps really are my happy place. An escape from the chaos of the world. I love learning too, so my brain will be in sponge-mode for the next few days. Let’s hope I don’t need wringing out at the end of it all. At least I have the electrolytes if I do.

Bring on the learning…

I headed over to the Norfolk Showground to help out at the first of the BRC qualifiers Carleton Riding Club were hosting. Today it was dressage and I was stewarding.

If you’ve been on this journey with me for a while, you’ll know how much I love a clipboard. And stewarding. So I was a happy girl. It was funny how many horses wanted to check out my clipboard too. It has a certain charm it seems.

I started with one Arena, ended up with two. Greedy or efficient, I’ll let you decide.

The numbers were down on previous year, which was a shame. Understandable though with the weather, economy and all manner of other stuff going on.

I’m back tomorrow for the second qualifier. This time for the Combined Training and I’ll be competing. Buddy will be there too. Haven’t told him he’s going to do some dressage. At least he gets to jump afterwards.

It’s been quite a while since we did a dressage test on grass. Hell, it’s been a while since we did a dressage test full stop. I’ve decided I’m going to go and enjoy it. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day. Wish me luck!