Red hot

Another fab horsey day out for me. Stewarding the SJ at Blackwater Farm’s ODE. It was a glorious day. Unfortunately my suncream application skills are far inferior to my ability to get every rider through the SJ phase. Let’s just say Aloe Vera is my friend right now.

A lovely Brucey Bonus today was meeting this incredible human being. Many of you might follow her. She’s the person behind Muddy Mayhem. And part of my favourite podcast Buck Off Banter.

She’d dusted off her eventing boots after a hiatus and smashed it out of the park! Got me thinking that maybe it’s time to dust off mine. I do miss it. So time to refresh my goals and kick on. Better warn Buddy he needs to crack out his brave pants!

Might need to wait till I stop glowing though. Not sure I could any kind of boots on right now. The backs of my legs are on fire! Bit like Karla.

Man’s best friend

Back home after a lovely flying visit to Suffolk to catch up with Simon and Harry. And Bailey of course. He does love his Auntie Pip. I got to meet their new puppy too. My goodness, he’s a bundle of energy and fluff!

It’s always good for my soul to go and spend time with them all. We had a BBQ feast for dinner. So I can home feeling refreshed, refuelled and ready to go again.

I’m very lucky to have such special people in my life.

Snorer

Apparently it was Black Cat Appreciation Day yesterday. Totally missed that one. Though pretty much every day is in my book. I’ve always loved black cats. Maybe I was a witch in a former life?!

My little panther is snoring beside me. He’s very content indeed.

Dulcet tones

I was invited to judge and commentate at the first John Lake Riding Club show tonight. I had a co-commentator for a bit when this sweet little pup joined in.

It was a lovely, low key show. Perfect for those starting out or wanting to boost their confidence. It was great watching everyone in action.

Buddy and I will be joining the action no doubt.

I had lots of complements on my commentators voice. Seems I really do have a voice for radio….

Camp not camper

Headed over to Forest Edge today to catch up with the last BHS campers of 2023. I’ve done three of the four camps but decided to sit this one out.

It was lovely to catch up with everyone. And very different being at camp without a horse. Today is an exciting day as the dates for next year’s camps were released. They’re already in my diary. Along with an alarm on the day the bookings open.

Camps are my happy place. Closet I get to a holiday. Time away with like-minded people, learning lots and bonding with Buddy. And I get fed. A lot. There’s really no downside.

Therapy

This is by far the best therapy I can think of. Just me, my little boy and the sunshine. I know there are lots of my friends who totally get it. I know that there are others who don’t.

We all have our thing. This is definitely mine. After feeling overwhelmed yesterday. Today I felt grounded, calm and able to breath. Amazing what a few hours in the sunshine and fresh air can do for you.

Proud

I woke up this morning feeling like the walls were closing in. It can happen when I feel tired, overwhelmed or I’m processing things. So I sat with it, reflected back on the past few years and talked it through with a good sounding board.

I’m nearly at the end of my second year of running a limited company. I’m so proud of my business. I’ve come a long way in the last financial year. It’s hard work being the boss. It’s uncertain a lot of the time. There are lots of benefits too.

It doesn’t feel very British to say that I’m proud of myself. But I really am! I’ve had many moments where I’ve doubted if I could make the money I needed to pay my mortgage, my bills and for Buddy. The money has arrived when I needed it. And for that I’m very grateful.

Is my business where I want it? Not yet. But it’s a lot better than it was. I know I’m bloody good at what I do. My clients are very happy with what I do too. And I get paid to do things I enjoy doing. I’m very lucky indeed.

Stubble

We headed over to Sam’s to have a pony play date with Halo and a stubble field.

Oh it was such fun cantering round. Buddy was up for it too. He set off like an Exocet missile. Thankfully he listened when I asked him to come back to me. And when he realised he’d left Halo behind.

He was happy to tuck in behind her and even trotted next to her while she cantered along. Bless him. He’s a bit of a gent sometimes.

Makes a change from his hooligan antics on our own. He does make me laugh. I think we both needed a good blow out.

Astroturf

I’ve seen a lot of XC courses with astroturf jumps on them. So I pimped one of my jumps today. Doesn’t it look great?

I put it in the arena along with a mix of SJ and XC style jumps and popped Buddy round them.

He did jumped the astroturf jump but I could tell he wasn’t reading it right. We had a couple of stops at it. And a glorious stag leap. So I made a few adjustments and put some poles across it to help him.

Think I might need some white battons on it. Still really pleased with my DIY jumps. Anyone else look at objects and think what kind of jump they’d make..?!

True value

Good news for a Friday. The Buddymobile passed its MOT. The bad news is that it cost a pretty penny to get through. It’s only money, right?!

Seems it conked out on Wednesday cause there was a blockage in the diesel filter. Whatever that is?! But whatever it is, I have a shiny, new one.

They fixed all the little niggles too so let’s keep everything crossed this is the last big bill I get.

As I was driving back, I was thinking about the true value of things. My little lorry may sometimes cost me, but the value I get from it outweighs it. We’ve had so many adventures in it. Made so many memories. And had a lot of fun.

I walked back from the yard after dropping the lorry back. I stopped to pick blackberries and admire the view. What value can you put on that?!