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!
The chiro may have gotten a bit excited today when she saw raindrops on the window today. Till I told her it was the window cleaner.
I, on the other hand, was not as thrilled when I was woken up at 3am by heavy rain and thunderclaps overhead. I’m not going to complain as we desperately need the rain. And it gave me something to chat about at work today. Weirdly it seems it was another localised storm as none of the clients had had rain last night.
I‘d forgotten just how stunning Burghley House is. It was definitely worth the 5:30am alarm call to get there for the final inspection. Having been away, I hadn’t had a chance to catch up on any of the XC action from yesterday. It seems like it was a tough track so there weren’t as many as I’d expected.
Got to watch some great show jumping and thrilled for Alice Casburn and Piggy March! Norfolk girls representing!!
It’s been an amazing weekend. I’ve driven nearly 400 miles. Spend some time with wonderful people. Achieved something I didn’t think I could. I’m now flopped on the sofa watching the Burghley highlights. I’m officially shattered.
I felt this needed its own post. There’s a lot to cover, so brace yourself. It could be a long one. I am so proud of Buddy. It’s the furthest we’ve travelled. Our first stay away competition. And my god it was a big one!
I’ve been to big horse shows before. Hell I grew up near Hickstead and that’s pretty big. But I hadn’t expected it to be as big as it was. Our first NAF Five Star British Riding Club Championships was very special indeed.
We had a long wait as we weren’t jumping till 3:45pm in the first round. But that didn’t mean I had an easy day. I walked backwards and forwards trying to see all the other Carleton RC members in action. I also did a stint stewarding one of the dressage rings. Which turned into two rings as there was a no-show for thier steward. Good job I’m used to multi-tasking and love a clipboard. Two clipboards and I was in heaven!!
Finally it was our time. Watching everyone else do so brilliantly, I really wanted to do well. More than anything, I just didn’t want us to embarrass the club.
Buddy warmed in beautiful. However, the collecting ring was heaving and he got rather tense. As did I. Quick pep-talk and we settled. He had ants in his pants and wanted to get on with it. And when we entered the ring, he did. He stormed round the course, hardly looking at anything. Sadly we had 4 poles. But that’s OK. He did what I asked of him and it was a very buzzy atmosphere. With 5 rings running constantly and an awful lot to look at!
Then it was onto Round 2. Now when I qualified, it was run over the same course. As this was the Champs, it was a different course in a different ring. That ring was running early (whereas my first round was running late), meaning we didn’t have long to wait before it was our turn again.
The downside to walking both courses together was that I’d spent so long visualising how I was going to ride the first course, I’d forgotten how I’d walked the second course. As a result, it didn’t had the flow I wanted. And sadly we were eliminated. The commentator made a comment about a sad end to my day. Not a bit of it!! I was thrilled with the day as I wasn’t totally sure if I’d actually get Buddy in the ring!
I must have been the happiest person after getting eliminated.
Once more, my team mates did amazingly and our team came home with 7th place out of 22. So not only did we compete at our first Championships, we came home with a placing!
Next year, we will be better.… I’ve already said I want to do it again. Thank you for all the messages of support. It means so much.
Buddy is tucked up in bed. And so I am. We will both sleep well tonight.
This made me laugh this morning. Buddy must have had a good night as he ended up with rather a lot of his bed in his water bucket.
We’ve arrived in Lincoln for the Champs. Really good journey here earlier. Buddy travelled like a dream. I was a bit worried that he wasn’t eating his haynet till we arrived and I saw he’d eaten the back of it.
He wasn’t keen on the stable as he walked in and straight back out. He liked it considerably more when he realised there was grass in it. Actual green grass too!! A rare sight for us Norfolk folks.
Took him for a leg stretch before dinner. He was absolutely brilliant with the heavy traffic going past on the bypass. Not so sure about the footballers on the pitch. Though he did show some rather nice passage. 😆
Walked both courses for tomorrow. They look OK. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.
Now tucked up in my little lorry for the night. Everyone is being so supportive and lovely. It’s great to be part of a team. Oh and we’ve got a medal for getting here. A proper one too. What a lovely touch.
I woke up in a very determined mood today. It resulted in an awful lot of things getting ticked off my various to-do lists. I say various, I mean I have a lot of lists. One for each of my clients. One for Buddy. One for me. One for the house. One for food shopping. I do love a list!!
There’s a new list too called ‘Champs’. That’s had a few things ticked off as well. Printed my numbers, a map of the show ground and a few other bits of information, just in case.
Sadly Hugo is not on the ‘Champs’ list. He will be very disappointed when I take my bedding to the lorry tomorrow. I’m now more excited than nervous. Fingers crossed it stays like that.
Buddy had a spa day today. He started the day with a sports massage. And finished with a pedicure. Honestly, he’s such a pampered boy. But he’s totally worth it!
He definitely has a bigger support team as I do! It’s working as he’s looking amazing right now.
Headed over to Salhouse Broad for a ‘walk and talk’ this morning. I saw this family of swans. I do love swans. They’re so elegant and serene. I’ve made a career out of being a swan – serene on the surface but the legs going like the clappers underneath.
It’s a good skill to have, to keep your head when things aren’t going to plan. I’m trying to bring that to every part of my life.
It seems to be working with our jumping too. We were flying this afternoon in our final lesson before we head off to the Champs. They were ‘a good metre’. Which we know is instructor code for frigging huge.
I filled up the lorry ready for the off on Friday. Only £160 to fill it up! I nearly passed out at the pump. But this could be our only chance to represent our riding club at a Champs. So balls to it! And I love toast…
Early start this morning as I headed to The Aylsham Show to help Samantha Hayes with her Haffy’s. I ended up being an au pair for her yearling. She’s sassy but super cute!
Lovely to be back at the Aylsham and catch up with so many people.
Another horsey outing without doing the horsey thing. Time to get back to doing the horsey thing though. We’ve got a big week ahead of us! Buckle up Buddy, we’re off to play with the big boys and girls.
Fear not good people, Buddy and I haven’t entered the boards. But I did get to watch some dressage today. It was fun being at a horse thing, without doing the horse thing.
Great catching up with some lovely people. And being extra groom and videographer. Saw this quote on the toilet wall and it made me smile. It’s rather apt too.
It might be time for me to dust off Buddy’s dancing shoes as well. Kinda felt a bit inspired watching it today. Of course, that may pass…
Tales, Tails and Talus 