Good omens

This made me smile today. I do love it when you get a lovely reminder. I posted this when I was seriously miserable without a horse. Six months later, Murphy would arrive in my life and my adventures with horses would recommence.

Fast forward 16 years and I’m all packed ready take Buddy again to Hickstead tomorrow. We’re competing on Sunday in the BRC Team of 3.

Pip from back then would never believe that I would get to jump at Hickstead once, let alone twice. When I first did back in 2023, it was a lifelong dream come true… {yes I am still going on about it}.

Sunday I hope to do better than our last effort. Regardless of what happens, I’m incredibly proud of the horsey journey I’ve been on. The three horses I’ve had in the last 15 years have brought me so many memories – good and bad.

I’m taking this as a good omen. Of course this was watching the King George V Cup. Our round will be a lot smaller, but just as important. Well to me anyway.

5 years

Today marks 5 years since we entered lockdown. And our lives changed forever. In so many ways, it’s hard to believe it actually happened. It’s like a hazy nightmare or dream. One where you’re not sure if it did or didn’t happen.

I’m still angry, sad, bewildered, grateful and a thousand other emotions. I know others are too. A collective sense of grief for what was, what might have been and what we lost.

Have we’ve truly acknowledged the impacts of Covid? Do we actually know? I joked at the time that it was like we were in a social experiment. Given the current state of the world, I’m starting to wonder if it was.

I read a post today that really made me think. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have wanted to be making the decisions. Looking back, I’m not sure what it actually achieved. We seem to be in a worse state now than before.

I guess time will tell. History is usually written by the victors. Wonder how it will be reflected in all the chaos, scaremongering and lies…

Cat dog

So it appears I might have a cat dog. Bless him, I just sat down for a coffee and he was straight on my lap.

He’s having so many new experiences. Bert’s World is getting bigger all the time. He’s had so many first. It’s so cute watching him dream. Makes some wonder what he’s dreaming about.

Today his biggest excitement has been Nylabones. Mine too! Wow, he was like a puppy possessed. Not complaining. He’s definitely in the piranha phase….

Post

It was an exciting post day today. And a bittersweet one. The wristbands and lorry passes arrived for the BRC ‘Team of 3’ Carleton Riding Club have entered at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead.

I’m excited for those who are competing there for the first time. I’m excited for those returning. I’m excited that our Riding Club gets to be there again this year. I’m sad that Buddy and I won’t be a part of it. Achieving that dream was so last year. I can’t remember if I mentioned it?!?!

I am the Team Manager for the four teams we have entered. So I have played a tiny part in it. I’m hoping to be there as well to cheer them all on. Hickstead will always be a special place for me. It’s a wonderful place and RI is a wonderful show.

Hickstead

We did it! It wasn’t pretty and we had 4 poles but we completed our first round of show jumping at Hickstead. I’m rather emotional to be honest. I’ve wanted to do that since I was a 5-year old horse mad little girl!

Then I didn’t have a horse, a pony or any idea who I would make it happen. But when you have a dream…

One of the fences I had down was the Hickstead planks. The one fence I wanted a photo over. Thankfully fence 1 also contained a plank so I’ve got my photo. Buddy was such a good boy. It was a very buzzy ring with so much to look at. He held it all together and stormed round. A little too fast at times – hence the poles.

I am one very happy, tired, slightly overly emotional Pip. Dreams really do come true.

Buddy and I will both sleep well tonight.

Bucket list

It’s been a bit of an odd day. After a busy few weeks, it was good to have a bit of clear space. I didn’t really achieve much today other than getting clarity on a few things.

A good friends gave me a new mind journal. So this morning I did one of the exercises. It was to write 100 things on your bucket list…

Jeez, that tested my brain. Sure there were some things I could easily put down. But I really struggled to get to 100 (and still haven’t got there).

There was some guidance to write down some that you’ve already done to tick off. I could have easily done that!! I consider myself very lucky to have achieved so many of my bucket list dreams already. A lovely place to be.

The biggest realisation I had was that I’ve become rather uncomfortable dreaming. I wonder if it’s because the last 3 years have been so uncertain. Whatever the reason, I’m going to keep pondering and I will get to 100 things.

Rolex

This came up on my memories today. 7 years ago I was ticking another thing off my horsey bucket list. The Rolex, Kentucky. It was an incredible experience.

I was listening to a build-up podcast about this year’s event as I drove home from Birmingham. Sounds like it’s going to be another special event. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to Burghley, Badminton and Kentucky. There are a few more 5* events I’d love to go to. As well as WEG, the Olympics and HOYS to name a few.

So as I drove, I mentally created my updated horsey bucket list. And I want to do the Grand Slam in Eventing and Show jumping! Dream big they say. So that’s mine!

Stubble dreams

Oh how we’d love to go for a blast on the stubble. Buddy and I will have to keep dreaming though. We’re not allowed on these fields. I’m very grateful for the off-road hacking we have, so I wouldn’t want to break the rules. As tempting as this looks….

It’s definitely an equestrian thing. To look at a stubble field or a beach and think bring on the galloping….. 😝

Lucinda

For a very, very long time, I’ve had a dream to have a lesson with my eventing heroine, Lucinda Green. Today that dream came true!!!

It was utterly brilliant. I learnt so much. My god it was hard work! She doesn’t take any prisioners!!

After yesterday’s cool temperatures, today was roasting. Totally got my layering wrong. Buddy and I were both sweaty messes by the end of the 2 hours.

It was full on from start to finish. Some incredibly technical XC-style jumps in the gorgeous arena in Newmarket.

I may have overheated a little. Bit like my lorry on the way there. 🤦🏻‍♀️Grateful for a friendly lorry driver who came to our aid. Thank god for sign language as he didn’t speak English.

Still we got there and back in one piece.