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!
This is such a horse thing to do. He has a lovely bath, tail and mane wash and he doesn’t even wait for me to leave his field before he drops and rolls.
He was looking lovely and shiny after a great jumping session in the morning sunshine. Not so much after his exuberant roll.
Watching a horse roll really is a weird thing. They’re so graceful on four legs. Buddy look like some sort of demented ninja turtle rolling. And then there’s the old man groan as he gets up. Always makes me laugh.
Headed over to Blickling Estate NT this morning to meet up with camp mates Katie Hall and Vicky Mary (and her daughter Jasmine). It was only last week that we were together at camp, but felt like longer. So great to catch up.
After an hour plus stroll round the estate, I introduced Jasmine to the now famous National Trust Hot Chocolate. Let’s just say she’s an even bigger fan of Blickling after that!
Her pony got a lot of attention too. He was very happy to say hello to the other children we met on our route. And we met another Buddy. This time a dog. He was a very good boy on his first time meeting the horses.
My Buddy’s ears pricked up when everyone said ‘good boy Buddy’. Which of course he was. In fact they all were. And so we’re us girls.
Spent a rather pleasant evening at Carleton Riding Club’s social night.
I’ve met so many people through horses. Some have become my horsey family. It’s lovely to spend time with likeminded people. And we don’t just talk horses…
Horses are the commonality that brings us together. The friendships are built from there. I have people in my life that I’d have never met if it wasn’t for horses.
My life would be very different without them, that’s for sure. In fact I was very miserable without a horse. Very thankful to have Buddy and the horsey people I have around me.
I ended up in Themelthorpe for lunch today. At Junction 21 Tea Room. What a wonderful find that was! Stunning views out across the fields. Made me very happy indeed. I do love it when I can’t see another house. Just nature.
It’s on the Marriotts Way. Somewhere that I’ve realised I’ve not explored yet. So I must rectify that. You can ride along it too I’ve heard. So I’ll have to bring Buddy next time.
Though it might make lunch a bit more of a challenge. Thankfully the owner is horsey, so you never know.
What is it with cats and horse stuff?! Hugo has decided all of Buddy’s stinky stuff is his favourite new sleep place. He spent most of the day there!
He was most disgruntled when I moved him to start washing it. Till he saw the pile of clean stuff and curled up on that instead.
The camp clean up is getting there. As is the inbox wrangling I did today. All 5 of them! The joys of multiple clients.
I also got some surprise visitors when Martine and her sister popped round with some flowers to say thank you for everything I did for the fundraising and show. The mark of her as a person that even though she’s poorly, she still goes out of her way to recognise people. What a woman!
Well we did it! Today’s show at Carleton Riding Club was in honour of this amazing woman – Martine Holden.
I’ve know Martine for a long time now. She’s one of the few people I actively seek out for advice with Buddy. She’s the reason I wanted to go to BHS camp. Now I’ve lost count of how many I’ve been to. She’s the reason I joined Carleton Riding Club. Now I’m on the committee.
So when we decide to do a fundraiser for the charity of her choice, I jumped at the chance to be play a part. Not sure I realised I would have to walk 6.5 miles though!
It’s been a fabulous day indeed. Seeing everyone in their hi-viz competing was just brilliant. People really embraced the cause and the chance to honour Martine.
There was a lot of love shown for her. I haven’t done the final count yet, but we’re heading towards £2,000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Martine, you’ll never know how much you’ve done for me. So I will pay it forward and be more Martine…
Another fab day at camp. This morning it was a play on the XC field. Many moons ago, Buddy and I had an issue with tyre jumps. So I’ve done the classic ‘let’s not do them’.
Today I faced that particular demon and not only that, we jumped the big tyres for good measure. Buddy was loving it! And I had the biggest smile.
Oh and the best bit?! I’ve got another cracking photo for the collection. I can feel a camp montage coming on.
Fear not, the only thing that’s died is my bucket. This is the result of someone having a teenager tantrum because they’d eaten all of their recovery mash. I fear I may have created a monster!
He got a bit of a time-out after that.
Thankfully he was exemplary in his two lessons today. First up was jumping. Finally we’ve cracked the perfect canter that Caroline’s been asking for. Only taken me 6 years!
This afternoon it was flat work with Jo. She put me in resistance bands. Well that was an experience! Not sure my thighs will be the same after that. But definitely helped with my lower leg.
In between, Buddy popped on the Spillers weigh-bridge. He’s now 646kg. Which sounds like a lot, but he’s all muscle. He got a perfect body score.
It’s so lovely to hear how well he’s looking. From many people. Sadly my bucket has seen better days…
Arrived at Forest Edge for our latest training camp. Buddy is such a pro at camp life. And so am I. It doesn’t feel that long ago that we were here before. Well I guess it has only been a few weeks. Feels very good to be back.
We took the horses out for a leg stretch before the welcome BBQ. We honestly didn’t get lost. We just took the slightly scenic route. Pip Nav was actually right. But we ended up adding on an extra loop. Made it back for foo though.
We’re not lost, you are?!
Looking forward to the first lessons tomorrow. Bring on the learning, aching and sweating…
I headed back to the Showground today. This time without Buddy. Typically it was much cooler today. I was soon regretting my decision to wear shorts. After being a hot mess yesterday, I was verging on chilly.
Of course, it could have been that I was there for 7:30am to plait my first horse of the day. In fact I’d plaited both my charges before lunch.
Both judges were very complimentary about the turnout. Always lovely to hear when you do your best to make sure the horses look as good as they can. First horse came first, second came second. Very happy riders too!
That meant the afternoon was free to watch some of the jumping. Well I say that, I didn’t see that much. I kept bumping into people I knew. All in all, a very lovely day.
My own hair is usually a bit of a mess, but I can definitely plait a horse.
Tales, Tails and Talus 