Not right

I’m back home after a wonderful camp. It wasn’t my best camp, but not my worst either. The weather was a bit of a challenge. Talk about sunshine and showers! And blooming cold!

Sadly Buddy isn’t right. Not sure what the issue is, so going to go through the MOT checklist for him. I’ll get to the bottom of it. Or top depending on where the issue is.

Still I got to watch most of the lessons. And we were able to take part but in walk only. Learnt so much though – even in walk. It’s not something I’ve spent much time working on before. I guess I’ve sort of assumed that a horse can walk. Some of the exercises really made my focus on my position and isolating my seat.

Today I learnt how to halt by clenching my bum. Buddy halted square EVERY TIME! Something I’ve really, really struggled with over the past 7 years with him. I swear it’s witchcraft.

Although this camp wasn’t the success I’d hoped for, it was still wonderful being away. It’s always a joy spending time with likeminded people. And of course my Buddy Boy.

Next camp is booked for June. So I need to get Buddy sound and my lorry water tight. It’s good to have a deadline. Wish me luck!

Complaint

Pretty stunning huh?! A beautiful calm sunny day you say? Not for my jumping lesson. I had high winds, rain and hail.

You know the type of weather where you have to laugh as you’re question your life choices. Where you’re coming into a jump eyes closed in the rain praying one of you can see it.

Thankfully Buddy was on great form. He locked onto every jump. Lewis brought a couple of his jumps over for us to have a play with. Buddy ate them up.

He had us working on straightness and curving lines. It wasn’t long ago that Buddy would have had a meltdown at such technical tracks. Now he’s taking me into the jumps. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Typically the wind dropped and the sun came out after we finished. I did put in a complaint that I got the more challenging weather. I guess it was typical eventing weather. Time to break out the body protector and get back to it.

Super pleased with my little boy today.

Posh mayo

I am a big fan of mayonnaise. I am a big fan of truffle. Put them together and I’m a dribbling mess. My dinner just got a lot posher.

And I certainly earned my dinner tonight. So did Buddy. First lesson of 2024, saw us head over to World Horse Welfare. Simon Grieve had set up some simulated XC exercises. An offset double, jumping on the angle and jumping serpentines. So much fun!

It just goes to show how far we’ve come. Buddy ate up each of the exercises and lines.

I think Simon was a little stunned at how well we jumped. At one point, we got a ‘bloody marvellous’. Me being me, I had to check that his comment was about us – and not the fact the lights had been turned on. Indeed it was at us!

Although we kept the heights low, it felt so great to be back jumping. Guess I better start thinking about competitions for 2024. Maybe we can make our jumping posh too with some clear rounds.

Jump for joy

Well that’s it, we did our last clinic of 2023. And it was a really good one! I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it when I woke up feeling pretty rotten.

Dosed myself up, downed a few medicinal lucozades and headed off feeling more human. Thankfully Buddy was feeling rather fine.

We haven’t been to Anvil for a while and the pigs were back by the Arena. Buddy does make me laugh. He’s scared of a pigeon, but give him a field of large loud pigs and he’s like ‘got it Mother’. He even ended up being an emotional support pony for the 5 year old mare who we were sharing the lesson with. She wasn’t happy about the pigs. But Buddy soon reassured her.

It’s been a while since we had a lesson with Simon too. We finished the session popping over some meaty metre jumps. A fabulous way to end our 2023 training. We’ve come such a long way. I’m excited about what 2024 will bring.

Model student

Buddy and I headed over to Forest Edge for the last BHS clinic of 2023. We’ve been to a few this year. And a few camps too. Buddy is such a model student now. Wanders into a stable and soon makes himself at home.

He was even pretty good in the lessons. First up flatwork, where we worked on leg yielding, straightness and showing some medium steps. Not sure we’ll be winning any dressage tests just yet. Very much a work in progress. But we’re trying and that’s what counts.

After lunch, it was more in our comfort zone with a spot of jumping. Of course, we had to navigate the canter poles first. Not a total disaster.

Guess we’ll have to work on them over the Winter. Along with our flatwork. There’s always something huh?!

I’ll miss our trips over to Swaffham. Maybe I should book us in for a competition there? It seems a shame to waste all the training. And Buddy is very happy there.

I may not have been at my best, but I still got a lot from it. I do love learning.

Wet weather gear

Oh my days! What a lot of rain we’ve had today. Now you might be thinking ‘but Pip, you’re British. You should be used to it?!’ It was torrential. In fact, I’m not sure what the next category of rain is after torrential?! Anyone?

I was woken up at 5am as it was so loud on the lorry roof. It didn’t stop all day. But we are far from fair weather riders. And we have wet weather gear. OK, so pretty much everything I brought is now wet as my lorry is leaking. Again. Still it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.

We had been due to go XC schooling at Burnham Market today. Weather put pay to that, so Emily set up a spot of Arena Eventing instead.

Another fab lesson. Even if we were like drowned rats by the end. Buddy flew everything! And I understand finally why I get so many dodgy lines to jump. Definite lightbulb moment.

They say that mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Well here it was mad women in swimsuits go out in the afternoon rain. Buddy got an extra rider after our lesson for a fun photo. She even popped a jump on him. Such fun!

Railway children

We’ve arrived at The Grange for a 3 day training camp. Buddy has a huge stable, a huger bed and if possible, an even huger haynet. Right now he’s loving life.

He might not feel the same when he realises he’s got two lessons tomorrow. Eased him in gently with a leg stretch down a disused railway line.

There wasn’t a soul in sight. About a hundred partridges though.

After a huge Chinese (me, not Buddy), I’m snuggled up in the lorry. Listening to the rain. Storm whatever your name is, please breeze on by. Though I have brought lots of clothes. Just in case.

Cylinders

Good news, the Comedy Car is back. It needed a new fuel injector. So that’s 5 I’ve bought this year as I had 4 replaced on the Buddymobile.

Honestly, I can’t remember needing to have one replaced before. Now 5 in a year. Praying the other 3 keep going.

I think someone is trying to tell me something. Because both of my vehicles are considerably better now they’re firing on all cylinders. The Comedy Car has a turn of speed I haven’t experienced before. I mean, neither are going to break any land speed records, but you get my drift.

Wonder if I’m firing on all cylinders?!

Sleepover

It was an early start for us as Buddy and I have headed over to Forest Edge for a BHS clinic with Jo Winfield. Our first lesson was at 9am. Buddy was a little surprised when I arrived at the yard before 7am. He was even more surprised when rather than go out in his field, he headed towards the lorry.

Thankfully the traffic was kind and we sailed along, making good time.

Buddy is such a pro at B&B now. After our first lesson, he settled into his stable for the night. We’re having a sleepover as we’re demo riders for a CPD day on Arena Eventing.

After lunch, it was on to a jumping lesson. I say after lunch. As we were on at 1pm, I decide to eat afterwards. We haven’t done much jumping recently, so it was really good have the chance to work more on me. In fact that was the theme for both lessons – how my position influences him. Very interesting.

It’s been howling here all day so the Buddymobile could be rocking tonight. Think Buddy and I will both be snoring. Fingers crossed we’re on good form for tomorrow’s demo.

School day

This was one of my Burghley purchases. I got to meet the author and she signed it for me.

I’ve been very lucky to have a couple of lessons with her. She was super informative and really helped us. I learnt a lot in a short space of time. Things I still use today when jumping.

This afternoon I sat in the shade and read it. I do love an informative book. And an informative horsey book is even better. Sure it’ll help once we get back to eventing.

But to be honest, I feel like a winner everyday I get to ride Buddy. Of course, I’m not going to say no to a few more red ones.