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!
What a lovely day at Burnham Market Horse Trails. Caught up with so many people and watched some incredible combinations. Came away feeling very inspired, if a little wind burnt!
Burnham is one of my favourite events. Sadly we’ve lost so many events from the region. Thankfully this one is still in the eventing calendar. Long may that continue…
It’s been a rather random day. I spend 1.5 hours going nowhere on A47. There was an accident so I had to reschedule my meeting.
Sounds like a bad one. They closed both carriageways. So as soon as I could get off, I headed back home.
Given my plans had changed, I thought I’d take the old lino from the Buddymobile to a flooring shop to see if they had an offcut that would work. Thought I’d picked up both bits. Turns out I’d only picked up one. Didn’t matter as when I arrived, the shop was shut.
As I was getting back in the car, having wrestled the lino in the wind down the road and into the car, said wind caught my car door and closing it on my foot. Good job I was wearing my sturdy yard boots.
Good job I can laugh at my own ineptitude too. I’m blaming the eclipse.
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.
Blimey it was a tad windy today. I didn’t realise just how windy it was till we got off the yard. The good news is that Buddy isn’t bothered by the wind. Neither am I. I know some riders and horses are. Very grateful for that.
Not sure Buddy was grateful for my singing as I sang ‘wind beneath my wings’ to him. Honestly everyone’s a critic. Good job he can’t see the reel I made from our hack.
Well the wind has picked up today. Typical after the freezing temperatures have warmed up. Still it didn’t stop us heading out for a wind-assisted hack. It felt great to be able to get off the yard. Even if our words were blown away. A lot.
I really need to sort Buddy’s mane out. He was so windswept by the time we got back. He does seem to be able to rock the Mohawk though.
I was sent this and it made me smile. It’s very true. Buddy really helped to blow my malaise away. That and the fact it was very windy today.
Tomorrow will be a tough day. But it’s also a joyous day too.
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.
A very windy ride round Blickling this morning. Made me think of the song ‘Dust in the wind’. Though it was a bit more like ‘dust in my eyes’.
Given it’s the Easter holidays, I’d expected it to be rather busy. Thankfully it wasn’t bad when we arrived. Much busier by the time we got back to the lorry. Lots of twists and turns around the estate today. And lots of off-roading. Still not sure I’ve seen all of it yet! I’ll just have to keep going back.
I saw this quote today and it made me smile. I’m definitely an outdoor girl. After being ‘grounded’ yesterday, today it was lovely to be out and about again.
Dropped The Comedy Car off at the garage. Picked up The Buddymobile instead. Grateful that I have alternative transport – even if it’s a bit more of a challenge to park.
After meetings and cracking through my to-do list, I sat on the conservatory steps to drink my coffee. There was some warmth in the sun but the wind had some bite to it still. It filled my soul, that’s for sure.
I headed to the yard to meet a friend and her two daughters. They wanted to see Buddy. They helped me poo-pick his field (child labour at its finest). Gave him a lovely groom. Then came for a wander with us round the field. So lovely to be able to share my love of horses with them.
What a difference a day makes! After the howling gales yesterday, today was much calmer.
Buddy and I headed over to Blickling to meet up with Katie and Archie. She treated me to lunch afterwards. I’ve been making a real effort with my fuelling lately. I took a Huel shake with me yesterday for after my lesson. And again today. But let’s face it, a cheese and tomato toastie and a hot chocolate is much better than a shake!
Tales, Tails and Talus 