"This year is about as depressing as it can get - the South of England (where I am ensconced) is as wet as it has ever been. I have only got five horses in, but the continual rotation of ever wet rugs, gateways are like mud baths.

The local shot seem to find it necessary to kill the three nearest pheasants to my yard regularly, but last week they took the biscuit on the very day I decide to lead in four 16.2hh dutch warmbloods at the same time. I wasn't in a very good mood to begin with (owing to the fact that the local shop has decided not to stock Bombay Sapphire), but being pulled face down and then jumped over was the perfect end to a perfect day!

By the time they had been caught, after demonstrating passage and piaffe around the yard with the security lights on the blink, it looked like strope lighting meets the devil rides out. Ten minutes later, they were caught, hoof picked, growled at, and merrily eating, and as only horses can, looked as if nothing had happened, and were wondering what all the fuss was about. I must admit, they look cracking winter and summer on Baileys feed, this has to be one of the wettest Novembers I have had at this yard, although its green sand and good draining soil, even this land has begun to give up.

Next on the list, the lorry will want a service, and plating (thank christ for Mother's credit card), the two horses we have had in to break to harness need to leave the safe familiarity of the yard, and go up and down the road (pheasants, partridge, and local preacher permitting). I live in a wonderful little hamlet of Hoyle which nestles between Midhurst and Chichester, and although usually quiet, the recent economic situation saw one or two people selling their 'quaint weekend cottages' - substantial farmhouses to you and I - these have been bought and subsequently raised to the ground and built their partcular versions of an idyllic weekend retreat.

So we are awash with lost builders merchants, Polish labourers, local authority officers and in one of the houses they were about to knock down, they have found a slow worm and a bat, no not living together, but merrily ensconced in the loft and behind the sink, so we can't knock that one down yet.

Next season can't come soon enough, with the South of England Carriage Driving Fair on the 14th March 2010, and the judging invitations plopping through the letterbox, and masterclass at Equifest, and the launch of the Hackney Horse Society pony display team, there is a lot to do, I just can't wait to leave domestic wet bliss!"