We have just got back from a fantastic week in Jardy, France, where I had Chico Bella in the CCI** and Dinky Inky in the CCI*. It is always nice to compete abroad, but especially when the weather is like it is at home at the moment with pretty much constant rain. France was much drier, and most days there was lovely hot sunshine to keep us all happy. Only on the last night did we see signs of the English rain resulting in a lot of soggy stables and gear!

It was a lovely event on a permanent site so with great facilities. It was our first visit as it clashes with Badminton but it is definitely somewhere I would go again. The courses were interesting with enough questions to make it a good competition and the ground was great, typically French and sandy. Both of my lovely horses performed amazingly producing good dressage tests and jumping double clears with no time faults. Chico Bella finished third in the CCI**, which was the best of the Brits and meant we got a interview on French television. Dinky Inky was seventh in the CCI*. I was so thrilled with both girls, they were both pure class in a competitive field.

The social side was good as well as there was a good crowd there and it was my groom Elodie's birthday whilst we were out there, so that added a bit of frivolity to the trip!

We came back to more rain and more events being cancelled. It is frustrating as you spend so much time preparing the horses and aiming towards events that it makes it difficult to remain motivated when your goals are no longer there. It is also hard as we have horses aiming for spring three days who will not be able to go if they miss many more runs, so it leaves everything up in the air.

Although frustrating for us it must be a total nightmare for organisers and also for Olympic hopefuls and selectors. The fact that Badminton, the most important event of the year was cancelled, is unbelievable and now that Chatsworth is off,  it will leave everyone in a bit of a panic. Not to mention all of the poor foreign competitors who have come over to England to compete, run at Badminton and qualify for the Olympics – what a nightmare for everyone. 

We will just have to wait for the rain to ease up but until then I will be going showjumping, building cross-country courses in the school and making the most of having some time to get the young horses out and about. Also there is a distinct possibility that Team Tattersall will be perfecting their sun dance...

Stay dry,

Gemma