"Where have the last 6 months gone?! We're into a New Year, it's only January and already we have suffered from six weeks of no riding due to the snow. At its worst, we had 25 inches and temperatures of -15 BUT to our relief we had no frozen or burst pipes.

Rafa at the Regionals

So going back to August. Rafa went to the Regional Championships where he won the Novice and qualified for the National Championships. The second day was a day I wish never to repeat. In the Elementary Championship, I went wrong twice in the test - something I have never done. I felt awful as he lost 18 marks due to my mistakes. What made matters worse was that he still got 67% and was placed third. If I hadn't gone wrong, he would have won and qualified for the elementary championship too.

I was due to head down to Carl Hester's with Freddie and Hugo the next week but took ill with an acute inner ear infection and was in bed for two weeks. I couldn't do anything except lie flat in bed, if I sat up I was sick or fainted. Lying still is not a good thing for someone who can't sit on a sofa quietly for an hour! Anyway, I recovered and was eager to get going again with the Nationals fast approaching.

Hopes for the top ten

Hopes for the Nationals were that Rafa would be in the top 10 though we weren't expecting him to be in the top five. I had decided that after the Nationals it would be a good time to try and sell him, so a good performance and result would help things along. It was a very relaxed trip for mum and I; Rafa is such a sweetie when he goes anywhere. He's great to travel, settles well in a new stable; eats, drinks and is well behaved to ride. We arrived at Stoneleigh the day before his class, did a little work and showed him the arena. He took everything in his stride. In the test he gave his all, I really felt neither of us could have done any more. It's a lovely feeling to have, especially at a National Championship! We were thrilled to be placed second equal and be the highest British bred horse and the highest BDSC member and receive their rug. It is the third time that I had won it. I won with Freddie in 2007 and Rupert in 2008.

We returned home and as luck would have it a girl that I teach mentioned that she was looking for a new horse - young but experienced, one that was safe and kind. Rafa was that and so much more! She came and tried him over three days, had lessons, hacked him, saw him in the field so every aspect was covered. She loved him and bought him soon after. It is lovely for me as I can keep and eye on him and he still comes for weekend stays and training sessions.

Training with Carl Hester

Hugo, Freddie and I travelled down for some training with Carl Hester in October. Carl was pleased with how Hugo was coming on but was a little disappointed that Freddie was still finding the changes a stumbling block. Carl could not pinpoint why/ In fact, he could not see any reason why the exercises hadn't worked since he has a very good canter, collects well and doesn't find any of his other work a problem, so he had a sit on Freddie. After 10 minutes he told me I was leaving him down until things were sorted out. Carl said I wasn't strong enough to get the penny to drop and he was too good a horse not to fulfil his potential by not learning his changes. He has been down there since, though the snow has largely contributed to that. Freddie has made huge leaps forward in his training, the changes are pretty much there now and his piaffe and passage have really come on. We were meant to get him home at the start of December but with the snow there was little point as I couldn't keep working him. Carl enjoys riding him and it is lovely for us to hear Carl saying that he is definitely a Grand Prix horse! I really can't thank Carl enough for all he is doing for us, he is so busy with his own wonderful horses it feels very special for him to make room for Freddie.

Things happen in threes

They say things happen in threes, this was true in that I came off three times over a period of two weeks having not come off for a very long time! In all honesty, if the first fall hadn't happened then the following two wouldn't have either. I had a lovely horse in for schooling and it was obvious he was a little sensitive and quirky.

For six weeks there had only been improvement, so much so that I was planning to take him to a show the next week. Then one day nearing the end of his training session he for no apparent reason bolted in the arena. I couldn't stop him and got very deep into a corner and thought we were going down, he didn't but had nowhere to go and launched himself out over the arena fence, half clearing it and half going through and I had no chance of staying on. I rode him after but he has since gone to someone who has an indoor school to try and find the reason for this sudden change in behaviour. Number two and three falls were because I was very sore and shouldn't really have been riding. Hugo is quite sharp when he gets a fright and fall two happened as a result of a spook in our arena.

Fall three unfortunately for my ego happened in front of an audience of 250! Carl Hester was doing a demonstration at Ingliston E.C. and wanted to use Hugo for the baby horse section. Poor Hugo got thrown in at the deep end and had to go in 'cold' to the demo without working in as the little school was already in use. He had never seen anything like it and managed to cope for a few minutes before saying 'I can't' and promptly disappeared from under me leaving me deposited on the ground! Carl put us back together and Charlotte brought Don Archie in to keep Hugo company. Slowly he grew in confidence and finished on a good note. Carl with his usual humour made light of it and said that he would now buy him as he had shown a bit of spirit!

Hugo has basically been on holiday since the demo due to the weather and just as the snow disappears I am about to go on holiday - typical! So, while I am away Hugo is going to stay with Alex Barr (who started him working last year) so that he can get working again. I hope when I get back I will take Hugo down to Carl's and get reacquainted with Freddie and catch up with where he is now in his training.

Wedding planning

One positive thing the snow has allowed me to do is some planning for the wedding, we have managed to tick quite a few boxes. My dress has been made, venues booked and the date has been set for 7 May. So many exciting things to look forward to in 2011, can't wait!"