“It’s been an extra busy year because the British Horse Society, with their new open minded image asked me to do their Continued Personal Development days for their instructors for every area of Britain - you'd think I was an 'It girl'!

This work also included Ireland and while I was out there I couldn’t resist the idea of taking a look at some horses with the idea of buying our youngest Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associate Rosie Jones a new project horse who might be suitable for her to bring along to the Monty October tour to show his training.

After looking at about 200 hundred horses from those tied up in a car park that were ‘open to offers’ to various fields full of horses, the shortlist was down to two. I decided that “when in doubt have both”, and they'll be on a lorry coming over on the ferry in a week or so.

There’s a nice big bay four-year-old for Rosie on tour. He’d only been ‘broke’ a week and the dealer got on him and he bucked him straight off – so he’s got a bit of character! I’ve named him Banksy (after the graffiti artist) because once the dealer got back on, he was showing him sliding up and down the Irish Banks – there are some crazy people out there! But to be fair also plenty to learn from these guys who make their living from spotting a good type of horse.

The other is an unbacked three-year-old, mostly black with odd bits of white on him. I’m afraid I’m calling him Blackie at the moment (and you know how it is - it will probably stick) but we’ll get him a smart name as well because although he’s a bit plain at the moment, he’s actually quite well bred. We won’t do anything much with him until he’s four and a half at least. I love the idea of youngsters being given time to develop on the side of a good hill and I have a lovely area of land for that to happen. These are exciting times!

It’s always lovely to receive a nice email or letter about one of my books and courses but nowadays, just as regularly, people are appreciating the educational content of the programmes we do for H&C TV. This was a very nice comment from Judith Walker on the Isle of Man as she ordered a Dually halter:

'I saw your programme on loading last week and used the recommended techniques with my horse. She has boxed in the past albeit reluctantly and not without the aid of a feed bucket, but after watching your programme, I can now load her with minimum fuss – thanks so much. I practised again last night and she went straight in without hesitating. Brilliant news, as I am hoping to go out with the Isle of Man drag hunt next month. Best wishes Judith Walker.'

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