"It has been another very good but very busy week. It started with an event – Highclere – for which we left at 4.30am and were promised a sunny day, but arrived to drizzle. It was good for the ground but not for spectator.! I had Imp (Impulsive), Ken (Kenny) and Harry (Azeb) in the Intermediate. They all performed good tests, Harry especially with a 26, which put him in third place after the dressage. Ken and Harry both jumped clear SJ and XC and were inside the time too. I didn't even have to push Harry, he is truly phenomenal XC – at only six-years-old he has 32 points. We found out that he's second reserve for Le Lion but I'll finish him on this run as it can't be bettered and he will be ready for next year all guns blazing after a winter of dressage and jumping. In the end, Harry was third and Ken eigth in a hot Open Intermediate section.

Imp had a bit of a laugh in the show jumping and decided to have a little tantrum; he jumped beautifully clear but it took lots of time and a couple of circles! He went well XC except he was very strong at times but we've subsequently seen that the gag he wore had been pulling up his cheeks on to his teeth between the bit and noseband resulting in a very sore mouth. Poor boy, this is not new scar tissue so a trip to the vets saw his teeth ground down to give him a better chance and I feel a change of bit is the only way to prevent it happening again.

I passed my long lorry test on Tuesday so I’m all ready for Bonn Rodderberg now - a CIC 3* in Germany with Jasper (Tankers Town) and Kenny next week. Jasper had a pre-competition dressage practise at Burghley, as I was the guinea pig (someone who performs the test before the competition starts to give the judges a trial run). This was perfect for me, as he needs this. The wind was unbelievable and as he hadn't been out since Barbury – over two months prior – and we hadn't been able to walk around the incredibly spooky arena as normal - I only found out on Wednesday that I was required! I thought he was quite well behaved. He was very bright at times but some of his work was very nice. I really enjoyed having a practise and it was very beneficial. I stayed for the day and saw some sponsors: Baileys, who had a stand and Bucas and both were incredibly busy. I also had an interview in the 'celebrity talk area' courtesy of Anky, which was good fun. We left for home, very disappointed at not being able to have a go as the XC course looked great – very testing in true Burghley style which would've suited Jasper well. Oh well, next year...

John Thelwall taught me on Friday and we worked on various different things, such as control before the fence from speed, straightness – as always – and my position, which can always be improved.

I had a busy Saturday – I galloped Jasper, Ken and Beanie (Breeze IV); all feel fit and well ready for a hard push for the last part of the season, which is descending on us fast. Now’s the time when I'm planning my winter breaks; I'm in need of some sunshine as the nights are suddenly getting colder and darker and winter seems much, much closer."