“I am writing this from Thailand, it’s absolutely gorgeous weather and scenery; I’m next to the pool and it’s 30 degrees! After all the snow and ice it’s a welcome change of climate and after the build up to Christmas with sometimes only two of us on with 15  horses all in work I need a rest too!

New staff

I had a new head girl just start as I was leaving. Her name is Harriet Docker and we are very pleased to have her on board! I also have a working pupil called Naomi starting once I'm back next week. I am only away for 13 days in total but it feels already (with one week still to go) much longer. I really enjoy my holidays and believe me they are needed as we work incredibly hard most of the year!

Fresh horses

Before I left, we had a busy week before Christmas. We still weren't able to hack the horses out, but as soon as we could after the snow abated, we were straight out! I am conscious of not boring the horses in the school as we’ve only been able to work them indoors. We found some new roads to hack around with good hills as the track into the forest was still lethal with fresh horses. Not a good combination! So luckily with no more snow, the girls are able to hack and lunge them while I'm away.

A family Christmas

As I was off just after Christmas and I wanted to work Christmas and Boxing Day, I asked my family to come and stay with me. That’s my mum and dad, sister, brother in law and two children. They came down Christmas Eve lunchtime. This meant we had time for Aimee, my five-year-old niece to ride Glen, an 11hh ex-champion show pony of Gabriella’s. I was a very proud aunty watching her trot around the school; she was great, a natural! I did have to rescue her a couple of times when she was half off but no falls! She also rode Boxing Day and the day after and improved daily. I hope her instructor has noticed!

The horses went on the walker and were lunged at Christmas, I hate them staying in their stables all day and worry about colic possibilities too.

It was so lovely to have my family there with me, I hope they enjoyed it as much as me, we went out for lunch on Christmas Day for the first day ever and it was superb! I also took them on a couple of walks (the second considerably longer, as we got lost!) and showed them the beautiful area I am living in. Suitably impressed we ate, drank and then ate some more.

Planning my season

I now am now sat here planning my season for next year, as I’m able to have time to think clearly about things. We are off to Barocca for the first time this March, I can't wait as Red, Amber, Harry will do the 2* and Bertie will do the 1*. And hopefully then Amber will do a 3* in the spring and the others in the autumn. So suddenly I will start to have a strong team of advanced horses. Jasper is making good progress too so I hope he will be back next autumn, fingers and toes crossed. He walks daily in hand; he is very amusing, an angel with everyone other than me with whom he is very naughty! My bruise incidentally has only just gone from the kick, but I still have a lump. That's six weeks on!

Well I'm off for a swim now, hard life I know, but I'll soon be back working before I know it. I’m off to Greenwich for a look at the Olympic site as soon as I'm back so that will be fascinating. I will report back to you!”