"Once again this week has flown by, with Badminton being until Monday evening and competing at Hambelden Friday to Sunday it means that I only have three days at home which I have made into three very full days!

The girls, Becky and Gemma have done a great job looking after the other 15 horses at home while we were away. Some are still not working though, Beanie who still lame after his horrible fall at Allerton and Bob who is going to be rehomed now I’ve finally decided. He needs a month in the field and gradually bringing back into work. He will be a give away so if anyone is interested please contact me. It will have to be the right home and an experienced rider as he is rather bouncy at times but amazing. I'm not sure if he will event again or not but does the most fabulous dressage test (established changes, etc) and always jumps well. He has been with me for years (now 15 1/2) so will be very sad to see him go. Charlie has thrown a splint so he's having a little holiday. It does mean I’ve space for horses in the yard so I am looking for more rides and/ or schooling liveries and if the right one came along I may purchase something too.

We went to Lodge Farm again Wednesday with Imp (as he goes everywhere with me when XC’s involved) and it's paying off as he is becoming much more confident and feels good. Harry I also schooled as he is a little cheeky out schooling sometimes (never at an event) but does have a sense of humour that I don't always find quite as funny! He was nearly perfect though... Becky rode Bomber around the course, gradually asking more questions as we went along. He was superb, Becky has done a great job, I don't have the time as I'm away so much and he's better with one consistent rider so I’ve passed the reins to Becky. He jumped straight over ditches, down drops, into the water, etc. He is going to go out a few times then holiday soon as he needs to grow and mature. Thoroughly impressed with him we left happy.

I rode all the horses on each day as I really feel it helps them for the events working on their various weaknesses prior to the competition. I knew that there were steps at Hambelden so have been practising with mine each day. This is a godsend having them in my 'garden' means I don't have to box up and go somewhere. Likewise with the galloping, the ground is so good at the moment I just work at ours up the hills. I am completely spoilt now!

I left for Hambelden at a very early hour with Imp, Bertie and Brian. They all excelled themselves, very good tests although this is Bertie's weakest phase and still needs more work, only as he is so keen! Brian was brilliant, a 28 and Imp 25. They all jumped carefully in the show jumping for three clears and were all great XC too. Imp was very relaxed and much better to jump clear to win, Bertie was his usual brilliance for sixth and Brian was exceptional to come second, beaten by less than a mark. He is so straightforward, one of the easiest I’ve ever started, and he loves it too. He will be for sale very soon as he is a little too small sadly but must go to a good, competitive home as he will be someone's horse of a lifetime.

I went back the next day with Harry for the NRF. I was hoping to qualify him for Gatcombe but sadly not this time. He performed a very good test, slightly harshly marked (32) and was jumping a beautiful clear until the last treble where he spooked violently and had two parts down, I saw others do the same thing, no idea why. Very disappointed. He jumped clear XC as always but only finished 20th, not good enough for qualifying. These NRF's are often dressage competitions, I would rather see them held at big novice xc courses where there is a real test as quite a few qualify that haven't been around an intermediate and they have a nasty shock when they get to Gatcombe. I think nearly every horse went clear XC at Hambelden in our section so I could never catch up. Maybe the course was too straightforward or they were particularly good.

Sunday was better, although I felt the ground was firm in places so chose steady clear XC rounds. Amber is much more consistent in her dressage and scored 30, Romeo was very fresh and jolly so slightly higher. Amber had an uncharacteristic fence down out of the treble, maybe I was too forward in after the previous day, I did get it right on Romeo who jumped clear. They were both great XC, particularly Amber as it was a very twisty course for a big horse and you have to keep changing speed which she's better at now. Romeo is very bold, for only his third intermediate he feels very grown up. I'm hoping to aim Amber at Aston advanced which will be very exciting, the team is getting better and better..."