"Well it has been a while since the last blog! Reason being I had been so busy cramming everything into each day before I went skiing.

Ski school

Lucky me, have been away again, I use this as a pre-season fitness week, or at least that’s my excuse! I love skiing and was lovely to spend some time with my family. Sadly my mother couldn’t come as her knees are too painful but hopefully she will be fixed soon… The snow was quite good in the first half of the week but towards the middle of the second half it was getting very icy. La Plagne has had no snow for four weeks - they do an amazing job of bringing the snow off the mountain and onto the piste, but I wouldn’t want to be going in the next couple of weeks - sorry if you are!

With all the ice I saw plenty of broken people walking around. Luckily I wasn’t one of them, I only had a few crashes and those were mostly down mogul runs which I still have to get accomplished at - here’s hoping next year! The week was gloriously sunny so I'm still sporting a slight tan, definitely makes you feel better.

Home schooled 

I managed to go XC schooling twice before I went away, both times to Littleton Manor which have fantastic facilities. You can use the show jumping arena with a full set of jumps, the XC course which is suitable for all from first timers to advanced, and the gallops (there is also a dressage arena too!). The ground was amazing, exceptional for this time of year. As usual I took six horses the first time, the Barocca four which went really well and Imp and Brian who were great. It was Brians’ last XC session with me as I was preparing him for sale. I have sold him to a lovely family; his new rider is a very competent 12 year old jockey who is also very ambitious which is all I had ever hoped for! I am incredibly lucky too as I have their second horse to bring on for now who has been bred by the Funnels. She is a five year old black mare called ‘Billy Blackcat’ owned by Frances Davies and very smart!

Back again 

I returned back to LMEC with another load of horses (chauffeured by Charlotte!), all went even better than last time and are certainly very encouraging for this year.. Becky rode Bomber who was fantastic - he is a little tiger now! The good thing with that course is that each time you can go back we keep doing slightly more difficult fences so we can build their confidence up.

Hunting with Imp

I went blood hounding with the Coakham Bloodhounds. Absolutely brilliant but completely crazy. I took Imp as he needs to gain confidence and have as much fun as possible. Some of the hedges were enormous and I went around a few, I have to admit! However Imp and I had an amazing day and he has improved beyond recognition. I have to thank Sacha Pemble for advising me to go; I was very impressed with her for jumping some of those hedges! I hope to go when it’s slightly drier again, but have definitely got the bug.

Fitness first

The horses have been galloping at Brightling where the gallop has been resurfaced. It has a superb hill, its only five furlongs but really works them hard. We go up that three times, today though we took Harry and Amber up four times and they feel incredibly good. I am hoping to do some stamina work soon, long, slow canters but need drier ground first and the forecast is not good! They have got much fitter very quickly, proving to me that hills make such a difference. I too have been running each day as I have put on a couple of pounds since last season with my good living! I have a serious cardio plan for me for the next few weeks, I am determined to be super, super fit this season.

A baby and Barocca

I have another new horse named Billy. He is a 4 year old bay 16 2. Very nice, comes from Andrew Williams Bally. He is owned by Mrs Sue Cross who also owns Bambi. He is quite green as you’d expect but very smart. I will have to get the camera working again, the over use of a new one has led it to malfunction and is waiting for me to replace it!

As the countdown is on for Barocca, (getting very excited now!) I have everyday filled so it means good planning - I am even entering events for the end of March now!"