Catch up!

Ok ok ok - Apologies for lack of news recently I have just been so busy in the run up to my first 4* at Burghley and celebrating my 21st but don’t worry am back on the case now!

The Europeans was an amazing trip for me - the team won team gold and Cristal and I finished out of the medals in 8th place but I am delighted with his progress this year and to stand on the podium with my team mates was a special way to mark the end of my young rider career.

The whole week was an emotional one for me as Grace was part of the european pony team with Spring. He yet again proved he is the best pony in the world by winning a Silver individual medal and team gold. Grace and he are a great partnership and I was thrilled to hear their progress over the weekend but sad not to be there to witness it.

Felicity , a member of my hardworking back up team, recently got engaged and left us to concentrate on her wedding and the next phase of her life – we will miss her

Back home and back to earth with a bump. We headed to Gatcombe and Ginger did a great dressage to score 32, a fantastic clear show jumping and was then withdrawn. I always planned to run at Hartpury the week later.

West Wilts was next with the younger horses and 3rd and 8th was not too bad a day at the office

Aston Le Walls was the next stop with the intermediates – they both went well and jumped clear xc but our show jumping let us down

Ginger was having her final run before Burghley at Hartpury and started well with a great test and a fantastic clear round show jumping. She got really strong on the cross country and sadly we had 2 run outs – not the perfect prep for Burghley so we decided to enter her at Hatherleigh the following weekend for another run. We borrowed a bit from Lucy Wiegersma to try and moved on .

The trip to Hatherleigh was fitted in at the last moment and down the M5 and the A38 on a summer weekend was a trial all on its own but we made it and were greeted with the best ground we have seen for ages. Ginger did a great test but 2 down marred that score but we came here to test her brakes before Burghley so that was the important phase. Lucy’s bit did the trick and I pulled up after 8 fences with mission accomplished. We took her home and will wrap her up in cotton wool until we leave for Burghley on the Tuesday.

We have been lucky to be able to swim Ginger at Harry Dunlop’s http://www.harrydunlopracing.com/ and Oliver Sherwood’s in Lambourn http://www.oliversherwood.co.uk/ and thanks must go to both of them and their team at home for helping us in the run up to the big one

We left at early o’clock for the trip to Somerford park and yet again were greeted by amazing going – Noble Bestman was 8th but Caster was naughty and stopped twice at the third last. Vancouver came for an outing too – he did a great test of 28 and then was withdrawn as it was his first outing since April.

This week has been full of lessons with Yogi and gearing up for 8 at Highclere over the weekend. Oh yes and a small matter of the start of my birthday celebrations!

Today MILLFIELD CONDESCEND did a test of 29 and followed it up with a double clear and finished 4th in the five year old section