I’ve been out a fair amount over the last six weeks and Zorro has been getting bolder cross country resulting in two clears cross country in our last two outings. His dressage and showjumping is very consistent and he has had some super dressage marks (28.5 and a 29!) and jumped some copybook rounds showjumping. We have also just been for a lesson with Ian Woodhead who thought he was rather nice! Ian is a fantastic trainer and got him working better than ever before… Ian’s lessons are fantastic- he wants quick reactions from the rider though and the speed at which he thinks and talks is hard to keep up with!

Lots to catch up on....its been a while!

Rio and his love affair with vets meant that he has only just started competing (he had sinusitus in the Spring) His first event was a BE100plus to get him going again at Little Downham and he was very naughty! He failed to contain his excitment at being out and was explosive in the dressage and wanted to attack the SJ at XC speed resulting in 3 down. He flew round the XC and luckily got the excitement out of his system for his next run which was Novice at Great Tew where he did a very nice test to score 30 which left him in second place in his section after dressage. The showjumping was also alot calmer but annoyingly we still had two down (the first two fences) - he just wasnt being careful enough but got his act together after the second fence and jumped a super round after that. He was also awesome over what I thought was a seriously meaty cross county course, it was beautifully built and the ground was good too. He slipped a couple of times on the turns and it transpired that he had pulled off a shoe so even more impressive that he jumped so well.

Zorro has been out a few times now too and has taken eventing very much in his stride. His dressage and showjumping has been very consistent and he has been in the top ten after these two phases on more than one occassion.  He has been green cross country but very willing and showed plenty of ability. We are yet to get a clear having got 20pens each time so far but only for baby mistakes so I am still very pleased. He just stepped back at two of waters and had a baby runout at his first corner. Rider error for missing a fence at Milton Keynes resulted in us being elminated which I was very cross with myself about!

The clocks have at last gone forward and what a difference it makes to my mood and enthusiasm!!  Its great being outside for as long as possible from this point until October! I can now ride in the evenings which means I get the occasional lie in before work!

I kept the ponies ticking as much as I could over November and December mainly by hacking. However, the snow that fell over Christmas meant that I had no choice but to give both ponies two weeks off. To Rio this was no drama but for Zorro it transpired that it had slipped his mind that he had ever been backed and when I did get back on he rodeoed around the front garden until I was on no longer! After that little incident I knuckled down to getting him out and about as much as possibe, boxing him out to menages at least once in the week in the evenings and at the weekends. In Januray/February I did two trips to Keysoe for evening unaffiliated dressage and he won both of them! Since then, I have had some jump lessons with Nick Turner (pic attached), taken him XC Schooling and been back up to Keysoe three times for evening clear round jumping. We are really progressing now and I have a feeling that he is going to be a bit special! He is now entered for his first intro!:)

Rio was getting fit and was entered for Gt Wichingham, but sadly we have had a set back. He had a bit of discharge from one nostril in late January and he was put on antiobiotics. These cleared it up, however as soon as the course was finishsed the snot returned.  A second course of antiobiotics had little affect so an x- ray was taken to confirm that he had infected sinuses.  He has just been to the Royal Vet College for a CT scan and has had to have a sinoscopey (where they make a small hole in his head to access the sinuses and flush them). He is now back at my vets under the care of Gavin at Chiltern Equine Clinic for a further 4 days of flushing. The infection is fungal so I now have everything crossed to hope that this clears up on a first attempt. He is not insured and this is giving my credit card a proper bashing! Most importantly though he seems happy and is making good progess.  The vets have been absolutely brilliant both at RVC and Chiltern Equine Clinic.

On a slightly different subject, I am looking for a new house mate so if anyone is interested please do get in touch with me (07584 684881). I live just outside Whitwell in a lovely rural spot but less than 10 mins drive from Hitchin and Knebworth.