Diary

Tuesday 17th May 2011- A bit more info.... plus, a great trip to Ballindenisk in Ireland is followed by back to the day job at Aston-le-Walls
I probably need to update you on who's who before I start this entry...

Katie Macrae - my working pupil for the past year. Katie is from Orkney originally and came down to the UK about 4 years ago, bought a horse (Mini) and taught herself to event. She is a cousin of Sophie Buckley who owns where we are based (Culworth Grounds) with her husband Charles. Katie has many assets (!), her best ones being: the only blonde, our resident photographer, her love of anything chocolate, and an ability to whip up something delicious to eat out of what is left in the fridge. Her downsides are that once she is either: tired, or hungry, she becomes worse than monosyllabic and has been known once, when the fateful combination of being both tired AND hungry and no prospect of food in sight, to feed and finish up the yard at around the 3.30pm mark irrespective of who else I was planning to ride....

Hannah Brown - the friend that was forced upon me. We kind of knew each other back in the day but ended up both moving to Culworth at the same time and I was told I would have to share with her. Anyway, after she took some leave from work during last season we learnt to become friends and now, even I have to admit, would sad if she wasn't around! She moved with her two homebred horses, Wilbur and Roo. After a summer of making progress last year Wilbur was 2nd in an advanced. Sadly we lost him this spring when he broke his leg just tripping with no-one on him. It's been a huge loss but the show goes on....

The three of us, plus Tiptoe, my lurcher, live in Hannah's flat at Edgcote (about 4 miles from Culworth).

Having lost Wilbur we decided to make a proper trip of our Ireland visit as we needed the break and so on Easter Sunday following 3 days of packing Lola (the lorry) we set off to Ireland with 5 horses, 4 people and Tiptoe (my dog) on board for a whole week. We took Ambi (me) for her first CIC*** (and advanced for that matter), Mini (Katie) for her first overseas event doing the CIC*, Roo (Hannah) for Roo's first *, Ian Wills' ride Donavon (Say I Do) for the CIC** and Red Rock for the ride because he doesn't like to be left behind.

We had the most fantastic week. Unbroken sunshine, a wonderful course (which was spiked and watered all week making for perfect going) and all the horses went great. All of ours are still green in the dressage at the respective levels but Ambi jumped on of not many double clears in the ***, both Roo and Mini had one down and clear inside the time XC and Ian came 5th in the **. Roll on the return trip for the 3 day in the autumn....

Since I've been back Adam and Red Rock have been to Aston le Walls for a novice and intermediate respectively, plus Paddy did what was probably his last PN as it is starting to feel a bit small for him.

Ambi, Mini and Roo are coming back in from a deserved 2 weeks off and the next eventing stop is Little Downham.

We're planning on going jumping a fair bit too so I'm looking forward to letting you know how Walter is getting on. He was pleased to see us when we got back and was worried we'd forgotten about him!

Monday 4th April 2011- The eventing season gets under way plus a new jumper joins the ranks
The eventing season has got off to a good start.

Sue Cownley's Perfick Miss Amber (Ambi) had a good first run since Osberton CCI** last year, at Gatcombe in the Intermediate. She goes to South of England next before we are off to Ballindenisk in Ireland for her first CIC***.

I have a lovely mare to sell, Treloan Tiger Lily (Lily), who has been place in all three of her events this season. She was 2nd at Aston-le-Walls in an Intro and then 5th and 6th at Goring Heath and Swalcliffe BE100s respectively.

I have also have a new ride who is owned by Clare Richmond-Watson, Paddydrury (Paddy), as she is having a baby. Since he has come to Culworth for some training he has been placed in two BE100s also at Goring Heath and Swalcliffe, coming 5th and 4th respectively.

My working pupil had her first outing of the year at Goring Heath and posted her best ever Novice result on Hawaii Nights (Mini). They are joining us on the trip to Ballindenisk to do the CIC*.

Next stop is South of England with Ambi and Loughnatousa Red Rock (Red Rock), both in the Intermediate.

Other exciting news is that Charles Buckley has bought a lovely young jumping horse for me to produce and sell, Waldo (Walter). He is progressing really well and already has completed his British Novice and Discovery double clears to qualify for both 2nd rounds. I'm looking forward to taking him out on the county show circuit this summer.

Friday 9th April 2010
I am really settling in well at Culworth Grounds and loving all aspects of the facilities. The flat is coming together and apart from some teething problems and a slight lack of fuurniture both Tippee and I are really comfortable. Still waiting for Mum and Dad to get up from Cornwall to see it which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.

The horses are all goood and I have been show jumping a few times and I am really delighted with the results:

Adsett (Adam) won a Discovery at Addington - which was the first time he had been out since last September. He then tied for 1st in a novice at Weston Lawns and was 4th in the Discovery.

Perfick Miss Amber (Ambi) - won a Discovery at Weston Lawns - again her first time out since last year. She really had a great time and was pleased to be out.

Loughnatousa Napolean (Mannie) has really jumped well on all his outings and qualified at Weston Lawns for the 1 metre Amateur.

Thursday 18th March 2010
2010 is a new start with a move at the beginning of the month to a new yard - Culworth Grounds Stables, Nr.Thorpe Mandeville, Oxford (very close to Junction 11 of the M40) - where I am sharing a beautiful new American barn with Olly Smith. I have the most amazing facilities - indoor school, outdoor school, walker, superb turnout, lovely hacking, gallops and living accommodation for me and Tippee.

I have a vacancy for a working pupil and I also need a part-time groom to help with the day to day running of the yard, so if anyone reads this and would like some work please give me a call to discuss.

You will see from the website that I have a very nice Loughnatousa horse for sale - he has a lovely temperament and one I think has a very good future.

I will be starting my 2010 season late this year due to the move. I really did not appreciate how much clutter I had and how long it would take to get organised. Although there is still lots to do I hope to be out and about in early May.