With such a busy year ahead of me, January was meant to be my ‘quiet‘ month. No chance! It started with the arrival of the very gorgeous Buddy Holly, from Horse Hero’s Fiona Price. Apart from a few little baby issues, including rearranging the plumbing in his stable, he has settled in very well. I’m really enjoying working with him and I think he is thriving on the work. I have been concentrating on him learning to hold himself in a rhythm and concentrating on working forwards, rather than looking around for what mischief he could get himself into! I also learnt, after checking his passport, that he was born on the same day as me, so that must be why we are getting on so well! Along with Daddy Cool, I am very much enjoying working with the Woodlander boys and can’t wait to get them out to some parties!

As one arrives, another leaves. After advertising my beloved Beans (a horse I bred and produced to Grand Prix), I had a lot of interest and one lady loved the look of him so much she flew over from America to see him. The lady in question, Rhonda, was an ‘Amateur’ by American standards, but the section of the competition she rides in has no restriction on her talent as a rider, as she regularly beat most professionals and was even North Carolina Small Tour Champion! She was on the hunt for a horse which knew all the Grand Prix moves but still had plenty of competition years left in him and her search lead her to my yard. Although she isn’t a very tall lady, she got on incredibly well with Beans as he is so sensitive and doesn’t need big leg aids to go. The deal was done and a space was found on a flight out to the USA and off he went!

I was up at World Class training when the transporters came to pick him up and although I was very interested in the talk on saddle fitting that was going on, I couldn’t stop the tears flowing as I heard the news that he had left my yard. Apparently he travelled like a pro’ and arrived in sunny Miami happy and ready to start his new adventure with Rhonda. I wish them both all the luck in the world.

I’ve actually been to two World Class training sessions in January and really enjoyed my training there. Last time, I took my now 5 year old Archie along with Weltzin. Everyone promptly fell in love with him, of course! He is just the most lovely, friendly, willing horse. He tries his heart out for me in every session and learns things so quickly. We concentrated on keeping his top line soft and relaxed so that he could swing through his body while still maintaining his excellent activity. He is learning his lateral work quickly and understood simple changes in just two sessions. He is even now (at 5) going to be an International dressage star, as he will be coming along with me to my shows abroad with Weltzin! (I made a video of him with Horse Hero recently, which is published on the site.)

Weltzin started his season this year at Addington High Profile show. He, like many others, hadn’t been out competing since the Nationals last September, so it was great to get him back in the arena. We had spent some time at Emile’s for intensive training in the run up to the show, which was a good chance to see where we were at. I had been working very hard with the World Class psychologist and physio, alongside Emile, to really be able to control my own body, emotions and focus while on the horse, in the test.

Warming up, Weltzin felt like a different horse. In a good way! He has got so much stronger and fitter and more in front of my leg, that I‘m now having to half halt and keep him contained, rather than motivating him. I could feel myself reverting back to the old ways very occasionally throughout the test, but was able to correct myself and get back on track. Unfortunately in those moments, it caused a slight loss of balance and mistakes crept in! But I know why those mistakes happened and how to correct them now.

I was thrilled with my score of 68% and 6th place in a huge and hot Grand prix class. Most of all, I was excited about how good Weltzin felt. He was entered in the Special on Sunday and I was so, so tempted to do it. The competitor in me was screaming to get out, but for once I listened to advice from my sensible side and withdrew him in order to save him for the rest of the season. I wanted him to leave his first show still fresh, rather than tired, so that he is willing and ready to rock and roll. He bounded up the lorry ramp and is still leaping around like a 5 year old!

I’ve been busy planning the months ahead and I’m ery excited about the upcoming competitions. All being well, we are off abroad in February to put all our hard winter work into practice.