A BITTER SWEET GOODBYE FOR BOBBYS SWOP

December 2014

Bobbys Swop

This month our focus has been on achieving a couple of double clears that we needed for next summer’s BS regionals.  We've also had a few BD outings for the young horses and lots of training for me.

My very busy summer meant putting some of my clinics on hold so I've spent much of the month catching up with those.  All the horses have settled into our new yard and are really enjoying their down time. This month I said bitter sweet goodbye to Bobby's Swop.  I have thoroughly enjoyed having him in my yard and it was sad to see him go.  I will miss him enormously but I am thrilled that he has been talent spotted by Olympic event rider Aoiffe Clark as an up and coming star for next season, so I'm looking forward to following their progress.

I'm looking forward to the Christmas break and spending some time with friends and family before focusing on the BD regionals at the beginning of February. I will be training very hard and hope to go one better than my last attempt!

We’re heading for another big year in 2015 but for now I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Sam 

LUCIE ROUNDS OFF HER 2014 BLOG WITH A RECAP OF THE YEAR

December Blog

 

It’s nearly Christmas! I absolutely love this time of year, everyone is happy and we all get a bit of a break to recharge the batteries and reflect on the year.

I think it’s important to look back on the year to work out what went well, what didn’t and how you want to approach things in the year ahead. It has been an interesting year for us on the horsey front, my initial plans were to settle Alfie at Novice level with the view to attempting our first 1* and for Herbie to consolidate at BE100 and to qualify for the BE100 Badminton Grassroots Championships.

Whilst Alfie did actually secure his qualification for CIC1*, I just felt it was at the top of his range and after much heartache we decided to part with him. Even though it was hard at the time and also meant my dreams of my first 1* were put on hold for a little while, I know now it was the right decision. He is very happy in his new home and I am getting used to a yard without the little Skewbald pocket rocket!

Herbie has gone from strength to strength this year and has achieved 5 top 6 places out of a total of 9 runs. One of the reasons for selling Alfie was to enable me to spend more time on Herbie and this really paid off at the end of the year with our 2^nd place in the regional final and our qualification for Badminton.

Herbie is now back in work and if yesterday is anything to go by he is very much full of beans! I took him for a hack and he seemed to enjoy himself a little bit more than I did although it did a great job of blowing away the cobwebs.

Our broodmare, Umber is moving ever closer to the end of her pregnancy and is due in March. We are aiming to put her back in foal afterwards so Mum and I are going to the British Stallion Event at Hartpury in January to have a look at potential stallions for her.

I can’t wait for Christmas but I’m also excited for the New Year as we have lots to look forward. For now though I’d like to thank Fulmart Feeds for their support this year which has made a real difference and to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you in 2015!

Lucie