Well
with Christmas now literally just around the corner and only one more show of
2016 left I'm sat here thinking 'oh my god' where has this year gone?! It
doesn't seem two minutes since I was sat in this very spot last year totally
depressed and wondering when I was ever going to ride again due my my very poorly
broken leg. I'm currently sat reflecting on what has been a rollercoaster year
but boy have I enjoyed it!!
Do I
want to do it all again....... Definitely!
Last time we caught up HOYS was my next stop. All I can say about that experience is 'wow' and as always Ebolensky was my absolute rock. She took the huge occasion in her stride and jumped a beautiful round, it was so nice to have her back to her best.
A
trip to Cyprus with Neil and Charlie was pretty soon on the calendar and I was
more than feeling ready to put my feet up just not before Billionaires last
outing of 2016 at the British Dressage Petplan championship at Houghton Hall. With his outings running up to the championship I was feeling positive and in
the collecting ring he felt amazing. Sadly, I let the side down... I forgot a movement
in the test.. I was devastated. The rest of the test just felt like perfection
and I really thought I'd blown it. I was so angry at myself but luckily the three
judges were impressed with our work and we scored a huge 74% and we won. Our
closest rival scored more than 2% less and considering my error you could say I
was rather pleased. It backed up my theory of what a special horse he is and
what a lucky lady I am to ride such a talented gentleman.
On a
slightly sadder note just before we departed for our holiday I had decided it
was time to say goodbye to my faithful friend Ryan's Way. He played a huge part
in my career, my parents purchased him as a 3y/o for me when I was still in
ponies and he was the first one I produced from scratch. We had lots of ups and
downs in our time together and he taught me so much but I felt that at 21 this
year he wasn't getting any younger and winter was going to be a tough time for
him with age not being kind to him. It was my fairytale for him that he would leave us on a summers day, in the sunshine, from his field that he shared
with his friends. It was the hardest decision I have ever made but as if to
tell me I was doing the right thing the sun shone bright and he left me happy,
if a touch stiff! Even now thinking of it makes me cry, he will always be my
special boy
Now
where's that plane...
Two
weeks seemed to fly by. We had a fabulous time in the sunshine and for the
first time ever I was not really ready to come home. Tthe weather was glorious
and playing with Charlie 24/7 was fantastic but as with everyone I have work to
do.
Since
I came home the focus has mainly been on getting all the young ones in to a
serious routine and work out exactly which direction they are all going
in.
Coon
Freddie is loving his winter work after his break. He's very fresh and happy
and has jumped double clear and been placed every time out. He will be aimed at
BYEH and BE 5yrs old classes and his owners have just placed another one of
their exciting youngsters with me, Grafiba, who is an interesting prospect. He's
a big lad, standing at 16.3 at 3yrs old but he's gorgeous. Dressage will be the
focus for now as we don't want to rush him in the jumping phase,
although he is looking every inch an eventing star.
Louise
Abba has sent me a gorgeous prospect in her fabulous mare Gea. This mare has
jumped double clear and won and been placed every time out British show jumping
and she made her dressage debut last week and won both her tests even beating
my own Fleur T. Gea is for sale and as much as the goal is to find her a new
partner I genuinely love her and hope I get to ride her for a while to come
yet.
Moss
Farm have have given me the reins on their lovely 4yr old Zambesi Girl and
Bollywood. Zambesi Girl made her winning competition debut with me at Port Royal and I'm hoping Bollywood will be ready to be out in the
new year.
I
can't forget a small mention for the big guy, Dayton. After a short chill time
after finishing eventing he is now back in work and working hard towards the
British Dressage regionals. We have finally decided to take the plunge and to
step up a class and this week we won both our elementarys with +70% scores. This is a big milestone for me, coming from my previous showjumping background. I've had to work hard in the dressage phase, although I have had lots of
experience in the novice classes but most of the horses are sold before I get to
step them up. I've also held off stepping up as I'm a perfectionist and I
didn't want to let him down by not having the training in place that we needed. I feel that waiting and training hard has paid off and it is a big credit
to his owner who has been so supportive and helped us blossom into a great
team. Who knows one day I may be saying the same if we step up to medium. Every
time I step up a class I say 'that's it, that's as far as I go' so who knows.
With
just that one more show to go before another chill out over Christmas I'm
feeling positive about what may be to come in 2017. With another fabulous bunch
of horses to ride it's very exciting!
I
hope everyone has a fabulous Christmas and new year and I look forward to
catching up in 2017
Sam
x
