Hello, It's been a while since my last update and sadly we haven't had the best start to the year. After having a break over Christmas and some downtime for the girls, I was looking forward to getting going in the New Year. January started well with a great showing clinic and Gwen picking up lots of much needed tips.

Hello, everyone. Apologies for not being in touch for a while, we've been completely submerged in competitions and training and the time has just flown by. I have competed at Sheepgate Under 25s Championships, where Rodger did me proud once again.

Life on the farm has been fantastic since our move. Johnny has settled in nicely and is enjoying his new routine. I can safely say he is now starting to make friends with the donkeys day- by-day, although he isn't a fan of sharing breakfast with them just yet!

As some of you may already be aware, just before Christmas last year, Johnny was taken unwell and had an emergency visit from the vet. After 24 hours of care, he bounced back remarkably. He was very poorly with suspected colic, but has made a full recovery, although this meant an unexpected break through January to make sure he was 100% fit and healthy. Thankfully no surgery was required, but it was a testing time. 

I hope everyone is keeping well and enjoying their horses despite the varied weather. Johnny and I have been having a mixed winter with lots of hacking when daylight permits alongside work and trail hunting as much as we can. 

Wow! What a fantastic and busy 2023 we have had. Last year was our first full year at county level shows. At times we have felt out of our depth, but we have met so many good people who have given us great advice and we learn something at every outing. It has been a real learning curve, especially for my partner, Ben, who has only owned his first horse (Mrs Jones) for two years.

I started the endurance season with six horses in work and my gosh did they do me proud. Trigger and Latifa have been happy hackers at home last year, until Latifa, aged 16, was struck down unexpectedly with laminitis. Thankfully,  after a seven month slog we are out the other side, although it’s something I’ll permanently have to watch.

When will it stop raining? I can guarantee that anyone with animals or land will be complaining about the weather – and I certainly am! The horses are fed up with coming in like drowned rats and I am fed up with mucking out and filling haynets. Despite the torrential downpours, we have managed to maintain good motivation and have so far stuck to ride plans and entries as best we can, and made alterations when rides have been cancelled and done our own training routes.