23 July 2026
How is it mid-July already?!
The halfway point of the year always feels like a good time to stop and reflect, and honestly, I don't think January me would quite believe where we are now…
At the start of the year I set myself a few targets. Some we’ve missed and some we’ve surpassed! But mostly I was simply hoping Maple would gain some experience, enjoy going out to parties and maybe, just maybe, prove to the world that she belongs in those white boards. Well she’s certainly done that!
Fast forward a few months and she's gained Regional qualifying scores, qualified for the Midway Championships and Area Festivals, and taught me more than I ever expected. Don’t get me wrong, it certainly hasn't all been plain sailing. We've had growth spurts, moments where she's felt weak, wobbly and confused, and days where I've questioned whether I was getting anything right at all. But those moments are slowly becoming fewer and fewer, and it's exciting to feel everything really starting to come together.
We recently ventured out for a much needed lesson with Angus Corrie-Deane and came away with lots of homework. Our goal posts have very much shifted onwards and there really is something satisfying about having clear things to chip away at. The lesson, combined with far too many hours spent catching up with Hartpury Festival of Dressage, has left me feeling really motivated for the rest of the season.
From the Grand Prix combinations to the young horse classes, I genuinely love watching it all. Not necessarily because I’m comparing myself to these riders, but because it reminds me what's possible. Everyone starts somewhere, and how could you not come away feeling inspired after watching all of that talent!
So what does the second half of the year look like?
First up, we've got our Area Festival at Onley, followed by the Midway Championships, both of which I'm really excited about. Then, despite it feeling completely ridiculous to be talking about Winters when it's another heatwave outside, I'd absolutely love to qualify for the Winter both Regionals and Area Festivals at Prelim and Novice...
Being a full time teacher means my competition calendar is dictated just as much by school holidays as it is by qualifying dates. And both Regionals and Festivals often fall during term time which limits me to weekends or Feb half term, so having both routes available would hopefully give us the best chance of actually getting to enjoy whichever dates fit around school.
But at the heart of it my goal remains exactly the same as January: keep building Maple's confidence, and enjoy the journey one day at a time.
As always, I'm incredibly grateful to Equiglo for supporting us on the journey. Here's hoping the second half of the year is just as exciting as the first!!
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