Flora Harris Blog

So finally I have found a few minutes to sit down and write my blog, despite being frustratingly held up like the rest of the country by the artic type weather; it feels like we have not stopped! We have a full yard and my desk looks like a nuclear war zone!

All of the horses are on top form if a little fresh from their impromptu holidays. We have been getting out and about to a number of dressage shows and have come back with plenty of ribbons and some really encouraging results. It’s always nice when your hard work in the freezing cold starts to pay off. We took Barney, Harry and Jasper to an evening dressage show near Rugby and even though I was still in the ring at 9 o clock at night it was a really great completion. Barney had never been inside a competition dressage arena before and he won his pre-lim test on a score of 75%. Harry was also fabulous finishing 3rd with 68%. Jasper competed in two novice tests winning both on 68% and 71%. He is a new ride for me this season so it was a really promising start to our partnership together.

We have also been out jumping quite a few times with all of the horses. Barney is proving to be a real star and still (touch wood) has not had a fence down with me. Harry is still jumping with his exuberant style and is picking up plenty of double clears. I have kept his classes relatively small for the time being so as not to over face such a careful horse, but I would like to jump him in a few 1.30’s and possibly some small grand prix before the season starts. Although he is still Eventing at a relatively low level he really enjoys his showjumping and challenging him occasionally keeps him really fresh and on the boil. He’ll start of this year with a few BE100’s but the main aim is a CCI* some time in the summer.

Jasper has improved his showjumping hugely since he arrived and I am thrilled with how much stronger he feels. He has always been a good jumper but his consistency is now really starting to show through and looks to be very exciting for the season ahead. He will start with a Novice and then move up to Intermediate aiming at Tattersalls U25 CCI** in May.

Bobs (Law Choice) has also been out and about competing. He disgraced himself somewhat at his first dressage show by bolting in the medium canter and jumping out the end of the arena, but after that he calmed down (a little!) and was a bit better. He went to his first jumping show and came second in a 1.10m class and then jumped a steady clear in the 1.15m. He is feeling on amazing form and I cannot wait to get cracking with him this year. His dressage in particular has improved out of sight and he now has some serious trot! He will miss Badminton this time unfortunately but will head to Bramham U25 CCI*** and then a CCI**** later in the year. His fantastic personality and out and out talent never ceases to amaze me and I have to remind my self regularly how lucky I am to be riding such an awesome horse.

Maisie is feeling particularly full of herself this year and is looking a million dollars. She has really matured and I am sure has grown another hand even though she is now 8! Her dressage is feeling more and more consistent and mature and she is so much fun to ride as she knows all the tricks and finds them so easy! She was quite spooky out show jumping but settled down really well for the second class and really gave me a great, loose and powerful feel. She too will aim at Tattersalls CCI**.

We have some really exciting new rides in the yard; Abersinaa (Nina) is a 7yo black mare owned by Rose Carnegie. Rose is busy away at University so I have taken over the reins to compete Nina. She is very smart and I am so excited to have her. Rathkeale Boy (Ronan) is a 15.1hh Strawberry Roan gelding who has come to me from his owners in Somerset. Although small he has such an amazing jump and is also a wonderful shade of pink! Ed is a 14.2hh grey Connemara pony who has just been bought by Ross Millar for me to produce. He is so cool and I am really looking forward to riding him this season.

This year I’m really lucky to be involved in the world class Equine Pathway so we have been having some training sessions with Lizzie Murray and Kenneth Clawson. Maisie in particular has benefitted from these and it is great to have help from a new eye occasionally. I have plenty more of these lined up so watch this space…

After three attempts at booking a cross-country course we finally managed to sort something out for our filming with Horse Hero. Lyneham Heath very kindly made an exception and let us on even though all the water jumps were frozen solid! I am certainly no natural in front of the camera so I did feel very sorry for Fiona, her camera lady and my groom Charlotte who suffered in sub-zero temperatures as we did take after take. The horses all went brilliantly though and didn’t embarrass me as I had anticipated! Barney was jumping his first ever cross-country fences so I had no idea what to expect; but he was awesome and seriously brave. Its always a risk buying young un-proven horses that they are going to have the balls to go Eventing, but I hope that our patience and methodical training has given Barney every opportunity to be as confident and bold as possible. Harry felt fantastic as ever but also felt much more mature even if he did stand on his front feet a few times enthusiastically bucking! It was a real learning experience for me with Jasper as I don’t know him all that well yet but he too was great and gave me a completely push button ride.

Some more really cool news is that Elkington Stud (aka Oathill Farm) were myself and the horses are based has produced its first crop of foals. Jane Keir my main owner breeds Tb racehorses and this year is expecting 5 foals. 3 of the mares; the maidens; have gone away to foal but the two girlies that have done it before were left to me to act as midwife. The first arrived in the 6th of February at about 2.30am. I had spent the preceding 4 nights getting up every hour to check the mare and was so exhausted that I slept straight through my 2am alarm. Thank goodness it all went well and I managed to get to the yard in time to get her on her feet safely and supervise the first trip to the milk bar. Jane has named her Poppy and she is so lovely. She is an absolute biffer and weighed 57kg at birth. Way above average. The next foal arrived this morning at 4am after I had managed to do hourly checks for 5 nights as well as riding all my horses during xxthe day! I was there for the birth and I can safely say I have no desire to have ANY children of my own after watching that!! Polly is another bay filly and is also stunning. I’m so relieved and also thrilled for Jane that everything has gone smoothly as it has always been her childhood dream to own a stud farm and she has finally made it a reality.

Next week I have a days training and video analysis planned with Jon Pitts that I am really looking forward to, as well as continuing with our pre-season training. I am sure the next month will be a blur of jumping galloping and dressage not to mention getting soaked and rather cold! – Still, I wouldn’t change it for the world and with more horses arriving next week 2012 is proving to be better and busier than ever!

Last week we took Beaurepaire  Jasper, Bayano and Cesano H to Onley Equestrian Centre for a BSJA show. I jumped all three horses in the 1.05m and the Newcomers. Cesano H and Jasper both had unlucky 4 faults in the first class with Bayano jumping a very easy double clear. In the Newcomers they all felt fantastic, jumping 3 double clears. They are really starting to settle in the ring and jump some really classy rounds. 

On Thursday we were back at Onley again this time for a Dressage competition. This was Bayano and Cesano H's first pure dressage show, so they were both a little bit fresh and excited. Nevertheless I was placed 2nd and 4th in their first class and then I won the second test on 74% and also came 3rd on 68%. A very promising start. Beaurepaire Jasper was the star of the day winning both his Novice tests on 68% and 71%. He will now be entered for some elementary tests before the season starts.

Happy New Year to everyone, I hope that you all had a fun and relaxing Christmas and a New Years Eve to remember. I have had a few easier days (even though I did muck out 8 on Christmas day!!) and it was nice to catch up with friends and family over the festive period.  As the clock struck 12 last night I had an odd feeling of anticipation, excitement and also some nerves in relation to the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held here in the UK. With such a massive amount of funding and at times controversy surrounding the games; especially the equestrian events and their location, I think that it has been easy to forget what a privilege it will be to see a “home” Games right on our doorstep. We certainly will not experience another in our lifetime and although I won’t be involved with the Olympics as a competitor on this occasion, I am sure I will be inspired beyond all imagination by the drive, talent and determination of the greatest athletes on the globe.

My horses are all on fighting form and feel fresh and ready for the season ahead. I had a fantastic day training with the World Class Equine Pathway at Solihull Equestrian Centre, which certainly gave me loads to think about. I took Amazing VIII, Cesano H and Bayano. All three horses jumped really well, doing a similar grid exercise, which included a bounce to an oxer followed by a bending line left or right. All three jumped superbly however it pinpointed some small errors to do with straightness and accuracy and also some positional things that I can work on. On the flat Bayano and Amazing felt great and we worked with both of them on achieving a better contact. Amazing can occasionally get strong as she is so powerful behind and can easily un balance herself. Plenty of transitions within the pace and keeping her right up in front of my leg really helped and I am looking forward to getting her out to some pure dressage competitions next week. I also have some improvements to make to Bayano’s contact, however he is the total opposite to Maisie as he is very light in the rein and we are trying to encourage him to take longer and flatter steps and really take the bridle forward more. He finds stepping under so unbelievable easy that I’ll often almost be in piaffe without asking! He’ll be going to his first proper dressage show in the next few days. 

Unfortunately I am still having some transport issues (all will be revealed shortly) so I haven’t managed to get out competing as much as I would like, but father Christmas very generously dropped some new show jumps down my chimney so I have been busily thinking up all sorts of exercises for all of the horses. Some really exciting news is that Law Choice; My Badminton ride and 2010 Express Eventing winner is now back jumping after his injury in the spring. He is feeling rather over exuberant and is so glad to be back in proper action. We’ve decided to miss Badminton this Spring and head to Bramham to have a crack at the U25 CCI*** title and then he will be aimed at an Autumn CCI4*. He’s such a star he’s been worth waiting for and I cant wait to get him out and prove again what an amazing talent he really is.

My new head girl Charlotte Aitkin starts on the 3rd so we are very pleased to welcome her to the team. She brings a wealth of experience having groomed for an international CCI*** rider in New Zealand, and also for Olympic medalist Daisy Dick. I am also absolutely thrilled that all of my sponsors have resigned me for the forthcoming year. Their support is so valuable and along with my wonderful owners and trainers, I really can’t thank them enough.

The next few weeks I know are going to be unbelievably busy, my fist gym session of 2012 starts tomorrow and we seem to be at a dressage or jumping show almost every other day not to mention fitting in all that training and galloping! Before we know it the season will be upon us and I cant wait!

So things are very much all back to normal and we are busier than ever. All of the horses are back in work and are feeling fresh and well after their holidays. We have been very busy working a lot at home both dressage and jumping and things are certainly coming along really well. The plan this month had been to get out and about to shows as much as possible, but due to some serious lorry issues we have mainly been yard bound. We have still found plenty to be getting on with however: who on earth said that the winters were a quiet time???

My new horse from Holland: Bayano is proving to be such a find. He is absolutely stunning and is improving and becoming braver and more confident every day. He has the most awesome hind leg so at the moment we are actually trying to get him to work with less power and look after his balance a little more. He is so much fun to jump and throws the most fantastic shape. I have to be very strict with myself not to keep putting the fences higher and higher! I can’t believe that he is only 5 years old and I am really looking forward to getting him out and about on the circuit next season.

A large part of my winters work is focusing on my training techniques, my own motivation and attitude as well as how I am physically riding the horses. These things are what I have been working on with Jon Pitts recently and it has given me plenty to think about. In previous years it was the done thing to turn your horses out at the end of the season and not even broach the idea of work or training until the New Year. Whilst this may sound appealing to some, Eventing has changed into such a professional sport that I feel it would be impossible for someone at my age and stage to neglect such a crucial time in terms of training and self analysis. Having said this, no training is certainly better than bad or sloppy training so what I am doing and how I am doing it is something that I have really tried to sit down and analyze. It seems easier to look at the horses progression and level of work with greater clarity at this time of year when there are no imminent important competitions to cloud my judgment, making an issue seem more or less important than it actually is. Jon has got me focusing almost entirely on the basics of what I am doing, for example whether or not I and the horses are truly in balance or if I am covering up or “holding” the horses up instead of teaching them to go in self carriage. I have spent endless hours recently jumping the same small set of fences with my groom measuring my take off spot each time, to make sure I am getting to exactly the same shot whilst still maintaining a completely even rhythm. 

We are trying to set the highest standards we possibly can, both on the horses and on the ground in the yard and make this level of attention to detail the absolute norm. Hopefully with a strong foundation of top quality basics both the horses and myself will be able to perform at our very best even when things don’t go quite as to plan as we would have hoped or when we are under great pressure. 

A bit of exciting news is that Amazing VIII has been selected onto the World Class Equine Pathway. A scheme aimed at identifying horses with the right attributes and talent to perform at Olympic level. I am so pleased as she really deserves the recognition and I am also thrilled for Sue Nicholls her owner who is wonderfully supportive and has been very patient with a hugely talented but occasionally tricky horse. 

The next few weeks promise to be busier than ever with more horses arriving and various jumping and dressage shows organized. I have plenty of lessons with Brigid (dressage) and Fred (jumping) in the diary so I’m really looking forward to all of that. I am also off to a 3 day foaling course in Newmarket to prepare me for the foaling season when I will be foaling down Jane Keir’s (who owns my yard) mares in January. Certainly not holiday time for me!!

Last week I just had Amazing VIII at Aldon International in Somerset. It was her first 3 day event, competing in the CCI*. We arrived in time for the trot up on Thursday, which she flew through, and then worked her that afternoon in preparation for her test on Friday afternoon. She was quite wild on the Thursday but settled quickly and produced some good work. I was pleased with her test, she lacked a little flow in some places and made a couple of mistakes where she lost some rhythm, but overall I think she went well. I was quite disappointed with our mark of 50.3 as she has been scoring some really special tests in her last few events, but we were left in 10th place overnight so had all to play for. 

The cross country was tough enough, with two waters in quick succession and accuracy questions right to the end. She set off quite strong and stayed that way all the way round. I didn't really have any scary moments and she was very brave and positive which was great as sometimes she can be a bit spooky. I went long at fence 16, a step up to a sharply angled rail, as I felt that I would easily make the time without taking a risk and I was right as she finished well inside without be having to push to the line. She felt great that evening and we were able to enjoy a stress free eventing without too much drama and icing! Our clear round had moved us up to 8th place.
The show jumping was fairly straightforward and after the had passed the trot up again I went up to watch the first few horses go. It was causing enough trouble, but Maisie made nothing of it and jumped a good clear inside the time moving us up to 7th place. An excellent start to her 3-day career. I am very excited about her for next season and will aim to do a 2* with her in the spring. 

She will now enjoy a long holiday before picking up for some dressage and show jumping over the winter

Cesano H and Its Without Prejudice were both running today. Cesano started the day with a very enthusiastic test which scored well in the section for 31. He is still making a few minor errors here and there but what is pleasing is that he is improving all the time, and the judges still seem to really like him despite his added extras in a few of the movements. Hopefully with a winters dressage we'll be able to iron out any small mistakes and some really good marks will come. He then jumped another good clear in the show-jumping and also gave me an excellent ride cross country. I was very annoyed to have a glance of at a skinny early on, which I can contribute entirely to rider error. He has been a little bit careful cross country, but finally he is feeling ultra brave, and I just let him get a little quick and onward. Still an excellent first attempt at this level and definitely one I am very excited about for next season. 

Its without Prejudice also found the dressage quite exciting but performed a solid test for a mark of 35. He then rubbed that last fence show jumping to pick up 4 faults and jumped a super clear xc to finish just outside the ribbons. He is definitely ready to move up a level for next year, and I am looking forward to spending the winter hunting and taking him to some jumping and dressage shows.

Next stop Aldon and then the 2011 season is over!!

I have been lucky enough to find another horse for Jane Keir; owner of my yard and Law Choice. Bayano is a 5yo bay gelding whom I found on a show jumping yard in Holland. He is very smart and I hope will be a real star of the future. Jane wasn’t originally looking for something so young but he was so easy and straightforward with a really special way of moving and a cracking jump that we really couldn’t leave him behind. He’s travelled over to the UK really well, and has settled in. I’ll spend the winter getting to know him and taking him to some dressage and show jumping shows and then hopefully he’ll make a really positive start to his Eventing career at the beginning of next season. 

Another new addition in Lyfield Dark Surprise known as Tilly. She is a 16hh Irish sports horse/Tb mare who has done a couple of intros with Sarah Stretton. Her owner needed to sell her fairly promptly so I managed to afford her and she’ll be aimed at some young horse classes next year. She is very smart indeed and I think given a bit more mileage will make a really competitive junior or young riders horse, and hopefully make me a lot of money too!
The yard suddenly seems very full indeed which is a bit of a shock after a relatively quiet year. IT is really nice to be sitting on horses all day, though I am sure I’ll be moaning about it when the rain really starts to set in! 

I have just returned from the Express Eventing final at HOYS, where I was lucky enough to be lent a horse by Sara Burdess; Shiver St George aka Buster. As Sara and Buster live well north of Newcastle I was only able to ride him once before the big day. Ben Martin, a top dressage rider who is based locally was a fantastic help with my music for the dressage, but Buster and I never actually managed to go through the test before we entered the main arena. He worked in fairly well and some of the trot work in the test was pleasing, but unfortunately Buster got rather over excited in the canter work and although we did manage to perform all our set movements we also added a few extra of our own! Buster is about 17.2hh and I felt like a pea on a drum being towed along by a very excitable beast, but we got through it and ended up lying 9th after the first phase which wasn’t a complete disgrace! The cross-country phase wasn’t huge in size, but there was plenty to jump and the technicality of the course was certainly impressive.

Buster is a very experienced event horse, but Sara did warn me that he could be rather cheeky! I had jumped him over a couple of things a few weeks previously, but I still felt as though I was riding into the unknown as we walked through those infamous black curtains and into the main arena at the NEC. The first 3 fences were ok, I wasn’t really putting my foot down as I had planned to use the first half of the course just to get a feel of him and then press on in the second half. I turned to fence 4, which was a corner off a turn just in front of the entrance. I feel that I had a good line and a good shot in a forward balanced canter, Buster had other ideas! He crossed his jaw and serenely cantered past the flag 3 times in a row so unfortunately we were eliminated! I don’t think me desperately trying to hold him on a line made the slightest bit of difference, as he really wasn’t going to play ball. It was a real shame as I would have loved to be in contention to defend my title but I am really grateful to Sara for lending me her horse and it was such a privilege to be able to ride at such a prestigious competition as HOYS. I really think that Express Eventing is a sport for the future and I hope to be involved for many years to come. 

I have had a couple more outings with my other horses, Sam and Harry both jumping great double clears at Moreton Morell to be placed 5th and 9th. I have also been out and about at pure showjumping competitions, and the horses have all been clocking up plenty of double clears. Harry even got rather competitive and won a Newcomers class at Weston Lawns.

Next stop is Larkhill and then Aldon with Maisie for her first CCI*. Then we shall knuckle down to a winter of training before hitting 2012 hard!

Cesano H (Harry). He is 6 and came from Preston, which was also where we found Amazing, Sue Nicholls' fantastic mare that I have been riding. Harry is lovely and we are very excited about him indeed. He is German bred by Cesano, with a good bit of blood on both sides, so there should be plenty of gallop in there. He had done a fair bit of show jumping, so I have been very spoilt and been off jumping lots of clear rounds in some big classes. I have taken him cross country a few times and he seems to be very brave (if rather cheeky!)

So last weekend, we took him off to his first event at Solihull for the BE90 Open and he was a star jumping a really easy double clear. I took him very slowly cross country so he could really look at everything and take it in and he gave me a great ride. I am very excited about him for next season as I think he could be really quite special!

Another new pony in the yard is Beaurepaire Jasper owned by Penelope Makin. Jasper was previously ridden by Lucy Griffiths and has been produced beautifully. He has had quite a light season and we are spending the next few weeks getting to know each other before embarking on a dressage and show jumping campaign throughout the winter and then looking toward a very competitive season next year. I am very grateful to Penelope for giving me the opportunity to ride such a lovely horse.

I am still looking for a horse for Jane (my yard owner) to buy for me. I have been to see what seems like hundreds but still haven't located the superstar we are looking for! Having found Harry, I can’t seem to find anything I like as much! I spent another couple of days in Germany, but didn't see anything that caught my imagination. I have in my mind exactly what I would like to see in a potential event horse, and there don't seem to be many that tick all the boxes!

The first thing that I want to see is a good looking athletic horse with a nice face and head, this doesn't necessarily have to mean he is a beautiful horse, but I think you can see a lot about a horse’s temperament in their eye and the expression on their face, more often than not. If I walk onto a yard and like the horse just standing in its stable because he looks right, he'll be what I'm looking for under saddle as well. Having said that they have to move and jump too!

As far as the trot goes they have to be loose and active behind with a really quick hind leg that wants to work. I am not too worried if they aren't the flashiest movers in front, as this can be manufactured to a certain extent, but the canter has got to be there from the start. Over a fence I will look for something that really impresses me and makes me think wow! I like horses to be bold and keen to jump but really careful. Show jumping penalties are becoming more costly, so it is a fine balance between being brave enough to gallop down to an enormous ditch and still leave all the fences up for the show jumping on the final day! Good conformation is also a must. There is no point in having the most talented horse in the world if he's stood in the stable lame because he has bad feet or bent legs! Sam has been coming on well, he too went to Solihull and was a star finishing 3rd with a double clear and 28.5 dressage. He's off to contest the 5 year old class at Highclere next week, so fingers crossed he pulls another good result out the bag.

I took the long trip down to Cornwall earlier this month to have a look at my new lorry which is in build by a new sponsor. It is looking really good and I am looking forward to finally driving away with it! There seems to be storage everywhere and so many buttons to press that I shall need them to write me a manual of how to use it, before I take it away.

Very sad news is that Alice (my brilliant head girl) is leaving the end of the season. I am absolutely gutted as she is a total star, but she is off to get married to her long term fiance, so of course we wish her all the best. That means that I am on the hunt for a new head girl or lad to run the yard, and also a second groom to give a helping hand. Alice highly recommends the job! There are plenty of things going on over the next few weeks, hopefully some more (successful) horse hunting, various events and the Express Eventing final is also nearly here. I will endeavor to be more prompt with my updates in future!

Things have, for once, been a little quieter on the competition front. The horses are all going well, and Maisie was especially good in the Novice at Great Tew finishing 9th with another steady double clear. She is feeling better and better and we have been working very hard in her show jumping, in particular, which seems to be really paying off. I have been having some help with her and Gladys from Fred Bergendorff who is based very locally to me in the next village. Fred is both a top rider and trainer and Caroline Creighton suggested I go and have some help from him mid-season, as it is quite a long way for us to drive all the way down to Devon to see her.

We have been concentrating on really getting the horses to relax through their whole body in the air, thus using themselves much more effectively and creating a looser softer jump. I have also been working hard on keeping a better and softer rhythm into a fence and not relying all the time on my eye. I find it very easy to see a stride to a fence which can help a lot of the time but can also be a real hindrance as well, as it can sometimes cause me to kill the canter a little. Fred’s sessions give me a lot to think about and work on, and I often leave with my brain pretty full (which is not hard!!) but the work is beginning to pay off and I am really feeling a difference with both horses.

Next stop was Longleat, though unfortunately it wasn’t our best outing! The weather was so horrendous that I only did one dressage test and then drove all the way home again! I felt terribly sorry for the organiser Jessica Colson (who co-owns a yearling colt I have at Oathill) who had done such a fantastic job on the whole event. It seems so unfair that we have been praying for rain for weeks and when it does come we have so much of it in one go that it stops play altogether! My horse shopping expeditions (mentioned in the last blog) were really good fun and I was very lucky to see a lot of lovely horses and meet some really interesting people. Belgium started in a fairly dramatic fashion with me very nearly missing my flight and running the entire length of Stanstead airport! On arriving in Eindhoven, I discovered the cash machine only spoke Dutch as did all of the taxi drivers! I did eventually manage to get to my hotel and then realised that I had left my phone in the back of the taxi…not a good start but he noticed and brought it back to me and from there on in things went a lot more smoothly.

I saw 20-25 horses and left with a lot of video footage to go through. It was then back home to ride my horses the following morning and off to Gatwick in the afternoon to fly to Hamburg very early the next day. We saw less horses in Germany but again there was a lot of quality and they were all pretty impressive. I think that I have found a very special 5yo for Jane to buy, fingers crossed he passes the vet this week!

Some other news is that I have decided to sell my second string advanced horse BOY. It has been a very tough decision to make, but in the current economic climate I have had to think of the future. He has found a fantastic home abroad and I have no doubt he will be seen out and about on the senior circuit soon. I will be very sad to see him go, however, I have had him since he was 5 and have produced him up to 3 star level, so he is a very special horse.

We’re off to Eridge and then Brightling and plenty more events to come, so watch this space, and hopefully by my next blog I’ll be able to report on the new pony from Germany!

Late again on the blog but things have been so busy I can’t believe that it’s been 6 weeks since Badminton!

Gladys was having her first run of the season at Hambleden in the BE100open. She has had a bit of trouble with soreness through her quarters and her pelvis was quite significantly dropped to the right. We think this was causing her significant pain so after an easy year in 2010 it was very exciting to have her out again. She is always gorgeous on the flat and didn’t disappoint with a 24. In the show jumping she felt very green and spooky having not been out for some time, but jumped really well and then flew round the cross country. Maisie was doing her first CIC*. She was fantastic on the flat scoring 41 (even with an error from me!) She jumped well in both phases, but coming to the coffin on the cross country she managed to catch a knee on the upright of the brush fence going in. She jumped through fine but on finishing I realised there was a lot of blood! It was quite a nasty C shaped slice which required a few stitches, very frustrating as the horse performed well but it’s very superficial and she’ll be back on the road soon.

Unfortunately a few days before Hambleden my grandfather Geoff Harris died in Bath hospital. He had been suffering from a long illness since he had a stroke nine years ago, but it was a sad loss and the whole family especially my grandmother will miss him hugely.

Brigstock was the next stop for the Novice with Gladys. Again she did a fab test for a 24; frustratingly she had 3 fences down in the show jumping just from being very spooky at the coloured poles and fillers. She has always in the past been a very reliable show jumper so I am sure that given a bit more ring time she will become more settled. The cross country looked enormous for a Novice, with plenty of yawning open ditches and wide oxers. Gladys felt truly awesome and cruised round just picking up 3 time faults. The show jumping left us out of the ribbons but I certainly feel as though a big result is round the corner.

On the way home from Brigstock I stopped in to see Milly Earnshaw and her horse IT’S THE LAW, aka Vinnie. We had a good chat about me taking on the ride and he arrived the next day! He is a really smart boy, with a lot of jump and all the makings of a really top class horse. He had been a little bit cheeky in the past but I have really clicked with him and after a few teething problems at Pontispool he flew round the Novice at Moreton inside the time to finish 6th with a good dressage and show jumping round. He is so exciting and I really think a lot of him. He’ll now head to Longleat and Salperton Novice before doing our first Intermediate on him at Eridge. Certainly one to watch!

Another new ride is FLASH JACK aka Bacardi. He has been sent to me by his owner Jack Downy to sell as Jack is very busy concentrating on exams at school. Bacardi is only 14.1hh and will make a fantastic FEI pony for the right rider. He has SUCH a lot of jump and gives me a very good feel over some quite large fences. He’s off to Great Tew for the BE100 and then Longleat for a Novice, and then hopefully he will find a really talented child to take right to the top!

Jane Keir, who owns shares in Bobs, has decided to buy another horse, so I am off to Belgium and Germany next week for a horse hunting expedition. It’s very exciting and I am so grateful to Jane for her continued support. Her stunning yard at Oathill Farm is still getting organised but it’s so lovely to have the horses at home and they have all settled in really well. There are a few other exciting things in the pipeline but I can’t say too much just at the moment, just watch this space!

I can’t believe that Badminton is over. We have literally been preparing for my first 4star for what seems like years. It was an extraordinary and ultra-surreal feeling finally driving through those gates knowing that this year I would be riding round the biggest and most prestigious event in the world.

Our final preparations with Bobs had certainly gone to plan. I’d spent a lot of time whizzing up and down the motorway with him, visiting Brigid for dressage lessons and Caroline for a last cross country school. He felt awesome, really fresh and fit but also strangely calm as if he knew what was to come and wanted to be ready! Sarah Corbin from Spillers was also really helpful in the run up to the big day and Bobs had never looked so slim and hard.

Jon Pitts and I had been working hard in the run up to Badminton on my own mental and physical preparation, as well as my balance and straightness in the saddle. They key, and something that Jon I know is very passionate about is that preparation is everything. I can often lack confidence in my own abilities and trying to overcome this and believe in my own mind that I was capable of riding a good round at Badminton and finishing competitively was really difficult, but with Jon’s help (aka persistent abuse!) We also discussed a lot simplifying the whole Badminton experience, at the end of the day it really is just the same as any other event. One dressage test, followed by one cross country and one show jumping track. I was able to arrive at the big one feeling better and more confident than I could have hoped for.

The first trot up was pretty terrifying, I can’t believe that many people turn up to watch us run our horses in a straight line and back again?! Still the atmosphere was amazing and I was so excited that the competition had finally started! Brigid drove up the day before and the day of my test so help me work in. On the day before my test we worked him really short and sharp and really got after him about staying in front of my leg. He is so cheeky about suddenly disappearing behind me and leaving me totally alone in the ring, it’s really important that we set him up to be obedient and think forward with each step. He was so good during the session and I was really looking forward to the real thing.

Hacking up to the dressage from the stables sounds like such a normal thing you would do at an event, but at Badminton everything is just so different. You go along side all the trade stands and there are people there watching you just walk on a long rein. It is easy to let the whole atmosphere and enormity of the place completely overwhelm you. Bobs worked in pretty well for his test and didn’t seem bothered at all by the crowds, cameras or applause. He went into the ring and started pretty well but never really hit into the brilliant work we had had the day before. He managed a 9 for his walk, but in the canter dropped behind my leg and we slightly fluffed the last 2 changes on the 5 loop serpentine and then the final halt was a a little unbalanced. Overall I was pleased as we’d certainly performed respectively and finished in 14th after the first day of dressage, but just a tiny bit frustrated as I know he is capable of more than 10 marks better!

I walked the cross country 6 times and it still looked big! Caroline and I walked it a couple of times and Lucy Wiergesma was also hugely helpful. It was really strange walking up to such iconic fences like the outlander bank, hexagon hedge and the colt pond and thinking I actually have to jump these!! On the Saturday afternoon I walked with Jon Pitts for a new method of preparation which Jon had come up with. We must have looked rather odd wandering around Badminton with a step ladder but there was method in Jon’s madness! The idea was to take a photograph of each fence on the line I was going to jump it on, but from the height that my eye line would be whilst sitting on the horse. It sounds really simple but it was unbelievably effective at becoming more familiar with the course in a truly accurate way. This familiarity ensured that there were no surprises as I rode around the track and I was able to flick the photos on my computer all evening and the following morning becoming almost more “at home” with the lines and combinations that I was going to ride. On Sunday morning I have never felt so ill or had such a sense of dread. The excitement had gone and I was pretty terrified! I went for a run around the course running my lines so I could get used to coming towards them and making turns at speed. It definitely helped me feel less sick and I was confident in where I was going. I watched a few horses go round, mainly William FP as he is always one to show us all how it’s done! Then it was time to get ready… Jon Pitts arrived at the lorry with some boxing gloves which made me feel a bit daft at first but I really got into it and it got my heart rate up which I felt helped me to focus and get a bit more pumped up. We then did some work on the ball getting my reflexes sharper and also practising “saving” myself from any imbalances by catching a ball out to the side and still having to keep my core strong. As well as preparing me physically the exercises helped me get in the right place mentally and I can honestly say I have never felt better before any round. Badminton was the last place I thought I would feel so cool! I warmed him up in the bottom of the park where the atmosphere was electric and I just wanted to get out there.

He started strong and sharp and just felt fantastic, everything went to plan, all the fences seemed to come and go in slow motion feeling easy and like we’d both been there before. A big thing that Jon and I had focussed on in my cross country preparation was approaching each fence using the same sequence. Tempo (speed), line, and balance. I knew if I kept these three simple things in mind then I would be able to do my job and it really really worked. Coming to the Outlander bank I can’t pretend I didn’t think “shit that’s big!” but I rode to the plan and he seriously operated. We had chosen a bridge crossing after the first third of the course just before the first vicarage complex as a check point where I could just regroup and concentrate and just check I was still focussing on our simple sequences. We whizzed over the bridge and then suddenly the fence judge jumped out with a red flag and pulled us up. It was a pretty awful moment as I thought I had been eliminated for some obscure reason but they quickly explained that there had been a fall ahead of me. Those 28 minutes where the longest of my life! He had been going so well and I was worried that such a long hold would send us both off the boil. Jon managed to get down with a bucket and sponge to cool Bobs off and he just tried to keep me calm and focussed, not an easy task as I seem to remember talking quite a lot of rubbish! When we finally got going again the crowd were brilliant and made a lot of noise getting right behind us. If anyone reading this was there when we got going thank you so so much it was just the best thing that could have been done and really got the adrenaline going again! I was a little deep to the oxer over the ditch when we got going but apart from that Bobs seemed to just carry on where we had left off and flew round. Jumping through the lake then hearing the roar of the crowd was awesome and a moment I hope that I will always remember. I was going very fast but seemed to have time to really enjoy the round and fences like Huntsmans close and the Quarry flowed like we were just schooling round. Then we were home and coming through the finish I suddenly felt really quite emotional, I think it was more relief than anything else but I was so proud of my horse and pleased not to have let everyone down.

Bobs was a little sore on the Monday morning for the trot up and after we were held we decided to withdraw and save him for another day. Obviously the whole team where hugely disappointed especially Alice my groom who had worked so hard all week, but Bobs always comes first and he had absolutely nothing to prove. He has cantered round the biggest course in the world and he’ll be back!

There are so many people to say thank you to for making Badminton the fantastic experience that it was. My mother and Jane Keir; Bobs’ owners were brilliant at organising food drink and generally fielding phone calls and looking after all our guests. Alice my groom was a total star and Annabelle our team physio was also there and we couldn’t have coped without her. There are so many thank yous and I feel so lucky to have been supported by such a wonderful team.

I first met Jon just over 2 years ago at an event in Portugal and since then I genuinely feel he has made a transformation in not only the way I ride, but in the way I think and how I generally approach everything to do with my horses and my business. He had to be exceptionally patient with me at Badminton as I was so unbelievably nervous, but he was very cool where I am sure most people would have wanted to throttle me! The preparation we were doing way back in the winter all the way up to cross country morning was right every step of the way and I have never felt so ready for a round. A huge thank you must go to him.

Bobs is now having a long holiday and the other ponies are getting busier than ever! I am off to Moreton Morrell on Wednesday and then Hambleden at the weekend so it’s definitely not time for a holiday yet!!

I think I’m probably in quite a bit of trouble for being late once again, but things have been so unbelievably hectic I can’t believe that nearly a month has gone by already.

Gatcombe was a good day for the two big boys, Boy and Law Choice. Boy was a little harshly marked in the dressage but jumped another fab double clear with a handful of time faults to finish 8th. Bobs was in the AI, a very hotly contested section as there were a lot of Badminton runners. I was trying a new bit as he can get quite short in the neck and the aim with him is to always try and lengthen his frame. I found the new bit a little disconcerting as he was much lighter in the rein and so I ended up taking of a bit of ride and he dropped behind the leg slightly, but he still seemed to please the judges to score 33; his best advanced mark to date. There were quite a few major mistakes so I was pleased to be lying 7th in such a strong section. He jumped really well over another tough track, just touching the style for 4 faults, and I decided not to run cross country as we were heading to Belton the next weekend.

I had a successful run at Swacliffe with Maisie before setting off to Belton with Law Choice and Boy again. Law Choice performed the test of his life in the AU25 to score 27.5. Boy was also in this class and did a good test for his level of training at the moment to score 37. Bobs was in the lead and Boy was well in touch. Boy show jumped really well with another clear round and then was a total star cross country, but picking up a very irritating stop at probably the smallest fence on the course! I came into a log followed by a bending line into a corner with quite a deep shot to the log. I wanted to get a small economic jump going in so that the turn came up quite easily as Boy can be very keen cross country. For some reason Boy totally misjudged the fence I think perhaps thinking that he wasn’t actually meant to jump such an insignificant thing and failed to take off! Next time round he was fine and sailed home. Very disappointing in some ways as I think he would have been in the money but nonetheless he was a real star and feels very exciting. Bobs blotted his copybook big style by stopping and then whipping round at a very scary filler in the show jumping. He then did exactly the same thing at a coffin on the cross country earning himself a severely smacked bottom. Although in paper his day looked horrendous he actually jumped really well and hopefully we have got rid of any cobwebs before the big one!

The yard at Oathill is coming on really really well. It has been very stressful trying to coordinate all the different contractors and things are by no means finished but it is starting to take shape and the arena is looking huge!

Badminton is now just around the corner but I am feeling very positive after some hard work on my mental preparation with Jon Pitts. Bobs is certainly very capable of jumping the fences so it’s up to me to do my job on top, fingers crossed it all goes to plan!