I did it, I did it at last............

Saturday saw me having an absolutely fantastic day out at Patchetts with William.

I went for a day trip with my friend Nicki who is at the same yard as myself, and thought it would be a good chance to give him a ride round in a show environment again without actually competing.

So much for me thinking he would be an idiot. He was such a good boy and was totally unfazed about being at a show again.The good thing about Patchetts is there is room, lots of it and we were able to have a beautiful schooling session outside with no-one else around and he was so good I decided to have a jump... well, why not!

I was so organised :) I had no white or beige breeches and no jacket so cue me trying my hardest to squeeze into my friends breeches (she is a few sizes smaller than me with legs twice as long), but I succeeded. I couldn't breathe but I was in, and Patchetts very kindly let me go in without the correct jacket but I did smile nicely.

Well, the bell went and we exploded!!!! 14 fences, as it was 2phase, was a lot to take in but it was to late now, we were off. The first 5-6 fences were interesting and we bounced and lept about on every approach but jumped the fences 3ft higher than they actually were, however, after the 6th we really settled down into a forward rhythm and completed the course in a slightly better manner than when we started. He loved it, I loved it and I am now on the look out for the next outing. I have the bug back!

At Cybercheckout, I have been very busy getting in lots of new stock and promotional ideas. We are all stocked up on our medium and heavy weight rugs from Horseware. A new delivery has arrived today of SSG gloves (which I have to admit are rather lovely), Fleece lined waterproof chaps and Hi-Viz gear, which this time of year we cannot live without, especially if you meet drivers like I met out hacking yesterday (yes you, Mr Silver Range Rover man!)

We also now have a new line of Caldene breeches which look fab and one style even has a little bling on the pocket for you, but they are very flattering even for my stump legs and stretch nicely. If you go to the website, in the clothing section there is a lovely Caldene Badminton Jacket. I love it and I have already put one aside for myself, just waiting for Pay day, but if you can, I would, they are lovely!

And we are off...............

Well, I never did make it to the competition on Sunday, I am beg, stealing and borrowing lifts at the moment, due to no transport and my lift didn't happen. Not to worry, I am off to Patchetts on Saturday and it has given me more time to put some work into the jumping.

I have worked on the ground poles, I have also done a tiny little cross pole (but it felt great), so we have now progressed onto grid work. I set out a bounce grid running down the long side of the arena. Pole, Cross, Pole, Cross, Pole, Cross. This really made William come back to me and think about what he was doing. I kept it simple, trot in, bounce through and canter away, trot, halt. Very impressive for Will. Took it all in his stride, nice and relaxed and felt smashing. The best I have jumped him in years actually.

The thing with Will is that I don't need to worry about the height of the fences, I know, he knows he can do it, he is more than capable so our aim at home, is keeping it small and simple but above all controlled and relaxed and do the fun stuff at the competitions. So far so good.

Saturday, I made the most of the daylight and the sunshine and went for a lovely hack on my own for a good hour and a half. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was nice to spend some time not on a time limit and rushing around to get home etc. Yesterday we went in the field for a school around..........we will just brush that one aside......less said about that the better I think........our leg yielding is fantastic though! :)

Desperately trying to find time to get another clip in as this first clip really hasn't lasted that long and he gets terribly hot, the trouble is, I have a few clips booked in for other people for the next few weekends so I can see me trying to battle it out in artificial light at 8pm in the evening. I'll let you know how it looks the next morning!! Oh, I do loathe the winter nights.

It's all a bit scary...........

Before I begin waffling on about myself and what I have been up to I want to say a HHUUUGGGEEE congratulations to Team GB at the Europeans but my major well dones are saved for Piggy French and Some Day Soon (Edward) who got Individual Silver. Edward is owned by a very good friend of mine and I have followed his progress from the beginning when he was first being ridden at Nick Turners yard by Lucy Kempley. Lucy and Nick have done a fantastic job on a highly talented but highly quirky horse and I just adored being able to shout at the telly cheering on a horse I actually knew. Well done to everybody involved from the owners to the grooms, you deserve it all.

So apart from wanting to pin a poster of Edward to Will's stable wall to give him some inspiration, we have been busy working on lots of pole work and lunge jumping.

I tried the double bridle out but it didn't all go to plan, the bridle was a bit big and just didn't sit right making the bits not seem in the correct place in his mouth. It certainly wasn't atrocious so I gave it a go but even though Will didn't do anything wrong, he didn't feel right so 15Min's in, I got off and popped his pelham on. He immediately felt a lot more relaxed so I am not saying the Double isn't right for him but I think that bridle was wrong for him, sensitive sole he is.

I used the Pelham to do all of his pole work and it has been fine so far so I think I shall leave it at that for now. As Will hasn't jumped for so long I decided the best thing for both of us was to lunge jump a few times at first, he is a lot calmer on the lunge without me trying to interfere(!) and it will give his muscles a chance to get used to it again. He was good as gold and looks to be thouroughly enjoying himself. I have done all the pole work and Wednesday saw me attempting to try canter poles. This has never been our best exercise but it has to be done (I decided that) and I was pleasantly surprised. Very good and only a couple of blips which I can live with.

Sunday see's me going out to a competition with a friend of mine. I am just taking Will for the ride out really and not planning to compete. The aim is to just ride him around in a show atmosphere again, keeping him chilled, no stress ready for a few weeks time when we get out to a proper competition. However, I know what i'm like so i'm taking my clothes with me just incase he is going very nicely and I decide just to go for it. You never know!!!!!

Work is hectic! All these rugs you keep buying :):):) We have just had a fresh delivery of stock in and it is flying out the door. Absolutely fantastic. I should also have my new range of rugs in at the end of this month, this is exciting but very scary. I have so much work to do for this but I am very proud of them and I haven't had a negative comment as yet from the people who have been testing them for me. I am sure you will all support me on this long road and I welcome ALL feedback on these. Not long to go *chews nails nervously* but hang on in there.........