This season has been an emotional roller-coaster starting by jumping double clear in our first three BE90s, clear XC and PB dressage in our first four BE100s and qualifying for the Scottish Eventing Championships.

I set out my goals at the beginning of the season to jump DCs at BE90 and to step up to BE100 and I had met them all by June – Corky was an absolute superstar, trying his heart out at every turn.

Unfortunately as most people know he became lame in the dressage warm-up at the Scottish Champs so we withdrew him and after a trip to the Dick Equine Vet we realised Corky has some damage to a ligament so he was going to have some very well deserved time off. Fortunately his prognosis is good, his injury is healing well and he should make a full recovery.

It left me in a difficult situation as to make sure Corky gets the time off from competing that he needs and to let me continue to event I needed to look selling my other horse Lucas, who does not want to event, and take on a project for the next year.

It has been very hard to find anything I want to ride half as much as super Corks but I have found an exciting new pony to join the gang.

Maisie is an 8yo 15.2hh ID x Tb grey mare – yes, a grey mare! The opposite of what I was looking for but with her lovely nature and desire to have fun and jump I am sure she will fit in fine.

Through the winter months I will continue with Corky’s rehab which involves lots of hacking which we are both enjoying. I will start to get Maisie out to some unaffiliated SJ, DR and arena eventing so we can hit the ground running at the start of the 2018 event season.

Horses are levellers as people say, the highest highs and the lowest lows but I wouldn’t change having them for the world.

I’ll keep you posted with our progress with my team of two pocket rockets!

June and July have been very busy months for me both at work and out competing with the horses. It has required lots of juggling my workload to make sure I have enough time for lessons and competitions too. I’m fortunately that I can be flexible with my working hours so if I need to leave early for an early evening lesson, I can then finish my work at home afterwards – I think they call it work life blend rather than work life balance!

Over the two months Corky competed in four more BE100s with improving dressage scores, variable show jumping and faster clear XC runs. The first three events were at Belsay, Kirremuir and Forgandenny – we are starting to feel more established at BE100 now and our dressage seems to be better at this level as the test are a little more challenging. Our last event at Warwick Hall was abandoned due to heavy rain while we were in the XC warm-up but with some sizable fences out on the course and us still being relatively new at the level I didn’t mind – it seemed to be a sensible and safe decision by the officials.

As our show jumping has still been a bit hit or miss so we have been going to schooling evenings at SNEC and Rockrose weekday evenings for extra practice and also spent a weekend competing at British Show Jumping. We managed to pick up a double clear at 95 qualifying for second rounds which was great but we need lots more practice until we feel consistent at this level.

After a bit of time off recovering from overreaching and injuring himself Lucas has also been back out at British Show Jumping. He jumped two nice rounds at SNEC last weekend only taking one unlucky pole. We are off to Howe this weekend coming for some more jumping in preparation for three days of competing at Blair Castle International Horse Trails later in August. Corky is entered in the arena eventing on the Thursday and then both horses will compete in the British Show Jumping classes Friday – Sunday. Fortunately there will also be able to watch the British Eventing while we are there and maybe even some shopping. Fingers crossed for good weather for a change!

We then headed off for some lessons with out SJ instructor David Hardland and also hired out different local areas to practice. Corky was so keen and we hadn't even started to jump XC!

Next was a trip to Dunbog to start jumping some solid fences and to get our feet wet!!

Safe to say Corky is extremely happy to be back out jumping. Ssshhhh don't tell him we are off to the Intermediate BRC Dressage Qualifier on Sat!

I can't believe it's almost March already! Usually I am wishing the months away until the start of the event season but this year I would like to press pause! With Corky being injured at the end of last year and only just bring signed off by the vet, our pre-season prep is definitely not where I would like it to be. Usually we would be out arena eventing in Jan/Feb and then a few hunter trails in March. This year we have been doing lots of walking and trotting to slowly build up him fitness. We have started to canter this week but jumping is unfortunately still a few weeks off. I worked out that Corky has only jumped once since our last event at the beginning of September which is crazy! Especially as he loves it so much. I am so temped to get him out jumping now but am having to be sensible and make sure he is fit enough first. Last thing we need is for me to rush things and end up putting us back!
It had given me the opportunity to concentrate on Lucas which has had mixed results. Our show jumping seems to have gone to pot (which is the bit we are meant to be good at!) however our flatwork is actually improving. Lucas has naturally fabulous paces but is usually trying so hard not to work that he spoils things. It sounds strange but I am jealous of his ability on Corky's behalf as Corky tries so hard but will never float like like Lucas does when he isn't even trying! It leaves me thinking, would you rather have a horse who always tries his best for you but will never be a world beater or a natural talent who is quirky and unpredictable?!

I think my answer is that as an amateur it's the former and as a professional the latter??

Either way, I am lucky enough to have both and will keep trying to get the best out of them as hard as it is at times.

Plans this year for Lucas are to sort out all the contact issues and get him in front of my leg and actually manage to ride him than be a passenger! Competition aims are to qualify for the National Amateur Champs down at Aintree later in the year and to continue to work on our flatwork at home taking him to unaffected dressage at novice and elementary by the end of the year with the hopes of joining BD next year.

Corky will hopefully get out eventing at BE90 again and move up to BE100 if I ever get my brace pants on! We are both happy at BE90 and will be a strong combination if we can sort out the dressage on grass so that's the number one aim rather than going up a class. With that in mind we will also be back out BD aiming to qualify for summer regionals at prelim and PetPlan at novice.

As we all know too well making plans with horses is pointless at times but I think there is no harm in setting goals to keep you motivated!

I'm embracing the jumping this weekend with Lucas by attending a training clinic with David Gatherer on Saturday and then hopefully using what we have learnt at the BS at Howe on Sunday. Fingers crossed it goes better than the last time we jumped! Update will follow on Instagram and Facebook!

Things have not always gone well, notably both of us going flying XC schooling at Hendersyde early on last year - the first real test for my Hit Air jacket which I think saved me being as sore as I should have! Also probably Floors BE which is our bogie event! Worst DR of the season second year in a row and I got lost fence 3 on the XC! Still went clear with only 1 TF in the end thankfully.

I'm missing riding the wee man so much as he always cheers me up and makes me smile after a hard day at work but the beauty of owning two horses is you always have a back up!

The lovely Lucas has now stepped up to be top horse and we have a busy few months planned. He had already bagged lots of DCs out at BS in 2016 so hopefully he can do the same in 2017.

In the last few weeks he has been out to a few show jump lessons with David Harland and even a dressage lesson with Karen Dewar who is desperately trying to get him to be a dressage diva (never say never Karen!!) The plan is to try to collect our 5 DC qualifying BS rounds to go down to the Amateur Champs at Aintree next November. Then we might think about some dressage!

Blue Chip Feeds
I have had a great year with my sponsor Blue Chip Feeds who have been so supporting and encouraging sending us some fantastic kit and top quality feed keeping the boys in top condition!

South East Scotland Dressage Group
I've also recently joined the SESDG committee as their membership secretary for 2017 which is great! Nice to get more involved with a group who has already helped me so much with my dressage.

Olympia
​The final event of the year sees me heading down to London to go to the Olympia Horse show to see Valegro's retirement on Wednesday and the puissance on Thursday coupled with a lot of horsey shopping for me and the boys. Best way to round off a great year!

PetPlan Equine
Oh and I should also say as you know I have been shortlisted to become an ambassador for PetPlan Equine who were absolutely fantastic supporting me and paying for Lucas' full vet bills when he was injured in 2013. If anyone hasn't been able to endorse me yet as a strong candidate for the role please take 5 mins to compete this short form. https://www.petplanequine.co.uk/ambassadors/

Many thanks and Merry Christmas from me, Lucas and Corks! Xx