Happy and Brocks at Badminton
It's been a while since my last blog so back dating to the amazing Badminton Horse Trials .... wow what another amazing event. Having grown up within 15 miles of Badminton I've never missed a year and the experience still is even more amazing from behind the archways!! There is this feeling when you're there that you can only describe when you've been behind the scenes, the way in which they look after you the whole week means you also leave a few pounds heavier, but no one's complaining!!
It's so nice for you to be with all your closest friends in such an amazing venue, so not only does the competition make for an enjoyable week, but also getting to see all your friends. Paulank Brockagh was a star yet again, she tried her hardest in every phase and what more can you ask for, she maybe could have done with a bit more mud on cross country day to slow everyone else down, but another to 10 finish at the biggest event in the world!! Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be for Happy this year, but he doesn’t owe anyone anything so he will be saved, hopefully for another attempt at one of his favourites Burghley.
Both of these two enjoyed a few weeks break going out in the field, and enjoyed being horses!! They are now back in work and start preparations for their Burghley campaigns.
Favorit Z (Frodo) and I - he went out the star he is, as a cover boy
I've been incredibly lucky during my times at Sam’s and have been involved in some amazing achievements during my time with him, however there are the lows along the way. The loss of the beautiful Favorit Z (Frodo) has been hard to take in. He is hard to put into words that describe him highly enough. Kind, caring, stunning, beautiful .... the list goes on however above all this horse was so sweet natured and caring. We are very lucky in our yard that we have a lot of very special horses and the loss of Frodo leaves a large hole among them all. Having looked after Frodo since I started at Sam's no day will quite be the same for me at Symphony Farm now that he has passed away.
On the Saturday at Tattersalls we can’t explain how amazing everyone was, so comforting and it’s amazing how the whole eventing community come together at a time like this. I was fortunate enough to have a few close friends out there and I can't thank them enough for their support. The show had to go on, on the Sunday we had On the Brash in the CCI2* who had done a personal best dressage test and stormed around the cross country on the Saturday, he really knew what had to be done on the Sunday and jumped a lovely clear round to finish ninth. He couldn’t have tried any harder and we now look forward to seeing him tackle his first 3*.
It was a very long and quiet journey home, and a few days quietly taking everything in. We've got an exciting summer with some of the best events in the world to go to which I am looking forward to, Gatcombe, Burghley, Blenheim just to name a few.
While I sun myself in Italy, Brocks was enjoying her holidays in her buzz off zebra rug
I have managed to have a few days away in Italy; fortunately when I'm away my house mate Caroline Harris looks after my dog and schools my horse for me, and without her helping me out quite so much I would struggle to relax when I’m away. I then look forward to being nice and brown to attend my good friend Charlie Gardiner’s and Spike’s wedding in a few weeks time!!
I'm enjoying the last few quieter weeks before we head into the summer campaign and before we know it, it will be the end of the season!!
Until next time...
