J L D EQUINE

Brennus had his wolf tooth out today so he is having a rest out in the field and then next week we hope to get started again.

Its always difficult getting back into things when you get home, I like to work to a very organised system and once all the washing has been done, the lorry unpacked, etc, etc oh and Brennus took both front shoes off as well in the field so waiting for the farrier to come then I can start riding again. I could not have done it without all the help and support from friends and family and I can’t thank everybody enough! Mum and Dad go back to Jerez on Monday to collect the car that we left at the hotel, and then they will drive back to Pilar in Spain where they live. I have office work to catch up on and need to find a working pupil to help with the yard. I have also been looking at the schedules today for the next plan of action for the boys! Thank you everybody for following the journey and I hope you all enjoyed it.

Here are a couple of pics of the boys !

What an amazing adventure we have had. We left Poitiers at 11.30pm last night and arrived home at 11.30 am this morning. It was tiring driving through the night but at least we had no traffic and made excellent time!

We left this morning at 4.30 am and arrived at 1.30pm we had a good journey despite BB managing to slip his headcollar in the back and put his head over into Zaino and annoy him ! The stables are very nice here its a lovely stud. Its weird that we now are needing to say Bonjour instead of Ola after so many weeks ! Both horses are good and the weather is lovely and sunny. We are hoping to leave early tomorrow morning for our final leg home, we would have travelled a bit further today but felt it was right to stop for the horses to take rest as they had been travelling 9 hours and have a longer day tomorrow probably 14 hours including ferry trip. We took the N road to avoid tolls and travelled 702 kms we spent 199 euro on fuel, stables are 31.65 each and tolls were 29.74. Can’t wait to see you all !!!

We are all a little tired having left at 4am this morning we had to drop the car in Jerez and then crack on to Palentia we arrived at 4pm having driven 820 kms filled up twice with diesel costing 234 euro’s and one toll 5.50. Phil drove most of that as I was not feeling too well this morning but having taken some Lemsip capsules feel much better. The sun is shining here and the stables are magnificent they are huge with lovely clean shavings. BB didn’t even let us get his headcollar off before rolling they are really happy and the stables worth every penny of 50 euros total. I am going to cook Fajitas tonight and then early to bed we are hoping to set off at 4am again to Poitiers. We need to try to make a plan to miss monday am traffic but not easy when you are on the road as we are sure to hit it somewhere. Thank you all for your lovely messages I am very much looking forward to coming home and seeing you all. We have some lovely pics as well but I won’t load them till I get home as it uses up valuable dongle time and I am hoping it will last for the journey home. Just one pic of the lovely stables here. Lots of love to you all and hope you find our journey home interesting reading !

Well what a result to finish on! Brennus was so good as the arena was packed with people noises etc and he was first to go but he gave me everything I asked for and more with a super clean test ! I have watched the test on dvd and because my shoulder is still painful I cannot move my left arm and this shows in the video but we still pulled it off. Phil is over the moon and so proud we won him 5 trophies over 1000 euro’s and 11 rosettes and we are now on our way home tomorrow (thank god) says Jo with relief. Its been a trip of highs and lows my lowest point being falling off on day 1 ! Highest point or points must be the improvement and achievements of both horses and also pulling it off in the first place for Phil’s 50TH! We had a sleepless night as trucks were pulling out at 2 am 4am and 5.30am but we are now packed and are hoping to leave around 5ish ourselves as we have the first of 3 500 mile days. Our first stop Sunday night is in Palencia in North Spain, 2nd stop is Poitiers in France and 3rd stop is HOME ! We are hoping to keep you all updated throughout our journey but are dependent on the infamous O2 dongle !!!!!

Woke up this morning to a lovely bright day, got Brennus ridden just before the trot up and the young riders class, as Brennus is partial to the odd pony or two !!! Hacked Zaino out with Phil on his bike and we are now off out for a lovely lunch on the beach we have given ourselves the afternoon off !!! All the tack has been cleaned and Phil has left the tack room looking immaculate. We do not have BB time for tomorrow as yet will post it later. Then as soon as BB has done his final we will sort out the photo’s with the on site photographer, settle bill, finalise health papers and pack up the lorry, and so good bye to all our new friends of which some have already left. We are both excited about coming home its been a long time away and we miss you all. We also need to get home and earn some money so anyone looking for lessons, livery, training etc please contact me would love to help.

I have decided not to do the Kur with Zaino on Saturday as he is shattered and more to the point so am I. My baby boy has done very well he is the youngest horse in the class and we must remember that Zaino had only competed in one Advanced Medium Class one week before we left for Sunshine Tour. He has now been placed Internationally in AM 85 and AM 92 in every class except the first one when we retired! What a special boy and an exciting prospect for the future. I still feel that Zaino has not shown his best and he still can be fearful and lack confidence but I know that this experience has been a good one for him. I also have suffered the highs and lows of competing him but equally I have learned many priceless lessons with what he has taught me and what he needs to move forwards. Riding sometimes difficult babies teaches you far quicker than anything else and will afford you extensive equestrian knowledge that you cannot buy you have to experience!!! Brennus is doing the 5 year old final on Saturday and then we are planning to pull out on Sunday morning early hoping to be home Tuesday evening. This will depend on the boys being rested enough for the journey, temperatures correct and being able to change our stabling arrangements for Palencia and Poitiers.

Zaino was good to warm up today, but he fell apart when we went up to the arena waving to the judge but once we managed to get down the centre line we were away. Any test that we complete clean is always a massive bonus when you ride Zaino he is improving but still he has not shown his true potential yet. It was a good day, 3rd and 4th prize money 250 euro’s and a trophy ! Zaino is on tomorrow at 11.48 which we may withdraw if he is too tired, but would like to do it if we can as we don’t think we will do the Final Kur on Saturday as it worries me it would blow his brain. At last the sun is shining !!! My shoulder is strapped up and still causing me a lot of trouble it is so weak. We were laying 3rd until the last competitor Sylvia Zimmer and she beat us boo!!!