J L D EQUINE

I am so pleased with Brennus today as they changed the arena and the judges and he had not been ridden in the other arena which has a lot going on. He was a bit naughty in the warm up as the pony riders were out and stallions and ponies don’t really mix. I consequently had to ride him more quietly than I would have liked in the test as I wanted to do a clean test if I had pushed for a little more I stood the risk of jazzing him up too much. With 3 new judges he still scored over 66% good boy ! Zaino is on 17.22 tonight so lets hope he behaves himself he was an idiot yesterday so I am hoping he will be in better spirits today.

We started the day with rain but not as bad as yesterday. Last night we went to the Pharmacy and purchased a shoulder strap which is helping along with some deep heat and even more Gin !!! My shoulder is very weak but I am able to ride. I rode Brennus this morning in Arena 1 he is a cheeky monkey he is a typical boy can only concentrate on one thing at a time and in the case of this morning the bloody pidgeon who flew in front of him which was really scary as we did a 180 degree turn ouch! went my shoulder, he then did some really good work, he has his vet inspection at 5pm tonight ready for tomorrow. Zaino is also on tomorrow as well, he was tired today and a bit disinterested in doing his work I would have liked to have hacked him more but he cant always behave himself which is a shame. The weather forecast is improving all the time with promised sunshine by Thursday so hopefully we will have a couple of days before we leave. We should be able to collect our health papers today which will allow us to go as soon as we want to. A lot of people are leaving before the weekend and some have already left due to weather conditions, unfortunately not from my classes !!!!

I have ridden Brennus B this morning and he was a very good boy my shoulder is very painful and we are just going out to see if we can find a shoulder strap. Have not had any luck in finding Physio so will crack on with pain killers and vet wrap !!! We are waiting for rain to stop and then hope to ride Zaino this afternoon.

Lotje rode Brennus B mother Reine B in the young riders classes view her website. Its special to me that she is following his progress and has published such on her website. Click on the text to link to her site.

We went out last night and found a lovely Italian in Conil we had a super meal and I was driving, my shoulder was so painful I could barely turn the steering wheel. Consequently I woke up this morning feeling even worse, I think the final straw for my shoulder was Zaino wrenching it again yesterday only on a hack typical Zaino !!! Phil spoke to the organisers about leaving early and they kindly have agreed to have our health papers released by the state vet ready for a Tuesday departure. You have wait 48 hours before you can get your health papers here so its not just a case of ringing the vet and off you go!!! However, having not ridden today and just walked the boys in hand and used the laser on my shoulder, combined with deep heat and pain killers and Gin ! I am feeling a bit better, so we have agreed to try and stay and do the final week. Of course at least with the papers through on Tuesday we have the option to go if my shoulder does not feel strong enough to ride. Those of you that know me know that pain is never a problem to me usually, but at the moment my problem is my shoulder is so weak I cannot even throw a rug on ! I feel tired and low at the moment and the weather is just not helping its been raining today and we have more bad weather to follow! I will of course keep you all posted and I promise if I can continue I WILL !

Thanks everyone for all the messages,cards and gifts. Well we made it! Last May Jo said “what would you like for your 50th” and I replied “to go to the Sunshine Tour”. She laughed as she was still recovering from an earlier fall from Zaino, we only had the one horse and did not have a suitable lorry for a 31 night tour. As the months progressed we said “if we get another horse then possibly, BB was successfully purchased from the Equine Elite Auction at the end of October, now onto the lorry which would have to be a 12 tonne minimum, we found our beautiful Lehel only in the last days of November but had to ask David Crockford to drive it home for us as we didnt have our licences (thanks David). A frantic rush to pass our HGV’s over Christmas in amongst all the bad weather which I passed on 31st Dec and Jo a week later. All set NO we still need to get selected, Zaino was okay as Jo had beed quite successful on him through the summer but BB hadnt been out due to the bad weather, we rushed him into a class, showed the selectors a video of him and Thank You we were on our way. The little matter of organizing house sitters, animal sitters, grooms, friends, relatives to look after the operation at home then seemed minor in comparison and wow we are here and on my 50th we have 7 rosettes, 3 trophies and about 700 euros (straight in my wallet – should just about pay the French tolls home!!!) The dream has come true but not without considerable help from our family and friends… we love you!!!

Sorry we are late today but we had a 6pm start time for Zaino and then the presentation afterwards. I decided to ride after all as it was such a late time and would give Zaino more time to recover. We are both absolutely shattered I am relieved not to have any shows now until Wednesday. This was a very good test the best yet and 2 of the 3 judges had him in 2nd place. I am just pleased that he is gaining in confidence all of the time and he is trying his very best remembering he is only 7 year old unlike most of the class. He was still a little tired hence coming onto the forehand a little but we can forgive him this at this point in time. BB had just a walk in hand today, but he was extremely jealous of Zaino when we were getting Zaino ready its so funny. I had a lie in this morning while my groom (Phil) cleaned the tack for me and did the boys he really is getting good at this !!! Phil is 50 tomorrow so I will be getting up to do the horses to give him a lie in and a treat.

We keep meeting people who have followed the blog and recognise us from the photos, its so lovely to know that so many people are getting pleasure from reading the blog here as well as at home and indeed all over the world. We love receiving all your messages of support, and its really nice to hear you are all well at home……..

We had an extremely hard day yesterday, and were still running around at 8pm last night trying to get times changed as BB and Zaino were on at nearly the same time. We did not eat until 10pm last night and we did not get a chance to get to the supermarket either! This morning I nearly withdrew as my body hurts and my brain ! I should have done as boys were also shattered. Brennus tried his best but lost attention and made a couple of mistakes and is now starting to anticipate the simple changes so consequently we do not get the required walk steps inbetween costing marks he only came 6th today but I am still very pleased with him. We have finally brought Zaino to his knees I nearly got off him half way through the test and carried him around myself !!! He is so very tired and made a couple of silly mistakes today changed when he should not have done, and generally was not his usual active self. He scored just 58% and came 10th the score sounds worse than the test ! It really wasn’t a bad test just a couple of mistakes that cost. I was still really pleased with him as he behaved no spooks and he really was trying hard. What is interesting is those of you who compete will understand that doing just one show can be mentally tiring in itself without doing 2 horses with shows one after the other day after day. Our day yesterday started with lunging Zaino 8.30 plaiting BB at 9am tacking up and doing test stable presentation its now lunch time, quick bite to eat plait Zaino and get ready for 4pm test then 5.30 presentation then clean tack wash horses do beds, ready for today, do blog, wait for times then try and find a rider to change with you then back to change to go find something to eat as we have run out of food supplies in fridge ! Then to bed and off you go again ! It really is amazing how you just loose track of time and the days just go by. We are having a wonderful time and the experience it has given the horses is second to none. Only have Zaino tomorrow but may withdraw if he is too tired.

Thrilled ! Zaino was not in a good mood, the rain came down and the schools became flooded with the amount of rain we had, and Zaino was not up for the conditions ! Nevertheless I decided it was best to settle for less from Zaino and not push him in these conditions. He did a good clean test, but I know he still can give so much more, nice that Dutch judge had him in 1st place and he was only 1% behind the winner our stable neighbour Judy Reynolds well done Judy ! I am so proud of my boy as remember he is only 7 years old one of the youngest in the class and certainly in the placings matched with horses from Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, etc Thank you Equine Elite Craig and Kebie for my lovely horses both my boys are doing GB proud!