In this last week, after all the celebrations, things have got back to normal (quite glad of it too!). Pennie Hooper, the massage lady, has been here to do some of the horses - she does a superb job, they always feel much better afterwards. Jill taught me on three horses, all went very well. I had a rather an unfortunate day on Wednesday, as I found a number of things were missing from the yard and I am now looking for new staff! Rode Amber though and gave her a jump, she was excellent so this was a great positive on a bad day.
Thursday I jumped most of the horses, some with Barrett. Also took some XC schooling just to make sure they wouldn't be spooky on Sunday. A good dress rehearsal for Firle at the weekend! We had a lovely meal in the evening - another Olympic celebration, my very kind friends Rachel and Hugo are truly excellent hosts!!
Decided on Friday that with an 8.30 dressage I couldn't possibly leave at 3am Sunday morning, so made some phone calls and decided to go Saturday to Firle to exercise the horses - and then Tina Cook was kindly going to put me and my 4 horss up. So Friday was packing the lorry and getting ready to leave reasonably early Saturday morning.
I rode a couple before we left for Firle place at 10.30. It was a fantastically sunny day (at last!) but this meant the traffic was all heading to the coast with me. After 3 1/2 hours I reached Firle, I worked the horses then walked the courses. Both are very nice for young horses, but the course could do with a little rain (which was delivered on Sunday morning in bucket loads!) I made my way to Tina's from Firle and hit more traffic, it was getting quite late (7pm) and we still had to plait some of the horses and feed them etc, and it was already getting dark. The journey took a turn for the worse when I saw a blue car parked in half the narrow road - so I knocked on every door hoping someone would move it, but of course the owner was out somewhere.
With some very careful driving I just about fitted through - felt a little like the proverb, 'through the eye of a needle'! and did the same again into Tina's yard. I think she was a little surprised to see quite how big the truck is!! I did say I hoped it would look the same Sunday morning after I left the yard and road!! Tina's husband Phil cooked a superb bbq and Sacha (Pemble) came around to join us. Wasn't a late night as we all had an early start. Made it out of the yard a little easier than going in but I was amazed the owner of the blue car had moved that but left a red car in it's place but even wors ! So woke them up at 7am and they kindly moved it for me. I was concerned I'd still be there Sunday lunchtime!!
We drove through the most amazing thunderstorm on the way, I did wonder if it would be cancelled but a little further down the road and the weather was not too bad, and the rain had softened the ground perfectly. I rode Harry in the Pre Novice - he did a good test, 33.5 and double clear - finished 5th. This was his last PN so was great - he was very good XC. Beanie's (Breeze) test still needs to improve but he jumped superbly to finish 6th in the Novice. Dave and Joe both did very good tests but the small SJ didn't help them and neither jumped as well as they should have, but were excellent XC so both were 12th! Joe was put in the Open Novice section and would have been placed quite well if in an ordinary Novice - never mind.
Had a good trip home and was back by 9.30pm so not too late to bed, ready for another big week ahead !