Seems like such a long time ago since I wrote a diary update, so much has happened since Pulborough Horse Trials which was in fact only 6 weeks ago. As you all know the couple of weeks prior to the end of the season were somewhat hectic, I relocated yards after being at Golden Cross for 9 seasons and with that came moving house as well. No mean feat moving your entire life without the help of manpower! Luckily I have an amazing mum who has made the move with me and some fantastic friends who have lifted, shoved, carried and dismantled for what seems to of been weeks and was in fact approximately four days! I would like to say that we are now 100% in and sorted, but that would be a slight exaggeration of the truth.

The horses, their equipment and all their needs are well and truly catered for. The horses are living an amazing life of luxury with the most amazing hot box for washing down after exercise! The yard is beautiful and until you see it you won’t appreciate my passion, the entire place is kept, swept and leaf blown at all times, wheelbarrows, equipment gets powerwashed out and you can literally eat your dinner off the floor – this slightly ‘ocd’ approach makes the initial impression as you walk down the drive and when you visit after reading this you will smile to yourself and nod in agreement…..I haven’t even started on the immaculate square muck heap, the big beds on top of excessive rubber matting and the fact that the horses get to have newly washed pj’s weekly. Fair to say the horses are all very happy and happy horses makes me happy.

We have brilliant Summer grazing, well maintained post and rail paddocks that are looked after superbly, winter turnout is literally next door but we have to have the addition of electric fencing – which is like a ball of Christmas lights, no matter how perfectly I erect it and dismantle it, no matter what, I end up with a lot of tape and a lot of knots and more often or not a bit of a shock at times!

Our living arrangements are best described as ‘a work in progress…….’ Think we could skip this chapter! I honestly haven’t put as much passion into my domestic arrangements as I have my horses. I had my first official night out since moving a couple of weeks ago, yes a real night out that meant washing, changing out of breeches and finding civilian clothes, I even wore a frock. Got quite excited, getting prepped to go a party – not so glamorous when I was digging round the plaiting kit in the lorry looking for hairspray!

Talking of nights out I went to the South East Eventers League Ball last week, as always a great night was had by all, think it was fair to say might have been a few headaches the next day.

Coming in the next Diary update: Sam’s horses change & humans broken bones