Cannot believe we are part way through the second month of the New Year, we are weeks away from the start of the 2014 eventing season. My heart goes out to the people in Somerset, the people who have been affected by the Thames flooding, the people who have lost their homes, their possessions, farmers struggling to look ater cattle, crops lost and livelihoods lost. People are struggling to keep their animals alive, the rivers bursting there banks, the flooding and continuous rain – it seems so many people are being affected and makes us ‘eventers’ moaning about the weather put things into prospective. I might not have an indoor school but my stables are dry and the horses can be turned out in the school daily and continue to work and compete.

Sadly, Moreton horse trials has been cancelled due to the rain which hasn’t affected my immediate game plan, but is a knock for British Eventing and many other riders I am sure. For us we are taking Pusiden (Sid) and First Impression IV (Bruce) to Tweseldown to compete in the Open Novice & BE100 respectively. Bruce is a new ride for me this year, a nice horse owned by Theresa Hemmings. Bruce and I have been to a few BS shows this month and we are getting to know each other, I am quite excited about him and looking forward to the season ahead.

Sid has been cross country schooling and feels like he has matured over the holiday period, often quite exuberant, giving him a pop round Littleton Manor training facility left me with a big smile on my face!

Wesley has arrived back from his winter holiday and has taken rather a fancy to Sid, so much so he likes to go onto his knees and crawl under the partition of the horse walker so he can go round the walker with his friend! No squealing, no naughty stallion antics, they just like to walk round and round together! Perhaps playtime in the school together could be more preferable.

All change with the horses, some sold, and others swapped……will do a Horse Update for you soon and give you the low down on them all.