Posts Written By Chloë

Yesterday I took Dustry for his weekly lesson. Due to prepping for Hickstead with Soap taking priority he has missed his last 2 lessons and has been lounging in the field un-ridden for 2 weeks. He’s such a little pro because I schooled him the day before, and then off we went for our lesson, Dustry keen to get on the lorry and cool as a cucumber. Our arena at home is fairly deep in the dry weather and with its slope it makes it hard to really get going with canter work on a baby horse. It’s really nice…

This week I had been manically rushing about trying to organise the loan, purchase, and delivery of all the ‘must have’ showing items we needed for our ROR Championships on Sunday. I bought the last remaining parts for Soap’s showing bridle, and with my eBay headpiece and a set of reins it was looking really good. On a tip off by a friend for showing shirts I bought some cheap Tesco school uniform shirts and chucked them in the washing machine with some yellow dusters, they came out looking fab, new pale yellow show shirts, check! Then when I went to the field to…

The ROR Championships are fast approaching, and it’s time for the ultimate make over ‘eventer to showing rider’ in under a fortnight! eBay has been fantastic for bargains and so far I’ve bought a 2nd hand green and yellow spotted tie £2.54 (yet to arrive) and a lovely sparkly green brownband £12.99, which Soap tried on today!!! Seeing as we are entering the arena of professional turn-out I had a little attempt at plaiting with thread tonight. Being an eventer at heart I’ve only ever plaited with bands so in need of some serious ‘how to be a proper horsewoman and not…

…thumb to page 10 where you will find a quote from yours truly in support of my instructor Amanda Brewer! Amanda and her husband Dave provide breaking, schooling, instruction, and rehab livery all under one roof at Total Training Equine in Childrey, Oxford. They both do a fantastic job, and thanks to Amanda’s constant help, and Dave’s insight over the last few years I have become slightly evangelical in my support of them both! If you have a difficult horse, want to improve your performance, or need help starting your next competition horse then give A and D a call they would be more than happy to…

Yesterday I took D-Bobs off for a lesson, due to work commitments he hadn’t been ridden all week, gales were blowing, and it was generally shaping up to be quite an exciting experience! When we arrived to add to the situation the horses in the paddocks surrounding the arena were leaping about, and one of the owners was driving about with a mini tractor and trailer collecting droppings, I had a feeling the neck-strap might be required 😉 Because it was so windy we used the ear mic again, I’m getting quite used to this, and think it really is a nifty…

Today I took ‘Rene’ the Renault for its first official road trip to Lambourne for a lesson with my instructor Amanda Brewer. Since I learnt to ride my mother has always towed me and my horses so today was a bit of a milestone as I got behind the wheel to drive for the first time! As it turns out it was surprisingly easy, after the initial getting used to the size and length of driving a lorry it was plain sailing, and Dustry was a total pro loading and travelled perfectly. It’s so nice to go to my instructors for a lesson and…

Today in our quest to find a lorry we went to see ANOTHER possible vehicle. It is a really swish Renault 3.5 T, 2 horse lorry, backwards facing in navy blue (sadly not green 🙁 ) I wasn’t holding out much hope as it appeared to be very new and so probably over budget of what my Dad has agreed to loan my mum and I. We took it out for a drive and the ride was really quiet and comfortable, I drove it back and it was really easy to handle (better to drive than my car!) and I…

Since January Soap has been off on his holidays giving me more time to concentrate on Dustry. It seems that Soap’s main holiday ambition was to get as scruffy, shabby, and hippy-esque as possible! Holiday over he had his back shoes back on last week and yesterday I brought him in for a make over. Whilst the weather was foul, even though he was rugged to the hilt I thought it only fair to let him grow all his furry bits which seemed like a good idea at the time until yesterday when I was faced with the task of…

Last Thursday I booked the day off work to take Dustry for a lesson. All week the weather had been lovely until Thursday when it started raining and blowing a gale, typical! When we arrived the wind was whipping up nicely and I could hardly hear my instructor Amanda Brewer so I used her ear piece system, and it worked really well. I’ve never used one before but it was great. Dustry is coming along really well but I still have to iron out some old habits namely my weird left hand! I don’t know why but my left hand seems to have a mind of…

I’m very honoured this week to have GHE as ‘blog of the week’ on Eventing Day. Eventing Day is a fab site, with loads of great photos taken by its founder Nan Rawlins and contributors, and it’s the best place for the inside scoop on anything and everything eventing, so I recommend you take a few clicks to check it out! (oh and they also has impeccable taste in blogs 😉 )