February is always a very busy month for us. We have to ensure all the eventers are ready for the start of the season. This week started badly with Tanya being hit on the head by the "flying door" in the wind.
She was lucky - it could have been very nasty. Anyway as a result of that the doctor ordered her to take it easy and not ride. So Mark has done all the riding this week while Tanya has done the yard - not a good week to be on the yard! All the horses that had the winter off needed clipping, there was lots of shaggy manes and tails - so much for taking it easy!
We went to Forest Edge schooling with six "babies" on Thursday and they all went very well. The new horse we bought in January (Ghillie), out of racing, was very good. He can hardly canter but was very genuine over the poles. It is hard to believe he raced when he can't even canter.
Another horse we bought out of racing, Goofy, was good but very "whizzy". We think he will probably go back to racing! He was successful at it but had gone stale - hopefully the work we have done will sweeten him up.
Chad jumped well and was very relaxed. The work Mark's Mum did with him last year obviously did him good. Tonto was excited to be out again and behaved badly at first but then settled OK. Another ex-racehorse, Sleepy, a 4 year old with the sweetest temperament was excellent.
On Friday and Saturday we went to Arena UK showjumping and stayed overnight. This was nice as it meant that we had a bit of a lay in on Saturday as Mark didn't have to start jumping until 9am. Tanya found it very strange only watching and not riding so she rang some friends who live nearby, Guto and Rachel De Faria. They came to watch and had a good gossip while Mark did all the work (nice change!).
This week we also had the dentist come to see the horses' teeth - rather them than us! Mark's lorry and Sylvanian were advertised in H&H so we had people coming to see them. Mark managed to sell a dressage horse, to one of the lorry visitors! Which proves his theory that if you have enough things to sell, you will always sell something.
Mark was still doing all the riding and moaning he is going to waste away! This week looks set to be chaotic. Monday morning the physio, Roy Cole, came to give the horses the once over. He is very good. Roy comes from Kent, so we have to persuade him to come to Willingham when he is not busy - which is not very often! Monday night Helen, the photographer, Emily and Jeremy came to dinner. Emily had arranged for a photographer to come and take pictures of Tricka and her so she had them to give to her family on her 21st - so they could see what she spent their money on!
Tuesday we went cross-country schooling in Little Downham. There is a little cross-country course, which is ideal for babies. They are hoping to have a BHTA event in 2001. The wind had picked up by the time we arrived and you could hardly stand up as you got out of the lorry. Luckily we only took Ghillie and Goofy and Emily took Tricka. They were all brilliant - straight through the water and over the ditches first time - very impressive!
The weekend was a very social affair. Friday night we had a dinner party to celebrate Emily's 21st Birthday and Tanya's Birthday, which was on Saturday. It went very well with lots of champagne consumed. Mark certainly felt a little worse for wear on Saturday.
Saturday
was the PERA ball in London. John and Maryan Huntridge had given us tickets for
Tanya's birthday so off we set. We did really well getting there and didn't get
lost once! We did have to find a McDonalds before we arrived because Mark is not
always fond of the food you get at balls - actually the food was very good!
We had a good night. There was nearly 500 people there so we didn't get round to seeing everyone. Helen had arranged a cake and balloons for Tanya's birthday so she ended up celebrating in style.
Tanya started riding - Mark was greatly relieved! The horses are all starting to get fitter now, which means they need more work. We started jumping them as we had a big show at Towerlands to get ready for.
Wednesday night we had a lovely dinner with Sue and Chris, friends in Cambridge - it was great having someone cook for us, as we were pretty shattered.
Friday
was the start of the show at Towerlands. It was their Premier Show. We didn't
know how many would be there when we arrived early on Friday morning - but there
were 30 or so lorries there already! When we parked Paul (our groom) got all
excited - one of the Whitaker lorries was parked behind ours. So we pointed out
John, who was sweeping his lorry steps next to us!
It was nice to compete alongside the "Big Boys" of showjumping. The horses went very well. Carl having his first "party" since Achelswang and was wild. He came 2nd in the Newcomers (and he was only going slowly). Star was also wild; this was his first outing since winning in Lion D'Angers and the fame had obviously gone to his head. By Sunday he had settled more and was placed in the 125 speed class.
Abalone
went very well coming 6th in the ABC handicap, only beaten by the Grade A's (she
is grade B). She also came 2nd in a 130 Qualifier between Louise Whitaker and
Tim Stockdale. Mark now thinks he is a showjumper! Dawn was brilliant qualifying
for the Festival of Showjumping and being placed in the ABC handicap. Mark has
to be careful not to win any more prize money until he qualifies Dawn for the
Foxhunters as she is nearly out of it.
Monday and Tuesday were spent getting everything ready for the preseason event at Towerlands. We spent the week practising bounces, arrowheads and corners, as we knew what to expect having been there last year. We had 10 horses going: 4 each for Mark and Tanya, Emily with Tricka and Phoebe with Benji. Luckily we still have Mark's lorry here which has not yet been sold. Eventually the two lorries were loaded. It's amazing how long getting ready takes at the start of the season.
We
had a successful two days at Towerlands (see
results). Mark took his two showjumpers, Dawn and Abalone, for fun. They
went very well doing respectable dressage tests. Tanya won the Intermediate and
Phoebe rode a super round, getting placed on Benji. Emily and Tricka learnt a
lot from the two days. Good fun was had by all.
Unfortunately Friday saw us very short staffed. We had a girl off sick and a boy walked out - not very professional!
So much for an easy weekend - mucking out and interviewing!