Since my last blog I made the annual trip with my family and friends to watch Burghley Horse Trials. This is always tinged with sadness as it marks the end of the summer holidays and a return to school so we make sure we really enjoy the show.
This year was no different — we watched fantastic cross-country, in the great weather, with our best riders having returned from the World Equestrian Games (WEG). We also got to watch some of the Pony Club and young horse classes in the smaller arena which made for great viewing.
The dressage phase had lots of spectators and was helped by live scoring, something which is really an essential part of watching the sport. I really wish we had it in the UK at major dressage competitions to help bring more supporters to the discipline.
The final showjumping day also combined the hunt and brass band, which makes it a great occasion.
When we went back to the car for a picnic, we inadvertently passed Zara Phillips and Matt Baker filming a clip for TV which was a nice surprise.
Return to school
After this I returned to sixth form. Four subjects on my timetable and no uniform makes it completely different to the previous years in school.
It is a busy time of the year and I am trying to concentrate as much as I can on school work as well as the other exciting opportunities coming my way.
At the end of the week we travelled from school down to Gloucester and prepared the horses for a trip to Devon early the next day. Our destination was Newton Stud for their very first open day.
After loading Dotty and Diva we had an easy three-hour journey down whilst I completed my homework.
Lorna Wilson had worked very hard and the stud looked amazing as did all the stock for sale. They must have plaited 25 — 30 horses and foals!
It was a super day as I got to do what I enjoy the most — ride the three, four and five-year-olds for people to see, including ‘The Special One’, (Newton Feronia) known to me as Diva.
I loved seeing all the young stock in the arena as they have some amazing lines of breeding including Charmeur, Floriscount and Belissimo M — I could have taken all of them home!
There is so much hard work being done by British breeders and as a rider I had no knowledge of this area until last year when I was kindly asked to ride the pony ‘Le Chiffre’ of Leamside Stud.
It would be great to improve the connection between breeders and competition riders and with the sport in general, as we are breeding some amazing dressage lines right here in Britain.
Brand Ambassador
During this week the European press received a release from the Dutch footwear company Mooi en Lief for whom I have proudly become brand ambassador.
We have been communicating for a while discussing this project and I feel this is a great opportunity for me to contribute to the growth of a new European brand and bring a fashion business into the equestrian industry.
Watch out for their sponsorship of dressage classes in the UK.
I am due to meet the owner of Mooi en Lief who is visiting the UK to finalise plans for me to fly out next weekend for a photo-shoot in Amsterdam. Must get some sleep!
Chloe
