The day after Jacob’s final show, we decided to take Sandy out to a winter show to see if he could get the last qualifier he needed.
Being grey and living out, I was quite mortified by the thought of getting him anything like clean. He lives on a remote farm where I have to go through three fields before reaching the road and lorry, and it was bucketing down with rain, so I resigned myself to the fact that we wouldn’t be the whitest on the showground!
We also had done very little work that week due to the weather, so I really didn’t know how we would fair. Once we arrived at the show, I quickly gave up trying to clean him and just concentrated on remembering how to canter. Sandy never ceases to amaze me with his generous nature and went on to win both of his classes.
With the darkness already creeping in, we headed home to find we couldn’t get near the farm due to locked gates. After unloading on the main road, Sandy and I trekked across five fields by torchlight — not good for someone who is pretty scared in the dark.
When I finally met back up with my Mum at home, I told her that that would be Sandy’s last winter show for a while!
Off to pastures new
Since my last blog I have said another very sad goodbye — this time to my hack Toby (pictured top), who has gone to a fantastic new home.
With a few changes going on, combined with my lack of time, we felt Toby was rather wasted with us, so it was time to find him a perfect home where he could fulfill his potential in hacks and intermediate classes, as well as having a fun and varied life.
Toby really was one of the easiest little horses I have had the pleasure of owning and I hope he brings Emily as much pleasure as I got from working with him. He is going to be very sadly missed, but I am looking forward to seeing him out next year and continuing to be the star he is. Thank you very much to his breeder, who trusted me to have Toby as a youngster and get his career underway.
‘Til next time
Chloe
