Well spring is nearly here, and Team Jackson will be moving from Aston le Walls back to Tetsworth in a fortnight, my how time flies! We have been out competing at last, with three dressage shows and a few show jumping shows. The ponies are getting fitter and a good deal friskier, and their first eventing run is just around the corner thank goodness. Two highlights of the last few weeks are Sprout's win in a Medium class with his best score ever of 73%, it would seem that our work with Gill and Andrew Fletcher this winter is paying off and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he can maintain the new and improved version through into the season. Our other excitement is a new equine recruit Sportsfield Quality, who is owned by Paul Donovan and with whom I hope to aim for Bramham. So we're starting 9 horses in the Unafilliated horse trails here at Aston le Walls and then on to Tweseldown later in the week.

Nearly Spring?

Well Team Jackson has had an interesting winter. We have had a changeover on the staff with Mary Mason setting out for a career in drama and she has been replaced by Olivia Lee who seems to be settling in well in her first month with us.

Thanks to the inclement weather we have moved the entire team including 15 horses to Aston le Walls for January and Febuary to take advantage of Ann & Nigel Taylors expertise and their fabulous indoor school, XC course(which we hope opens soon), dressage shows and the unafilliated horse trials. Oh and I nearly forgot to mention the benefits of having some very friendly local pubs in which to while away the long winter evenings!

With Luke now on the official NZ squad we have made the most of some very welcome funding by having once fortnightly dressage lessons with Andrew Fletcher, although less welcome are the 4am starts to make it there in time for 7am lessons. Still his help has been much appreciated and the fruits of our labours will hopefully be plain for all to see as we aim for all our FEI marks to be in the 40's this year!

Gill Watson has continued to be incredibly supportive, although we haven't been based with her, she has trekked up the motorway to keep an eye on our gang and with any luck we'll be jumping many many clear rounds as a result.

We have been making tentative plans for the season ahead, and with the chance of going to Burnham Market, Chatsworth, Saumur, Houghton, Bramham and Luhumulen for spring FEI's life is about to get pretty exciting. Fingers crossed, so its head down to continue with our dressage blitz and see you all soon once the season gets underway.