New Site, New Year ... HUGE AMBITIONS!

So the polar blasts keep on coming with alarming regularity! The joys of an English winter with livestock! The horses are now all in work, only 2 left to clip. They each enjoyed a month in the field, and then some low key hacking to prevent them getting too unfit whilst allowing their brains full R & R!

Luke was the only one not to thrive on holiday, and was thererfore draughted in as part of Team Townend for Express Eventing at Excel arena in London. What a treat. It was huge fun to ride dressage to music, indoor cross country and a decent round of show jumps against the worlds best riders. Even more of a thrill Luke finished 6th! A real buzz and a series I very much look forward to being part of in the future.

I have been lucky enough to enjoy a week away in Italy, my first non horsey holiday for 4 years. Sheer bliss! I was also then very fortunate indeed to spend my Burghley bursary on a weeks show jump training with Luis Alvarez Cevera in Madrid. It was an incredible opportunity to ride 6 horses a day with nothing to work on but myself, my riding and the way the horses were going as a result. Luis' family were so hospitable and I look forward to many clear rounds to demonstrate the benefits!

The winter months are ticking by with various indoor dressage and jumping shows, before I disappear AGAIN for a fortnight in NZ to celbrate Tim Price and Jonelle Richard's wedding. It will be wonderful to spend some sunny time, with these amazing friends, before returning to 2013 with all guns blazing. I was very excited to be 14th in the BE rankings this year and am aiming for top 8 next season! Happy festivities everyone.