Back out and on it!

We made it! We survived an awful winter of horse illness and the mental slog of having to withdraw from both the Winter Regional and Winter National Championships. Naturally, I was devastated after all the hard work, time and money that went into qualifying for everything but the saving grace was that I knew, despite being rather drained by it all (understatement!) ultimately everyone was going to be ok. So yes, I was gutted but comparing back to when Tico had his kissing spine diagnosis, operation and two year battle trying to rehab and correct his way of going, this was a doddle!

Ever positive and determined, I remained undeterred from achieving the goals I had set for this year. As soon as Jasper was fit, we went out and completed our Summer Regional qualification for Elementary and pushed on to gain our qualifying sheets for the Petplan Equine Area Festival first rounds at Medium level. We didn’t have much time left and so despite not quite being ready we headed out for Jasper to debut at Medium. He absolutely smashed it! Three tests in two days – three reds with two scores over 69%! Wow! I was thrilled to bits. Still so much to work on but what an amazing start and super comeback from the harsh winter blues! I just dread to think what I look like competing Jasper as I know I smile like a Cheshire cat the entire time I am riding him!

I am however, far from mission complete as there is the small task of re-qualifying Tico for the Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships, which he brilliantly manged to qualify for last year. He is so very complex to get fit due to his back and ongoing complex issues but we are getting there.

I need to remain focussed and keep thinking how much I want to go to Hartpury in April 2019!