Lyndsey - Petplan Equine Ambassador

Well, well, well, what a season!

So let's just go back to the last blog - we needed to re-qualify for the Petplan Equine Area Festivals. At elementary you need three score sheets over 62% per qualification, so if we were are going to qualify, we needed to move fast as the qualification period was limited! We booked into some shows and set about hunting down some sheets. We picked up two at Harold Park Farm, so technically we only needed one more. However, I didn't want to just re-qualify once - I was confident we could manage two qualifications (six sheets). I knew we were capable; it's just would we find enough shows to go to in the timeframe.

Next we managed to get a late entry to a Keysoe two day show. If we did two Elementarys both days we could potentially get the two golden tickets we were hoping for. I packed the lorry and Max and I headed to Keysoe for a few days. The first day Max pulled off two strong tests equalling two sheets! One qualification done and one sheet towards the next qualification! The second day, Max was really rideable in the first test but sadly we ran out of steam in the second test. As we managed one more sheet on day two, I was left with the decision to either find another show to get that last required sheet for the second qualification or to hope the one qualification for a Petplan Equine Area Festival first round is enough. Well we had fought so hard and Maximus felt great so why not push for one last sheet? I booked us into Quainton Stud but with our time being at 1:30 and the temperatures well in the 30's I decided to withdraw. Yes I wanted the sheet but Max has to come first and I just didn't want to travel him in with it being so hot. As a last ditch attempt I booked us into Oaklands College in hope of that one last sheet. My gorgeous boy didn't disappoint - we got our last sheet! Mission complete!

Two qualifications means two attempts at a Petplan Equine Area Festival. I'd looked at the list and decided to go to Sheepgate and Hartpury. First up was Sheepgate. We had to stay over the night before due to the distance and my lovely friend came along for the ride. In the morning she asked if I wanted to watch the others warm up and I said no as I knew I'd start to compare! Comparing to other combinations makes me nervous so I find mentally it's not helpful for me. Max needs me focused, not stressing! After all we had tried so hard to get there, it was important to stay positive and try our best and to do that you need a clear, focused head! He warmed up well – in fact, it was the best he has ever warmed up, I knew he was with me! The test was ok, I let him get a little long at times (if I'm being picky) but it was miles better than our attempt at Arena UK. I left the arena emotional, I knew he really tried and that's all I ask of him! I was speechless (doesn't happen often!) to discover we had come 7th. My plucky little pony did it! We have earned a place at the second rounds. Yippee!

I wanted to give Max a break from competitions after his valiant effort. I decided to book us a little holiday – we definitely deserved it! After a few weeks rest my son Josh, Max and I headed to the beach. Three days of heaven! Max loves cantering around in the white wash. We were on the beach early morning so we had miles of beach to ourselves. In the afternoons Max grazed in the paddock while Josh and I checked out the local villages. On the last day my husband Danny came to join us with Sam (our rescue dog) and we had such a lovely, relaxing time.

We also fitted in some forest rides and trips to the gallops, before returning to prepare for the Petplan Equine Area Festival Finals at Oldencraig. As Max hadn't been to a show for a while I expected him to lose a little ring craft; after all for a month he had been cantering round the countryside! I also know Max can be tricky at new venues. Oldencraig is a new venue for us so I thought I would book a show in at there before the real thing.

Sadly I couldn't make it happen, so for educational purposes I thought I would book a show at a new venue just to see what we are dealing with. I hoped our training would overcome any issues we might face. I found an unaffiliated show at Summerhouse in Gloucestershire and booked us in for the Elementary and Medium. On the day he was unsettled, tense, spooky and generally unrideable. This was very disappointing as I hoped we could work through it but sadly not. I drove home disappointed but with a plan – we were going to do an arena hire at Oldencraig so we could work through any problems without pressure. A few weeks later after some more training we did just that and Max was perfect; so rideable and relaxed. I drove home pleased with our efforts. I knew we were never going to be front runners but I was hopeful we could showcase the work I knew we were capable of.

The day arrived, meaning a 4:30am start! Again, my lovely friend Andie wanted to come along. We headed off to Oldencraig and after a quick coffee I tacked up and headed to the warm up. It was very busy and I could see the problems from last year's second round warm up coming back to haunt us. Max really struggles with his confidence when it's really busy and when most of the horses are rather large I guess it's intimidating for a 14.2hh! But I knew I had to stay positive and try and keep his confidence. I tried hard to keep him out of the thick of it, if there was a space we aimed for it and I didn't rush him. I think it's best to stick to what you know in these situations; you know your horse so stick to what works for them.

We did just that, sticking to our warm up routine. I kept the other riders in my peripheral vision but focused on Max as giving him a good confident ride was important. It was time for our test, we did our best with one costly mistake in the counter canter (we accidentally managed a flying change) which kept us out the placings. However, I was far from disappointed - I was actually the opposite! All the hurdles we had to jump, all the demons we had to face, we faced with a smile. On the way back to the lorry people kept stopping me to compliment max on 'how effortless he looked' and 'what a beautiful partnership'. I've said it before, but when strangers go out of their way to compliment others it's just the best feeling! For some to say it look 'effortless' when every single step we have taken has taken effort! This comment is worth a million rosettes.

Then what?

Well of course I let Max have some downtime. I find this works well for max; if we have a busy month then a week of relaxing keeps him in a really good frame of mind. So while Max chilled out I went to see the knee doctor and it has been decided that it's time to fix the damage in my knee. I knew this was on the cards but it is hard to swallow when you have already fought so hard to get to where you are. It feels like taking a massive step backwards but I must remember the bones are damaged and the knee is unstable and that it can only be fixed by the surgeon realigning the knee. I'm not the kind of person to shy away from hurdles, in fact I run towards them. I refuse to let my injury stop me from doing what I love.

Knowing that I will have to take some time off after the operation, I decided to tick my last box on my 2018 bucket list: to ride an affiliated medium test! I managed to book us a late entry to Oaklands – Medium 61. On the day it was freezing and raining hard, the arena was underwater! I stood in the horsebox with Max and said to him, it's over we aren't riding in this, let's go home. Then something came over me – soon I will be wishing to ride but won't be able to, so toughen up! As I was tacking up the rain slowed down, this was it now or never; let's go do this! Max felt great, he was a little spooky in the test at first but settled in to the job. I loved every second, moving up a level can be scary and I accept that we need to start at the bottom and work our way up but just being able to play at Medium felt great.

You can imagine my amazement when we came second and gained a sheet for the 2019 Medium Area Festivals! How did that even happen? I hadn't told anyone but I had managed to get a very late entry to Brook Farm the following day, riding the same test! So off we went, again he tried hard, I rode what I call a 'schooling round'; I didn't really push we just nursed each other round and just enjoyed the experience. Sometimes magic happens when you least expect it and probably when you need it the most. Well we gained another qualifying sheet! At medium you need two over 60%, so that means we have qualified for the Bronze Medium Petplan Equine Area Festivals 2019! Wow, I really didn't expect that, I'm thrilled! What a way to finish the season for us. We have come so far this year and have fought so hard but we did it together and we had fun doing it. This plucky little horse has taught me more than I can teach him. He has taken me places and given me opportunities I never thought possible.

Greatness is not always about results, greatness can come from inspiring others to follow their dreams no matter how difficult they may seem.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped us this year, it takes a team to live the dream. Looking forward to seeing what 2019 brings!

Thanks Petplan Equine for your support!