Monthly diary — November 2013

It seemed a lovely coincidence that I appeared on the cover of Horse & Hound with Sprinter Sacre on the same day. Then I discovered the magazine had also put together 60 photos of me riding different horses throughout my life, on line, to mark the occasion – I was really touched, even if there is no hope of hiding my age anymore…

Back home, Cry Freedom is just being ridden twice a week. He’s meant to be retiring but he doesn’t seem convinced and is looking very bonny. I may take him jumping in December if the weather isn’t too hideous.

Meanwhile Lissa is in London working at Petplan Equine on a six-week internship. While she’s busy I’ve been tasked with hunting Raffa. She has tended to be a little cautious cross-country so we hope it will give her more incentive. Raffa’s first time hunting with Lissa proved so interesting that I insisted she took her again before I dared climb onboard. Fortunately Raffa was much better and improved further on her third day out, this time with me – a Dr Bristol bit really helped her carry herself and not lean.

At home it has also been noticeable too that she is thinking forwards on hacks and jumping. Then today hunting with VWH Raffa was just amazing. This time we tackled some 20 fences and she didn’t put a foot wrong. She flew her first hedge and was brave, forward and really clever.