Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Amy

July and August Update

I have been very busy on the yard with mares and foals, as well as finding the time to keep Ghost in training, and competing but it has been hard to keep the motivation up recently as sadly it has not been the best couple of months but it does seem to be improving now, so that is always a positive!

If you read my last update, you would have seen that my beautiful 1* Mare, Climsland Zoe, had a lot of difficulty foaling. After seeming to improve daily, I lost her so suddenly on the 11th July, in her field alongside Loki. She looked to have haemorrhaged through her stomach, and there was absolutely nothing anyone could have done. The vets seem to think the fluid she retained when she foaled, turned to a fatal infection that no one could detect and sadly 'rotted' through her stomach. She went out in her paddock that morning with Loki, happy as anything after a big kiss and a hug, a full belly, and the sun on her back and I have been assured she wouldn't have been aware of the problem. It was such a heart breaking loss. I am still devastated that I have lost my best friend, we did so much together and she took me places I could only have dreamed of. We then had to sort out very quickly what we wanted to do with Loki, do we try a foster mare? None of our mares wanted to know him. Loki was scared of any other horse, trying to jump the stable doors to get back to the field he left his mum in. A good friend of mine lent me their OAP pony, who took Loki under his wing and is doing a great job raising him. When he was born we had to bottle feed him as Zoe had blood in her milk for the first three to four days, so luckily Loki went straight back to the bottle, and very cleverly my father adapted a bucket with a teat, so feeding him his milk became a lot easier. Thankfully he is really thriving with his nanny pony, Polo. Loki will stay with me now, he is the image of Zoe and it breaks my heart but also gives me some comfort to see him. I'm hoping he will follow in his mum’s footsteps.

Now onto happier news; our last foal was born! A beautiful leopard spot filly, out of Zoe's half-sister. We have nearly finished our covering season for next year, a bit later than planned, but some things cannot be helped.

Ghost has been out and about training and competing. The day after Zoe passed away, and we had Bicton Horse Trials which I withdrew from. The following week we had Launceston Horse Trails where I spectacularly let him down. We were in the lead after the dressage with a cracking low 20's score, a super clear show jumping, and then we had a ridiculous run out on a really easy fence! It was a complete error on my part, so I lost him a win.

Next I decided to make the journey to West Wilts. Ghost was superb all day and as we stayed the night and we were first to compete in the dressage. I thought we rode a super test but we were scored very badly for it gaining a 33! Now, I know most would be happy, but sitting on a low 20's producer and traveling 200 miles I was not happy! We then rolled a pole show jumping, but had a super clear cross country. Unfortunately we didn't even get placed which the organiser later apologised for.

Between these events, I took Ghost show jumping and I really enjoyed it! He came 4th and 2nd place and even won some money which was awesome! I am definitely going to be doing more of this!

At the end of August, we went to Treborough Horse Trials, in the most horrid conditions I've ever ridden in! Ghost was on fire and we achieved a 21 dressage score (personal best!). In the show jumping we had a pole down as it had got a little deep and Ghost hates to jump in mud. We then rode clear in the time cross country despite the mud, rain and mist! It was fantastic fun and I loved every second; true eventing. Sadly with the pole down I lost him a win, but we came 2nd so I was very pleased we were back on form!

I have recently bought a lovely Fewspot Knabstrupper four year mare to bring on and then hopefully get a fewspot colt from her and Ghost in a few years to continue Ghost’s breeding line. My lovely Billy has since been sold as things just were not right between us, so he has found a lovely new home.

Our next outing is Pontispool which is a Regional Qualifier for Badminton Grassroots, my trainer is coming with me to help so keep everything crossed - we have 3 attempts to qualify. Maybe this season we can break that barrier of those teen dressage scores, I'm aiming for a 19 with him!