What Mary has to say! – Oct 2018
Wahoo!!, I had my medical suspension lifted on Thursday, my collar bone has at last healed.
It was great to ride Bobby at Dauntsey Horse Trials the following day, and he was a good boy doing a 28 0 0 in the OI. I only went steadily as I had a dodgy neck, but hope to be completely back on track for Bicton HTs (the last event of the season) in a couple of weeks!
It has been so unusual (and very frustrating) not competing through Aug and Sept..the last time this happened was when I was pregnant with Freddie (who is now 19yrs old!)
During my time off I had fun supporting Emily at various events including the special events of Gatcombe, Blair and Ballindenisk. She has generally had a super first season based at Sam’s yard, with all the horses winning and progressing well.
I had a great time spending 3 days judging the young event horse classes with Sam Griffiths and Angela Tucker, and hosting a masterclass, at the Royal Dublin Horse Show in August. What a wonderful spectacle it was with a fabulous atmosphere.
I also was asked to help judge the potential event horse foals at The Elite Foal National Final at Morton Morrell in Sept. How sweet were they..I tried to favour the more thoroughbred foals (as I did when judging in Ireland), as they are the more likely youngsters to make sound 4 star level event horses in the future.
At the moment I am breaking in my homebred 3 year old Cyrus (Kings Temptress x Future Gravitas), who is taking it all in his stride. Also Tilly, my homebred 4 yr old (Kings Temptress x Chilli Morning) is starting to hack out on her own, and beginning work in the school. She is very sweet natured, and loves to learn.
I’ve been doing a few talks and also yard visits for sponsors, including Marksway Horsehage who have been a very loyal supporter for many years.