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What Mary has to Say! – Oct 2021

Yet another event season is over. I swear they pass faster each year – old age?!

Because of running in the London Marathon I turned my horses away on holiday at the end of September. They had done enough for this year and needed a holiday to soak in all their education. Having sold King Cyrus I decided to keep Seamus, and produce him more next year before selling him. Barry (4yrs) is loving learning, and has learnt to canter well around a small course of single fences. I am now beginning to introduce grids, narrow fences, and spooky things like barrels, tyres, feed bags and water trays.

The weather has been lovely for the horses on holiday. I have removed their shoes and they now live out day and night until they start work again at the beginning of January. I leave their rugs off for as long as possible to allow them to grow decent winter coats, but my Bucas rugs are at the ready for the cold wet weather to come. They just have a bit of Bailey’s Balancer each day when I check them, until December, when they start to have some Marksway HorseHage and extra hard feed.

It was lovely having a house full for another Bicton Horse Trials last weekend, with Emily plus horse (Imposant) staying, and other riders/trainers/friends. I wasn’t riding, but was asked to be ‘Ground Jury’ at the final vets inspection for the BE90 and BE100 long format classes. It was such a pleasure sharing the thrill and excitement of the many young, and amateur riders for whom this event is like their ‘Badminton Horse Trials’…so many replying, when I asked them how their cross country day had gone, replied saying ‘It was the best day of my life’! For Emily it was a case of “so nearly’. She lead the dressage in the CCI3*S, jumped an immaculate show jumping round to maintain her lead. Looked foot perfect XC until the second to last fence, which was a difficult corner – Impy’s inexperience at this level caught them out and he jumped out to the right through the flag incurring 20 pens 🙁 But what an exciting horse for the future.

I’m looking forward to the Monart and Going for Gold Sales in Ireland in November. Having sold my homebreds King Robert, Kings Rose and King Cyrus during the last year, I am on the hunt for 2 or 3 young horses. These sales are a fabulous way to see many decent young horses in one venue, and also watch the online footage of every horse before each sale.

My Logic paddock equipment has been put to good use recently – I’ve been harrowing, rolling and topping my paddocks. Its wonderful to be able to do this myself rather than wait for a contractor to come. Logic’s equipment is very efficient and easy to use, I would highly recommend the rotary topper, ballast roller and the tine harrow for lovely smart paddocks!

Thanks again for all your support.

Best wishes

Mary

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