What Mary Has to Say – May 2023
Dear all,
What a strange spring season it has been with so many cancelled events due to the wet conditions. Very heartbreaking for the organisers after all their huge amount of work, and obviously frustrating for us riders!
But I’ve managed to get to 6 out of the 9 events I entered…so not too bad. The horses have progressed in leaps and bounds which is so satisfying.
King Patrick (Pat) Irish 5 yr old, started his eventing career this spring and completing 4 BE90’s…starting rather wobbly at his first, and finishing like a pro!! He is now having a holiday.
Kings Belief (Barry) homebred 6 yr old, was placed at his first few BE100’s…then progressed to novice level, finishing off last weekend at Aston Le Walls with a super double clear, and feeling very special (so satisfying especially with one you have bred!)
King Louis (Dobby) French bred 7 yr old, has got established at novice level…he is still being a bit cautious with jumping into water (since his fall last year in the water at Mendip Plains HTs). But has now done enough to go to his first CCI2*L which is at Bicton next week. Fingers crossed he has his brave pants on!!
We had an exciting week at Badminton Horse Trials. Sadly the wet ground took its toll, and Emily very bravely pulled up 2/3rds of the way around the XC as she felt Valmy tiring, and didn’t want to press him to the end of the course. She had a fabulous ride until then, and is now heading to Luhmuhlen 5* in Germany in June.
At last, with the ground drying up, I’ve managed to get all my fields rolled with my Logic roller, and am now busy spaying the docks which are popping up everywhere with my Logic sprayer which is fitted on the back of the quad bike..so satisfying seeing them wilt away!!
As the grass is coming through I am feeding a bit less Marksway HorseHage, and adjusting their Baileys Horse Feeds feed accordingly.
Bucas do such a great range of rugs…I have been gradually putting lighter rugs on as the weather has been warming up, and I feel its bliss for them, on warmer days, to be unrugged and to get the sun on their backs (before the Bucas fly rugs are needed!)
Vinnie, my homebred 3yr old colt, has had an exciting last couple of weeks. I took him to West Kingston Stud, near Chippenham, for semen collection. He learnt to mount a dummy (apparently understanding pretty quickly!), and once he had done it a few times the quality of his fresh semen was very good, and they have managed to successfully freeze a number of straws for future use. I have now bought him home and have made the big decision to have him castrated, to avoid hassle…poor chap!
Thea, the in foal mare, who is carrying Mellow Lane’s (a mare Emily competes) embryo, is due to foal in 4 weeks time. Emily is competing Mellow at Millstreet early June after which we will try to get another embryo from her using Vinnie’s semen…fingers crossed that all works.
I love a challenge and have decided to cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End at the end of May (my poor bottom!) My sister in law recently sadly died of early onset dementia at the age of 64. Julia was a great cyclist – I am using her bike and doing it in memory of her and raising funds for my local dementia charity. I am going solo, with a tent, wild camp through Scotland and camp/guest house/stay with friends for the rest of the trip. Her is my Just Giving page if you would like to donate.. and help me on my way: