Enjoying some time with the children

   Enjoying some time with the children as they attempt to do some ‘fishing’

Where has this month gone? Having said that it seems a long time since my last blog. Not much has happened apart from the daily grind, although the last two and a half weeks has seen me playing  Florence Nightingale to Isabella  Freddie, and at the moment, my other half.  Poor little Izzy was very poorly for nearly two weeks. My other half returned from working in the UK, brandishing vitamin C capsules, claiming that if he uses them at the first sight of a sniffle , he never gets ill. He's been in bed for two days and now Freddie has also succumbed and it will surly only be a matter of time until I get it. But that would not be great as I am very luckily on two weeks holiday and it feels wonderful to have time off with the children (they have winter holidays) and to spend some time with my partner. I'm feeling wonderfully rejuvenated and refreshed already, and probably 2 kg heavier! As all workings mums know, it's lovely to spend time together where no one person is tired. Be it me, the kids or their dad. I’m sure my house is very happy as it has had a good pre season spring clean … it won't see that again for some time I'm sure.

   Did I catch anything?

Work has been great this last month. We have had some lovely clear days and a bit more snow, but the rain has subsided a little which has lifted everyone spirits again. However, the heavy frost did mean the cancelation of one of the first training shows, which was a shame as everyone now is itching to get on and for the season to begin. It feels like it’s been a long old winter this year and everyone is looking forward to get out competing again. Not long now.

Franck took my personal favourite horse at the yard, Tzarine, a six year old, SF mare by Diament  de Semily, for a two day clinic with Kevin Staut. She jumped very well and Franck really enjoyed Kevin's methods and teaching, with Kevin confirming what Franck felt about the horses already, but also offering up useful ways of keeping her stress free.

In late February was the presentation of stallions in Saint Lo. Nippon D'elle returned to his region of birth after a year of very successful gallivanting around the world with Rodger Yves Bost, (hopefully using all those English phrases I taught him! – Nippon that is ) and he looked on great form . As usual the standard was high, lots of lovely stallions and great to see lots of people out and about.

The end on next month sees the start of our season and excitingly the start of the British eventing season will be underway. We have daffodils in our garden and the nights are getting longer, spring is nearly here, I'm a little disappointed I haven't got any foals expected this year, but  as every year, the stallion presentation has got me thinking about putting my brood mare in foal again, just don't mention it to my other half just yet!