The weather is nice at the moment…… nice if you are a duck! Yes it is wet here at the moment. I have been trying my hardest to send it home to where it is really needed.
We are lucky here at the yard and aren’t flooded but there are certainly worse off areas further south. The first event of the year was entered and then cancelled the following week due to the wet weather. I am hoping this is not going to be the theme for the year and hopefully the event organisers have more luck soon.
After living in England for 12 months I have now ticked off a few more boxes on the list of things to do as a tourist. My sister stayed with me for another week or two after our holiday and we spent the night in London and saw The Lion King the musical which brought back many childhood memories. We also went on the London eye and to the Natural History Museum.
I caught up with Cissy Lawerence a few weeks later who previously worked at Bimbadeen. She is now living and working in London. We both organised a weekend off and spent one day exploring Guildford and the next a drive past Royal Windsor racecourse and a visit to Windsor Castle. Windsor is a lovely town and the castle just as stunning, the day was even made better by a touch of sunshine.
The following week it was time to have a go at hunting, English style. Many hunt meets are held close to the property here and are even run across the top of the hill at the back of the estate. A mid week hunt was held starting at Wintershall an estate 20min hack up the road from Grubbins Farm.
Jade, Glen and I found a horse each and headed out for the day. Glen has been hunting many times before but Jade and I were first timers and were not sure what to expect. I tried to follow the English traditions but with no tweed jacket or silk cover on my skull cap I still felt a little out of place. The hunt set off from the main house on an estate and went through some open paddocks and down roads and public bridle paths. We were out for approximately 4 hours before heading home cold and wet.
The first outing for the horses this year was to Coombelands for some showjumping practice. Coombelands in situated in West Sussex 50 minutes from home and this is where most of the galloping for three day events is done, they also have a large all weather showjumping arena and hold Pullborough one day event a few time a year so is also handy to go cross country schooling. A truck load of young ones were also taken along to a combined training day at Coombelands the following weekend.
Next week we head to Unicorn Trust Equestrian Centre for Australian team camp, this will be an exciting week to catch up with a few other grooms I have met over here and also have the opportunity to learn new things off the veterinary team and management.
We are taking Tempranillo (Pea), Graf Liberty (Danny) and new arrival from Australia TS Jamaimo(James). The first day involves dressage test and veterinary check ups, day two is dressage and jumping lessons and a luncheon for the owners. Day three is jumping rounds and more dressage lessons. It should be lots of fun and an education experience.
