The 12 days of Christmas...2014 memories. The 7th day of Christmas

When thinking of what I could do for this years "12 days of Christmas" theme on my blog, Mark and I came up with several ideas for what you guys as readers would enjoy reading and what would seem dull.

In previous years I've focused on products that I would recommend using on your equine and canine friends, and the posts have always been well received. However, this year it's safe to say my blog has taken a very different approach. Ceaser's fan base has gotten considerably larger in comparison to previous years, and with the new addition, Ziggy, people seem to be coming to me to find out just how that loveable grey is getting on. Add this to the surprise Mark and I have coming up for you on the 13th December and we decided why not do a post every other day where I pick a favourite photo that means something to me and reflect on the memories I gained from it.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: "Light at the end of the tunnel!"

Ziggy jumping up the bank at Cross-Country. The beginning of Summer.

This photo means a heck of a lot to me. For some reason I had turned dare devil overnight and decided to take Ziggy out somewhere for the first time. Without much thought we decided to take him to a cross-country course, because that's where everyone takes their baby horses the first ever time they leave the yard. Right?

I was really looking forward to taking him out and showing him off but at the same time so nervous about how he would react in different surroundings and if it would all just upset him again. As we pulled him off the lorry he just stood like a little lamb that had been doing things like this all his life! Although the plan hadn't been to get on straight away, Ziggy was showing no signs of nervousness so I hopped on and off we went around the course!

Ziggy was an angel throughout the whole morning, he trotted through the water jump, popped small logs and even cantered up and down this bank quite happily. He quite literally took everything in his stride and I couldn't have been prouder of him.

Just remember, if things seems difficult or way out of your reach today, it doesn't mean they will be like that tomorrow or next week. Take a step back and a big deep breath, then plan how you're going to master your demons and make everything how you want it to be. Ziggy came to me a frightened pony that you couldn't get on, let alone sit on. He's now happily walk, trot and cantering under saddle and loves popping fences. I've done nothing more than keep reminding myself that it's all hard work and perseverance that has got us this far.

Just because you didn't achieve something this summer it doesn't mean you can't or won't be able to next summer. Make small changes to help you achieve your goals, it might only need to be something small but it can make a huge difference.

I never thought that after rescuing Ziggy in March we would be achieving something like this so soon, but it really does reiterate for me what a fabulous pony I have.

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A spot of pairs jumping fun

Last week one of our liveries, Jordan, asked if I wanted to go to the local Pony Clubs Hunter Trial with her and do the pairs class as she has never done a cross country event with her new pony. Plus, it is always nice to go and support local events and see friends you haven't seen in a while! I managed to catch up with a few and have a good chat after not seeing them all summer!

I prefer cross-country to show jumping and always enjoy the annual autumn and spring hunter trials in the area. Also, it is always nice to give Ceaser a chance to have a mixture of dressage and jumping throughout the winter to keep him fresh and to ensure he does not get bored of just schooling all the time.

I don't jump him often enough in my opinion so when we do go to do some jumping he absolutely loves it. So, on Sunday morning the alarm was set for 6.30am and off we traveled to West Ashby in Horncastle to do the first class of the day, which was pairs. It is the first time in what feels like a very long time I have only had to travel 20 minutes to a competition.

I don't think Ceaser realised what he was doing when I tacked up and in stead of applying all the posh gear, we dressed for cross-country. He warmed up lovely and apart from a couple of bucks when I asked for the first canter (I think this will always happen, whatever competition we are doing!) he felt fantastic and very keen after I had popped a few jumps.

Rebel, Jordan's pony turned out to be a really good pair for Ceaser. They are both very similar in height and way of going so they went well together. I didn't think Ceaser would go over the coffin without a little trouble as he hates them, but with Rebel in front he absolutely flew over it and didn't even give it a second thought. Now I know he's not scared and has just been having me on!!

I know from having done cross-country before that in the timed section we needed to go in a relatively collected canter and not too fast, but also not too slow to be in with a chance of being placed. However once we were out on the course this didn't happen and both of us sped round! With Rebel in front Ceaser got rather excited and spent some time on two legs rather than four in-between a couple of fences. I also think my brakes 'failed' half way round and it was easier to let him get on with it than me fighting with him, trying to ask him to slow down a little. Probably not the best idea, but he hasn't had a good gallop for a while and he felt like he needed it so I let him stretch in-between fences and only asked him to collect again a few strides before them to ensure he jumped safely.

The jumps were just a nice height for Jordan's first time and Ceaser as he hasn't jumped in a while. It was a refreshing change to not be at a competition all day as well; it isn't very often I'm home before lunch time!

All too quickly we were flying through the finishing flags having gone clear and wishing we could go and do it all over again! Well done to Rebel and Jordan who were fantastic for their first cross-country event, I am sure these two will be in the much bigger classes next year now they have the bug for it!

I didn't think we had been placed for fear of being too fast in the timed section but we stayed for the prize giving 'just in case' because we were one of few pairs to go clear. They started reading the results from 8th place and when they got to 5th and hadn't read our names I didn't think we would be in with a chance. BUT, to our delight they announced we were overall 4th place which we were thrilled with!

My plan now is for some more dressage in a couple of weeks and maybe a spot of hunting throughout the winter to keep Ceaser fresh and allow him to have a good stretch of his legs. I'm hoping that we aren't snowed in this winter as living in the middle of no-where isn't brilliant when the snow hits. It means being snowed in and usually we can't get anywhere for weeks!

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