What a season! Despite Covid’s best attempts at slowing the season down, I have managed to enjoy 28 BE & FEI Eventing adventures during the 2021 season.

Here I bravely delve into the brimming image library from the season and pick out a few of my many favourites:

Yasmin Ingham & Banzai du Loir, Blenheim CCI4*L September 2021

This image was very special and holds a place above the fireplace now. I hark back to the little four-year-old, sitting in our neighbours’ farm kitchen endlessly flicking through their mountainous pile of copies of Horse and Hound. This magazine has been around as long as I can remember and I have dreamed for a long time to have my work on the cover.

I’ve come close in recent years but never quite finished first past the post. I’m not usually one for fate, I’m more of a hard work pays off kinda girl, but at Blenheim it all just clicked into place – an email from H&H requesting potential cover images, happening to be at the Palace fence for one of my supported riders when Yas was 2 horses earlier to go and the seemingly endless wait from submission of the image on Sunday night, to seeing a digital copy whilst on the way to Avenches site on Thursday morning. Yes I did a quiet little dance when hopefully no one was looking in the press centre foyer.

Hard work does eventually pay off and sometimes dreams really do come true.

**Team Gold for Team GB, FEI European Championships, Avenches September 2021**

Team Gold, Avenches September 2021

This photo captures everything wonderful about this season – it’s been about grabbing every opportunity that came along, going for it even if a little uncertain. Sitting at the Swiss border whilst the Border Police looked unconvincingly at our Covid Travel documents, this photo seemed a million miles away. But alas, I hadn’t driven me & my co-adventurer all that way to turn back at the border. Several anxious minutes later, we were given the green light and onwards to Avenches we went, joking along the final few miles about imagining an ‘All Brit medal podium’.

Team GB Delivered! Maybe not quite in the order we had predicted, but the journey home was certainly more celebration than anxious nerves, with Team & Individual European titles, along with Individual Silver and Bronze to cap a clean sweep for the Brits.

An amazing venue coupled with an outstanding organising team that were determined to showcase their venue to Europe and make the event a success. Every photographer and press colleague was given amazing access to ensure we all captured those special moments. For half an hour during the medal ceremonies, it felt that little corner of Switzerland morphed into Blighty, with Union Jacks aloft. Perfect.

Nicola Wilson & JL Dublin, Bicton CCI4*L June 2021

For me this image is a favourite for so many reasons than just being an image I like. The 2021 season began with a flurry of top-level events cancel and the panic quickly set in that maybe we wouldn’t get much, if any, top-level competitions in the UK. But out of the ashes of some of our favourites such as Chatsworth, Bramham, Badminton and Burghley came the shining light of hope that was Bicton 4*. Hailed as a replacement fixture in place of Bramham, off to Devon I went and boy did it deliver. A big and bold course, just what you’d expect from a 4*L track; pulled together in under 8 weeks, this event was so much more than a 4*. The whole team displayed a great can-do attitude that became inspiration for others to follow.

The gigantic wedge fence coming out of the first water made us all gasp when we walked the course on Wednesday morning. This was the fence we’d all been missing for 18 months. Previously windfall on the Clinton Devon Estate, it became the iconic fence of the event and delivered on the early promise of being the fence of the event.

Will Rawlin & The Partner, Blenheim CCI4*L September 2021

It’s been a wonderful season of new partnerships with some amazing riders – I was very lucky to be approached by Will’s team to work with him this season and it’s been a fabulous opportunity to watch a talented young rider during the season and be part of the team.

It has been a pleasure to watch the partnerships Will has with all his horses and how much they all mean to him. Conquer as he is known to his friends, has grown to be less suspicious of me lurking around corners (polos have helped with this), allowing me to capture some special moments including this quiet moment at Blenheim during the first horse inspection.

Next season, you can share the adventure, as Will & The Partner have joined the hugely exciting Event Horse Owners Syndicate (EHOS) and you can enjoy a share in The Partner experience - click here to find out more

Ben Hobday & Shadow Man II, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, June 2021

So many dreams and ambitions have come true this season and standing in the International Arena at Hickstead was one of those ‘pinch-myself’ moments. What was little old me doing there?!

To watch Top Class British Showjumpers, masters of their craft was memorising and I shall treasure the opportunity to be Press Photo Intern at The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead this year.

Some familiar faces followed me to Hickstead and those included the enigmatic Ben Hobday with his superstar Fidgy, so I couldn’t resist a photo of them over the iconic Hickstead planks that I have watched being jumped since I was a young child.

Izzy Taylor & Hartacker, Keysoe International Horse Trials, July 2021

Under stormy skies, Izzy and Hartacker made this bold fence look easy

It became a bit of an illustration of the season in many respects – I could have taken one look at the approaching storm and run for the hills (and I probably should have in this instance as the heavens opened not long after!) but patience, bravery and in some instances shear bloody mindedness to continue meant I got to capture some amazing events this year, my adventures have taken me from The Highlands of Scotland to the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The storm made for part of the photo, and it wouldn’t have looked anywhere near as dramatic without the storm clouds.

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.” —Vivian Greene

Nici Wilson & Fine Fleur, NAF Hartpury International Horse Trials, August 2021

Eric Winter does love a big and bold course, but whilst they often have riders hiding behind their riding gloves, the equine stars make light work of the questions posed.

The Birkett’s Bunker, a new fence to the course in 2019 when the event last run, was the talking point on both occasions. A double Trakehner with an enormous ditch, it made for some thrilling photos.

Alice Casburn & Topspin II, Les 5 Etoiles de Pau, October 2021

Many made the long journey to the Pyrenees, looking for their 5* debut, but few made it look as effortless as Alice & Topspin. Having stepped up to 4* this year, the progress chart has kept steadily rising and this event proved no obstacle.

The autumnal display of colour at Pau combined with the last few rays of sunshine, was the perfect recipe for a photographer to get carried away with the camera and take thousands of photos.

Bubby Upton & Cola III, Bicton CCI4*L Under 25 Championship June 2021

After all the drama and action play out, sometimes it’s the quiet moments that matter. Bubby & Cola share a quiet moment after the prize giving ceremony, after winning the British Under 25 Championship at Bicton. For me these moments show just how much those big achievements matter.

Oliver Jackson & Viktor Krum, CCI3*L Saracen Houghton International Horse Trials, May 2021

Oliver & Viktor share a quiet moment whilst waiting their turn at the final horse inspection at Houghton. It was such a serene, beautiful early morning at Houghton, on the front lawn in front of the house, enjoying all the riders and grooms with their equine partners. Oliver & Viktor just looked so relaxed and calm, amongst the hubbub of last minute grooming and polishing.

With so many images gathered this season, there’s quite a few more that I could have chosen; this season has certainly filled up the memory cards. Who knows what we will get next year. I hope now that some have bravely ventured into the unknown and run those big events, others will take comfort in that it can be done around the pandemic guidelines.

Was your favourite in here, if not do let me know what is your favourite of the season.

I came across a quote recently that said ‘This year has taught me not to postpone enjoyment. Any opportunity to enjoy, take it.’ And that’s how I approached this year and for once the mad idea paid off and that’s probably how we will need to grasp the upcoming couple of years till we learn to live with Covid and it’s impact.

Let’s hope the big ‘B’s return next year and we can all meet up for a glass of something to toast the occasion…

Wishing all you faithful Blog readers, clients, riders, organisers, supporters and followers a very Happy Christmas and here’s to a successful 2022 for us all.

Diary of a fledgling ‘tog:

Featured posts:

2021 Review: The Top 10