Dressage
Well surely it’s better to sing about it, than complain about it; Mother Nature can’t be persuaded after all that we’ve had enough of the wet stuff. The departing snow bought the onset of ‘The Wet’ here in we have basically just talked about mud. Walking in it, rolling in it, getting stuck in it, showjumping out of it and I’ve even had to photograph it! “Mud, Mud; Glorious Mud” became the theme tune for the new few weeks.
Read MoreChristmas is a distant memory, January has felt eleventy billion days long, but alas there is light at the end of what now feels like a never-ending tunnel. The new Eventing season is only 5 weeks away folks.
With sights turning towards the much-celebrated end of winter, my thoughts drift towards which equines I shall be excitedly looking forward to seeing each weekend.
Read MoreWell blink and suddenly it’s the middle of April and the season is already almost eight weeks old – how did this happen?!? I’ve gone from wishing the winter to be gone to straight into full-on season madness, flying around from event to event.
The new season has bought some new clients and riders to work with, all of which are keeping me on my toes
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Champions - Nicola Wilson & JL Dublin GBR are the new European Eventing Champions, FEI European Championships, Avenches, Switzerland September 2021 © Copyright Hannah Cole Photography. All rights reserved.
With the last 18 months being a strange concoction of doubt, fluid plans and general disbelief as to whether anything would run; I didn’t really believe I could get to the Europeans until I stepped out of the car after the 15-hour journey onto the car park in Avenches.
I joked with my fabulous road-trip buddy Ben during the drive down to Avenches about the chances of a Brit 1-2-3, so imagine our complete amazement when that’s exactly what the Brits delivered on Sunday afternoon! Dreams do come true.
Read MoreSo whilst it might not be the big shindig we are all used to, Christmas has flown around the corner, presents are wrapped and there’s just the exclusive bubble to finalise…
Most of us are probably somewhat thankful to see the back of this year to be honest, so my mind has already turned towards the countdown to next season and all the stars I am eagerly awaiting to see once again.
Read MoreSometime’s you don’t need a lot of something for it to pack a punch - and that is definitely the case with the 2020 Eventing season.
It’s been bloody tough there’s no doubt, it’s been hard to plan with reduced press numbers permitted entry and late confirmation of attendance had me checking email accounts every 5 seconds on the run up to the big targets. But it’s been the most wonderful season in so many ways too……
Read MoreSeptember continued where August exited stage left, an action packed month with just enough spare time for a spot of seashell collecting….
Cornbury House had been murmured to be worth the wait and it was definitely that and so much more. After the doom and gloom of this Eventing year, this shiny gem emerged from the pack and really made their presence known that weekend.
Read MoreYou know that good things must come to the inevitable end, but when they have been this good, it’s a hard pill to swallow.
Gorgeous Gary has taken me on a memorable journey as his number one fan, he has taken me to courses I’d only ever dreamed of attending. It has been a complete pleasure to follow him all the way from the Highlands of Scotland to the French Pyrenees.
Read MoreThe restart that we had all hoped and prayed for had finally come. Given the length of time that had passed since I was last at an Event, I’d be forgiven for thinking that we were starting a new season, but this was 2020 version 2.0. The wait was long and obviously completely necessary, given the global pandemic we all found ourselves living through...
But pulling into the hallowed turf of Barbury Castle, albeit a week later than originally scheduled, was just the tonic I had been hoping for.
Read More…but I can pick pick my 10 favourites.
Well some few hours later and instead of 10, I had 29 on my ‘shortlist’ - the greats of the sport, some that pull on the heartstrings and some that will just always hold a special place in my heart.
When reading the list below, you will notice a theme, one that could be used to create the ultimate Eventer - powerful, quirky, enthusiastic and brave when going XC, whilst being in true harmony with their human partner. I am a big lover of this great sport and have been lucky enough to watch many who fit the aforementioned description.
Read MoreUltimately Eventers (both competitors and supporters) are a bloody tough breed, we’ve got through previous outbreaks, disasters and wartime; the sport will make it through this. We’ve weathered cancellations and abandonments before, and this time will be no different.
Whether Tokyo comes or is lost, all that matters is everyone is still here when we pick up where the season paused, be that hopefully in a few weeks or we draw stumps and start a fresh next season with renewed energy. As long as the friends I have made on this wonderful journey are here with me, that’s all that ultimately matters.
Read MoreWow. What a week.
It has been a dream of mine to cover a championships. And this week my dream came true.
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