It’s great to be back in the UK again, and so far it hasn’t been quite as chilly as I was expecting, although I don’t want to speak too soon! It has been a hectic last couple of weeks moving all the horses back down to our yard in Tetbury along with enough gear to sink a ship. The horses have all settled in well, and are happy in their newly made beds. We have also moved into a lovely new cottage which is very nice and warm, and is just down the road from the yard, although you have to drive down a very windy, 'wigley' (named after me!), narrow country lane to get there. The first morning we arrived I managed to put the car into a pot hole and popped the tyre, so annoying!

Back in New Zealand the end of the eventing season is still underway and unfortunately I miss out on it to come over here. A couple of my two star horses have gone up to Katharine Van Tuyl in the North Island who is going to do the rest of the season on them. This week the New Zealand Horse of the Year show is on. I imagine it is similar to HOYS over here. It is the biggest show we have, and they have made a really good job of organising it. For the last couple of years they have run eventing as well as all the usual show jumping etc. So my horses are there this week with Katharine. It’s quite weird waiting to hear how she gets on each day, when it’s night time over here! My lovely one star horse Frog Rock is being competed by another friend, luckily for him he gets to stay in the South Island.

I love watching Cheltenham when I can, it’s so exciting. Definitely Kauto Star for me! We always have lots of Irish people and their band in the pub every year on Cheltenham week which is great fun!

My first event for the season with Clive (Black Drum) is this weekend at Aldon, I can’t believe how quickly it has come around. I have been madly practising dressage and cross country schooling in preparation, so hopefully it all goes well.