Well, it had to happen one day… seventeen years of starting horses and I finally have a broken bone – my left collarbone is in pieces! What makes it even more galling is that compared to what I normally have to sit to, it was such a soft fall and I have been kicking myself ever since. Needless to say I have been sore since it happened and grumpy to be around. The doctors have said 4-6 weeks so hopefully I’ll be back on track soon enough.

In a way it’s a bit of a tester of the business. All my clients have been great and happy for the trainers and staff who work for me to carry on with their horses, and they have been doing a fantastic job. I count myself very lucky to have such fantastic people working for me and I think they’re already sick of me shouting instructions from my chair on the yard!

Unfortunately, polocrosse wise, the timing couldn’t have been worse. The season is just kicking into full flight with the lead up to the Test Matches against Ireland at the end of July, which gives me 5½ weeks for the bone to heal – perhaps I am being a little too optimistic! The one thing in my favour is that the horse I am due to ride, Banjo, has a mouth like butter so at least he won’t be pulling!

Last weekend saw me sitting on the sidelines watching some of our young horses have a first run out. Diva, a little thoroughbred mare, went really well for Dan in the B grade, whilst Jannie Steenkamp, who plays for South Africa, won Best No 3 in the A Grade on Risebridge Ragtime. Rags has only just turned four and is one of the first crop of foals by my Australian Stock Horse stallion, Risebridge Diesel. He went really well and now just needs to learn how to gallop. I don’t think he has ever slept so much since his big outing though! Penny played her new acquisition, Scorpio, and has been grinning like a Cheshire cat ever since. He looks like he’s going to be a very handy horse – in fact, just the kind I like to play too!