On April 18, 2013 by Sarah Lewis

Having survived my lesson with Shane with all three horses and not only enjoyed it, but found that my nerve felt pretty good as well it was full speed ahead to jump at Felbridge on Saturday. Having not been to a show for over three months the mental effort required to get all three of them bathed and tidy for Saturday morning was amazing, and I was surprised at how nervous I was when I gave them a little jump on Friday afternoon knowing I was going to a show the next day.

I jumped Biscuit and Emma in the 1.05 , the theory being that however hopeless I was it wouldn’t be too scary for them. Biscuit’s excitement at being at a show was way out of proportion to the occasion and I was a little bit backward on both of them. However, feeling no ill effects in the leg, I decided to have a little go and do some turns on Biscuit in the Newcomers which she duly won – what a perfect confidence boost. Emma and Ferro then jumped very well in the 1.15, Ferro finishing 2nd and Emma 3rd and I decided that that was enough for one day. I went back the next day with Ferro for the 1.20 and she finished 4th, so I really couldn’t have had a better start. Luckily Mark came to help me both days which makes such a difference, especially as one of the strangest things that I cannot do is put up the lorry ramp. There just isn’t enough power in my leg for the final push!Having survived my lesson with Shane with all three horses and not only enjoyed it, but found that my nerve felt pretty good as well it was full speed ahead to jump at Felbridge on Saturday. Having not been to a show for over three months the mental effort required to get all three of them bathed and tidy for Saturday morning was amazing, and I was surprised at how nervous I was when I gave them a little jump on Friday afternoon knowing I was going to a show the next day.

Sadly, I rather messed things up by deciding that riding Homer on the Monday, when I was knackered, wasn’t enough exercise and going to the gym and doing the cross-trainer, followed by the bike and a swim. I crept home and took about four days to recover from that act of madness. John Harris then explained to me that now I was competing regularly I didn’t really need to destroy myself in the gym as well!

Homer absolutely hated his holiday and looked very poor when we got back from Antigua, so he has returned to his stable and work with a very triumphant look on his face. I had hoped I had clients coming to see him, but both lots think they will come in July now, so he is waiting for better weather, and his invitation to join some hunters up the road for a proper summer holiday.

Other high points of the past two weeks have been being able to wear normal shoes again and being able to get into my good riding boots.I then set off for a second Saturday at Felbridge. Biscuit was even more excited – thinking she had only come for the jump-off, so she did a slow double-clear in the Newcomers. Emma then did a lovely clear in the 1.15 and then they both did lovely double clears in the Foxhunter. Only Biscuit’s second Foxhunter and Emma’s third and it was a very strong course and a high quality field so I was particularly proud of Emma who came 3rd. I then got very over-excited with poor Ferro in the jump-off of the 1.20 and knocked a wing over with my bad foot which made us rather unbalanced for the last fence where I never saw a stride at all. In spite of such an amazingly bad pilot she was obviously the best of a pretty mediocre bunch of open rounds as she won! I don’t expect my luck will hold out quite so spectactularly as I am about to set off to Felbridge again, hoping to be brave enough to do the 1.30 onFerro at the end of the day.

Sadly I have parted company with Old Lodge, but will still be wishing them and their riders all the best and taking a keen interest, especially in the horses that started their careers while I was working there. I have already started a new job, which I am really loving, so things do move on very quickly in life.

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