Tuesday 16th June

I can't believe where all the time has gone since I last wrote anything on this blog. It just flies past! We have had our Adult Camp at the beginning of the month. We had 7 people staying and a couple of others coming in just during the day. The camp this year was run through the Caledonian Riding Club and our trainers were Stephen Cruickshank and Sarah Farquhar. We hosted a barbecue in the garden on the first night and then went down to the pub for our meal on the next evening. We managed to get through without medical emergencies this time and a good time was had by all. One new thing that was tried by everyone was long reining one of the Arabs and that seemed to go down well. Some of the riders also did a bit of cross country as the weather was good and dry for us.

Roxy decided during the camp to go back to Spain and her mother  -  dumped me by email and text -  now I am back to working on my own, but it's a lot less hassle!

After the camp I took Louis down to Rhynie for a 60 km ride over the fabulous Coreen Hills. They must provide some of the best riding in Scotland with their manicured heather moor land and hill tracks which are kept in very good order and provide miles of cantering. The hills give long pulls up to about 480 mts. which provides and ideal workout for an endurance horse and Louis went really well on the ride - happy to be out competing again. The organisers, Clive and Penny, very kindly put us up for the night before the ride and did an excellent job of finding, marking and stewarding the route. We really enjoyed ourselves there despite the long drive to get there and back.

Entries have now gone in for the Champs and though I am ineligible to do the 80 km ER on Tali as he is only 6, I am planning to take him down to do the 2 day 80 km which should keep him ticking over until we can do a competitive 80 km as his STF. It was never my intention to ride this horse but he has settled to the work very well and until I find a suitable rider to take him on then I will just keep him going. He is a really hard, tough type of horse and would really suit an experienced endurance rider who wants to do the big, fast rides (possibly a man).

My plan at the moment is to cut down the number of horses I keep so that I can work away on my own without the need for permanent staff.

Rock Ness is just past and it was great fun running the Champagne and Strawberry Stall for the Access Group.  Thanks to all who worked shifts on the stall. They all seemed to enjoy themselves and we raised roughly £1500 for group funds. The weather was again kind to us and we only had one hefty shower over the 3 days. The big clean up is still continuing in the campsites with the seagulls circling overhead.

Brenda sent me news that her 4 y.o. cob, Jimmy that she bought this summer, was in-hand champion at the Native Pony Show at the Black Isle Show Field.

 Here they are ready to go off to their ridden class. Well done      Brenda and Jimmy!

Tuesday 23rd June

This month has almost gone and we have the Scottish Champs this weekend. I am going to ride Tali in the 80 km class over 2 days as we were not able to enter a one day 80 km class to grade him. Never mind - it will keep him ticking over till Darnaway when hopefully he will be able to attempt his STF. I have decided to hang on to him as I would really like to give him a crack at the Golden Horseshoe next year. He has just started to really bond with me and give me less hassle riding him. Perhaps he is just lulling me into a false sense of security before the Champs!!!

Sarah Norris  is going to ride Genghis for me in the 60 km competitive class to try for his first STQ. He is in great form and looking super now. You really would not believe that he was the same horse who arrived in that dreadful state at our yard only months ago. (See the April Blog).

Faro goes to his new home tomorrow where he will be living with Marbat again as he has been bought by the same people. Hopefully we will see both of them out doing some endurance in the Grampian area in the near future.

I had an email from Tom's owner which  I am sure she will be happy for me to reproduce here:-

Hi Candy & Iain

Another quick update from down in Kent! Tom has been a real star and achieved a Grade 1 in the 64 km CR at the Berkshire Downs Ride in May. This Saturday he got a Grade 1 in the 80 km CR at North Norfolk Ride, where he caused a little consternation with the vets as he started with a HR of 24!! Where your ears burning on Saturday? I rode around the first loop with a lady from near Worthing who has crewed for you occasionally when you are down South, I think her name is Janet. Sadly, as she was good company and the horses well matched, she was vetted out but she very sweetly came over to our final vetting to find out how we had got on.

best wishes

Mandy, Ian and Tom

And Finally.........

Donna Hemmings is well pleased with her Strada saddle:-

Just a quick note to say how pleased I am with my new saddle. Felt fantastic and secure around the Champs course at Perth and Sameh seemed to move effortlessly wearing it. Had total faith in the fit as haven't really ridden in it till the class on Sunday-certainly didn't dissapoint. We had a truly great time and managed to win the 30k open class!!

Really good to see you and thanks for making me so welcome and introducing me to Warwick and friends.

Hope to see you again soon

Donna