Well it has certainly been a long time since I blogged to you all but we have had a pretty horrendous time this past six weeks.
It all started when Archie was four weeks old (he is 11 weeks old now), when I noticed a lump under his left arm. Mum and I took him to Llanelli Hospital on the Saturday morning and they seemed quite concerned which needless to say worried me greatly.
So they sent us to Carmarthen Hospital, on the way there Mum stayed at home and Andrew came. They were very concerned and started talking about biopsies and operations.
They kept Archie and I in. We had our own little room; a cot for Archie and a bed for me. Andrew went home and Mum came at 8am the next morning – by then I was getting very emotional as you can imagine.
The consultant came and said that the operation was too difficult for them with a tiny baby and they wanted us to go to Cardiff University Hospital by ambulance. By then I was nearly hysterical. Mum went home and Andrew followed in the car – it was a nightmare! The only bright thing was that Archie was fascinated by the drive in the ambulance and all the lights and beeping things.
Once there, it was decided that they were going operate at 9.30am the next morning, Monday. Andrew and I had to sit up all night as there were no beds for parents, just upright chairs. Archie did not settle as there were so many sick babies on the ward. The whole experience was absolutely dreadful.
My heart went out to the mums with such sick babies, but we seemed to share a bond and supported each other. We had to starve Archie all night for his operation and he was very distressed.
The next morning the consultant saw him and decided NOT to operate as there was more danger in the operation than in the lump.
So we were allowed to take Archie to see our GP. The lump turned out to be an abscess. So much drama, nevertheless the care for my little baby was just exceptional. Well done NHS.
We came home on Monday afternoon and although Mum had phoned PUK to put them on standby to replace her if Archie was kept in hospital, as we were ok she packed very quickly and left for Newark on the Tuesday for her “holiday” judging all week.
She loves the show and reminisces of our escapades when Sarah and I were competing there as children, some 30 plus years ago!
Mum went to judge at Pembroke County Show the week after, and on the Friday left for Shrewsbury to judge on the Saturday. It was fortunate that Dad went as well, because Mum only managed one class before collapsing with a suspected heart attack and ended up in Shrewsbury Hospital. We were all out of our minds.
Sarah was able to visit but I was on standby at home in Swansea, if things got worse I was going straight up. Mum is quite tough and persuaded the doctors that a transfer to Morriston Hospital would be sensible so she would be near home.
I think it was the lack of visitors in Shropshire. Although Julie Templeton and Fiona went one evening and had her laughing. In the end she came home and is now under our local hospital.
I’m sure you can imagine how we have been feeling!
On a happier note the horses are all jumping really well. Perth won the 6-Bar at Pembroke County Show again, he is really brilliant at this type of class and successfully jumped 1.85m!
We were also very pleased with Elektrik who jumped in his first International Stairway and was placed fifth. Zermi achieved a third place in the 1.25m and Perth was also fourth in the 1.40m.
Val and groom Rachel
At Chard, in Somerset, Zermi won the 1.25m qualifier and then went onto win the championship class as well. Val won the 1.35m qualifier and she was fourth in the Grand Prix. Elektrik was just behind Val with a fifth in the Grand Prix.
Andrew went to Ireland and took Billy-Jo’s Harvey, who won a novice class, and Elektrik who was seventh in the 1.40m and followed this up with a third in the Grand Prix.
Andrew said as he walked the course the size really worried him for Elektrik and if it all went wrong it might set him back again. He said to one of the riders ‘are your Grand Prix classes always this big?’ It turned out it was the Irish National Championship hence the reason it was huge!
So to be third was amazing! Even more amazing was to see the round on YouTube, it looked like Elektrik was jumping a Discovery; he made it look so easy.
At Moreton in Marsh, in Gloucestershire, Perth won yet another 6-Bar competition and Val was fourth in the 1.30m.
Andrew also went to Hand; Zermie jumped on each of the three days and won the 1.25m class every day! What a wonderful little mare she is.
Stallion Necker in action.
Val was fifth in the 1.30m and then jumped her first 1.40m and finished a very respectable fourth. Necker, the stallion who Andrew meets at shows jumped very well and finished second in the 1.40m class.
At the Vale of Glamorgan show… yes you’ve guessed it! Perth won the 6-Bar again and was second in the 1.30m.
Mr and Mrs Edwards’ three horses are going home next week for their holiday and don’t they deserve it! They have jumped well all summer. It is nice for them to go home and for Mr Edwards to spoil them and enjoy them in his own fields. Glad the weather has turned warm for them to go out.
On the showing front it is all change. Rupert (Royal Mirage) and Cob (Paddy Power) have returned from the north and are both for sale. Cob with the ride at HOYS, if you are quick! Rupert jumps so well that we are hoping for a home to combine everything.
Forgery (Whalton Forgery) is in the field roughed off, he will have time to grow up and ponder over the season he had with my brother-in-law Robert. I am so excited about riding him next year. He will stay in the field until Christmas.
Now I am REALLY excited about my new horse, but I cannot say who he is just yet as he is going to HOYS with his previous producer. Suffice to say he is fabulous!
I go to HOYS on Tuesday ready to compete on the Wednesday with Kilmannon Black Wizard, the super Dales owned by Gill Simpson. He came back to me recently as I am now riding again, although the breeches and coat do NOT fit.
My friend Becky Penny rode him and got his HOYS ticket so I can ride him there. Then I come back and Andrew, Mum, Archie and I go back up to see my new horse. Sarah, Robert and Sam are all competing at HOYS. We are so looking forward to a stress-free three days. I cannot remember the last time I didn’t have loads of horses there and feeling stressed 24/7.
Mum has her three youngsters in now; Lily, a large hack/SRT who is going very well, plus the two three year olds, Colin and Roxy, and all three are for sale. Colin will be a hack and Roxy would probably go eventing like her two brothers did. But she would make a good dressage horse as her great grandfather is Dutch Courage.
Well that’s about it for now, will tell you all how HOYS goes for all my family and then I shall reveal all about my new horse! Wish us all luck!
Take care,
Victoria
Andrew meets Kym Marsh at The Hand show