Hi Everyone,

The yard is so busy right now, we all are buzzing.  Getting everything organised for Andrew to go to Spain is a nightmare.  He is not the most organised person in the world.

Having decided which horses to take – sadly Mr and Mrs Edwards three are not going as they like to watch their horses at the shows and Spain is just too far for them – even without them Andrew has about six to jump, plus Daisy is taking three and Myles one.  So that makes 10.

At first it was one lorry, we have a 10 horse transport lorry, but that made it difficult for sleeping on our stop over’s in France and Spain so now it looks like two lorries with living.

We have rented an apartment at Valencia and I will fly out for five days at the end of February.  Archie had his new sunglasses arrive today and he was hilarious.  He could not understand why it kept going dark.

Back to the trip, all horses have to be up to date with their passports, plus FEI ones to jump abroad. Then check our passports plus Leah’s (Andrew’s Groom) then health insurance for humans.  Green card for the lorry.  Then the shopping.  Well that is my strong point and parcels have been arriving every day of stuff I have ordered.

We have more vet products than our vets now, certain shampoos that are good at getting the sand out of their legs and skin.  We had a problem once with that causing a rash.  Checking all tack, boots and rugs that have to go.  Now there are piles of things in the tack and rug rooms just waiting to be loaded next week.

Then the day before we have the vet to sign the health papers so we can get out of the country and back again! Though Andrew did leave one horse in Spain once, I was heartbroken.  She was new to us and we really rated her.  So much so, that although she was not ready to go to Spain, we took her so at least she could stay in work with Andrew and perhaps jump at the end of the tour.  Well she caused such a stir that by the third week they were queuing up to buy her and sadly she was sold to America and never came home.

My horses are all coming on well, I am really pleased with them and feel ready to start back into showing.  Bring it on!

Val and groom Rachel

Andrew had an outing to South View last week, Val was third in the 1.30m and had four faults in the big Grand Prix, her first biggy so delighted we were with her.  Perth  had the fastest four faults in both Grand Prix’s – Zermi was second and fourth in her 1.25m and qualified for the Blue Chip Champs.  Winnie was second in the 1.35m but had her usual fence in the Grand Prix.

Take care

Victoria