The sun has been shining, the temperature is a few degrees warmer, and the days are getting longer... is spring finally here? I think so, and with it comes the compulsive desire to do some ‘spring cleaning’, which in my case includes some serious DIY around the yard! I think anyone who runs or owns their own yard can sympathise with this task, there are always things on the list to repaint, repair or replace! However, the extra daylight hours have motivated me to get these things started.

Last week I received a letter from British Dressage, awarding Flora a wildcard to the Winter Championships, which will be held at Hartpury in April. I’ve also competed her again since her Regional Finals, and we enjoyed a double win at Hunters Equestrian! She was a good girl and felt much more secure with the movements, so now it is just a case of her gaining in her own strength. We also had an important spectator at the show, as my Mum was visiting us, so the wins were extra special!

Back at home ‘the girls’, Cha Cha and Betty, are now sharing their field with Spike (the hunter) and Jamiro (my retired Grand Prix horse). The girls are two year old half-sisters that I bred. Flora is their dam, but they were both embryo transferred into surrogate mothers so that their 'mum' could concentrate on her career! They are by Flemmingh (sire of Grand Prix horses Lingh and Krack C) and Painted Black (Anky's Grand Prix horse). We thought it would be good for them to develop their social skills, but so far they have totally snubbed the two boys! It is really interesting to watch them organise themselves within the herd, and handle different situations, you can learn a lot about their individual personalities. It is a bit like a horse version of Big Brother!