Forced myself to go and do a complete day of dressage, rode 5 tests of which 4 were different. Rode them all from memory and actually remembered them all.
Take It 2 The Top had a 1st and a 2nd scoring 74%, Top Gun had a 6th, little devil just won't engage behind when I ride him with a longer softer outline, so its back to a smarter shorter outline for him. Stiff creaky Icon behaved (at last!) but came almost last in both his classes, good job he can jump!
Next day Top Gun jumped at Summerhouse, 2 fab double clears left me wanting the new event season to be here already. Then Take It 2 The Top and Top Gun went to Lincomb XC schooling. Top Gun was brave neat and brilliant, this is what he is best at and I had forgotten how good he is. Take It 2 the Top was also brave just not yet as balanced, which made me think he better do a few BE90s, prior to a BE100. He is such a lovely horse I would not want to upgrade him before he is physically and mentally ready.
Amazing Mika was amazing XC schooling, it was a lovely sunny day, perfect ground and we had a fab time. Mika was really bold and loved it, a perfect XC horse in the making. A group of us met at Lincombe, our horses went so well we were all buzzing when we finished. 
! For the full sequence see below. Top Gun and Take It 2 The Top have both been out SJ training. Top Gun had a lesson with accredited BS trainer David Austin who was very helpful. Man Friday is also working well all these star horses means I am extra excited about the forthcoming season.
Its freezing and snowing. Luckily selling John Wayne last year for really good money has meant I have been able to splash out on a few things. One is a top up for my well worn arena. I chose Spring Ride Shred. http://www.springride.com/?gclid=CMi0gfbphK4CFSgntAoda2dE5Q It does not freeze not even last night when temperatures dropped to below -10. I was out jumping a 1.10m course at 8 am this morning. It must be the only outdoor school for miles that is not frozen. All my friends have been using it this week. Its a super surface to jump on too and does not need leveling ever. Also we now have a new bathroom, its so luxurious with a heater and everything, its like being in a Hotel, rest of the house is still very rural! The old bathroom had been in place since 1930 and was awful it had a broken toilet, a tiny bath, missing tiles and was freezing. The broken toilet meant we had to flush it with a bucket of water!!! John Wayne's money has also paid for central heating, its bliss to have a warm house and clothes that are not damp. The ice now stays outside the windows and we are all warm and cosy. Its so nice to come inside to a warm house and not have to immediately light the fire.
