Hi Everyone

Hilary here:

We’re all so thrilled now the Summer Hols are over. After our nice long break, musical ride practices started again so that we can make sure that we are foot perfect when we get to HOYS. It was like we had never been away – everything went brilliantly!

The best part of coming back after the summer was that the costumes are ready! Final checks needed to be made to make sure they all fit, so we had a huge try on. They look amazing and we all got very giddy.

The costumes just make this all seem so much more real, which is very exciting! They’re so good that it was hard to take them back off again afterwards! I could have stayed in mine all night!!

On Saturday those who get H+P by subscription phoned those of us who don’t and told them to get to the shops straight away as there is a two page article about our branch with photos in it! It’s worth checking out!

There is so little time until HOYS now, it’s unbelievable! As we only have four more practices left, the final tweaks are being made to everything. Soon we will be having our dress rehearsal and then it will be off to HOYS! It’s so exciting!!

Keep Riding,
Hilary

Hi from Hannah and Maisy!

Maisy and I had a great but very, very busy summer holidays.

It started with a PC gymkhana day with our Horse Behaviour Achievement Badge. We learnt how to tell how our ponies look like when they are cross, happy, cold or excited. We also played loads of games which was ace.

I had a new pony to take to camp, which I have on loan. She is a New Forest Pony called Galaxy, 13.1hh and 10 years old.

She was fab at camp and won the most improved rider/pony combination trophy!

Galaxy and I then went to the New Forest to stay with my friend Libby. We rode out all over the Forest and we joined in a New Forest PC rally. Libby's Grandad took me sailing, which I'd never done before so was especially exciting.

There was another gymkhana in the last week of the holidays and we had a police lady come and teach us how to keep our ponies and tack safe. I learnt loads.

I've now got loads of work to do with Galaxy and Maisy over the next few weeks because we have the Pony Club National Endurance Championships and The Lions Tail PC Team Challenge coming up. I will have to ride every day now, trotting up to an hour and a half to make sure both ponies are fit enough for their classes. Maisy will be doing 33km and Galaxy 20km.

Hey folks

Laura here:

Whoop, whoop well done Oliver! Badminton in May and now Burghley – Horse+Pony’s celeb columnist really is on a roll!

Oliver led from the start at the Burghley and jumped a perfect clear round to get his hands on the trophy – I wonder if he can speak to Royal Mail and ask if they’ll deliver the Badminton and Burghley trophy to his yard at the same time ?! When H+P visited Oliver’s new yard in August he still hadn't got round to getting the Badminton trophy delivered there!

Check out this video - well cool!

A big well done to Rosie Thomas and Barry’s Best too, the pair were way down the line in 50th position after the dressage but after hoof perfect jumping in the cross country and showjumping they ended up 9th. Just shows what you can do eh?? Barry’s groom also won the prize for the best turned out horse at the event too – the grooms have to work so hard to keep these horses in good form. It’s the toughest job in eventing I think!

Our interview with Oliver, along with a gorgeous poster of Burghley winner Carousel Quest, is in our October 2009 issue of the magazine which is in shops now.

Or, if you don’t want to walk that far, you can buy it from our E-Bay shop too:

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/bpgmags__W0QQ_armrsZ1

TTFN

Laura