I pride myself on giving my followers and supporters an honest account of life here at Team Chapman Equestrian, and it’s safe to say that this August has been a tough one. I gave the horses a rest at the start of August and since then it’s been a little slow to get back going, as both my Dad and I have spent time in hospital – for me it was a throat infection that turned nasty, for Dad it was a little more serious. After a very worrying time and quite a bit of stress for my poor Mum, thankfully Dad is now on the mend and back at home. However, the saying ‘tough times don’t last but tough people do’ is right up my street, as I’m never one to sit around and mope! Autumn is here and I love that back to school feeling it brings. I’m looking forward to competing over the next few months and seeing how the younger horses progress during the winter.
Thank goodness for the indoor school…
The rain has finally arrived this week and boy it was needed after such a dry summer. Our fields are now getting a very good watering and hopefully the ground will be good for at least a few weeks before the autumn and winter mud arrives. Thank goodness for our indoor school to retreat into when the worst of the weather arrives! It’s hard to believe we’ve had it for well over a year now and I can't imagine being without it. The young horses focus so beautifully and it’s a godsend for clinics and lessons when the heavens do open.
Sponsor focus - The Horse Bit Bank
I’m delighted to share the details of a simply brilliant company who have been supporting Team Chapman Equestrian since 2018. The Horse Bit Bank is the UK’s largest bit bank, which is run by a true bitting specialist and horsewoman Jodie Hooks. She and her team know everything worth knowing about the action of different mouth and cheek piece styles, bit accessories, bit brands and mouth confirmation. The website is a font of information and advice, and Jodie is always happy to chat on the phone to help people find the right bit for their horse. This company also has an innovative and amazing offering which will no doubt have helped so many owners find their horses a suitable, comfortable bit - a 30-day trial period. This means people can experiment with brands and designs until they find one their horse loves. I am so grateful to Jodie for her help and love browsing the website to find the perfect bit for a young or new horse! Make sure you head over and take a look: https://www.horsebitbank.com/
A fond farewell
As I’ve been writing this blog the news has come through that our amazing monarch Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at her beloved Balmoral. It feels right to mention it as she has not only been the most dedicated and committed head of state a nation could wish for over the past 70 years, but also an inspirational horsewoman. We are so very lucky to have had such a passionate equestrian as our monarch for all these years and it never fails to make me smile when I see the images of her with horses. The beaming smile that appeared on her face when she was with these magnificent animals would light up any occasion and it was so evident how much she loved them. Rest in peace.