Eridge – 29 June 2013

Just Corby at this event. Eridge this year had an amazing make over to the dressage & SJ arenas which were in a different place to last year and it worked amazingly.

Corby redeemed himself after Rackham scoring an amazing 22, that's more like it! Then went on to jump a fab double clear, he also gave me a fab ride around the XC. I was a bit worried about getting around in the time because its so up and down, Corby is not breed for speed even though he has got half TB in him! We started off at a good pace but had to nurse him up the long hill to the finish. When I went to see the scores I was so surprised we only had 2.4 time faults and he won his section on 24.4 - a good come back!

Long time overdue!!

First BE event - Rackham 22 June 2013

My first event back after giving birth to my lovely son Oscar!

I took Ollie (Cullawn Warrior) and Corby (Cullawn My Way) to Rackham. Ollie was entered for the BE100 plus and Corby the BE100.

The day started off well with Corby going double clear but was disappointed with his dressage mark of 34, I felt he went better.  Corby ended the day out of the placings in 14th.

Ollie's dressage was 31.5 and he was in the lead after the SJ phase making the SJ look easy! We were all set for XC, set off very strong clearing everything and he felt fab until we came to the water. We jumped the first part fab, went to jump into the water and bang it happened again - I couldn't  believe it, we both had a dunking AGAIN! This time Ollie did get hurt he had a few grazes on his knees, stifle and knocked himself very hard. He was a bit shaken up this time! 

I think what happened is that he miss judged the water as it's quite small and over jumped it losing his feet underneath him. We only had another four fences to jump! So not a great first event to begin our season!

Next event lined up was Eridge in a week's time where I had to withdraw Ollie due to his fall, he was so stiff and had a huge haematoma on his chest. I got a vets note but still couldn't get my entry fee back, I think this is so wrong, the sport costs so much money, it just puts people off!

Baby Boy - Born 04:21am Thursday 2 May 2013!

I'm writing this blog still sitting in hospital on my own, with Oscar still downstairs in Special Care hopefully he will down with me today then home time soon, can't wait to get into my own bed and see my second baby Rambo!

Oscar Patrick James Mulvey

Our baby boy arrived a little earlier than expected (4 weeks early) which was a big shock as we were planning a trip to Badminton on Sunday! I get to watch it in Hospital with my little man though!

I was still riding up until Tuesday when I took Ollie out for a hack and did flatwork on Corby then I had

my shift at the pub in the evening which I finished at 11.30pm! 

Wednesday morning my waters broke at 3am. I drove myself into hospital then got discharged at 1pm because nothing was happening. I was so glad to get home again. 

They booked me in to be induced at 8am Thursday morning, but Oscar was in a hurry to get out he was born at 4.21am Thursday 2nd May weighing in at 6lb 1oz. 

If he is anything like his parents  this will be the first and last time he will be early for anything!!!

First family photo

 Oscar - 6 May 

Last holiday get away!

Off we went to sunny Spain where my fiancées' parents have a apartment out in Murcia. 

Four of us went (well 5 including bump)! It was nice to get away for the week to relax in the sun. Lucky we had a good week of sun, so went to the beach every day, shopped and watched plenty of DVDs.



Came home on the 20th April so only had 6 weeks until I meet my mini me (or so I thought!).  Next holiday will be with Oscar!

Sunbathing with bump!

10 April 2013 - Last Dressage Competition before giving birth!

Mum and Dad were away skiing so I decided to sneak off and do a dressage competition at Golden Cross. It's been so nice having my independence driving the lorry. 

I managed to drag my non horsey fiancée with me to help, who doesn't like the idea of me still riding when I am 33 weeks pregnant (oh well)!

I just took the two Cullawn boys (Corby) & (Ollie) and entered them both in a Elementary test.

Ollie was first to go felt a little cheeky in the warm up but he settled once he realised he wasn't jumping! 

I've not jumped Ollie since December so it will be interesting when I get back jumping (sticky tape at the ready)!

Ollie did a very good test of 72.4% which is really good for him as he can get a little grumpy! 

Corby my lovely big grey was next (he's for sale & I'm waiting for someone to snap him up and have some fun!).  I can always count on Corby for doing a good test and he scored a 73.2%. Corby won the class and Ollie came 2nd.

It was nice to come home with some prize money and a well worth the day out!  I couldn't of done it without my groom for the day!

Being pregnant has made me concentrate on my flatwork and I think the horses have improved so much, just can't wait to get back in the saddle and jump jump jump!!!

Charles Owen - AYR8

Just before the BRC Championships I took a trip to Dragonfly and picked up some some luxuries!

My favourite being the Charles Owen AYR8 hat with the red and white piping (ready for my Team GB call up!!!)

I'd liked and been after the hat for a while, probably the most famous wearer is Charlotte Dujardin.  I was hoping that the hat would send vibes down to Corby and he would perform like Valegro!

I've always wanted a showjumping hat too - this hat is perfect because I can use it for both.  I'm a fan of the Charles Owen hats, I've the lovely special limited edition purple skull cap which I use for cross country and also have a couple of others that I use for both schooling and competitions.

The hat drew many admiring comments throughout the Championships.

As you'd expect for a Charles Owen hat and hat of this quality it's nice and lightweight, breathable and comfortable to wear - as well as being stylish which helps!

Watch out for more pictures throughout the summer as I'll definitely be sporting it at events!

If I've sold it to you - but basically it really does sell itself pop down or order online at Dragonfly they do it in several different piping colours!

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=12&subcatid=30&hr=r&categoryname=Hats&subcatname=Riding&itemid=3011

British Riding Club - Dressage Championships 30-31 March 2013

I represented my riding club (Rother Valley) at the BRC Winter Championships in Hartpury.

We were a team of four, myself with Corby, Clare Walton-Cole with Theo, Sarah Baldwin and Sweep and Tanya Draude with Bill.  We were accompanied by our helper - Tina Jackson, who did a great job.

We qualified at the end of last year at Ardingly coming 2nd as a team with 3 of the team placed.  I was 1st in my arena at Ardingly with Corby.

Corby dressed and ready to go - I didn't want him getting dirty.  His Dragonfly hood and rug did a good job of keeping most of him clean.

We left Sarah's yard at 10:30 am on Friday, first stop was the BP garage at Kippings Cross to stock up on M&S goodies for the journey!  Which was a good plan as the journey took 6 hours in the bank holiday traffic.  We stopped half way through the journey hoping for a toilet break but the queues were so massive we ended up using the handy WC in Clare's box!

We arrived at Hartpury around 5:30 pm.  We couldn't unload the horses from the box until they had been checked out by the vet because of the recent outbreak of EHV.   We unloaded the horses about 6:00 pm and got them settled in their stables.

Sarah, Clare and I took our horses into the school and gave them a quick schooling session.  Clare's horse, Theo, was feeling a bit fresh!

We went out for a pub meal after we'd put the horses to bed around 8:30ish.  The local pub was closed so we had to drive around to find another.  Luckily as Sarah had trailed up Sweep & Bill she had her lovely X5 to chauffeur us around!  We then found a gastropub thanks to Tina's Iphone and had a nice relaxing meal.

Then back to the cold horsebox and a very squished and cold sleeping arrangements!  I got up at 6:30 am although I was actually awake most of the night!

Clare was first on at 10:06.  She did the same test as Corby and I, Prelim 13 and did a good test around 64%.

Next up was Sarah on Sweep doing a Novice 27 test.  They got around 63%, unfortunately despite the 2 amazing flying changes (these weren't actually in the test) he scored a little lower than perhaps he usually would.  But hey you can't be a Champion 2 years running and he just thought he'd give the other a chance to get the red rosette.

I was next to go, before my test I took Corby on a short hack and for a bit of schooling to relax him.  Before we went into the arena he spooked at the cameraman (luckily he didn't during the test!).  He felt good in his test and scored 69%.

Perhaps it was my new hat from Dragonfly Saddlery.  I was sporting the new Charles Owen AYR8, which some of you may know is that hat of choice of Charlotte Dujardin!  I felt smart wearing it and had lots of compliments.

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=12&subcatid=30&hr=r&categoryname=Hats&subcatname=Riding&itemid=3011

Tanya was last to go with Bill she was doing final Novice test.  She did a very nice test and came 6th in her arena.

Corby and I ended up coming first in our arena, the hat clearly did bring good luck.  Corby and I then had a mounted prize giving, a chance for Corby to wear his smart white Stretch and Flex boots again supplied by the lovely people at Dragonfly.  They clearly are a popular flatwork wrap as quite a few of the horses at the Champs were wearing them.

 http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=11&subcatid=205&hr=h&categoryname=Horse+Boots&subcatname=Flatwork+Wraps&itemid=2915

Prize giving with Corby sporting his wrap boots and me in my lovely hat and Mountain Horse boots - which are still proving to be the most comfortable boots I've owned!

As a team RVRC came 10th out of 28 teams.  You may recall we were the Champions last year but I wasn't disappointed as I thought we all well, it's a long trek and it was a cold weekend!

We ended up leaving Hartpury at 7:00pm.  The journey home was much quicker only taking 4 hours.  We got to Sarah's yard around 11:00 pm where I unloaded Corby and packed up my lorry so I ended up finally get home around midnight!  I slept well that night in a comfortable bed.

I had Sunday morning off as Mum kindly did the horses for me so I got a lie in.