Meet Bailey - Devon #2

As most of you know, I spent all of my summer in Devon at my grandparents, it’s my second home and I wish I could live down there; I have such a different life. Over the summer I’ve been able to ride and help with four gorgeous horses, but two of them especially.  The first one is called Bailey, she’s a three year old chestnut mare, and she’s also a red head that has the temper that comes with it.

It all started as a woman was feeling lonely on her yard, so I gave her some company. Bailey was being shown in hand at Honiton Show and I did some practice with her before to make sure she was safe and controllable, after that it turned out that I showed her at Honiton and we did very well. We came away with a first, two reserve champions and overall local champion in the Show Hunter classes.

It was such an amazing experience for me as that was my first proper show, it was unbelievable how good she was and how much the judges liked her. Since then, we’ve been to Dorset County Show together. We actually entered her in classes that weren’t suited for her, to make sure we had the right class for her, which proved we did because she came away with third in the Sports Horse Class and fourth in the Riding Horse Class. Even the judge said “If this was a Show Hunter Class I would’ve given her supreme champion, I hope you show her under saddle next year she’ll be a real winner” It was amazing to hear that feedback, that really topped the day off. We were also told to get to a qualifier for HOYS because she is definitely in contention for that.

Now we have even bigger dreams for next year. She’s been backed and now turned away for the winter; I can’t wait to bring her back into work next year and finally get to ride her. The next aim is to get her out to a few small shows under saddle and get her used to the atmosphere whilst being ridden. 

After that, who knows, the main aims are to get her to as many shows as possible and to have her jumping by the end of the season, and obviously to qualify for HOYS. Anything else will be a massive bonus. I’m not quite sure how I’ll cope over the winter when I hardly see her, it’s not a quick trip to the yard, it’s a three hour train journey.  Next year is going to be one of the most amazing experiences and I just hope it hurries up; I’m dying to ride her!

By the start of next year I would've bought about 20 pairs of cream jodhpurs, if you ride you'll understand that they never stay cream, ever. 

Ami xo