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Leonora Smee’s blog: packing for all eventualities

Playlist 19 Videos Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: I'm disappointed but this isn't going to be a dressage competition 01:31 Shock result on final day of Badminton: record-breaker takes emotional victory 02:40 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: it didn't quite go to plan 01:16 'It was pure fun': nail-biting finish to cross-country at Badminton 01:27 'I can't believe it': Burghley winner leads the way at Badminton 01:01 New rider tops Badminton leader board after seven year absence from the event 01:05 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: the cross-country is one thing, but first I have to survive the dressage 02:14 France and Germany dominate on day one of Badminton dressage: first-timers are best Brits 00:55 Mark Todd aims for fifth Badminton victory: 'I don't have any plans to stop eventing' 01:00 'The biggest Badminton I've ever seen': riders' first reaction to the cross-country course 02:41 Frenchman leads the way at Badminton dressage: popular British combination withdrawn 01:26 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: so near, yet so far away 01:25 Badminton first-timers: Lydia Hannon — ‘I owe this horse everything’ 02:30 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: Badminton's cross-country course looks right up our street, but will we or won't we? 00:26 Riders' first reactions to the 2016 Badminton cross-country course 03:06 Ian Stark walks the toughest fences at Badminton Horse Trials 2016 03:31 Walk the Badminton 2016 cross-country course 21:51 Harry Meade: ‘Life is about challenges — we don’t know what’s ahead of us' 02:54 Leonora Smee’s blog: these are a few of my favourite things (I wouldn't be without them) 03:21

  • Hi everyone,

    I thought I would just keep you all updated. We had a really successful show at the Longines Athina Onassis Horse Show in Pampalone beach, St Tropez.

    We’re now all set up, once again, in San Remo on the Mediterranean coast of Italy for two weeks of jumping.

    I just thought I would run through with you what I like to keep in my ring bag (a bag that will come with my groom from the stables to the competition ring). I never go to the ring without it as it’s got lots of exciting things in it.

    Firstly I have a towel so that if the horses get very hot and sweaty or if I want to wipe something, we can.

    I then have my lucky handkerchief — I’m not entirely sure what I use this for, but it’s lucky, I think!

    Then there is boot polish which is very important as I’m OCD — everything has to look very polished.

    We have a chain, just in case the one that my groom, Cowboy, uses breaks.

    I also have my spur collection, so that if I ever decide I want to change my spurs or have no spurs, I have plenty of choice.

    Then we have a hole punch for the bridles, so that if I decide I want something tighter or if something breaks, we can fix it.

    Then there are some baby wipes to clean anything and everything.

    Then I have the most important thing that JB is after, treats. When my horses go in and out of the ring they have a treat — they are also very useful for bribery!

    There is a boot brush, to make sure that the soles of my boots are clean to help me keep my feet in the stirrups at all times.

    I have a mane brush and extra plaiting bands, in case any plaits come loose.

    If I am extra nervous or if I’m jumping a big class, I use my leather grip. It’s all mental, I can assure you!

    There is also a spare spur strap in case I want to add a chin strap onto the bit or if something breaks. Finally, there’s my whip.

    I think that’s about it. As I say, I never go to the ring without it.

    We’ve now got two weeks of some really exciting jumping here at San Remo. I hope that my luck continues, and I’ll keep you all updated.

    Leonora

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