Joanna Thurman-Baker’s dressage blog: half a tonne kite flying
Hello everyone and welcome to my latest blog.
As I write this, the sun is up and shining, the horses are happily lapping it up, the birds are chirping and I’m only wearing one coat, rather than three. There is a true feeling of spring in the air.
However, the past few weeks have been nothing short of a nightmare. Horrendous weather conditions battered us into surrender. The snow did look beautiful, blanketing the valley and famous windmill overlooking the yard. Sprout and Tommy (now no longer puppies, but still as naughty) absolutely LOVED it and were racing about like mad things. But the snow was so bad we couldn’t get the horses out the stables for two days, two weeks in a row!
Even when we didn’t have snow, the yard would turn into black ice and prevent us working the horses until the mid-day thaw, which sometimes never came. We were forced inside to stop us getting hyperthermia, but at least it meant to could delve into a different passion — baking! My Victoria sponge cake and banana loaf were a hit, but the eggs Benedict was terribly unspeakable.
Once the snow had finally gone, lungeing turned into an extreme sport — I think I’ll call it ‘half a tonne kite flying’! Alas, I’m not quite heavy enough to anchor down a half tonne horse, so I ended up doing plenty of flying lessons, or extreme jumping as I refused to let go of the rope while they happily galloped, bucking and spinning about!
Unfortunately, Apollo came down with a bruised foot the week before our first CDI of the year, Le Mans in France. It was gutting as I loved attending the show last October and Apollo was feeling fantastic. But it’s just another bump in the road and our comebacks WILL be stronger than our setbacks! As I like to say, everything happens for a reason.
Before the weather hit us, I was getting to know my new boy Simba more. He is proving to be the biggest softy in the stable — he puts his head in my arms and falls asleep! He’s got a beautiful, pink squishy nose that is perfect for kissing and likes to ‘laugh’ at me, or smiling for the camera (see video and picture!)
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
He enjoyed his first hack and was very well behaved when meeting everything a small country lane has to offer — farmers, Range Rovers, bikes, sheep — and was super-surefooted going up and down hills. While our roads are normally quiet, every now and then it turns into Piccadilly Circus. Luckily I was riding a more experienced hacker, Sam’s horse Sirocco, when we were passed by 50 old style motorbikes. Luckily he was a saint and I think it was more terrifying for me as they came roaring past!
Also while I couldn’t work the horses I’ve been thinking of ways to have a truly spectacular grand prix freestyle for Apollo. Currently, we have 80s-tastic music, which I love! We have Madonna, Bee-Gees, parts of an iconic movie theme tune and some Jackson 5. But I’m thinking of adding in either some Luther Vandross or Hot Chocolate. What do you think?
Article continues below…
You might also be interested in:
Joanna Thurman-Baker’s dressage blog: I’d love to say it went well, but…
Joanna has some really exciting news and reports back from an eventful show
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
I also enjoyed a non-horsey day of going on the Harry Potter studio tour. It might have been my fourth time, but it was better than ever! We went as a birthday present for my dear friend Susan, who loved it. Mum especially loved the full-size Hippogriff — I wonder if she could make him do in-hand work?!
Anyways, now that Apollo has eaten his fill of grass, it’s back to work for me. I’m so excited for the year ahead and would like to take a moment to thank my amazing home team, who really do battle the elements alongside us to get the horses into tip top condition — you guys rock.
Until next time,
Joanna x
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Joanna Thurman Baker is an outstanding British young dressage rider, born in 1997. Joanna has represented her country at young rider European level twice and has produced four horses to international level in her short career. She is a member of the World Class podium potential programme squad. In 2018, Joanna is hoping to compete her top horse, Highcliffe Apollo at grand prix level. Joanna runs her family yard in Buckinghamshire alongside her sister, Samantha.