Simon Grieve's eventing blog: Some highs rivalled by tough lows

Without doubt, the beginning of 2017 has been mixed. As you would expect, we have been very busy with lots of horses doing dressage, showjumping, cross-country schooling and the all-important fitness work in the run up to the fast-approaching eventing season. There have been some highs, winning a few jumping classes and having some inspirational flatwork moments, rivalled by some tough lows. One of which is that King (Traveller Royale, one of my 2016 Burghley entries) has had to have colic surgery.

The poor lad was rushed to Newmarket Equine Hospital a few weeks ago. On arrival he seemed relatively bright, but then all of a sudden he took a turn for the worse and they decided to operate. The surgery was successful, he is making steady progress and the vets at Newmarket Equine did a fantastic job of looking after him. He demolished a whole packet of Polos when I visited him yesterday which means he must be feeling better. Fingers tightly crossed.

I took some of the babies cross-country schooling the other day. I got off my second horse, slightly frustrated with myself that I wasn’t riding at my best even though the horse had gone well, where upon a great friend of mine who had come to watch arrived. A foster mother, she had one of the kids who I had not met before in the car. On opening the car door a young bright eyed girl looked at me smiling.

“I’d like to stroke the horsey,” she proclaimed, enthusiastically gesticulating to my next ride, Bramble, as she began to climb out of he car. She had no arms and both legs replaced with two prosthetic ones, but a smile and cheeky glint in her eye to die for. I was slightly taken aback, but didn’t have time to be as she was already half way to seeing Bramble. Happily stroking him, she told me all about how she was soon to try running blades and how she loves the colour pink. Her energy and enthusiasm, despite these disabilities changed my entire attitude to the day and the way I rode the next two horses. What a wake up call and tonic!

Isleham never ceases to amaze me how it runs despite everything being thrown at it, including copious amounts of rain. The ground was brilliant and it was great fun. The first win of the weekend, on Bertie marked the 60th win of my affiliated eventing career. It’s been a rollercoaster since the first one, riding the late, (crazy, but amazing) Jean Gow’s Corrib Blue Vinnie back in 2007. I remember driving miles up to an event in Northumberland, meeting her there in a tiny country pub in the middle of nowhere, for an extremely boozy dinner before our win the next day — we were both so thrilled, it was wonderful. I’m sure she’d be toasting my 60th victory up there with a large gin!

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Professional event rider Simon joined our blogging team in spring 2015. Simon runs a busy eventing yard, with horses competing across the levels up to five-star.

Simon Grieve’s eventing blog: Some highs rivalled by tough lows

I was filled with enthusiasm to go and try out my new and improved dressage riding skills, plus getting that all-important cross-country fix which has been missing from my life for four months at the first event of the season, Isleham.

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