Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Here is a bit of back ground on what I'm doing and why...

The reason I have signed up to do this is because Hannah Francis has been such and inspiration, her bravery and determination despite the pain she endured was literally superhuman. My Dad has suffered prostate cancer and he was one of the lucky ones. He's had his check up  and he's all clear until the next check in a years time. So, I have been wondering which would be the best way to raise money to #kickcancersbutt and I think this is it. To event is a lifelong dream/ bucket list wish. I always put work above doing anything with my own horses and this would mean I have to focus hard to make time for achieving my sponsorship target and riding goals.  

This is not going to be easy to do for several reasons ...

1) Any of you who know me well,  know I like hiding at the back out bloodhounding, and generally try to avoid making a complete arse of myself in front of a photographer. I am therefore, feeling slightly sick when I know people will be watching me ride!  

2)I still haven't worked out how I will make time to fit everything in, with a menagerie of 10 horses, 3 dogs and 3 pet pigs, full time work and an applied equine biomechanics course to do this winter? ?? 

3) There is the small matter of persuading Bella that we don't have to check the jump for a mouse or dragon under it before we go over! 

4)Getting into the dressage and show jumping will be a challenge! I  am good at staying superglued on babies and lunatics, but not had any affiliated competition experience! Dressage and Show Jumoing is something done by skinny women as you have to wear white jods. Hunting allows you to wear buff breeches and drink port, which is ideal to help nerves before you go XC. 😊

Just to get you up to speed on me...                I am 47,( how did that happen, I was 21 last time I looked)! I work as a human and equine sports massage therapist which I love. I live with my partner David and between us we have 10 horses,( he has 7 to my 3), as we keep all our oldies in 5 star retirement. I have always wanted to event but the 2 times I have got close to it, divorce and the financial aftermath of that, and then the horse having spavins has scuppered my attempts! So I'm thinking third time lucky. 

My partner in crime....                                    Bella is a 15hh 7 year old chestnut mare with a huge jump but a serious lack of confidence. She has previously gone clear BS at 1.10 with her old owner,( who is much better than I will ever be), and  who can see a stride a mile off,  and place her in a good spot. Unfortunately when she was put up for sale she had some bad experiences with less talented riders either dropping the  contact in front of the fence,  or removing some back teeth over the jump, so she understandably decided jumping wasn't fun and packed in. I've had her since February and she is now thinking it is quite good fun, but I've kept the jumps tiny and just done XC schooling and hunt fun rides. She knows I am a polo vending machine when she's trying her best!

To my all my friends.... this will be hard but enjoyable ,( I hope), with many hours of training squeezed in to an already mental schedule ... Sleep is for wimps !!!  So wish us luck and if during the course of this year I manage to do something that either impresses you or leaves you with a fit of the giggles at me making a complete plonker of myself ...... Please donate 😘

Thank you for taking time to read this xxx

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