Mike Jackson

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to you all! Although Christmas was fun I always feel like the start of January is a turning point with the horses. After the short days and all the mud there is finally something to look forward to with the eventing season just around the corner.

Most of the horses have been on holiday since October and will be coming in from the field at the weekend to start their fitness programme.

It's been nice to have a bit of a break although I have still been busy with horses in for schooling. I have some lovely horses for this season and I am really excited to have such a talented crop of youngsters to do some of the young horse classes with. Some of the older horses like Up With The Lark and Billy Bird will be aimed at Gatcombe - The Festival of British Eventing and the autumn three-day events so it is going to be an action packed year.

Just before Christmas I was nominated by one of my owners, Caroline Muhlenkamp, for the EHOA PricewaterhouseCoopers riders prize - for riders between the ages of 22 - 30 who have recently set up on their own. I was lucky enough to win which was a real boost to get this kind of recognition and has helped me finance some new stables.? Hopefully they will be up within the next couple of weeks.

I am also going to spend the next couple of weeks putting together a rough plan of events I would like to go to. However, it will have to remain flexible because things don't always go to plan with horses!

So this weekend our yard will be turned into a beauty parlour - clipping and pulling manes and tails and getting things ship-shape! Wish me luck....

Mike.