Mike Jackson

Looking forward

I have to say I’m really looking forward to 2010 – hopefully most of the bad weather and snow is behind us and we can get all the horses out and about again.

I’ve got some great rides this year some of which will hopefully be upgrading to advance to join Up With The Lark (Max). He’s on great form at the moment and is heading to the UK Stallion Expo event in a couple weeks, which has been put on to showcase British breeding. He’ll spend most of the spring at stud and then concentrate on eventing later on in the year.

Jagganath (Jack) is back from his post Le Lion holiday and is feeling well. He’ll be aiming at a CIC 3 star this year along with Kangasong (Joey) who’s back in work after having some time off.

I’m also lucky enough to have been given the ride on a lovely new horse called Yorkie’s Delight. He’s owned by Katha Wood and has competed up to intermediate level with his previous rider and will be looking to build up his form.

Peppermill (Milly) has been with me all winter and is coming on nicely – she’s rising six now and will be aiming at novice level this year. Deborah and Martin Toogood’s horse Masters Apprentice (Archie) will also join Milly on the novice circuit. He’s been hunting this winter which I’m hoping will have ironed out some of his little quirks!

Other youngsters I’m looking forward to bringing on this year include (Watermill) Lola – who did some Burghley Young Event horse classes last year and Wonderwall (Wally) – my father-in-law’s horse who’s half brother to Joey.

Lousie (my head girl) has done a brilliant job over the winter keeping the horses ticking over - especially as we abandoned her for two weeks while we went on holiday. My brother lives in New York and got married just before Christmas, then we headed down to Florida to enjoy some “not so sunny weather” (you can’t have it all) but it was still great fun.

I seem to be buried in paper work at the moment – lots of registrations and forms to fill out but thank goodness for internet entries…better get on with it!

Mike