H&C

“Hey guys, hope you are all okay and have managed to keep warm. Working in these cold icy conditions over the past few weeks has not been easy, but spring is on the way and we already have a hose pipe ban!

A near sniff of success

A trip to Pachetts in sub-zero conditions was a test of dedication and survival skills. Even though I went in Spencer’s luxury lorry, the water tanks ended up freezing so we had no running water for three days. With Hickstead qualification just a sniff away, Athene H was fifth in a class of 90 - this was a great result for him as the jump off was standing at 1.30m. Who Boy had a third in a Bluechip 1.25m qualifier and VIP was third in a 1.30m and had one down in a strong 1.40m class; both good boys.

Watch out Rudall

Last week Spencer and I had a busy day with the team from Your Horse magazine, this year we are the ‘experts’ for the training academy. This involves sharing our methods of training and tips in the magazine, and making videos for their website. Going in front of the camera at first was a little daunting, but after a while we relaxed and it all seemed to go quite well. Apparently I was quite good so H&C's Jenny Rudall should watch out... Jay’s World could soon take your slot!

Look good, feel good

A few days prior to our moment on camera, Spencer and I had received boxes of beautiful riding wear from Cavalleria Toscana, which was even better than Christmas. We will be wearing Cavalleria Toscana in all of our training features. 

Gold medal performance

As you know, I like to keep you all up to date with the things I like - so check out this video of some Olympic athletes. Don’t you think the Equestrian Team GBR could do something funnier?

Sadly my body does not look like his, so here comes another health kick!

Tweet of the week

Well my fairy godmother may still not have bought me a horsebox or found me a groom - but I did get tweet of the week in Horse & Hound.  I can’t believe there is a shortage of jobs out there and I am finding it impossible to get staff.

Don’t forget you guys can follow me on Twitter @JayTigerhalim, or add me on facebook for daily updates and general silliness! Thanks for tuning in to the latest Jay’s world.”

Jay 

"Hi everyone, I'm Anna Edwards and I'm a showjumper from Somerset - welcome to my first blog for Horse & Country.

Unique decision

Two years ago I was just beginning the best year of my career so far. I had been selected for the British team in Nations Cups, I was crowned the winner of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead with Unique IX, and if I hadn't quite made it to the very top of my sport, I felt I was at least three quarters of the way there. I owned and rode, at that time, one of the best horses in the country. We had results together that made us stand out from the crowd and be known to the public. Then Unique was sold to join Tina Fletcher's string. 

So why did I sell my top horse? Sadly, my head ruled over my heart. Sometimes I wonder why I had to make that tough decision, to sell or not to sell - it's a fortunate position to be in but nevertheless a tough one! Put in the same situation, would I sell again? Who knows, but I do really miss my boy and 5am starts to take naughty young horses to shows can really make me question my decision.

High profile sales

There was a flurry of horse sales at the start of the year, with a number of top British horses sold abroad. These sort of decisions - like selling Unique - are commonplace in showjumping, but they do make me wonder what the sport is all about, success or money. In an ideal world it would obviously be both, but in the real world, I chose to take the money.

The next star

Now I am back to getting up early, going to shows, producing young horses and trying to make the next superstar, rather than buying one. I have proven that I can ride at top level, so now I just need to believe in the wonderful young horses I have chosen to work with and train. I have a yard full of promising young horses which I believe have the correct attributes to be superstars. Sometimes it is easy to stop believing, but I am a great believer in staying positive - once a champion, always a champion!

Meet Diaghilev

My top horse, Diaghilev, has had a good winter break and is now fit and ready to go. We had a great year last year together, and with him now nine years old I am hoping that this year is going to be my best year yet. I'm lucky in that I have an amazing support team, including my wonderful parents who I could do none of it without, my understanding boyfriend, great owners, family and friends, plus a fantastic team of young up and coming horses. I just hope I can make it back to the heights of my sport where I once was.

I hope you enjoyed my first blog, and to keep up to date with how I am getting on, please follow me on Facebook and Twitter."

Anna 

"Hey guys, well January seems to have flown by and I cannot believe February is with us already! All the horses seem to be well and we finally have some new staff.

Show Boy

So I have gone show crazy and have done eight shows in 14 days, which was one way to kick start the year. Team Halim has a new secret weapon in Athena H, owned by Chantelle Souness, who has jumped eight classes and only had one rail down. He looks to have great potential so watch this space. Neil O'Hara’s Kellistown Cavalier has also started doing some affiliated shows and has won two Newcomers classes as well. Four days at Addington Pro/Am show was a worthwhile trip. Jen Goodman’s Who Boy had some placings in the 1.25m classes and jumped his first few 1.35 classes with just four faults. Rachael Heart’s VIP jumped six classes with one rail down including our first 1.50m class, in which we finished eighth. VIP is now going to stay with me full time so hopefully we can keep growing on this performance.

Top hat and tails

My partner Spencer is soon to do his first competition of the year. His horses are moving up a level so he had to quickly send his tail coat off to the seamstress for a quick refit. He told me he was having it taken in... I am yet to discover if this is true! It’s been five years since Spencer wore his top and tails as he has been patiently producing his horses, so I will keep everything crossed that he has a good season and gets back to where he should be. He will always be my number one.

Naughty pony

In my last blog I made a comment about the young horses and falling off - and I finally hit the deck! My five-year-old was trotting around the school quite nicely, when he whinnied and the next thing I know I'd done a full flip with tuck and landed on my feet in a perfect dismount! With London Olympics approaching fast I could not help think that the gymnastics team was missing out on my potential of a medal? The below clip makes me giggle every time I see it, I had a lot in common with young Ross when I was little. 

My fairy godmother has yet to appear so I am still on the hunt for one more yard groom, a new lorry and a few more rides. You never know...

Until next time"

Jay

“With only a few days left until the winter regionals, we had our last preparatory outings to try and get both Roxy (Headmore Roxanne) and Bracks (Headmore Boadicia) ready for Kingston Maurward next week.

Chilly at Croften

Bracks had a rather chilly trip to Crofton to start her final preparations. She wasn’t at her most rideable, as she is clearly not a fan of the cold. I don't blame her, as being down on the coast, the wind was vicious and it was very cold. Going from the indoor warm-up to the outdoor arena for the tests was a bit of a shock to the system for both of us, but she still produced tests that were good enough to win the medium with 67.8% and the advanced medium with 70.3%, so we couldn’t really complain.

Frozen at Oldencraig

We also had a cold trip to Oldencraig with both Roxy and Bracken. It was on my mum’s birthday so Gayle (my groom) and I were feeling the pressure to produce good results. When we arrived, however, we found that all of the outdoor arenas were frozen and pretty much unrideable. We decided that the novice horses would be ok to walk around the warm-up and then go in for the tests, as the judge said that they could have a few minutes ‘warm-up’ before the test started. So Gayle and Roxy went in having walked for 15min and, after a trot and a canter on the right rein, they started their test. We were pleased and felt they went surprisingly well considering, so were disappointed with the mark of 65% and second place. They made up for it however by winning the novice qualifier with 68%.

The outdoor arena had thawed a bit by the time I had to warm Bracks up, but due to the number of withdrawals we could use the indoor arena. Unfortunately it meant that Bracks was a bit too electric in the tests as all the stopping and starting didn’t suit her, so there were a few mistakes in the halts and walk. But she still scored nearly 70% in the medium to win, and 68% in the advanced medium to win, and has now qualified at advanced medium and part-qualified at medium for the summers. What a good birthday for my mum!

Bucking at Wellington

Our final outing was at Wellington with Bracks in the advanced medium music - which I hadn’t ridden through since September. She was a little lively and the test wasn’t as good as it could have been, particularly when she tried to buck into canter! It was still good enough to win with over 75%, including nine’s for her extended trot. So Bracks has won all seven of her starts this year and Roxy has won five out of six. Fingers crossed we haven’t peaked too soon.”

Alice