Watch out Zara Phillips...

Finally at our first competition!

I’ve finally done it! The moment I have been working towards for five years was finally made a reality on Wednesday 5^th September when I took Toffee to his first show!

I’m not going to sugar-coat how well we did, because we didn’t. I fell off twice and, technically, we didn’t complete the course (after two goes)! After a week of intensive training, sometimes schooling twice a day, Toffee had almost become a normal horse to jump and after one of my friends saw him by the end of the week, she couldn't believe he was going so well. However, apparently all that went out of the window once we were at the show and it did get all a bit exciting for Toffee who proceeded to run around the course like a headless chicken.

If you’re not into horses, this probably seems a little ridiculous. However, he was a nervous pony already, due to a difficult and abusive past before we bought him, and Toffee found the new jumps, new environment and new horses a bit too much to cope with. It was frustrating for me because every other person (even the little children) seemed to be casually popping each jump and getting clear rounds!

But as my mum and friends continue to remind me, this was a huge step for us. One of mum’s more experienced friends who had been training us reassured me the other day: Toffee is an extremely difficult pony. Therefore, I have to realise that the very fact I was even riding him at a show and getting back on him after falling off (twice!) was a phenomenal achievement considering I wouldn’t even ride him this time last year.

So many people have said to me that I need a new horse, that Toffee isn’t the right horse for what I want to do and that I can’t handle him. Yet, whilst I’m not the greatest rider in the world, in fact I’m nowhere near, I do understand my little pony with all his quirks and anxiety issues and I would never give up on him.

Even if I would like to compete a bit more, to ride a horse that wouldn't run off every time we see a jump, I’ll sacrifice that for this pony. Despite his problems when I’m riding him, on the ground he is the most genuine horse I have ever known. He is such a friendly, clever boy that I could never sell him for fear that he would end up in the wrong hands again.

I’m still going to compete with the university this year and of course, I’ll still be having riding lessons whilst I’m in Guildford. You never know, this time next year, I might be taking Toffee back again. You better watch out Zara Phillips!

But for now, I’m just happy that I finally achieved what I set out to do, something which wouldn’t have been possible without the University of Surrey and the Equestrian Club. And thanks to them, Toffee and I are enjoying riding again, something I never thought would happen.