The start of the end

A good-looking club - the Equestrian girls!

This year has flown by so quickly, I've hardly had a chance to think about the fact it's my final year at university - and now we're pretty much at the end. As leaving gets closer and closer, I'm definitely starting to notice myself thinking 'this will be the last time' when I do certain things but the biggest of all these moments so far was Colours Ball this weekend.

Colours Ball is the highlight of the sporting year at our university and awards people and clubs for their contributions to uni sport throughout the year. I've seen several friends get up on the stage for awards, and it's always been a little dream of mine to make sure I too got to do that before I leave forever! After an amazing nomination from my fellow committee members, that dream came true and I got my Club Colours for the commitment I've shown to the Equestrian Club over my time at uni. 

It is an amazing feeling to feel a part of the sporting community at university, and to have the support of my beloved little club behind me. I've realised how much I'll miss the club and the girls. This year we've had new members and old members returning but the evening showed that although we're still a small club, the people make it great. I've become so close with everyone this year and I have no doubts that they will continue the club's success next year and make it the best it's ever been.

I made my last Colours Ball count and had an incredible time, mainly due to company and how well it was all organised (and maaaybe a little too much wine...). We spent a lovely afternoon taking photos of us all and the weather was even nice for us, even when we returned at 2am in the morning.

My outfit was quite simple really, with my dress making the statement. My friends were brilliant (as always) with helping me get ready and I think it's safe to say we're all hugely looking forward to Graduation now. But I might lay off the wine a bit more next time... Being a final year makes a huge and horrible difference to my hangovers!

Dress - Reiss; shoes - M&S; clutch - Accessorize; earrings - Accessorize.

16 signs you're a horsey person

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1. You put your hands into the pockets of your jacket to find bits of hay, pony nuts and treats.

2. You're outraged at the idea of getting up early for anyone else, but if it's to do the horses 6am then it's totally fine.

3. You say 'I'm going to do the poo pick' as if everyone understands, only to receive crazy looks from your friends.

4. You have jackets, lots of jackets. And lots of boots. And you'll probably buy some more at the next horse show you go to.

5. Your friends are disgusted by your black finger/toe nail which you got from when your horse bit/trod on it.

6. You buy the top brands for your horse, but you happily shop at Primark.

7. And on that note, your horse probably has more rugs than you do clothes.

8. Your arms are more tanned than the rest of you.

9. As a teenager, your friends' rooms were covered with posters of celebrities, and yours was covered with horses.

10. You get angry when people say horse riding isn't a sport, and that all riders do is 'sit there'. NO. Just no.

11. You have at least one album dedicated to horses on Facebook.

12. The words 'tack cleaning' make you grimace.

13. If you're upset, you'd rather see your horse and ride than talk out your problems with an actual person.

14. There is nothing that makes you happier than the thought of summer and galloping over an open field.

15. Or winning that red rosette.

16. And when it comes down to it, your best friend is probably more horse-shaped, than people-shaped. 

[EDIT- contributed by my very good friend, Sophie, who clearly knows me very well] 
17. You're looking for a car to buy, but end up browsing through horses for sale instead. Because, hey, who needs horse power when you can have the real thing?

Can you relate? Any I've missed? Comment below!

University Equestrian Competitions

Photo credit, left: Kiera

I wasn't meant to compete in the university Equestrian competitions this year, but I've ended up doing half of them anyway! My friend had a fall and her injury has meant that I've been called as a reserve (wear your body protectors riders! It saved her injury from being a whole lot worse...)

Anyway, maybe it's because I've gone along with a different, more relaxed attitude, maybe it's because I didn't particularly want to compete after I'd settled with reserve in my head, but regardless of the reason I'm actually doing well this year! 

We had our second competition on Wednesday and we came second as a team again which was a fantastic result. I also placed individually! I've done this before, but typically, it's been 8th which is just out of the rosette awards- but not this time! I got sixth which meant I got myself a new rosette to add to my now growing collection, yay! And what's more, it's pink- me, a girly girl? Never.

I was chuffed, the team was chuffed, and our A Team even came away with first at another competition. Faaaaab day.

It's taught me that I need to change the way I think. I lack a bit of confidence. Okay, okay- a lot of confidence. Not because I've had some sort of horrendous childhood or anything. In fact, I honestly couldn't tell you why. I just know that I can never, ever accept that I've done well. I'll always put down anything good with something like, 'Oh yeah but I could have done this better...' or 'it could have been this grade...' 

Frankly, that's sad. And I've had enough. I'm not the best rider in the world but The result from the last competitions clearly proves that I should have more confidence in my abilities so that's exactly what I'm going to do! Even though it'll be ridiculously hard to break the habit of a lifetime (evidence above!), I feel that it will probably lead me to a better state of mental well-being... i.e make me chirpier in the long run. Who doesn't want that?

Confidence- what you feel on the inside, you wear on the outside right? Let's do thisssss.