Tell us about the Sunshine Tour, how long you went for; how many horses you took and what classes did you enter?
I went to the Sunshine Tour in Spain for five weeks with seven horses; they ranged from six year olds to grand prix level. I had two horses entered for the six year old classes which both got their eight double clears to qualify for the finals and the older horses jumped from 1m30 up to 1m60.
What was your daily schedule when you were away?
I would ride Tuesday to Sunday, in the week days the young horses jumped at around 11.00am so I would arrive at 10.00am, usually and ride one before the class and the rest after. The weekends started earlier which meant early starts. Our house was a good 30 minutes drive away so it meant getting up even earlier, but it was well worth it and the beautiful house we stayed in made the trip unforgettable.
What is the best thing about competing on the Sunshine Tour?
The sunshine of course! I love how many rings there are, the hacking facilities in the woods and the people. It’s a lovely atmosphere on the tour.
Did you have to change anything or what is your regime with feeding your horses during travelling and on the tour?
When the horses travel Lynsey feeds them Dodson & Horrell Alfalfa and Dodson & Horrell Performance Vitamins and Minerals. The horses that are prone to colic get bran and Dodson & Horrell Alfalfa. Once we arrive to the show they are fed their usual feed sometimes a bit more to boost their energy. The horses are usually fed on Dodson & Horrell Staypower Cubes and the Dodson & Horrell Alfalfa; we also like to give them the Joint Support and Hoof Support.
How did you and your horses acclimatise to the warmer weather in Spain?
When we arrived it wasn’t very warm, as the weeks went on it got warmer so luckily it was a gradual climate change for them.
What was your favourite moment on the Sunshine Tour and why?
My favourite moment on the tour was coming third in the big grand prix with Van de Vivaldi - he jumped amazing. It’s a great feeling when all your hard work pays off.
What are you plans for the season ahead?
I have a few shows coming up and a few new horses in my string. I don’t know which horses I will take just yet, but I am really excited for the British International shows, I am entered for the Royal Windsor Horse Show (11-15 May) and I am hoping to go to Bolesworth International (16 – 19 June) to defend my grand prix title that I won last year on Van De Vivaldi! The three week tour in July at Knokke, Belgium on the beach is definitely in my plan and I am really excited for that.
