2025 - A new year

2025 has begun and it will be an exciting year for the Fox-Pitt yard.  Whilst I will be competing a couple of horses at low level, the focus will be very much on some riders based with me, with their own horses.

I was very fortunate to be nominated for some awards at the end of last season, for my career.  It was certainly very emotional but meant a huge amount. 

It was very generous of Horse & Hound to award me a Lifetime Achievement award at their annual end of season awards ceremony.  

The horses are back in work for this season.  I have already mentioned that Absolutely sold to Tom Crisp, and is getting on very well.  I have not sold Hussard Brun yet so I will be continuing with him until he is sold.  I have also got the two young horses that I bred that I will be bringing on, they are now 5 and 6 and very much a part of the family.  before long we will have three 3yo's to break in - fun and games.  So the yard is in back in full flow.

Jess Rimmer is based with us for 2025 which is very exciting, and she is hoping to take up at least 6 stables.  I am still looking to find someone to rent some boxes but the yard seems to be filling up.

Jackie is very much staying with the team, on a part-time basis.  Sara Bech has moved on to a new yard and I hope she has a good season with Dicte.  Martin Honeysett has started and is managing the yard in its new direction, getting the place looking shipshape.  Supporting him is Adela in her second season with us, Alice Smith has returned from her stint with Shane Rose.  New additions to the team are hopefully Eloise Clark and Emily who will both be coming with two horses.  George Telfer is hopefully coming back with a horse, as is my neice Olivia. 

So things are moving forward well and, as Jackie pointed out today, the yard will be full before we know it.

It was an amazing experience joining in with the cycle4caroline team for a day, raising funds for spinal research in Caroline's name.  I only joined for the last leg which was just 30 miles, but it was surprisingly ok.  Probably because the terrain was pretty flat. It is incredible what the cyclists, Tom and Piggy achieved, and they raised a decent amount of money which made all that they endured so worthwhile.  I am happy to report that my butt wasn't as sore as anticipated!

There will be quite a lot of training at home and my next big focus will be on my trip to Ameria at the end of February.  I am very lucky to still have Ronda Sexton organising my American stint and I will be there for three weeks.  Hopefully whilst I am away I will get some good instructors along for everyone left on the home yard.