Hilary was one of the UK’s leading event riders. I’d been lucky enough to have a session with her as a pre-wedding treat from my big sister, and Hilary had been impressed with my riding. We had been having conversations over the previous few months and she had reiterated that, once I’d a worthy horse, I could bring him and myself over to her yard and she would take me under her wing.
The idea of working with Hilary was both exciting and somewhat scary, yes, I’d been a fairly able rider, but I was not confident I’d have the skills to call myself a professional or even to be good enough to impress at regional shows, however, only time would tell, and that time was rapidly approaching.
Oscar whinnied as I approached his stable, grooming kit in hand. I loved the shared time I could spend with my horse and ensured I’d lavished attention on him with long grooming sessions and quiet hacks around the forest and lanes. Today I wanted to step it up a gear and had built a simple jumping course in our outdoor arena. It was time to see how my great investment would turn out, but first, as he was a grey there were considerable stable stains and wood chips to remove from his coat before I could lead him out.
* * *
I was proud of my husband. I watched him from a subtle distance as he worked around the arena. I could see the girls watching from similarly hidden vantage points as he warmed up before starting to clear the jumps set up in the arena as if they hadn’t been there. I was aware I was being watched and looked up to see Adam’s horse stood by the fenceline.
“You do know I can see you all standing there watching me?” There was a scatter of movement as the grooms suddenly found work to be doing. I smiled and walked towards the arena.
“We’re all excited for you. Oscar is jumping well. I think you’re ready.”
Adam blanched, stuttering. “It’s early days. In a week or two I’ll call her and we can see what happens from there.”
“A couple of weeks? Well, I think a bit sooner than that.” The hoot of a horn made us both turn around. I glanced at Adam seeing him go pale.
“That’s…”
“Yes, it’s Hilary. I called her and she was excited to see you ride. So, as you are warmed up…”
I greeted Hilary. She waved to Adam before telling him to go large and warm up the horse.
“I think he’s a bit starstruck by you still…”
“Ah… I’ll get him working hard; he’ll soon forget about that. We’re all riders at heart.”
“Join me for coffee afterwards.” I smile and walk back onto the yard as I hear Hilary start to call out commands for Adam. I look for something to do but find the team have it all well in hand. I sneak a look at my watch, I have a couple of hours before I have to teach, so grab tack and my grooming kit and tack up one of the horses for a leisurely hack.
The advantage of where we are based is that there is nothing around us. With the bay on one side and forest and fields where we can ride. Once I have my horse ready, I mount and ride off the yard into the quiet countryside. It’s hard to believe that a year ago this was a place of danger, as I rode towards the bay, I remember the time we spent sinking with the sea rising around us. However, it seems like a lifetime ago. Now life is very different, we have a good business with several liveries and a steady flow of riders who want instruction. We will never make a fortune; however, we are lucky enough to be able to live and thrive in a beautiful place.
I push the horse into a canter and then on to gallop up the hill, passing through the edge of the forest I pull up as I reach the clearing at the top. Here I can not only see the yard with Adam being put through his paces below but far beyond. On one side there are the hills of Cumbria and below me the sweeping bay.
* * *
I return to the yard after just over an hour’s hack, Caroline kindly takes my horse and so I walk towards the arena. Adam is red in the face and Oscar is blowing. “How are they going?”
Hilary smiles and walks to the fence line. “Oh, both are unfit… However, there is potential.”
“Do you hear that, Adam? You have potential!” I look at him, he looks as if the only potential he has is to fall from his horse and sleep. I wave at Emily who comes over. “Em’ put Adam out of his misery and take Oscar for him. I don’t think he can walk, let alone untack.” Hilary laughs. “How about that coffee? Unless you’re in a hurry?”
“No, I’d love it. Sally’s looking after the yard so can I afford to take a bit of time.”
Sally was Hilary’s groom. We had met once, the time Adam had visited Hilary’s yard and, by all accounts, she was the ultimate professional A highly proficient event groom. Hilary told me that she had been with her for some years and
