Jo Bloggs - Dorking, Saturday 26th April - Sunday 27th April

…it was about the horses!

There is a whole world of difference between thinking about doing something and the reality of actually doing it.  Picturing the end result of an aim or intention can be very satisfying, but often contemplation of the journey to get there is fuzzy and unformed - perhaps it's too scary to think about!  On the other hand, thinking about it too much can result in never actually getting there in the first place!

When Mo asked me to take a turn to write a blog, so have I contemplated my trip with Stephen, Sue and Mo to the Heavy Horse event in Dorking. 

It was my 'first' of many things; the first time I had been away camping for thirty years; the first time I had been away without either my husband or children for nearly six years; the first time I had ever put up a tent on my own (ask Stephen or Mo!); the first time I had driven the lorry more than six miles up the road…and I'm sure I could come up with a few more if I put my mind to it.  The weekend meant different things to different people; I personally felt challenged by the whole weekend - and being a challenge, felt almost obliged to rise to it!  The end result though was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend away. 

I could go on about driving the lorry there and back as it really was quite a landmark for me, 320KM in total, and it was certainly not without its adventures.  However, there comes a point where there's a shift in perception, and something, in this case driving a lorry, stops being remarkable and underlined with fireworks, stars and drumrolls, and just becomes something you do.  I think I crossed that line this weekend! 

Setting off for Surrey from Ringwood loaded with Stephen, Mo and four Suffolk Punch horses (Sue drove her own impressive monster truck complete with trailer carrying the competition carriage), I had nearly decided that I was, quite clearly, completely bonkers.  Much of the journey I don't think I drew breath, and was frequently on the point of giving up the driving to Stephen.  But, suffice to say, we arrived in one piece despite my misgivings and set up camp in the field overnight.  Due to several heavy rain showers during the course of Sunday, the lorries and horseboxes all subsequently sank well into the mud and we were quite spectacularly towed out of the field by not one, but two tractors in tandem!  By the time we had got lost somewhere on the Surrey/West Sussex border, crawled up Mount Everest (it felt that way!), driven in the dark and the rain and arrived back in Ringwood somewhere around 10pm I felt like I'd always been sat behind the wheel of that lorry - and so the line was crossed!

My thoughts are in overdrive - there is so much to write about!  The weekend wasn't about the lorry after all, it was about the horses! 

On the Saturday was the biggest treat of all!  To go out on the carriage with Stephen driving all four of the boys; Sultan and Jack at the front, Obie and Rupert behind them.  What an impressive sight that is - and even more so to be stood on the back with Sue, Mo clutching Pruddi at the front, as Stephen negotiated the narrow forest track marvelling at the length and strength of horse before us.  Two cars had to reverse for quite some way up the single track road at the end, and rather than getting out to complain, they got out simply to smile, admire and take photos.  Doesn't that just say it all!

Sunday was competition day for Stephen and Sue; Stephen as driver, Sue as backstepper and both very important in negotiating the tasks ahead in Obstacles, Cross Country and Cones, three different competitions each requiring different skills.  For Rupert and Obie it was their first time working as a pair under the spotlight, Sultan and Jack having had their day and left to kick their heels in the paddock.  As a team, Stephen and Sue, Rupert and Obie rose to the occasion taking first place in the Cross Country event, a brilliant result for the first such event of the year!  On the other hand, Rupert, or Obie, or both, think it great sport to kick their legs out during the cones and knock the balls off the top!  Stephen has declared more Cone training for the pair of them!

How to end a rather long story on a wonderful weekend!  I can't!  So I shall sum it all up in a word that is my own personal favourite - FAB!