The silver lining of not having any horses competing at FEI level is the ‘horse/life’ balance I have discovered. I spent a lot of my teenage years so focused on training that I didn’t do much socialising, I would never change that as I made amazing friends in the endurance world and had incredible experiences, but over the last 10 years (Yep it’s been 10years since I’ve been attempting to get another horse up to Championship level) I have found that I actually quite like having time and finances to take up other hobbies and have non-horsey experiences.
Our trip to Morzine this year was incredible. I loved mountain biking through the French and Swiss alps, I was terrified and out of my depth at times but it was still great fun. I loved the jump lines and the minute I got back I was emailing pro-riders to ask for coaching and looking up where I could do downhill races in the UK. It’s not really in my nature to do things without trying to be as good as I can be and I feel a new obsession coming on.
I was still excited to come back and see the horses though and I know that I am beyond lucky to live the life I lead. A little girl walked past me the other day as I was riding Estrid and she said ‘Wow, you have your own pony, she’s so pretty, you’re so lucky’ and I wholeheartedly agreed with her.
I do hope to get a horse to FEI level again but I think even if I do I will make sure that I keep some of the life balance alongside the aspirations and drive.
Beth Endurance 