'Come what May – 10 questions' blog hop

I love answering questions from blog hops and can always use the help with creating more content so much thanks to Rhiannon from The Horse Is Not Black for creating this fun little blog hop! 👏🏻

1. What are your summer goals?

To enjoy the horses! The summer months are the best months for having horses, it's warm and everything is beautiful! I want to get the boys hacking out as much as possible, going training as much as possible and then having them out on the grass paddocks as soon as there is enough grass! 🌱🌿 I'm also looking forward to having a proper photoshoot done again this summer - our last one was over a year ago!

2. Do you have any tips or tricks for fly control?

Lots of fly spray in the mornings and turn the horses out as early as possible! In the middle of summer ours go out 5am-10am and then again late in the evening when there are less bugs, flies and horseflies. I also couldn't live without our fly masks and fly rugs, especially for Vallu who is super sensitive to the flies and he will come through the fencing if they have annoyed him enough!

3. How often do you bathe your horse? 

I wash them down with warm water after every ride if they've gotten sweaty, especially when we are using lots of fly spray. Apart from the first spring bath, the horses only get proper baths before a show, training session or a photoshoot.

4. Do you have any upcoming travel plans? Equine related or otherwise?

Yes indeed! We are moving back to the UK at some point, but I'm hoping it will happen at the end of summer. This means we will be going to Sweden and Germany with the horses as they travel and we'll hopefully get to stay at my brother's yard in Germany, which is stunning.

5. What is your favourite way to beat the heat?

Stay inside in the middle of the day when it's the hottest, or go to the swimming pool/beach for a swim! 🏖🌴 We also have a hot tub at home so I tend to live in that when it gets super warm! 

6. Do you do anything to prevent your horse from sun bleaching?

We use fly sheets to minimize the sun bleaching. I've also thought about spraying a UV protectant on them, but I'd need to find one to buy first, maybe Gold Label's Sunguard could be good? 

7. How hot is too hot for you to ride? 

I can just about do +20C but anything above 25C, just no. It's not fun for anyone at that point so the horses get a little holiday. I know some people can ride in 30C but when you get used to dealing with -25C in the winter anything above 25 is just too much. Yesterday we had the first day of the year where it went just a smidgeon above 25 and none of the horses dealt with the heat very well, so yesterday everyone had the day off to try and adjust to the warmth!

8. How important is sun protection for you riding or just in general?
Super important! I don't burn easily so it's really easy for me to forget to use sun lotion, but I try to put some on every time before I go ride since I ride outdoors all through summer! I also spend most of my time outside so I need to protect my skin as much as possible.

9. Have you ever gone swimming with your horse?

No. I did this when I did my confirmation camp when I was 15, it was so much fun but I'm pretty sure neither Vallu or Basse could deal with it and they'd go mental! Plus both of them hate puddles, so I'm not sure they would even go into the water to try swimming.

10. And because shopping is always on my mind, what’s on your summer wish list?

A Kastel Denmark shirt, the Charlotte Signature Collection Asphalt with Turquoise Trim to be precise! I love that it has  UPF 30 ultra-violet protection and really like the sound of the  breathable lightweight fabric and the mesh inner sleeves 😎