Tilly Tillbrook's latest update

Well, it’s been a hectic couple of months for us – Boysie has had a recurrence of the ulcers, due in part we think to the diarrhea he suffered as a result of the antibiotics used to help cure the ulcers the first time around. He’s been on a high dose of steroids and I have been winging my way ever closer to bankruptcy as the insurance has now run out.

Thankfully at the end of November we finally got it all under control, and whilst I am frantically touching wood, it looks like he is now completely cured of all digestive ills. It’s been a long time coming!

Unfortunately, there is always a ‘but’ with horses, or at least it feels like it for me at the moment! I’d no sooner got his digestive issues sorted out when I felt his saddles were looking rather unbalanced on his new muscular figure. And I was right – neither fitted any more, both were a whole size too narrow. Over three hours with a very patient saddler later and Boysie had two new saddles, whilst I was left with a melted credit card! The knock-on effect of this was that a day or so later it became obvious that his back was very very sore. So next on the list of people to call was the chiropractor – recommended by a friend who competes at 3* since I have moved into a new area and am still finding my feet. Very disappointingly she recommended 2 weeks of hacking, which neatly scuppered my plans to do our first two BD competitions. Yet more money paid out and nothing to show for it. I am getting rather used to that.

However, I am an eternal optimist, and having done my hacking, had a lesson in the new saddle, and left Boysie for some dressage boot camp at Dovecote Stables over Christmas whilst I dealt with family emergencies involving hospitals and a lot of driving, I have spent the break filling in more entry forms for 2010. First stop is Riding Club Area 12 dressage on 3rd January, then I have 2 BD competitions on the following two weekends, and finally I am joining the BSJA on the 3 month eventer membership to try and get some outings at the end of January.

Here’s to a more successful 2010!