Postcards from the Saddle... Laura Wallace - Soldiering On After a Terrible Loss

Gus - the new kid on the block

Peter at Adelaide (Photo: Jenelle Christopher) - a truly wonderful horse that I was privileged to have in my life

Peter's advanced sense of humour... in NZ for Kihikihi World Cup 2011

Horsezone's lovely UK Blogger, Kiwi eventer Laura Wallace, has had a very tough few months. She tragically lost her talented and beloved horse Sugoi (Peter) in a jumping accident, but with the help of great friends and family, plus her own determination, we're so pleased to see that Laura is back in the saddle...

I have to admit that I have been putting off writing this blog for quite – ok, a very – long time. But I did have a reasonable excuse.

Most of you will know that at the beginning of June at Tattersalls, my great 3* horse, Sugoi was humanely destroyed after falling at fence 17 on the cross country course.

To lose a horse that you love is a horrendous experience, but to lose a horse that you love without warning and in a public situation, is something that nothing can prepare you for.  It’s an experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Fortunately, despite being a hemisphere from home, I have had the support and help of some incredible people who I will be eternally indebted to.  I am just going to list them, because to describe what they did for me would take five pages:

Blyth Tait, Paul O’Brien, Summer Phillips, Kirsty Caudell, Debbie Brookes, Eddie Stibbe, Fiona Travers, Rachel Brearley, Polly-Ann Huntington, Erik Duvander, Karyn Shuter, Dan Jocelyn, DJ, Zara Phillips, Wendy Harris and my amazing parents Heather and Glenn – thank you all from the bottom of my heart. If there is anyone I have missed off the list, I am very sorry.

After making it home with an empty truck from Tattersalls, complete with a very broken arm, I had to make a choice whether to keep on pursuing a career in eventing, or focus on something else. I do actually have two university degrees – one in History, English and Political Science, one in Journalism – that I could use if the notion possessed me. However, I have decided that eventing is still the career path that I want to follow. I have incredibly supportive parents, some very nice horses and a great base to work from. Not to mention what watching the Olympics every day has done for my ambition levels. There will be a Lavender Hill based challenge of who can get the best dressage score for the next four years until Rio!

Mythical (Gus) turned up from New Zealand about three weeks after Tattersalls and he really is a very sweet individual, who more than competently baby-sat me around my first cross country session last week. He also made his English debut at Summerhouse Showjumping and happily popped around which was a nice experience for us both. Dan has been in work with Blyth and has improved out of sight – those of you who remember him being slightly on the wild side would be amazed at his now mild-mannered behavior!

Both the boys will start at Milton Keynes at the end of the month – Dan in the BE90 (Australian Prelim) and Gus in the Open 100 (Pre Novice) – then head to Goring Heath for Dan’s first BE100 and Gus will start in the Open Novice. Obviously I’ve had a bit of goal adjustment for this year – Gus will be aimed at Weston Park CCI* and Dan will start at his first CNC* hopefully at Broadway towards the end of the season.

My next instalment will hopefully be a) longer and b) more cheerful as we will have made it to some events so I will have more exciting things to discuss! To everyone who has sent me messages on Facebook and Twitter, via email or SMS – thank you all for your kind words. Even if I haven’t replied please know that your words and support were deeply appreciated.

Until next time, go and hug your ponies,

Laura

Quick Links

• Postcards from the Saddle... Laura Wallace: Moving to the UK 101 - The Monsoon Season
• Postcards from the Saddle... Laura Wallace: Moving to the UK 101