After a ridiculously wet winter, fortunately the weather went to the other extreme of glorious sunshine, for day after day, just at the time when the country came to a halt. Such a beautiful spring. The lack of noise from road traffic or aircraft overhead has meant bird song has been really noticeable, even bees in the tree blossom have been unusually audible. Walking has been a pleasure. People greet each other cheerfully, with increased civility, kindness. The only thing missing has been horses as during lockdown all horse activities have been cancelled.
Instead, lots of virtual lessons, online videos of past competitions, facebook training advice from highly skilled riders, behind the scenes visits around top racing yards and studs. My favourite so far: the truly brilliant 'Virtual Eventing' in which some 30 international professional riders and their yard teams became fiercely competitive as they wholeheartedly threw themselves into doing some very silly things over a three day 'event', to raise money for health charities. One of the best things? Laughing wholeheartedly at the commentators getting so involved in the 'Show Jumping' they were saying “Come on! More impulsion! More impulsion over that oxer!” as an Olympian on a bike failed to get over two parallel poles laid on the ground.
We all await the return of real riding and real competition, soon.