THE SUNSHINE DIARY

An amusing and in detail diary, fully illustrated with colour photographs, of the trials and accomplishments of a first-time International Dressage competitor on the 2007 Sunshine Tour in Spain. Whether your ambition is to have a go at International competition, or you just want to know what that first plunge feels like, this booklet takes you through the nuts and bolts (often without the benefit of WD40!), from the extensive preparation to surviving (and enjoying) the experience, and returning home wiser and poorer, but with a great suntan!

Extracts from The Sunshine Tour Diary

"Nikki spots a sign to the Hostal as soon as we enter the town and after a couple of hairpin bends, there it is, high up with a fab view. It is very clean and neat, the only problem no one speaks any English, but we manage with sign language and the odd word of Spanish from my long-distant GCSE. They obviously had no idea we were coming at all as they have no booking for us - so much for filling out all those forms - but thankfully there is no one else staying, so plenty of rooms available. We drag the bags in then set out to go back to Montenmedio. What we haven't appreciated when we parked was the gradient of the road - I find the car sliding backward towards the one behind. After three aborted hill (or perhaps that should be cliff-) starts, we are too close to try again. Back into the Hostal. With surprising ease the helpful girl behind the counter understands the problem (not unusual then?), and knocks up next door. He too understands immediately and leaps into his van to remove it to a safe distance. This time we get away."

"There is no doubt when we are told that working in an international environment with lots of gorgeous horses, some ridden very well, some not so, you do find your standards rising, both your own goals and your horse's responses. Merlin is producing some moments of really quality work and he certainly does not look out of place here. Of course, we haven't done a class yet…"

"Anna Ross-Davies confirms the Spanish attitude to time: she has a phone call asking her to come urgently to the secretary. She is about 20m away, so she goes straight there to find it shut. Two and a half hours later she finds the staff in the bar. They tell her to come back later."

"The vet check has begun. Having seen other trot ups I have brought a smart outfit, but I needn't have bothered: jeans, breeches - you name it, they're wearing it. We go to get ready for our time. Time? What time? It's a free-for-all! Turn up and get in the queue, like trying to get in the ring to do clear round jumping."

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