I’ve had a fantastic season representing Tottie on and off the pitch it’s been incredible! October is a great time for the ponies and I to have a little bit of time off as I turn the ponies out for their winter break and they all get the chance to meet each other as Roxy and Chalita don’t know Brazllia and it will be nice for Neom to be reunited!
There has been a few tussles between Chalita & Brazillia, having four chestnut mares is often testing at times!!! But they always soon find out their pecking order, having owned Chalita for four years she is always the boss but Brazilla is very similar and Chalita now backs off!I It’s been really nice to turn them out together and have them all at home, the weather has also been amazing! I can’t believe that they are already so fat and fluffy after only 6 weeks out!
The ponies came in last week for their yearly Flu Jab which is a vaccine to protect against equine influenza to reduce clinical signs and viruses after infection – so I like to have them done when they are not in work. They didn’t want to come in so I had to tempt them with a serious aount of carrots! - I eventually caught them!
I’ve been doing lots of paddock repairs and spending time with the ponies out in the field giving them tasty field licks and keeping a close eye on them – I love the new AW11 range – it’s so cosy and practical! Here I am at home ready to check on the ponies in the new Tottie knitted hat – which I live in!
It’s also been a great time to reflect over the season and start planning for next! I’ve already got some really exciting fixtures lines up for Team Tottie so I can’t wait for March!
Tottie asked me lots of exciting questions – here are the answers to some of my favourite ones:
What was your best win of the season? There has been so many it’s difficult to select just one! I think it has to be winning the White Rose Ladies in the last 30 seconds of the game when we were two goals down, the win felt great and Brazilia was amazing!
Your best playing pony of 2011: Has to go to Noemi she has been a little machine this season playing two chukkas at every tournament I’ve been too and excelling beyond belief! She’s been amazing and truly deserves a long winter break. She’s an amazing fun little pony and whatever I ask of her she gives me 100%, I also found her 6th gear this season and she is incredibly fast! She’s such a happy little bouncy pony to ride and it certainly has shown on the pitch this season we trust each other and have become an even greater partnership, better than I ever imagined.
2011 has been an amazing year for me and I have some very big thank you’s and they go to:
· Tottie & Masta! For the continued support, having the support has enabled me and my team mates to feel very proud playing for Tottie and the ponies are super happy, cosy and dry because of their Masta rugs and we look great – lots of people said f there was an award for best turned out id get it! So huge thanks to Tottie for your support and encouragement.
· My parents, they have been at nearly every tournament and have groomed for me at each one, having them there has been the best support ever, I’ve had a few moments where I’ve been certainly in the ‘under dog team’ and having them there helping me and urging me on has been incredible – I think I’ve also made them very proud so that make me smile a lot!
· My thanks also go to Patrick, Andrew & Gianluca for lending me their horses, Carol, Brazillia and Me Julie, when I really needed it – they were fantastic!
· Everyone who has supported me and Team Tottie this season, my friends & family and fellow players – it’s been the best season I’ve ever had – here’s to 2012!
Throughout the winter I will be working to bring on Mollie over the winter months, I aim to play the winter season indoor with Roxy and Brazilia and rest Noemi until March, I then plan to bring Chalita back into work in January and build up her muscles gradually ready for the summer start of season in April. I’m very much looking forward to the winter season and can’t wait to get playing polo again!
Bye for now Anna xx