February 15th, 2022

IT'S BEEN A WHILE..............




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I have been very remiss in my updates over the past couple of years.  I have no excuses but many reasons. Of course the biggest upheaval in my life has, like everyone else, been Covid.  It successfully stopped my foreign travel, literally in it's tracks and sadly I have not been able to physically catch up with all of my very loyal clients for a good while although the ever popular Zoom has helped me keep if touch.
On the domestic front, I am unfortunately now single and albeit a single parent (long sad story).  My every-day duties now involve, housekeeper, chauffeur, cook, laundryman, groom, dog walker, show-jumping coach, oh and 'Super Dad'.
We also had the added stress of having to move house, that was so exhausting but thanks to my fabulous son and grandson, mate Johnny, good friend Leanne and of course the lovely Eleanor it worked out ok. It seemed to take months but at last we are now ensconced in our new cosy house and are jogging along really well.  Can't quiet believe that Eleanor is now a teenager with all the little ups and downs that brings, but thankfully she has coped pretty well with everything that life has thrown at us.  One thing I have learned through all of these trying times is never to take anything or anyone for granted.  Nothing is forever and there are no rules set in stone .  I have learned many times that versatility and an active mind helps you to cope with the difficulties of change.  Having a Faith and Belief is also a very important help both mentally and emotionally, whenever things look really bleak there is always someone, in fact, many some-ones far worse off than yourself.   Teaching is picking up again,  I am starting to make contact with the USA and we are planning a trip hopefully in April 2022.  It will be during the Easter holiday so Eleanor will be making her debut trip across the pond, she is very excited and wants to know how many horses can she get to ride.  As for her riding she continues to improve and make me proud.  Her ability and empathy with horses is really amazing, she is never afraid to tackle new challenges and can ride even the most sensitive horses in a very professional way.  We are extremely lucky in hooking up with our good friends David and Sally Catchpole, they take horses which have had problem humans and turn them around then trust in Eleanor to carry on the good work.  We are very grateful to them both.  Eleanor is also now a Voltaire sponsored rider and we get lot's of support from William Micklem with his fantastic humane bridles.  Like everyone else I am hoping and praying for a much more settled 2022 it can't (I hope) be worse that 2021 so here's to a bright future and God bless you all.  Kindest regards Ernest.  
15th February 2022