Week two didn't get off to the greatest start. The FEI in their wisdom have decided that instead of trotting up once for the whole tour now all 1,600 horses will trot up every Monday. The result is chaos. About 8 horses got loose during Monday, Lima being one of them. She then fell on the concrete road and span up it like a moped. Luckily she was only grazed and the vets cleaned her up very well. Gemma has the day off on a Monday so riding and trotting up four makes for a long old day.

Lima looked fit to jump on Tuesday but, in spite of a good practice on grass on Sunday, a full up 1.10 in a new ring was a bit much for her and I have decided just to work on her ride and jump her in the clear round now. She is still learning and improving every day and her behaviour is super but I'm not brave, or strong enough, to kick her round these big courses so we are better off doing it my way - slowly. On the other hand Culana (Luna) is a revelation and jumped clear every day last week getting better and better in her ride. She jumped a good 1.20 six year old class yesterday with just two little mistakes and was back to the five year olds today as the six year olds was too strong. It was a good decision as she was jumping a bit too big today and was very green in a new ring, but she still improves every day.

Emma stepped up to the1.35's a week earlier than expected. She jumped a great round the first day, just having 4 fts when I turned a bit quickly and jumping clear in the main ring the second day. She then jumped a fabulous clear in the 1.40 Grand Prix on Sunday - our first at this level. I made one mistake in the jump-off but we still finished just in the money.

Luendi is having a little bit of discipline reintroduced into her jumping as I have been too slack and letting her pull me forward. The result is work in progress, and a few faults, but if she is going to take on the 1.30's next week we have to nail her way of going. She is a great, and very easy little horse, but I think she has huge potential and it needs more discipline from both of us to maximise it.

Mark, Anna & Sophie are due to arrive tomorrow. I can't wait to see them all and it will be great to explore Vejer a bit more in the evenings. I had supper with Sarah Lowry, a friend of my lovely friend Sally Lee, who has s house here and she showed me round a bit more. The town is so charming and it is lovely to be away from the show in the evenings.

I'm looking forward to jumping at the weekend and watching the good 3* classes which start tomorrow. Like all adventures the five weeks which stretched ahead on 12th Feb are now half gone. Loads of progress has been made - I think and hope, but there's lots to nail before we go home. The youngsters need to consolidate and move on, Luendi is part of this being only seven, and I must get braver and better at turning up to bigger fences. Emma probably doesn't need quite as much run up as I do! The competition at her level is red hot and at least 80 in every class except the Grand Prix.

The sun is out during the day now which is lovely and good for the horses too. It's lovely to get back to the apartment and have the doors and windows open now rather than huddling over the heater.

Week Two and a bit of Week Three