Lyon

Left home late monday night with Tore, Raven, Peders two horses and a lot of packing on the lorry. It makes a big difference to bring stuff for two riders but we managed to get it all in with not a centimeter to spare! After stops in Puttgarden and Liege we finally arrived at the show at one o'clock on wednesday evening. Unloaded everything and got myself organised in the stables and then went to bed for a couple of hours, even though we were two drivers it was a long drive from Helsinki so both me and Malin were exhausted to say the least.
In the morning I took Raven for a little ride, he was a bit tired after all the traveling so I didn't do to much, a bit of trotting around and then a walk outside in the sun! Took Tornesch for a spin on the lunge and he was not tired at all bucking around and he seemed very happy to be back at a show!
Then we went for a nice lunch, the food is really nice here and then I managed to take a quick nap before vet check. Malin came later in the afternoon to ride the warm up on Tore, he jumped good and looked relaxed so all good so far. Finished off both horses and then went straight to bed, finally a full nights sleep after god knows how many days without! Woke up the next day feeling like a new person (almost!), first class with Raven at nine and he was early to go so only took him for a walk before getting him ready. He jumped really nice and wasn't tired at all today! Tores class wasn't until later in the evening so Malin rode him for a bit and then there was plenty of time for lunch and a walk in the nice weather with both horses. Lyon is one of the nicest indoor shows with plenty of space in the stables and two warm up rings wich means no riding at six in the morning!
Tores class was the qualifyer for the World Cup, it was a speed and Malin did a sharp right turn to fence number three and he didn't really se it ( with his half blind eye) and ran past it, after that he got a bit stressed and knocked down two fences but he was still jumping good so no big disaster.
Saturday morning was quiet, Malin rode them both before the GP and I had time for a long breakfast! Raven jumped super once again and ended up in third place, he is really in great form now! And he seemed very happy with himself bucking around in the prizegiving! Tore had a day off today so I was finished early in the stables, nice!
On Sunday it was time for the World cup, Tore started as number six and jumped super but had a stupid timefault, a pity when he was jumping so good. There where only nine clears so Malin ended up tenth, so we at least got some points. Now I'm on my way back home again, can't wait to get back after three weeks on the road! Sara

Helsinki

Left home at lunchtime on tuesday after Malin rode the horses. To Helsinki we decided to take Raven and Undici, it's the first time that Uffe got to go to an international indoor show, exciting! I travelled together with Emma from Ahlmann again and we decided to make a stop at a place near Kapellskar for a couple of hours before catching the boat later in the evening. The trip went well and we arrived at the show on Wedneday morning. Helsinki is one of these nice shows were they help you unpack the lorry when you get there, very nice not have to drag all the stuff for once! In the afternoon I lunged both horses for a while and then took them for a handwalk. They were a bit tired after the trip but both seemed fine. Also in Helsinki you have to ride early in the morning but it was half an hour later then in Oslo so it almost feelt like having a sleep-in when the alarm went off at five! We had a really good show, Uffe jumped clear all three days and was very cool and not bothered at all with all new impressions. Raven jumped his second World Cup on Sunday and was third! He jumped fantastic and if it wasn't for a bit of drama in the jump off were Malin nearly fell off I think they would have won. Left the show in a rush and just made it to the boat back to Sweden. Was home this morning and now I'm getting ready to leave for Lyon in an hour. I'm teaming up with Peders groom so at least I don't have to drive all the way alone! This time we are taking Tore and Raven so we hope for another good show in France! Sara

Back again!

It's been a while to say the least since I last wrote but sometimes the time and motivation is just not there. Well a lot of things has happened so lets start from the beginning. As you all know the Europeans ended in the best possible way with Rolf winning the gold medal! The team result was a bit of a dissapointment since all horses jumped really good but we qualifyed for the Olympics next year wich was the main goal. From Madrid we continued on to Barcelona for the last leg of the Promotional League. Sweden had to win in order to make it to the Super League next year so the pressure was on! And after a thrilling second round Sweden came out on top before Spain and Ukrain, what a relief! We then started the long trip back home after nearly a month in Spain. On the way we stopped at Rolfs place for the Gold medal party wich was great but the last day of driving became just a little bit harder! Me and the horses were happy to be back home again and got some time off before it was time for the next big thing, World Cup in Oslo. Its not one of my favourite shows, the stables are outdoors and very cold and the only time to ride is at six o'clock in the morning so after four days of having the alarm set at 04.30 you feel a bit exhausted to say the least! The horses jumped good anyway but were a bit unlucky, Raven had one down in the jump off in the GP and Tore had one down in the World Cup. I drove straight home after the last class and was back at Jonstorp at three o'clock in the morning, put the horses in there stables and went to bed, finally some sleep! I spent Monday afternoon repacking the lorry and getting everything ready to leave for Helsinki on wednesday. My good friend Emma who works for Christian Ahlmann stayed at Lundbacks place just five minutes away so in the evening we went for a nice dinner and then I finally got a full nights sleep! Sara

Grevagården

Now I'm in the truck om the way home from Grevagården. I had Arctic, Danny, Sibon and Agge with me. Agge or Augustinus L A N which is his real name is a new 6-year old and he is really nice. All horses have been jumping good, Danny, Agge and sibon jumped two classes and were all clear in both. Arctic actually won the 1,40 the first day had two down in 1,50 yesterday and today he had one down in the 1,50. Now i'm going to sleep à little bit since peder is driving next week are going to be busy, we're off to Helsinki on tuesday with Danny and Arctic! Malin

Wednesday

What a great start for Sweden! All four horses jumped clear and looked really good! Malin was first to go in the team with Tore and did a really nice round, Tornesch looked very relaxed and was jumping super!
It was really warm today and the class started at two o'clock when it was as worst but the horses seemed to take it fine, it was more the riders that looked a bit sweaty afterwords!
Sweden is on third place after the first round with France and Germany in front of us. For the teams that needs to qualify for the Olympics Sweden is in the lead so things are looking good so far! Tomorrow morning Räven is gonna make his first apperance here in Madrid and at 14.45 it's time for the teamcompetition. Keep your fingers crossed again! Sara

European Championship - Tuesday

Today I got up at 6.30, fed the horses and then went for a lovely spanish breakfast (coffe and croisant) with the other grooms. It's really cold here in the morning, and dark so its a bit hard to wake up when its pitch black outside! I took the horses for a walk before teamvet Jonas came to see them trot. Then Malin rode them both for a bit and they both felt good! At 11.45 it was time for the swedish team to do the vet check and all horses passed. At two o'clock the warm up started, sweden was almost last to go so we didn't jump until around five but then it was at least a little bit cooler. All of the horses looked really nice and relaxed so the feeling is good for tomorrow! Now we are gonna head back to the lorrys for something to eat (unfortunatly the food is horrible here) and then it's bedtime. Tomorrow it's a big day so keep your fingers crossed for team Sweden! Sara

Madrid

My internet has not been working for a week but now I finally got it going again! We had a good week in Gijon, Sweden was third in the nations cup and Räven was third in the Grand Prix! The show ended late on monday night so we stayed at the showground on tuesday to give the horses a quiet day before leaving to Madrid. Early on wednesday morning me, Malin(Peders groom) and Rebecka(Svantes groom) left Gijon and arrived at the stables outside Madrid. It was a fantastic place with really nice stables, a huge outdoor ring and the best of all a swimmingpool for us! Caroline decided to stay a bit longer so we had a couple of nice days in the sun! Angelica joined us on Saturday morning with her two horses and Malin arrived later in the afternoon. On Sunday the rest of the team arrived for a last training before leaving to the show. We got here on monday at lunchtime after only one hours drive. The showground is really nice and we got the best stables with shade almost all the day, but the horses seem to be taking the heat really well, probably better then us! Sara