1. Honest thread on my experience at the racecourse yesterday.
Overall... loved it! Full gallop on Treeton in as safe an environment as it’s possible to get. Such a privilege and we’re incredibly grateful. So why did I feel so utterly deflated afterwards?

2. Firstly I brought the wrong bridle. They got mixed up in the rush and so Treeton had to wear Henry’s. It’s like having size 3 feet and wearing size 14 wellies to go running. Secondly, Treeton is always extremely excitable whenever we take him to the racecourse.

3. I’ve always managed to calm him down and get him listening to me, but I was REALLY struggling. I became anxious about it, he wasn’t liking the bit, and I felt under great pressure being watched by very knowledgeable “horse people” rightly expecting the highest standards.

4. Horses feed off your anxiety so we ended in a bit of self-perpetuating downward spiral. Then came the gallop. Absolutely exhilarating... until the last 50 meters! I couldn’t get him to slow down. I tensed up, bounced, lost a stirrup and nearly crashed into PH Cubley.

5. We then had a gallop back and the same happened. Far from allowing Treeton to let off his steam it seemed to excite him more and on the way back to the box he “ran through my leg” sideways a number of times before I got off. His nostrils remained fully dilated for half an hour

6. I felt like I didn’t have the tools to help him, and a failure. My heart was beating out of my chest so I was all emotion and not thinking rationally and genuinely wanted to quit. After lunch and a much needed pep talk from my amazing colleagues I remembered how far we’ve come

7. We saddled back up and set out on patrol. Though he was still on his toes the talk and lesson had been learned. We finished on a much more relaxed high. Though on face value it looks like just a day out for mounted, I’ve learned a MASSIVE amount about keeping us both safe.

8. Football and large protests are likely to resume very soon and it’s vital I keep control of myself first so that we can do our job together effectively and safely. I won’t forget the day @DoncasterRaces and what I learned, including taking the right bridle!

9. The whole team here at #SYPMounted are a constant source of support, expert advice, and friendship. My Twitter followers are just as helpful... I think I sang “ten-green bottles” at least a thousand times yesterday! You know who you are!