The 2018 season is here, and the Dublin qualifiers will be upon us in a blink of an eye!! The countdown has already begun, with less than 4 weeks until the 1^st one on May 6^TH at Cavan equestrian centre.

So, with all the horses back in from their winter break, and a few new ones to add to the team, fitness is of the utmost importance, both mine and that of my trusted steads. So, everyone has a specific program put in place to adhere to their individual needs.

The yard routine starts every morning at 8am, after feeding some of the horses go to the walker for 30 minutes, at 10am we start to ride out with the horses getting road work, flatwork, pole work or jumping depending on the program that they are working towards.

At 1pm all horses get their slop feed just before we break for lunch, this is a very important feed in my option, as it is great for horses to learn to take a slop particularly if they maybe travelling on long journeys as this will stop them from becoming dehydrated, after lunch and after exercising all the horses some horses get turned out or are taken for some hand grazing,  clean all used tack and equipment and getting the night feeds done and one last skip out of the stables before the end of the day.

2018 has a lot to live up to after a great 2017 some of the highlights being: -

• 2^nd in Junior Nations cup @ Hagan, Germany with Quick Jack
• Winning the young Rider 1.15m Ulster region league with Mr Easy Street
• Wining the Young Rider 1.15m final at National Balmoral with Watermark
• Mr Easy Street winning the 1.10m Grand Final at the Cavan indoor Championships

The aim for 2018 is of course qualify some horses for The Dublin Horse show, too travel to a few International shows with the Juniors and to compete and follow the National Grand Prix league.

To my sponsors. It would not be possible to compete successfully without the best feed and nutritional support given to my team and horses.

Thanks, Mackenzie.