So proud of this horse! Florida Pearl the only 4 time winner of the Irish Gold Cup! Bred at Sweet Wall.

Homebred Xanthe Green having a play at home today 😍 Xanthe is a 5 year old by Sir Shutterfly and she will be making her Eventing debut this year.

I’m not sure the Pony Club would approve! This is our former racehorse September Son (September Storm ex Regal Pageant). I think it’s safe to say that after 18 months he is getting the hang of being an eventer. He was 2nd and 1st at his first dressage show last w/e and is going to give Flexi Eventing a go at the weekend weather permitting! #whatagoodboy #horsesofinstagram #fedonbaileys

It’s January, it may or may not be dry, but it’s that time of the year for important house keeping. The horses have had their Flu/Tet vaccinations, and today Roger Gordon came and checked the saddles for fit. Our horses are mainly TB types but we have 2 17 hand half breds, some are big shouldered and some are narrow. Now we know the best saddle, saddle/pad combination for each of them. A small repair for Lucca’s beloved Albion monoflap jumping saddle and some new stirrup leathers before the season starts and we’ll be all set. Next Tues Michael Lennon our equine dentist is coming to check their teeth. And on Monday we start 3 more breakers. #norestforthewicked

Well isn’t it amazing that our page has reached 899 likes! Our wonderful Baileys Horse Feeds rep Judy Maxwell has promised 5 bags of Baileys feed to our 900th like. If the 900th liker lives on the Island of Ireland then you will get 5 bags of feed, if you live in England, Scotland or Wales we will organise Baileys vouchers and if you live somewhere else we’ll have to scratch our heads and work out something different! Lucca is posing here with a bag of the fantastic Ease and Excel and Nutmeg. Lucca’s top horse Oliver (2nd stable on the left) is prone to ulcers and he was tested positive with them on Mon. We have managed to keep him right for about 3 years but we were fairly sure they were bothering him again towards the end of last season. On Monday he had a positive Succeed Test. The moral is never assume because your horse looks well that all is right. Even after a break in the field we are having to treat Oliver. But he loves his Ease and Excel! How important is support from your feed company? Thanks to Judy and Baileys. #fedonbaileys

The view from the hill across to the stud! White out!

Great first day out for the baby horses at Connell Hill Equestrian Centre. On the lorry, little loose school then a ride and jump with me and they were both super! The bay is out of a TB mare by Ringfort Cruise and the grey out of an ISH mare by Sir Shutterfly.

How handsome is my big 4 year old 😍meet Xenophon's Honour, by Ringfort Cruise out of a thoroughbred mare. Xeny is working away, learning how to be an Eventer!

Today we said goodbye to Starlight. He was 34+ years old and had taught both Claudia and Lucca to ride. Throughout his life he followed strict union rules. Rustic poles were ok ish. Coloured poles were not ok. Any pole 60cms max. Pony Club games equipment was to be avoided at all cost (see photo). Cantering only towards the gate. After the girls outgrew him I lent him to Laurelview Equestrian Centre where he taught countless more children the rules above. Laurel, Glenn, Robert and Linda looked after him for the guts of 15 years, through Cushings to no teeth until old age caught up with him. I thank them for their wonderful care. He’s buried at the stud next to Florida Son and Posidonas. Good company. RIP Dan-y-lan Starlight.

So here's the video from Blair Castle! Sadly the view though the big water is not great as it's from behind the last part! But it's good to see it and we are very proud of Lucca and Oliver! https://www.an-eventful-life.com.au/ride/lucca-stubington-olivers-green-blair-castle-international-2017

We had unexpected but delightful guests on Sunday night! Joss Midgley and Andrew Drummond from Scotland who were turned back by P and O because their lorry didn't have rear lashing points! Anyway, the dream team of Hubert Graham, Jim Jenkins and a welding machine had everything sorted on Monday morning!

From August there will be vacancies at Sweet Wall for DIY liveries. 2 x full horse stables and 1 small horse/pony stable. DIY livery rate £6/day and includes stable, seasonal grazing or all weather turnout, bedding, haylage but not hard feed. All facilities are available. 60 x 35 arena, show jumps, schooling cross country fences, horse walker. PM for more information.