I’ve got to start by congratulating Charlotte Dujardin on her incredible new world record in the Olympic Grand Prix Special on 88%! Totilas – move over.

Here’s the link to the record ride if you haven’t seen it yet:

http://www.topdressage.tv/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=190&t=5018

I can only imagine how proud her team must be, knowing how much time, effort, sweat and tears goes into the daily training of top dressage horses, but what I can’t imagine is how she feels right now. Can you?

As my pony is due to deliver her foal any day now my thoughts went straight to Valegro’s breeders. What if one of my little ones becomes the new Valegro or Totilas? Wouldn’t I just be the proudest “grandma” ever.

Hopefully they won’t be too far off. The wonderful lady, Anna-Lena Gustafsson, who’s breeding with Belina has made such an effort to find the perfect stallion to match both my pony and her own ambitions of breeding elite competition ponies. So watch out for her horses in a couple of years, she has an amazing feeling for it!

As Belina is due now I’m flying back to Sweden next weekend to see her and the latest addition to the herd. I’m secretly wishing for a little stallion, it would be perfect to have one of each.

The other reason I have to go back is sadly to say goodbye to Calina, Belina’s first-born filly, as a lovely family in Sweden has bought her. They are really into competing and the girl who’s going to break her in is the perfect size and age to be able to do a good job. Both Anna-Lena and me are extremely happy about this.

At the moment I’m having a mini-holiday in Majorca, and isn’t the world just too small. When we went to buy ice cream yesterday I couldn’t help but noticing the shop assistants jacket. It was one of the Aachen ones; you know the black ones with the Aachen horse on them. So, curious as I am, I couldn’t stop myself from asking if he’d been to the show. Not only had he been there, he was working for one of the German top riders! What’s the odds right? So instead of choosing ice-cream flavors we ended up talking show jumping! Turned out he had to come back to Majorca as the ice cream business was a family business and it was his turn to look after it. He was utterly upset that someone else had to ride his horses while he was gone. Kind of recognize that one…

I can tell you one thing Spaniard, Brit or Swede, when it comes to horses, we all share the same passion!

Until next time, when I will be bringing back some photos of the newborn, have a lovely time and enjoy your horses!

And for all of you going to Windsor, have a fab time! As always.

All the best,

Sara