Well, it’s been a little over four months since I became part of the team here at JBP and what an incredible four months it’s been! Having joined the team with an interest in journalism and writing I was keen to get my pen to paper or fingers to keyboard once again and I certainly have had some great features to keep me busy and in these short four months I have learnt more than I could ever imagine. Being a keen show jumper, it has been really interesting seeing many different sides to the sport, especially joining Bridget at the Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury College in April.
The past few weeks have been very busy for the JBP team. The beginning of the month saw Bridget, Charlotte and April re-located to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials for the week with Kim, Pippa and I joining them on different days throughout. This wasn’t just my first time working at Badminton Horse Trials but it was my first time experiencing the event as a whole and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The whole team, myself included had an incredible time and getting to enjoy some of the spoils that working at such an event can bring in the spring sun was the icing on the cake.
After a short recovery for the terrific three, they headed back on the road, this time to the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials for another busy few days. Here, Charlotte made a couple of friends in the shape of two mallard ducks which she aptly named Bridget and April. It was an amazing weekend with great competition in the beautiful setting of Chatsworth Estate and the troops arrived home safely and are looking forward to the next.
Elsewhere, Kim joined Lucinda Green for a day of filming in the sun at Tweseldown, while Pippa and I manned the fort.
Following on from our social media training that Bridget touched on in the last blog, we have been putting our new-found knowledge to good practice. Charlotte, April and I enjoyed updating the relevant Instagram stories while we have all been having a go at keeping the JBP social pages updated with all the happenings both in and out the office. We plan to take full advantage of our training as we aim to keep up with the ever changing face of social media.
Outside of work there has been no rest for the wicked. Kim spent a weekend at Royal Windsor enjoying both the wonderful competition and the shopping. Bridget and Kim will hopefully be competing in the Petplan Equine Area Festivals in July. We are keeping our finger crossed to they make it through to the Finals.
We are now looking ahead to the summer months and hope that the sun stays for those of us heading out to compete. As the countdown begins for the next event which will be at The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park in August, but lots to do before then. Keep an eye out for our next blog.
Niamh