Well here we are already so far into May! I can not believe how time flies! I was very lucky to be able to attend Badminton and it was an amazing weekend! I was also very lucky that my mother was able to join me and enjoy her first time at Badminton! I love going to events like this as the riders, horses and competitions are such an inspiration. It is a fantastic experience and really gives you perspective of the sport and just how tough it can be, but also how rewarding.

It is a weekend just like Land Rover Kentucky or any other Four Star and arguably any horse trials/ three day event of highs and lows. These riders put in so much time, effort, blood, sweat and tears. The highs make it all worth it and the lows are necessary but remind us of why we live for the highs. I love that Badminton and big horse trials like it bring people and communities together. I love that you can walk around and see families having a picnic, people watching the big screens in the lunch areas, shopping both horsey and non horsey shops, and just having a lovely day out and enjoying watching some incredible horses and riders. I also feel so inspired when I watch events like this and it makes me want to train and work harder so that I an reach not only my riding goals but also my academic and life goals. I feel that when you see someone try their best and put everything they have into something, that you cant help but feel inspired to do the same for your goals and dreams. “The world will be saved and remade by the dreamers” (Sarah J Maas). This is one of my favorite quotes by my favorite author (Can not recomend her books enough!). It sticks with me every time I am shaken and put down while chasing my dreams. Life happens and this spring has definitely been hard for me on a personal level. I am not quite ready to open up about that yet but I will be soon in the future.

I am taking my inspiration from Badminton and running with it. I am almost done with exams and once those are done I can really focus on the horses and also myself. I am looking forward to dedicating all of my effort and time into my goals and dreams. I have Equine Sports Medicine left out of my three exams. Equine Ethics and Welfare and Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation are done so I am counting down the days until my last one is over! Then onwards and upwards!

I guess this blog post is slightly random in some ways, but it isn’t entirely random for me. I am definitely a dreamer. I am a scientist but I am definitely a dreamer and always have been. It is why I love to dive into books and loose myself in other worlds, but at the same time read scientific articles about equine research and enhance my knowledge in order to benefit my own horses. I am not afraid of being a dreamer and I don’t think anyone should be. There was a time in high school when I was afraid of being a dreamer and wanting to follow my dreams as they were not the social “norm.” But I am so glad that I followed my heart. It is not easy to be a dreamer in the current world that we live in. It is full of pressures, demands and expectations. But one thing that I have learned is despite that, the dream holds its value. Go against the flow no matter how hard it is and when it pays off there will be no better feeling and ample reassurance that you made the right choice. So I am proud to say that I am a dreamer. I want to say that if you are a dreamer too, don’t be afraid of grabbing the bull by the horns and running with it. Do not be afraid to run head on at full speed towards your dreams. Do not let anything stop you; dreams are worth fighting for. Remember, “The world will be saved and remade by the dreamers” so do not be afraid of dreaming.

Until next time,

Sophie, Annabelle, Fintan, Ainle, Feyre, and Diarmid