Ian Wills: Looking forward to 2017

Meanwhile the next bunch of homebreds are coming to understand that life now includes a jockey on their backs in the form of Ian Wills Eventing team favourite Russell who has worked with me for over twenty years (including replacements body parts!). We will update on their progress in time but have some exciting prospects which bodes well for the future.

Getting through the dark and dreary days out of season is time always well spent with the Farmers Bloodhounds. Hunting is a great way of developing rider’s natural reactions and for educating young horses crossing all kinds of country. We must be grateful to the landowners for allowing us to run and jump across some of the most beautiful parts of England. At times I swap tack for trainers and run myself as the Bloodhound’s ‘quarry’ giving something back to a sport I’m passionate about whilst enabling me to eat even more Christmas dinner – win win! Such a great group of people organising a truly inclusive sport, I urge anyone who hasn’t tried it before to get in touch with their local Bloodhound pack and give it a go.

This new year also gives me time to reflect on some of the highs and lows of the 2016 season. One low was the decision at the end of 2016 to sell Hartpury Sky Is The Limit following all of our success together. My journey and time with Sky is something I will always treasure and someone will be a very lucky jockey. But such is the nature of professional eventing. My ‘complicated’ grey horse, Marli delivered frustration with so nearly delivering the goods at Advanced and 3*. However, he wowed the crowds and has a following of supporters so we will plug on!

In this spirit I wish all Gaitpost subscribers the most successful and safe year ahead – whatever that goal for success may be. And whatever your goals are, always remember:

You have brains in your head,

You have feet in your shoes,

You can be successful in anything you choose.

Ian