After a whole year away from competing, I finally got back out in my whites—and honestly, it felt surreal. In this video I’m taking you along for my first show in a year… with a twist: I took Pete to do dressage for the first time ever. I’m very much a jumper girlie, so swapping coloured poles for letters and a test sheet was a proper step outside my comfort zone, but I really wanted to give it a go and see where we’re at. It wasn’t exactly a smooth, polished comeback (because when is it ever?). Pete was feeling very fresh, I was feeling ill, and to top it all off I managed to forget my test—iconic behaviour. Still, it was such a good reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to get back out there. The main takeaway from this one is that getting back in the ring after time off is emotional, messy, and so worth it—and trying something new with your horse can teach you loads, even if you’re laughing at yourself half the time.