My ride at Badminton

It has been another busy week. My daughter Tash and I visited Oli Townend on Monday - Tash tried some great horses and we had a good laugh. Oli’s story about his monkey Marmaduke was classic…

On Tuesday morning I had an early start, filming on the cross-country course with Sharon Hunt and Scott Brickell. The water jump is going to be amazing. We were filming the diggers working at Bedgebury Park and also at my home, as I am working with Crown Pavilions to market both their beautiful pavilions and Bedgebury’s glorious facilities.

The rest of Tuesday was spent at Bedgebury with Horse & Hound, as some of the horses on the yard were modelling for their summer rug shoot. It was a lovely day and the photographer, Steve Dawes, had a great sense of humour which kept us all amused, as modelling can be surprisingly hard work!

I have saved the best for last. I went up to Badminton yesterday afternoon for a cocktail party, as Crown Pavilions is one of the main sponsors of the members’ enclosure, but little did I know that the function was actually in Badminton house. My first time at Badminton and I was a guest of Lord and Lady Beaufort… not bad going.

I met lots of interesting people, but I must tell you that I had a dream come true when I met the Chef d’Equipe of the Canadian Equestrian Eventing Team. I have dreamt about finding a connection to the Canadian team and I guess I did.

I also had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners of Stevenson Brothers, who make beautiful rocking horses in Bethersden, Kent - and as you can see, I have now had a ride at Badminton!

Any excuse for a party

Funny how life is. I have just worked out a marketing deal with an upmarket company called Crown Pavilions, which manufactures the most amazing outdoor pavilions – the perfect outdoor party venue, as I see it.

The owner of the company, Fuman, and I have a lot in common, as we both believe in quality. So, after showing Fuman my website and then taking him to Bedgebury Park for a tour, we decided to work together. I am buying a pavilion and we are going to do a ‘Grand Design’ video, which we will attach to his catalogue. 

Crown Pavilions do a lot of marketing at major events including Badminton, Burghley, Windsor and, further afield, in Monaco and Cannes, so Bedgebury Park will be getting some great exposure.

My job is to prove how much enjoyment the pavilion will add to my life… sounds like an excuse for a party to me!

A busy week!

It’s been all go this week, dealing with all the usual bits – staff, emails and bookings, as well as supervising ongoing works on the cross-country course and refurbishment of our self-catering cottages, which are becoming increasingly popular for riding holidays.

We actually had five models staying in them this week, as they were on assignment shooting in the forest. They had a lovely stay here at Bedgebury Park and the show will be airing in September on Channel Four.

I also met with an interesting public relations lady in London yesterday, who worked with Princess Diana. I wonder what she can do for me…!

How did it start?

“I have put an offer in on Bedgebury.”

“If you want that we are getting divorced.”

“Ok, thats fine.”

That’s how it all started. I made the offer in April 2009. It was a difficult time but in December 2009 I completed the deal. We started trading in March 2010 and it was very exciting to welcome Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt as my first client.

It has been an incredible year and I have decided to start this blog to record events as they happen at Bedgebury Park.