October 2025 Blog

October ended with the trees blazing an autumnal inferno with every imaginable yellow, gold, red, orange and russet. The horses’ sleek summer coats grew into their longer tufty winter wear, as the chill pinched cheeks, fingertips and toes for the first time this season…

Dame Jilly Cooper

This month hadn’t long begun when the news came that author Dame Jilly Cooper had passed away. My thoughts went immediately to her family and friends, but also that she has a special place in my own heart. When I was thirty,  I wrote to her and asked her how I’d become a writer. To my amazement and utter glee, she invited me to her house. The lasting memory of her home will always be that in most of the rooms were crammed bookshelves from skirting board to ceiling, and also full of beautiful ornaments, pictures and pets. Yet, the most vivid memory was Jilly herself. She opened the door and, as delicate as a baby bird, welcomed me with a huge hug.  I met her late husband Leo and was rather starstruck about sitting on a sofa that belonged to the Jilly Cooper. She was incredibly kind and thoughtful but had a devilish sense of humour.

It was a warm summer’s evening and we sat out on her patio, and I gave her a notebook, which I thought was a fitting gift for any novelist. We talked about how to pen a novel, and she said to include characterisation, a sense of place and love. 

She also helped to get me a monthly column with the former Gloucestershire Echo, which inspired the belief that I could write and that eventually grew into Overthestabledoor. Joe and I attended on of her publication party in the Mandarin Oriental opposite Harrods, London and she even lifted some of my own words to use in the novel Mount!

Jilly’s novels were a rite of passage – a step up from the pony books and into many a topic only previously breached in an anatomical way in a biology lesson. She wove racing, showjumping and polo through many of her books, giving as many words to the raunchy grooms as the copulating upper classes.

It had been over ten years since the second of such visits (though we drank less the following year!) but we continued to write to each other. In an age of digital correspondence, this was very touching. With the flood of tributes, I was reminded of what a special lady she was. I will treasure my letters, notes and books that she sent, her scrawly handwriting, which needed much scrutiny, as much a part of her as her kindness. The zest in which she lived her life and the love she showed endless human beingss and animals will continue through her words and novels.

Patman

Sometimes, I happily revert to that pony-mad schoolgirl who poured over the pages of Horse & Pony magazine, the books of the Pullein-Thompson sisters and whose weekly hour of a riding lesson passed by all too quickly. After bringing my own horse, Patman, in from spending the summer out, I took delight in brushing his fluffy old man’s coat. He had a shampoo with lots of bubbles and rinsed in water with a few blobs of baby oil. I pulled his mane, washed and conditioned his tail and combed it so it fell as thick, glossy and slightly wavy as any Vidal Sassoon advert.

He stood patiently, resting a hind hoof on its toe, looking older, wizened and greying as any aged equine do but shiny and well groomed. He’s just so familiar, loved and special to me.

Lucy’s First Winner

Lucy Westlake, our ex-army trooper, has been here on and off since 2018. She has ridden into places in a few military races, including second in the 2024 Grand Military Gold Cup and, since joining the travelling staff, had driven winners to the races, but had always missed leading one up. Until October 22^nd, when she led Highlands Legacy into the Worcester winner’s enclosure. ‘I was delighted to finally get a winner, especially after everyone thinking I was the bad luck charm,’ she said afterwards. Here’s to many more!

Harvest Moonlighting

Since March, after the birth of our little daughter Lainey, life has been a little different for me. After taking six months of maternity leave, I was excited to get back to work but having amassed so much holiday, I was unable to return as planned. With the nursery fees paid, I didn’t wish to do nothing so I’ve been going to help at Martin Keighley’s, a racing yard just down the road. It’s been great – they’re a smaller team but chirpy and happy and everyone has been very helpful, never minding answering my endless questions. The yard has been sending out a few winners, including twice for Glance of Glory (Percy), Turndlightsdownlow (Pringle) and a special Cheltenham win for De Temps En Temps ridden by son Freddie.

Every yard is the same, every yard is different and it’s just been a matter of tweaking how I do things to fit their ways. In some way it’s been home from home with their Lord Virginia being a full brother and clone in appearance to Don Virginia, and Yes Indeed, who had previously lived at the pens for about three seasons under my care, being there like a familiar friend.

Glance Of Glory, Lord Virginia and Yes Indeed

Points to Consider about Moonlighting

•         Wearing a uniform for over thirteen years meant I didn’t have any ‘work clothes’ to wear.

•          Fitness is taken for granted by the young. By now, my endurance and fitness are improving but initially, I was ashamed to be as shattered and weak as I was, and felt I’d never claw any strength back.

•          Having winners is exciting wherever you work, even if it’s on a temporary basis.

•          I’ve challenged myself to make black labrador Willow like me. She barks and gurruffs at me, hackles raised. I’m trying to bribe her with Bonios. [1] 

I’m loving moonlighting but I’m also excited about returning to Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s on 21^st November – my duties will change due to being part-time but I’m looking forward to being back in amongst the team.