Jay’s blog: ‘Fat Amy is here and I’m ready to go!’

Showjumper Jay ‘Tiger’ Halim has spent the winter working on his fitness – amid socialising – but now he’s ready for the season to begin! 

“Hey Cubs,

I hope the start of the year is going great for all of you – all is well here at Shilton Edge Farm. After a three-month break from competing, we are now finally getting going again, with the help of ‘Fat Amy’, our new full-size horsebox (it has sides that ‘pop out’ – if you’ve seen Pitch Perfect 2 you’ll get the reference!) At long last I have a six-horse truck, it’s only taken God knows how many years!

I’ve spent the winter training hard and it’s been nice working on a few weaknesses on my horses and myself over the last couple of months, as well as bringing on the young horses. But I am more than ready to properly get going competing again – although I have had some okay results so far, I still feel a bit rusty and not quite in the groove yet.

In my break from competing, I have become a equestrian ambassador for Tres Chelsea, a health and wellbeing clinic on Chelsea Bridge in London. They focus on services for riders, from physio through to nutrition, so I’m feeling very well looked after. I’m getting two lots of treatments twice a week, which is great as fitness is something that is really important to me, and I have definitely noticed how much my life has changed since I starting exercising regularly. Now with added guidance I can plan a programme that is tailored to my body and lifestyle, and will help me with those aches and pains we all get as riders (or just general old age!)

Popping into London a couple of times a week has had its downsides, however, as catching up with some old friends is not only proving costly but not helping me from a nutritional perceptive! I suppose as long as I get the right balance it’s okay to indulge occasionally, after all life is for living and all about the joie de vivre! I’ve found a fabulous new countryside haunt too in Soho Farm House in Chipping Norton, so I can’t escape temptation even when I’m not in London!

Right time to go, lots to do before the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships at Hartpury this week, and I have a very busy couple of days there. Wish me luck!”

Jay