Summer in Jo'burg means green paddocks and no dust - Christmas holidays mean less traffic and fat horses which spend loads of time with friends grazing and playing. It's a well deserved rest for everyone after another busy year.

In February Anna trekked to a flooded southern Spain to work as course designer for 2 weeks on the Sunshine Tour (What sunshine? It was rain suits and gumboots daily) - she then accepted the invitation to be the chef déquipe for the South African show jumping team to WEG in Kentucky for October. This meant travelling to some shows in Europe prior to the main event, in order to assess and support our riders and their horses, (who participated in 4 Nations' Cup events at 4* level) and to learn more about the varying standards from show to show. There were lots of extra hours to catch up when back at home. These are the times when it's especially great to have a fantastic partner and stable manager who look after the clients' and their horses' needs at Burlington (thanks David and Retha!). The knowledge gained and ideas formulated were put to good use at the yard, and we had a successful year of coaching.

The highlight of the junior year is the Junior SA Championship show, held this year in Port Elizabeth during mid-December. Anna was invited as course designer for this major national event, which attracted huge entries for all disciplines. The standard amongst the Junior Open division (1,30m+) has really strengthened, and 47 competitors vied for 24 spots in the SA Championship competition. After 2 full rounds over a big track there were 4 riders with double clears to the jump off - 3 of these happened to be Anna's students! The title was won by Olivia Bramley, riding Kate Alison's Hakahana Absolute (Attila / Wenga), a borrowed mare she has been riding for only 4 months due to Kate's pregnancy. Just pipped at the post was young Cinzia Pasteris, only 15 years old, on her lovely TB mare, Phambile - Cinz also tied 5th on the evergreen Oriental Express, who had jumped beautifully throughout the show, helping GHS to clinch the SA team championship the day before. Tamara de Jong, who joined Burlington 6 months previously, rode consistently well to take 4th spot, whilst Heather Robinson, a talented student coached by David, gave a solid performance on Franlaren's Leapy Lee to finish tie 5th. Heather also rode for Gauteng in the showing team, whilst Luke Compaan and Cinzia competed for Gauteng in the equitation discipline. Thanks guys! You did us proud!!!

Earlier in the year Anna broke her collar bone and damaged shoulder muscles which put her own riding on hold for a couple of months. By August she was back on form, being consistently placed with 1st for Women Alessio at both the SA Adult Championship show and the World Cup Qualifier show in Durban in the 1,50m+ classes. There were successes at the Pretoria show, the Polokwane WCQ, the SA Derby and the Burlington Cup. Her young horse, 1st for Women Oregon, settled nicely into the 1,30m division.

David had some bad luck with his own horses this year, but rode Steven Flax's 2 warmbloods, Santos van het Molenhof, and Don't Touch consistently well to be regularly in the money in most competitions he participated in. He also has an exciting new prospect lined up. When Steve rode his own horses in the 1,30m he also had many prizes, as did Blake Allen on Premier Landini. Blake has decided to do some more travelling and Landini will be put in foal for the next year. His young mare, Odette Valeraine (Ondol V / Ten Bears) has been sold to Leigh-Ann Hammond within the yard. Leigh, who has trained as a chef and cooks beautifully, is delighted to have her own competitive mount again. Amy Hills had a superb win on her Optimum mare, On Air, in the hotly contested 1,30m Championship at the Burlington Cup show.

Romance is still in the air here at Burlington - Cindy Alers was a beautiful bride at the end of last summer, whilst Tania Siciliano and Nikki Haines both got engaged this year. Desiree Davidson, who has been a great help to us over the past 4 years as work rider in the mornings, tied the knot with Francois this month. Robbie Pasteris and Paola Franklin had a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Sunset Boma, close to Burlington. Kate Alison is expecting her first baby, whilst Jayne Stewart, our fabulous equine and human physiotherapist gave birth to a gorgeous little daughter. Congratulations to all of you!

Burlington welcomed some super new clients to the yard this year, and gave African Ivory, an elderly retiree whose owner, Michelle Maine, had kept him "in the manner accustomed" for more than 10 years, a sad send off. Our regular shows were very well supported, as was the Burlington Cup - huge thanks to all our sponsors for these events, especially Torque Earth, Riders Saddlery, Midfeeds, Premier Equestrian Supplies…

We wish all our clients, our friends, and our suppliers a spectacular 2011! May your hours in the saddle be happy and rewarding, may your horses enjoy their work, perform well, not limp and be healthy….