After returning from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, it took all the people several days to recover, but not Sapphire!

The plan for her was to have a couple of weeks off before starting work again to be ready to compete in Europe at the end of November. But after a couple of days in the field, she was feeling very fresh—so fresh that we decided to put her back into work. She didn’t want to settle in the field, just wanted to gallop around bucking, so we worried for her safety and rode her before we turned her out. She seemed really happy with this plan.

Meanwhile everybody left for the Pennsylvania National horse show, which was going to be one of Goldika’s last stops before retiring at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. But after showing her in the Gambler’s Choice, McLain decided that was her last class as she tried her heart out. She jumped great, so McLain decided that was enough and to retire her right there.

The horse show had a really nice ceremony for her before the grand prix on Saturday night. McLain bought her a huge basket of donuts, her treat of choice. It was really sad for everyone. So home she came to start her “roughing off” process before going off to her new life having babies! She will live at Blue Chip Farm in New York.

On Saturday, McLain decided to take Sara to the Washington International horse show as he wanted to show her indoors once before walking straight into the grand prix at Brussels. So off to Washington she went. Grand prix night there is always a nice crowd with a good atmosphere. Sara won there two years ago, so it was great for the crowd to see her do it again!

She jumped two beautiful clear rounds, and the jump-off was superb. When she went in for her ribbon, they replayed her rounds on the big screen in the middle of the ring. She never took her eyes off it, then let out a whinney when it had finished.

Sara was really glad to get home from there as they never turn the lights out, so she was exhausted and needed to catch up on her sleep! Now she’s home getting ready to go to Europe for three weeks; she will show in Brussels, Paris and Geneva. Then hopefully she will be ready to enjoy her vacation.