The secret of dealing with the Horseman’s Winter Depression is to find a capable friend to hold fort for a couple of days and take off to Olympia.

Having finally accepted that the horses must be in at night, the past weeks have been a gruelling round of chores, helped along by rock hard freezing ground, biting wind and driving rain. It's at times like this that one ponders the madness of horse ownership and I hold my hands up to being a fair weather rider when the temperature drops to a level where fingers just snap off inside gloves – certainly, the idea of riding lessons in an arctic squall appeals not a jot. We have to do all this shrouded in gloomy darkness and the need to hibernate rather than muck out the barn becomes almost a craving.

What's needed at this time of year is inspiration, motivation and a hefty dose of enthusiasm to battle through the winter - and Olympia provided just the tonic for me. My slight apprehension at visiting High Street Kensington with a wardrobe diluted by the expensive demands of the horses, was soothed by the fact that London appears to be enjoying an explosion of interest in various versions of the Puffa jacket and riding boots. Or maybe it was because everyone on the tube was going to Olympia.

The Baillie's Mountain and Moorland Final produced a showcase of beautiful native ponies and Somerset-based Jackie Webb's stunning Connemara, Bunowen Castle Ri, unquestionably deserved to take the crown. Ridden by Matthew Lawrence, the pair put in the kind of individual show that had the hairs standing on the back of your neck - and it was good to see Matthew drop the reins and throw his arms around the pony's neck in a very public display of affection after a foot perfect performance. Also impressive was Katy Marriott Payne (The 2004 winner on Exmoor Stowbrook Jenny Wren), riding Mrs E Waller's pretty Welsh section A, Delami Destiny, who was absolutely text book for anyone wanting to see how it should be done - they won Small Breeds and took overall third place.

After watching the individual shows in the pre-judging, and the final in the afternoon, I felt the rumblings of enthusiasm awaken from their numbness and suddenly, those hairy, muddy ponies at home were visualised strutting into the arena at Olympia. I resolved to be grateful for the freezing riding lessons, buy a better pair of gloves and try harder to be positive when faced with an over-flowing muck trailer with a flat tyre.

Shopping is certainly not a problem at Olympia – and also not to be missed are fantastic displays like the Household Cavalry Musical Ride (I defy anyone not to need a fan for that one) and the amazing Ukrainian Cossacks. All in all, just what the doctor ordered. It's also uncanny who you meet at Olympia - I was happily chatting to a fellow before realising that he was indeed the hitherto unidentified chap who had run his feisty cob up the backside of my subsequently exploding Exmoor stallion in the Silver Medal final at the NPS Championships last summer. Of course, this hapened behind the judge's back and I had to grit my teeth when she commented that, 'He didn't really settle did he?' Such is the lovely atmosphere at Olympia that I found myself finally finding it funny.

A sense of humour has to be an essential ingredient for successful showing. At the recent Exmoor Pony Christmas Show, the weather delivered unrelenting torrential thundery squalls and we were chilled to the bone. My groom had the foresight to bring ingredients for delicious hot chocolate and was making it while I checked the foal. Suddenly, I heard a loud thud and found my poor groom dripping in the chocolate, having been thumped in the back by the door as the wind whipped it from its catch. Unfazed by the snorts and giggles from surrounding trailers (unfortunately including myself), she asked calmly if we had a towel, and we managed to salvage the remainder.

So when the hose attachment springs off, drenching me in a chilling spray; when the feed store door refuses to budge then sends me ricocheting into the wall; when I get into my Land Rover and the water gathered in the sun visor releases itself in a shocking fashion into my lap – when all of this happens, I will not crumble. I’ll just take inspiration from the glittering ponies who made it to Olympia, try to remember what made their riders look so good, and focus on emulating some of that in the coming year. And remember, we’re on the up because every day now, it gets lighter!

For more information on Exmoor ponies, see our Exmoor Pony Editorial Section

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