What better way to spend Valentine’s weekend than a trip to Edinburgh to compete for Cambridge University Vet School in the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Horse Society International Riding Competition? The team of Alice Strang-Steel, Hannah Clifford, Ginny Fellows and Mary Tivey set off in the rain for what would be the shortest journey in distance but longest in duration of any team competing.

We were greeted in the Frankenstein Pub (after lugging our bags up a mountain, by Cambridge standards) with refreshments and a series of disclaimers that made us feel like were were in an autograph session. We drew horses in groups, and then decided amongst ourselves, based on the horses name and size, which steed we would each compete on.

Game faces on, we were bussed to the riding centre. It was right up a hill, giving us a great view of the surrounding snow-topped mountains.

The dressage was relatively uneventful. Alice was first up for the Cambridge team and rode a beautiful test, despite the stirrups lacking the extra 3 holes in length on her 16.3hh mount. After a quick break for lunch, the showjumping horses were brought out. Alice’s family had kindly come to support, and watched as one horse, in the warm up, promptly ejected its rider and exited the arena. We found out that this was supposed to be Alice’s ‘easy’ jumping horse – maybe not what mummy Strang-Steel’s nerves expected. 10 minutes later, ‘Denter’ returned after a counselling session on the gallops. He was not the only one to try his luck, and an innocent looking grey pony (Ginny’s jumping horse) received similar treatment.

So there were two falls before so much as a fence had been faced. More were to come, though. We questioned the 'stickability' of the continental competitors' jodhpurs, especially after one slid off into the boards while rounding a corner - after completing a clear round! The Cambridge riders all made it round, managing to stay in contact with the horse, clear except for one pole from Ginny. Even after the competition finished, there was further excitement as one team, complete with banner, managed to fall over a fence while trying to take a picture...

Alice’s family showed us further kindness, taking us back for soup and a warm shower before the evening’s awards ceremony, dinner and ceilidh. Individual dressage results saw Alice take 2nd and Hannah take 1st places, and individual showjumping placed Ginny 4th, Mary 3rd and Alice 2nd. Overall the team finished on 33 penalties, taking 1st place, with the next team finishing on 93 penalties. Ginny and Alice finished with no penalties.

During the dinner, we quickly found that turning up prepared to ride was not sufficient, as the Swedes sang, performed a dance to 'A Little Party Never Killed Nobody’ and initiated drinking games. The ceilidh got everyone to their feet, spinning around the room long into the night.

We had a fantastic time, and are very grateful to Alice’s family for their hospitality (which included Sunday lunch before our journey back to Cambridge). Next year we will make sure to be equally prepared for the riding, but up our game in the entertainment stakes, with a song, dance and drinking game…