Marcus Ehning’s show groom Mel Obst is usually at home for a maximum of two days in a row before hitting the road again for the next event. Now, she is slowly settling into the home-routine in Borken, Germany and hopes that her colleagues will survive having her around full-time.

"How to start... 

The beginning of the year was already full of traveling, came from Gothenburg – flew with my horses to Doha, was on the way to Den Bosch and then a few kilometres before I reached the show I got a call from a friend who's grooming for one of the best dressage riders who told me I can turn around and drive back home as they cancelled the show because of the coronavirus. 

It was first after a moment that I realized that she was not kidding, so I turned back home. My horses looked a bit weird at me when I opened the ramp and they saw that we were home again. Already on the way back I realized it will be a while without shows and that I have to stay a bit longer at home. 

Those who know me well, are for sure already saying ‘how will Mel survive that?’…

I must say though that in our stable you are never bored. The hardest thing is to get into the daily routine, normally I'm maximum two days at home and now I'm seven days here so to get into everything was more difficult than I thought. I think my colleges are getting more used to me now that I'm here all the time and I don't have to pack my truck or make horses ready for the show. So, I'm full in work, riding, grooming, cleaning stables, breeding season has also started so early mornings to get the stallions out before they have to breed. 

It's a difference to my show life, and like most of my friends I'm missing the road and also the other people but for sure I'll find more stuff to do at home, so that I'm not going crazy in the next weeks/months. At least I can ride a bit more on my show ponies (Toutou, Funky, Cristy and some more) and hack out with them to get a bit away.

For sure you still have to check on my colleges and my rider because I'm not the homeliest person and can be annoying after a while, so they have to survive me also.

Everyone in the world take care, please stay safe and at home.... And wash your hands... Hope we get this done fast and that we can travel the world again.

Mel"

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