The recent big freeze that gripped Scotland was the first time we have experienced a prolonged spell of testing weather since the rise of the livery yard.

If you think about it, the last ice event that lasted over a month was in 1981 – a time before it was the fashion for equines to live in such concentrated communities across Scotland.

This year, we must take our hats off to our beleaguered livery yard proprietors all over Scotland who have gone to extraordinary lengths and undertaken exceptional heroic behaviour to make sure all the equines in their care received adequate forage and water.

In many DIY livery yards, the owners, who usually undertake the care, have been iced out. Add that to the misery of blocked pipes, an inability to renew food supplies and the difficulties in getting horses to their turn-out, far less out on exercise and the situation all conspires to paint a picture of a high level of work and worry.

But, thankfully, welfare concerns have been few and far between so BHS Scotland is mightily proud of our industry during what we can only call ‘the siege’.

Livestock that winters out, including horses and ponies were far more able to stand the high pressure and low temperatures than the wet misery we are back to and that Scottish winters so often offer. As long as they have enough food, all animals (including humans) are better when their backs are dry and the first 10 days of the year certainly brought a welcome feeling of wellbeing.

So what does 2010 have in store for BHS Scotland? Well, we are kicking off with two of the greatest names in cross country riding in the world.

In February, Eric Smiley FBHS, will present the first professional development day of the year for instructors on his specialised subject ‘Indoor cross country’.

He has recently published a new book under the pony club publications label called ‘Look no hands – straightforward cross country’, and in 2005 he was the presenter of the BHS convention for the whole of the UK on the subject of indoor cross country so he has wonderful credentials for our subject.

Of course, he has competed at European, Olympic and World level since 1982 and continues to compete today.

In Scotland, we hold Eric in special high esteem so we are expecting a good turnout on February 23 at SNEC. Anyone interested in cross country or jumping is welcome to attend.

Then, 10 days later, Gleneagles plays host to none other than Mark Todd, as BHS teams up with Balcormo Stud and Horse First to present ‘Mark Todd selects’ at 7pm on Thursday, March 4.

There is a good story behind why we’re so fortunate to be associated with one of the greatest horsemen of our times – in millennium year, Mark was voted the FEIs top rider of the 20th century in the whole world!

This is more like a return trip for Mark, because 25 years ago – straight from having won Olympic eventing gold in Los Angeles – he presented a popular demonstration at Balcormo Stud called ‘Mark Todd goes shopping’.

This was much more interesting than its mundane title suggests. Mark publicly discussed the potential of a whole lot of competition horses noting his likes and dislikes in term of confirmation, movement, type, ability, scope, jump, trainability and suitability as a sports horse. It was fascinating.

And it is because of this historical strong tie and friendship with the Low Mitchell family that Scotland will benefit from an evening in Mark’s company this spring. It is important to remember that Mark is just as much a show jumper as he is an eventer and in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 he represented New Zealand on ‘Bago’ in the show jumping at the same time as winning Olympic gold on Charisma. What a record – and so much in store from BHS so early in the year!

Back on the ice and snow, Master’s cold feet have been an interesting topic in our house as temperatures ducked below minus 10 and stayed there for 20 days. But as he is an only horse, I was determined to ride in the holidays on snowy tracks and in the woods.

Using my risk assessment a liberal coating of non-stick spray-on cooking oil to the hooves meant we were one of the lucky ones who managed to stick to our routine. I even had a couple of long gallops on powder snow – now that is why we all struggle out of our warm beds in the dark to teeter about on ice to pick up frozen poohs before work!