Going abroad and further afield is becoming a bit more frequent for some of Scotland’s professionals, including the Babes family, which thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Belgium with a team of young and established horses.

Horse Scotland protégé, Graham Babes, was taking the chance to showcase his abilities by producing some of his younger horses on, with the home-produced Ma Fleur JS scoring five international wins in May alone at Opglabeek, Lier and Bonheiden. It’s easy to see why she’s now rated as the best six-year-old in Europe.

Farao M and Cleudo were also in the money, plus their home-bred Eccosse(out of the good mare Aventurine) is gaining mileage around the 1.4m tracks and of course their top horse Boucheron gaining world ranking points and proving consistent.

Graham travelled on to Bolesworth soon after arriving home, where he stood in the line ups of the CSI4* classes amongst some of the best British riders.

Sandy McLean is now working for RD Sport Horses, riding everything from the novices upwards, whilst still finishing his year on 148cm.

He and Declan Irvine headed to Moorsele, Jardy and Sancourt, in France, to steal some French euros with Sandy in top form with the Irish-bred mare Zandeur Clover and the Scottish-bred Eclipse.

The latter was second and first in two 1.15m grand prix whilst Clover collected a first and a second whilst just rubbing a pole out in the final grand prix of the show.

One young lady to have the time of her life abroad was junior, Shaunie Grieg. Not only was she part of the winning GB team in Austria – going on to win the grand prix with Casino Royale – but she also headed to Wierden to win a 1.25m class with Moonlight Flight, which is now sold on, and a 1.3m with Casino Royale.

Shaunie then set off to Bolesworth where an absolutely flying round saw them steam into the lead by more than four seconds to win the 148cm grand prix. The following day she came out to gain a second behind Eleanor Hall McAteer on Tixylix to round off yet another fabulous show for her.

Shaunie now heads to the Highland show to contest the 148cm final and must surely start as one of the favourites given her run of form.

Hot on her heels and riding a lovely round in the grand prix, Nicole Lockhead Anderson was just a bit slower but otherwise foot perfect to slot into second on Gangnam Style this time and would be another to start as one of the favourites at Ingliston.

Another young lady on tremendous form is Chloe Templeton, who successfully divides her time between senior and junior classes.

Having produced Still Got Me from a baby, this brilliant 148cm was bred by Morag Crockett and is now heading to HOYS for the second year in succession.

Following on from their foxhunter qualification and their newcomers masters ticket, they headed to South View to finish second in the 'Pony Show Jumper of the Year' to gain another ticket for Birmingham as well as the Equitheme National Finals.

On top form at home is Kilmarnock’s Natalie Devlin, who topped the Silver League then headed to Area 14 to win the league qualifier with her own Coulters Candy.

Bought from Jack McGeoch five years ago, they have really come into their own in the past two years with consistent results making them strong contenders for the league points system.

Following on from Area 14, they won two classes at Muirmill before earning a Highland show appearance at Central and West Fife then going on to seventh in their first 1.3m open.

Natalie’s nearest rival in the Silver League, Lucy Stewart, has returned from injury with a vengeance and had already qualified Cancun for the Highland in the B+C, the classic and the young masters but is also fond of dropping him down a class for a speedy win, including the 1.1m amateur final at Muirmill.

In their three years together, Cancun has now moved up to Grade A with Lucy having won most classes on his way up so far.

Already qualified for the winter novice finals at Hickstead this summer, Alanna Hood is another to have produced her horses from scratch with the Scottish-bred Scherzinger FB proving to be useful.

By the Hanoverian, Sheikh It, out of a Semper mare and bred by former Scottish Sports Horse chairman, Keith Neilson, this seven-year-old mare was in form at Morris EC, winning two classes before going on to jump last in the discovery second round qualifier at Muirmill producing a smooth, efficient clear some five seconds quicker than nearest rival, Iain Warnock, on Idefix.

These two now qualify for the national championships along with the three other treble clears, Declan Irvine, Daimond Z. Sally Coull, Locarna and Katherine McKellar on RJM Lucky Lad.

James Smith had a busy Northcote Stud Show with his horses before heading home to take advantage of a Category two/three show held at Morris. The schedule contained a £500 to the winner grand prix on the final day but what a shame only ten came forward to contest this with just two clear and no double clears with James winning on Jim Wilmer’s Quattro 27 who was jumping at only his sixth show this season.

James was another to head south to Bolesworth and was seen in a few line ups with Graham Gillespie’s Flinstering, as well as his Morris winner

The Black Flyer and Olivers Diamond who all gained valuable prize money from a fourth in the ride and drive to being placed in the CSI4*.

Graham Gillespie was second with Andretti in a 1.45m but also seen in fourth with Calvaros Up To Date in the CSI4* 1.45m class as well as other minor placings throughout.

Mischa Irving was double clear in a six-year-old qualifier with Hayco G but then finished fifth in the final with stable mate Halvador amongst some of the best six-year-olds in the country.

Stranraer’s Claire Simpson had a good show with Harry Rogers’ Cappucino Classic, which was consistent in British novice classes supported by the more experienced Galwaybay Blanco, which contested the Newcomers.

Other Scots to finish down the line but with good results were Susan Deasy, Blyth Brewster, Fraser Reed, Katie Sawers and pony riders Codie McGowan, Fergal Holohan and Madelaine Archibald who were all either in the line ups or just had a pole.

Six remained treble clear in the British novice second round qualifier held at Muirmill EC, where this time it was Laura Whitfield who took top spot on her own Tatiana II.

Logan Creighton was happy in second with the up and coming G Sofi, while David Brown steered the Scottish-bred Jupiters Orbit into third. Alana Hood has another good one coming up through the ranks in the shape of fourth placed Just Elody. with Katherine McKellar taking her second ticket of the weekend on RJM Lucky Lad.

It was good to see Moira Williams back at the top after some time out having a family. Her new team of horses, sourced by husband David, means she is again a force to be reckoned with and proved it with a convincing double clear over a strong jump-off track in the Scottish Branch South-east open championship at Muirmill on the little mare Millabbey Du Carel, which was six seconds clear of the only other double clear, Mark Turnbull's Ashton Dakota.