It's ALL kicking off in the horse world – the going had dried up, events are starting and the evenings are lighter.

On the other hand, horses are holding onto their coats, we are awaiting a surge of grass and human bottoms are being hardened off as spring and summer riders (like me) take up the reins properly.

The BHS is in full flow, too, with an Eric Smiley clinic, Knockhill Cross country training and two CPD days under our belt already. The variety of what is on offer through BHS in Scotland always enjoys a flavour boost at this time of year courtesy of the Borders Festival of the Horse.

This year there is a truly international edge to the festival with a delegation of Danish riders arriving to showcase the ancient equestrian sport of tilting. This display of accuracy sees riders at speed picking up suspended rings on lances – it has its origins in medieval times, where the skills of war were practised as a sport.

In a 12th century book book, entitled 'The sports and pastimes of people', tilting is described as a fashionable pastime where a ring is struck by a lance, 'the excellency of which' is to ride at full speed and thrust the lance through the ring and draw it out with the force of the stroke.

Entrants get three shots and the winner is the one that has collected all three rings the fastest.

The Danes will be exhibiting this sport and running 'have a go' sessions at Gospel Hall Farm, near Jedburgh, several times during the festival.

Elsewhere, we have a veritable chocolate box on offer with a lurcher show, the mysteries of radionics, equestrian cabaret and a real medieval fayre, on top of the usual guided rides, heavy horses, eventing and racing.

Donkeys are very much to the fore this year, with an intriguingly entitled event called 'Rollicking rescues and bad asses' at the Borders Donkey Sanctuary, where we expect to see Baxter our BHS mascot – which recently starred in Carmen on the Playhouse stage, in Edinburgh.

There is also a further cultural event in the privileged invitation to visit Bowhill – the home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry – to attend a themed viewing of sporting art, a much treasured part of the renowned Buccleuch art collection and featuring various family horses and hounds.

Bowhill, which sits amidst the magical Ettrick and Yarrow valleys, is very much a private home to the Duke and his family – so BHS are most indebted to him for offering this unique opportunity to see behind the scenes and enjoy the oeuvre.

The exhibition will include a painting of Sir Walter Scott's hunting dog 'Camp', by Sir Henry Raeburn, one of Scotland's most famous portrait artists.

Our equestrian heritage is further safeguarded by BHS as we have recently held our harness decoration workshops, run in collaboration with Graven Images and the Glasgow School of Art, to help preserve the unique Scottish tradition of harness decoration for heavy horses.

As a follow up to our autumn working horses day, 12 people attended the two-day course in Fife which culminated in the decoration of a Clydesdale horse. Simon Alston, our presenter, is one of the last remaining harness decorators in Scotland and it was obvious he was as passionate about passing on his art as BHS is.

All this tradition in our sport is reassuring because as the horse world modernises and we all benefit from new technology it's always worth remembering that the old horse stays the same and has the same basic needs.

Meanwhile, FM (flaky mare) has most graciously permitted us to turn her out to grass each day (never over night!) at last and is in much better humour and more approachable as a result!

She still tends to drag her hooves when riding away from home (typical pony style) and then as soon as you turn in the direction of home or a jump, you find yourself flying without wings. Our rides are very enjoyable – now that we have an understanding of sorts!

Having got used to her mareishness (I swear she carries a hand bag to hit people with and keep her compact close for the constant checking of the visage!) she too is oh so cultured – a bit like our BHS!