News/Diary

What's Up...

Site work The website is having some reconstruction work done at the moment. Hopefully it will only cause minimal disruption, and will be completed soon...

6^th Jan, '12 A New Year, and the same resolution as last year - to try to keep the website up to date. Busy doing just that at the moment, but really need a few more fine days for the horses to look glossy for photos. This season must be the worst for yucky coats ever...
Have scanned this week with good results. Only one mare not in foal, and at 23 it could be difficult, although we will try one more time. It would be lovely for her owner to have a foal to carry on the line and she is in great condition.

1^st Jan, '12 And hoping for a bit of fine weather in the next wee while!!! Summer just hasn't arrived. The hay was down for three weeks after being mown, waiting for a break in the weather. Finally got baled last week, but it will only be good as a filler for the cattle in winter. At least the silage pits are full and there is still hay in the barns from last year.

20^th Dec, '11 After a couple of weeks here to do her sheep practical for her vet degree, Sig has headed off. Unfortunately she decided not to stay on and work the youngsters. However Gem will be heading to Foxton in the New Year, to be ridden by Jade Willis, which will leave just a few for me to carry on with. I'm still finding it just too easy to ride Bu, when there are others that need the work more. And the Pony Club ODE coming up won't countenance having a stallion even on the grounds, so one less outing for us.

21^st Nov, '11 Took Charm up to Tina, to be started under saddle. Unfortunately the weather hasn't been good, and Tina has been too busy to put consistent work in to Martyn and Chic, but things look to be set to improve.

20^th Nov, '11 And back from a couple of days at Equidays. What a fantastic event! Next year will no doubt be bigger, but that will only make it more difficult to select the clinics to watch...
Was really impressed with Scott O'Malley. Hopefully I'll be able to organise a winter breaking session locally. It will depend on Scott's time though. Tawa Stables has suitable facilities, so now waiting for Scott to come back with some possible dates.

22^nd Oct, '11 Had a great time at the Blyth Tait clinic, organised by Clare Gordon and held at the HB Equestrian Park. Bu and I did the pre-training level and it was a huge learning curve. Probably the greatest improvement was encouraged by the shortening of my stirrups! For years I've worked on the theory that long stirrups mean more leg on the horse and more stability. Not so! The clinic was great for confidence and I really should get cracking and do a few more training events with Bu, before getting a couple of the youngsters going too. Blyth kindly said that if he had a hot Thoroughbred mare he would consider Bu. I should have been quicker and suggested he come out and have a look at the youngsters in the paddock...

1^st Oct, '11And have taken Marty and Chic up to Tina Hammond, Te Teko, for work. Unfortunately I've developed sciatica, and feel that it is just silly to keep on riding Marty, when I'm not even able to balance properly, leg alone use my legs evenly. Hopefully Tina will be able to get Marty out to some events over the summer.

25^th Aug, '11Bought Marty and Chic back from a very quick green-break with Bryan McVicar, held at the Leg Up Trust.
Unfortunately Bryan didn't get the numbers needed to spend 10 days working with the horses, so did 5 days, with two sessions a day. Marty will be fine for me to carry on with at home, but Chic hasn't settled as well, not having had as much handling.

6^th Feb, '11 Oops, got asked today what had happened to my website, and why it hadn't been updated for ages. Well, got home and checked it out, because it didn't seem that long. I hadn't uploaded for a year! It had been updated in October '10, but not uploaded... So will get back into it again, complete the updated web design, fill in the blanks, and make a resolution to keep up to date!
More to follow soon - and given the way some of 'the youngsters' are performing, I'll have to have a 'Results' section somewhere! C. Daffodil (pony) is now jumping GP with Emily Fraser, C. Isa has had a boomer season of dressage with Melanie Washer, C. Stonehaven and Louise Leonard won the Novice event at Richfields and was 4th at Puhinui (and also won the H&P amateur award there), C. Premonition is now owned by Sarah Hinch and has moved 'Down South' and is competing successfully at level 4 and 5 dressage. Little Lizzy has also done well in dressage with limited outings this season, and although a very competent jumper is now concentrating soley on dressage... And Bu and I were in the Pink Ladies team at the North Island Teams Event over New Year. We took part in the quadrille (our team won), cross country (all clear, my first XC in 35 years - training level) and Show Jumping (error on my part caused Bu to take out one jump). The games team won their section too, so the Pink Ladies won overall! Will have to get photos up - Bu looks great in pink!