Hi all
Just to let you know that my lovely new website is now live - and as part of the redesign my blog has moved to a new address!
My website can be found here: www.jo-bates.co.uk
My blog can be found here: www.jo-bates.co.uk/diary/
I hope you all like the new website and would love to hear from anyone with any feedback! My contact details are on the new website (please don't leave comments here as this blog is now disused).
...so, that's it, my final blog entry here. I will be writing plenty more in my new diary though!
Jo Bates
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Just to let you all know that I am busy re-vamping my web site with the aid of Andrew Hart from Simius Web which I am really excited about so that is why I have been rather quiet on the blogging front! - sorry folks!
Well it has been terrible weather with all that snow and ice - I had to do something useful with myself during that time!! All the horses were ticking over quietly on the walker with their hard feed cut down accordingly. Now that the weather has broken I am busy getting on with their programmes and starting back up with their schooling and fitness.
Briefly - Jenson is coming on nicely and for a big horse is gradually finding his balance and rhythm. He also enjoys hacking out with his mates and quite often gives them a lead which is very brave of him!
Sam is also getting back into the swing of things after his holiday and is much stronger for it. Kate has now got the bit between her teeth and is determined to keep him on the straight and narrow and we aim to get the pair of them out to a little competition next month.
Bridgit has also started back into the swing of things and has just been measured at 153cm so she is also eligible for the small intermediate show riding type as well as being a small hack which I am delighted about.
I have just taken on a Section B mare belonging to Ann Wight for schooling. She is the most beautiful mover with three really excellent paces. She is really starting to progress and hopefully with my new website up and running within the next couple of weeks I will be able to show you all some photos of her working in the school.
Holly and I went over to Holland before Christmas and have bought the most fabulous 2/3 year old gelding by Sir Donnerhall which we are very excited about. He will stay in Holland for the next 3 months until we have some room for him here. But.... what a stunning mover! very very exciting!!
Millie is arriving back tomorrow and will start being re-broken again. She had the most amazing temperament so hopefully fingers crossed she will be aimed at Novice hack classes mid season but obviously it depends on how she progresses - she may come very quickly and can do something sooner -
Hannah will be coming back mid Feb from Stephs and hopefully I will also have a new Novice riding horse to produce as well which I will let you all know about.
Plenty to keep us all going!
Well it has been terrible weather with all that snow and ice - I had to do something useful with myself during that time!! All the horses were ticking over quietly on the walker with their hard feed cut down accordingly. Now that the weather has broken I am busy getting on with their programmes and starting back up with their schooling and fitness.
Briefly - Jenson is coming on nicely and for a big horse is gradually finding his balance and rhythm. He also enjoys hacking out with his mates and quite often gives them a lead which is very brave of him!
Sam is also getting back into the swing of things after his holiday and is much stronger for it. Kate has now got the bit between her teeth and is determined to keep him on the straight and narrow and we aim to get the pair of them out to a little competition next month.
Bridgit has also started back into the swing of things and has just been measured at 153cm so she is also eligible for the small intermediate show riding type as well as being a small hack which I am delighted about.
I have just taken on a Section B mare belonging to Ann Wight for schooling. She is the most beautiful mover with three really excellent paces. She is really starting to progress and hopefully with my new website up and running within the next couple of weeks I will be able to show you all some photos of her working in the school.
Holly and I went over to Holland before Christmas and have bought the most fabulous 2/3 year old gelding by Sir Donnerhall which we are very excited about. He will stay in Holland for the next 3 months until we have some room for him here. But.... what a stunning mover! very very exciting!!
Millie is arriving back tomorrow and will start being re-broken again. She had the most amazing temperament so hopefully fingers crossed she will be aimed at Novice hack classes mid season but obviously it depends on how she progresses - she may come very quickly and can do something sooner -
Hannah will be coming back mid Feb from Stephs and hopefully I will also have a new Novice riding horse to produce as well which I will let you all know about.
Plenty to keep us all going!
Sunday 29 November 2009
Another month has flown by.
Holly and I took Hanna and Bridgit (hack and riding horse) to Addington to ride round and accustom them to the big indoor school to guage their reactions for the Your Horse Live demonstrations. They behaved impeccably - not at all spooky and seemed to take everything in their stride so fingers crossed they behave themselves on the weekend of the demo!
Dream the Donnerhall/Rubin Star N three year old has been making great strides but we have not been able to progress as quickly as we did with Milly the large hack three year old. Firstly she is a very big tall girl so has a problem initially co-ordinating her body as she is such a huge athletic mover and this needs to be nutured. Secondly as most of you will know all three year olds progress differently - some have lots of confidence and some need to take a lot more time with their lessons. Dream has been one of these cases - slowly slowly catchee monkee!! She is quite a bossy mare though so everything has to be very black and white. As I am writing this post she is now hacking out very happily with a mate but with her leading the way very confidently and working well in the arena with a full set of show jumps which has been quite a feat as originally they presented a very scary picture to her!! I still do occasionally have some sticky moments but these are getting less and less - she now goes out to the arena confidently on her own without needing nanny Holly leading the way - I have perserved every day and little by little we have developed a good understanding and she now trusts and takes more of a lead from me. She is going back to her owner in 10 days time and I know I shall be very sorry to see her go as she is such a fabulous dressage prospect with fantastic movement and a ferrari engine!!
Hannah has been progressing very well and her straightness which was the main issue with her is improving daily now with the additional help of Ellen Stanwells chiropractic help and Annabelle Galts equine sports massaging. She has such big athletic movement that she initially found it very hard to maintain but as her muscles have developed this is improving all the time. She has a very trainable temperament and I am looking forward to Steph and her developing a good relationship together. I think they will have a lot of fun showing next year - Hannah seems to take most things in her stride. She is going back to Stephs for a couple of months during December and January and then she will return at the beginning of February to start her training in earnest for the season.
Bridgit my lovely small hack is coming on nicely. She is a poppet in and around the stables and her schooling is coming on nicely as well. We are concentrating on her smooth transitions and throughn ess and submissiveness and this seems to be coming together now. Holly has had her as her project and is enjoying getting to know her and finding out what makes her tick. She has also been for a couple of lessons to Rhetts as well which is a good way of developing her education. He has helped show Holly how to get her to open out her shoulders more to develop a more open frame. It is good for Holly to ride all sorts of different horses and different temperaments so that she can adapt her skills to each horse.
On 6th November we went to Rhett Birds to collect another of Anna Harveys horses to produce and sell. This time it is a four year old 16.1 hh black gelding by Future (by Florestan). He is an absolute dream around the stables to deal with. He had some horrendous wolf teeth so these have been removed and his training has started. As he was backed as a three year old and has don nothing since, we have started right back at the beginning. He is now being ridden on the lunge and will be progressing off over the next week or so. We have had to take things steadily with him as he had forgotten most of what he had learnt but now he is really coming on. He is extremely smart and eye catching and I think Holly will enjoy competing him in the New Year.
On 14/15 November we went to Your Horse Live with Bridgit, Hannah and Daisy. My brief was to do a demonstration each day on Showing - Accentuating the good points. I had Holly riding Bridgit the small hack, Steph riding Hannah as the large riding horse and Teresa riding Daisy as the coloured riding horse. All the horses and riders looked a picture on the weekend and I was very proud to have such lovely horses and riders to display. Daisy came to me on the Friday before to be beautified and trimmed, bathed and plaited. I have never done anything like this before and to be honest I found it quite nerve racking at first but once I had got going after the first ten minutes I began to relax and enjoy it. By the Sunday I felt that I had fine tuned it all and was generally very pleased with the way it ran. The horses didnt get fazed by the atmosphere. Little Bridgit decided that she couldnt possibly remember how to do right canter but thats youngsters for you. This was one of the reasons why Holly and I decided that we would take her out and about after Your Horse to iron out any little quibbles in time for the show season. She is getting to grips with this travelling about and doing her job malarky!!
On 29th November Ruth Serrett's new three year old lightweight hunter arrived for me to bring on. He is a lovely 16.2 thoroughbred by Milkom out of a Ballyard Bess mare. He was bought at the John Dunlop sale. I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into this boy. He has a cracking temperament, three really good paces and has already settled in nicely. He was well backed by Guy Landau so all I have to do is concentrate on educating him in his basics. What a lovely prospect!!
I have also been busy teaching, clipping and doing all the other bits and bobs that seem to pass me by in the summer. At last my lovely gas log effect fire is back in action so we are nice and toasty in the living room at long last. I am busy going to the physio for my back to try and get it less painful. I have also been visiting Clare Nicholls the chiropractor to keep it straight as well.
Holly and I disappeared off to Holland for a day to look at 2 year old potential dressage horses and we did find a lovely one by Vivaldi that seemed to tick all the boxes. Unfortunately he failed the vet on an OCD chip in the fetlock so we are back to the drawing board on that one.
Christmas is looming up fast and furious so on that note I will head off to write lists and Christmas cards. It would be nice if Santa would drop a new lorry down the chimney for me!!!
Hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year and lets hope we all enjoy a successful 2010 show season!!
Holly and I took Hanna and Bridgit (hack and riding horse) to Addington to ride round and accustom them to the big indoor school to guage their reactions for the Your Horse Live demonstrations. They behaved impeccably - not at all spooky and seemed to take everything in their stride so fingers crossed they behave themselves on the weekend of the demo!
Dream the Donnerhall/Rubin Star N three year old has been making great strides but we have not been able to progress as quickly as we did with Milly the large hack three year old. Firstly she is a very big tall girl so has a problem initially co-ordinating her body as she is such a huge athletic mover and this needs to be nutured. Secondly as most of you will know all three year olds progress differently - some have lots of confidence and some need to take a lot more time with their lessons. Dream has been one of these cases - slowly slowly catchee monkee!! She is quite a bossy mare though so everything has to be very black and white. As I am writing this post she is now hacking out very happily with a mate but with her leading the way very confidently and working well in the arena with a full set of show jumps which has been quite a feat as originally they presented a very scary picture to her!! I still do occasionally have some sticky moments but these are getting less and less - she now goes out to the arena confidently on her own without needing nanny Holly leading the way - I have perserved every day and little by little we have developed a good understanding and she now trusts and takes more of a lead from me. She is going back to her owner in 10 days time and I know I shall be very sorry to see her go as she is such a fabulous dressage prospect with fantastic movement and a ferrari engine!!
Hannah has been progressing very well and her straightness which was the main issue with her is improving daily now with the additional help of Ellen Stanwells chiropractic help and Annabelle Galts equine sports massaging. She has such big athletic movement that she initially found it very hard to maintain but as her muscles have developed this is improving all the time. She has a very trainable temperament and I am looking forward to Steph and her developing a good relationship together. I think they will have a lot of fun showing next year - Hannah seems to take most things in her stride. She is going back to Stephs for a couple of months during December and January and then she will return at the beginning of February to start her training in earnest for the season.
Bridgit my lovely small hack is coming on nicely. She is a poppet in and around the stables and her schooling is coming on nicely as well. We are concentrating on her smooth transitions and throughn ess and submissiveness and this seems to be coming together now. Holly has had her as her project and is enjoying getting to know her and finding out what makes her tick. She has also been for a couple of lessons to Rhetts as well which is a good way of developing her education. He has helped show Holly how to get her to open out her shoulders more to develop a more open frame. It is good for Holly to ride all sorts of different horses and different temperaments so that she can adapt her skills to each horse.
On 6th November we went to Rhett Birds to collect another of Anna Harveys horses to produce and sell. This time it is a four year old 16.1 hh black gelding by Future (by Florestan). He is an absolute dream around the stables to deal with. He had some horrendous wolf teeth so these have been removed and his training has started. As he was backed as a three year old and has don nothing since, we have started right back at the beginning. He is now being ridden on the lunge and will be progressing off over the next week or so. We have had to take things steadily with him as he had forgotten most of what he had learnt but now he is really coming on. He is extremely smart and eye catching and I think Holly will enjoy competing him in the New Year.
On 14/15 November we went to Your Horse Live with Bridgit, Hannah and Daisy. My brief was to do a demonstration each day on Showing - Accentuating the good points. I had Holly riding Bridgit the small hack, Steph riding Hannah as the large riding horse and Teresa riding Daisy as the coloured riding horse. All the horses and riders looked a picture on the weekend and I was very proud to have such lovely horses and riders to display. Daisy came to me on the Friday before to be beautified and trimmed, bathed and plaited. I have never done anything like this before and to be honest I found it quite nerve racking at first but once I had got going after the first ten minutes I began to relax and enjoy it. By the Sunday I felt that I had fine tuned it all and was generally very pleased with the way it ran. The horses didnt get fazed by the atmosphere. Little Bridgit decided that she couldnt possibly remember how to do right canter but thats youngsters for you. This was one of the reasons why Holly and I decided that we would take her out and about after Your Horse to iron out any little quibbles in time for the show season. She is getting to grips with this travelling about and doing her job malarky!!
On 29th November Ruth Serrett's new three year old lightweight hunter arrived for me to bring on. He is a lovely 16.2 thoroughbred by Milkom out of a Ballyard Bess mare. He was bought at the John Dunlop sale. I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into this boy. He has a cracking temperament, three really good paces and has already settled in nicely. He was well backed by Guy Landau so all I have to do is concentrate on educating him in his basics. What a lovely prospect!!
I have also been busy teaching, clipping and doing all the other bits and bobs that seem to pass me by in the summer. At last my lovely gas log effect fire is back in action so we are nice and toasty in the living room at long last. I am busy going to the physio for my back to try and get it less painful. I have also been visiting Clare Nicholls the chiropractor to keep it straight as well.
Holly and I disappeared off to Holland for a day to look at 2 year old potential dressage horses and we did find a lovely one by Vivaldi that seemed to tick all the boxes. Unfortunately he failed the vet on an OCD chip in the fetlock so we are back to the drawing board on that one.
Christmas is looming up fast and furious so on that note I will head off to write lists and Christmas cards. It would be nice if Santa would drop a new lorry down the chimney for me!!!
Hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year and lets hope we all enjoy a successful 2010 show season!!
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Well from my last blog so much has happened!! A new horse has arrived for the Haslams. Steph has sorted out her new job and her Mum and her have managed to fund another horse for Steph to ride which is very exciting. She is a 6 year old large riding horse by Cult Hero and she will stay with me a few weeks to get her going how we want and she will probably join us as one of the three horses at the Your Horse Live showing demonstration I am doing on 14th and 15th November. I know Steph has had a very worrying time financially this year but hopefully things have settled down now and we can safely look forward to the new year.
On the Saturday before HOYS I was leading Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl) to the walker so that we could muck her out when disaster struck - as she was leaving the barn she slipped and came over on the concrete and completely skinned one of her knees so our preparation for HOYS was a lot more intensive than I could ever have imagined with vet visits, laser treatment, equissage and icing to get the leg down and the wound to begin to heal and dry up. Fortunately she was never lame but the grazing was very extensive and not very sightly. Holly and I did a 24/7 job on her and the result on the day of HOYS was in actual fact quite amazing. Her leg was completely down and with a lot of make up the damage did not look too bad. We were thrilled under the circumstances with Daisys result of 5th place as only two days before it was doubtful that we would even make it. We were very lucky to have such a vigilant vet to look after her. Teresa her "mum" was great about the whole affair - horses will be horses and unfortunately accidents will happen for no apparent reason however diligent you are with the care of them.
I have to say a huge congratulations to Jo Geddes who shares the yard with me on her win with June Snedkers Keep Talking (Buzz). I gave June Jo's name when she was looking for a rider and I feel very proud to be part of that winning combination. Jo has never competed at HOYS so to win on her first time is pretty amazing. Jo is a successful event rider in her own right and now sheepishly admits that she looks at the showing pages in Horse and Hound first now!! Another convert!!! I have also been helping Jo with her flat work on her big 17.2 5 year old event horse Jaffa for the last few weeks and his progress has been very exciting to log as it has also dramatically improved his jumping. I get such a buzz from helping horse and rider combinations and seeing the results so kick on Jo and lets keep up the good work!!!
Daisy departed on the Saturday after HOYS and Jo Dixon's 3 year old horse Dream arrived to be broken. This is a lovely big upstanding mare by Rubin Star N (by Rubinstein) out of a Donnerhall mare so is really bred in the purple for dressage. She was actually bred by Jennie Gilchrist of the Rommano Stud up in Scotland who bought Broadstone West Country from us a few years ago when the stud disbanded. Dream has already been well handled and shown which makes my job easier. She is a big girl though!!! Her progress is coming on well now and after 10 days we are now trotting and cantering round the school nicely and getting more and more forward. Because she was so huge I spent some time long reining her so that I knew that I would have a certain amount of steering when I was set loose. Jo helped me from the ground holding her. I am only happy doing this type of thing if I have a good person on the ground who can read the horse and react in the correct way so as the horse remains confident as well as the rider!! As a general rule I do not take on three year olds for breaking but I have made an exception on the last two occasions because they had been so well handled and had seen the sights and sounds of the show ring. My bones are getting older now and I do not need to hurt myself at my "granny" age!!
During the week after HOYS I took Chris Palmer my fantastic groom for a great night out to thank her for all her hard work during the season and we went to see the comedienne Jan Ravens which was great and then met up with the girls - Holly, Pip and Kate at the fair afterwards. We went on the dodgems which was about our limit while the girls went on the more exciting rides. Holly and I went off the next night into Oxford for our girlie night out to see the "Vagina Monologues" which was absolutely brilliant and had us in fits. For us there is always life beyond horses after the season - we work really hard and it is nice to let off steam now and again!! Talking of which I went to David Tatlows celebration party which turned out to be the party of the year - I danced all night, had a fabulous time and met up with lots of friends - a complete blast!
I have now purchased the five year old small hack that I had in for schooling which came from Bridgit Millington. She is liver chestnut by Infantry out of a mare that goes back to Tap on Wood. She was shown successfully in hand with Bridgit. I am thrilled to bits to have her and am looking forward to next season with great excitment as I have a great team of horses to play with at long last. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan!
My last piece of news is that Holly has unfortunately been stamped on by one of the horses and her big toe was totally crushed and broken so poor thing is in a lot of pain and on crutches at the moment so is off games for a couple of weeks. Again no-ones fault just another very annoying accident so Holly has gone down to see her Dad for a few days to catch up with him and his girlfriend. My mobile has been a hotline as she is quite bored not being able to move about much. Lets hope the bone and skin and nail knit quickly and she can get back to riding. Off to the fracture clinic next Monday.
I am off to Addington to take Hanna (Stephs new horse) and Bridgit (the new small hack) to ride round the indoor school to see how they react to that to prepare them for Your Horse Live in November. Daisy will be joining them at this demo - I am doing a demo each day on Showing Your Horse - Accentuate the Positives - lets hope they don't let me down!!! Having had geldings for some time I now have quite a hen pen and they all let me know that they are girlies!!!
Hanna has been going through her MOT since she arrived and has been seen by Ellen Stanwell my Chiropractor and Annabelle Galt who massages the horses to loosen off any muscles that are tight. Dream the three year old is having her teeth looked at by Mark Slingsby on Thursday and will have her wolf teeth removed at the same time and then probably have an easy couple of days to let it all settle down. Sam is due another clip this week as he and Kate have another lesson with Rhett next week. They are going great guns and really making progress. Kate is still getting help from her Chiropractor for her straightness and Annabelle Galt does the sports massage (tough!!) to release all those tight muscles. Kate is really working hard at her straightness and it is showing in her riding - Sam is really appreciating it too!! Well done!
Time to sign off now - bath and bed!! another early start in the morning as no Holly to help!
On the Saturday before HOYS I was leading Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl) to the walker so that we could muck her out when disaster struck - as she was leaving the barn she slipped and came over on the concrete and completely skinned one of her knees so our preparation for HOYS was a lot more intensive than I could ever have imagined with vet visits, laser treatment, equissage and icing to get the leg down and the wound to begin to heal and dry up. Fortunately she was never lame but the grazing was very extensive and not very sightly. Holly and I did a 24/7 job on her and the result on the day of HOYS was in actual fact quite amazing. Her leg was completely down and with a lot of make up the damage did not look too bad. We were thrilled under the circumstances with Daisys result of 5th place as only two days before it was doubtful that we would even make it. We were very lucky to have such a vigilant vet to look after her. Teresa her "mum" was great about the whole affair - horses will be horses and unfortunately accidents will happen for no apparent reason however diligent you are with the care of them.
I have to say a huge congratulations to Jo Geddes who shares the yard with me on her win with June Snedkers Keep Talking (Buzz). I gave June Jo's name when she was looking for a rider and I feel very proud to be part of that winning combination. Jo has never competed at HOYS so to win on her first time is pretty amazing. Jo is a successful event rider in her own right and now sheepishly admits that she looks at the showing pages in Horse and Hound first now!! Another convert!!! I have also been helping Jo with her flat work on her big 17.2 5 year old event horse Jaffa for the last few weeks and his progress has been very exciting to log as it has also dramatically improved his jumping. I get such a buzz from helping horse and rider combinations and seeing the results so kick on Jo and lets keep up the good work!!!
Daisy departed on the Saturday after HOYS and Jo Dixon's 3 year old horse Dream arrived to be broken. This is a lovely big upstanding mare by Rubin Star N (by Rubinstein) out of a Donnerhall mare so is really bred in the purple for dressage. She was actually bred by Jennie Gilchrist of the Rommano Stud up in Scotland who bought Broadstone West Country from us a few years ago when the stud disbanded. Dream has already been well handled and shown which makes my job easier. She is a big girl though!!! Her progress is coming on well now and after 10 days we are now trotting and cantering round the school nicely and getting more and more forward. Because she was so huge I spent some time long reining her so that I knew that I would have a certain amount of steering when I was set loose. Jo helped me from the ground holding her. I am only happy doing this type of thing if I have a good person on the ground who can read the horse and react in the correct way so as the horse remains confident as well as the rider!! As a general rule I do not take on three year olds for breaking but I have made an exception on the last two occasions because they had been so well handled and had seen the sights and sounds of the show ring. My bones are getting older now and I do not need to hurt myself at my "granny" age!!
During the week after HOYS I took Chris Palmer my fantastic groom for a great night out to thank her for all her hard work during the season and we went to see the comedienne Jan Ravens which was great and then met up with the girls - Holly, Pip and Kate at the fair afterwards. We went on the dodgems which was about our limit while the girls went on the more exciting rides. Holly and I went off the next night into Oxford for our girlie night out to see the "Vagina Monologues" which was absolutely brilliant and had us in fits. For us there is always life beyond horses after the season - we work really hard and it is nice to let off steam now and again!! Talking of which I went to David Tatlows celebration party which turned out to be the party of the year - I danced all night, had a fabulous time and met up with lots of friends - a complete blast!
I have now purchased the five year old small hack that I had in for schooling which came from Bridgit Millington. She is liver chestnut by Infantry out of a mare that goes back to Tap on Wood. She was shown successfully in hand with Bridgit. I am thrilled to bits to have her and am looking forward to next season with great excitment as I have a great team of horses to play with at long last. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan!
My last piece of news is that Holly has unfortunately been stamped on by one of the horses and her big toe was totally crushed and broken so poor thing is in a lot of pain and on crutches at the moment so is off games for a couple of weeks. Again no-ones fault just another very annoying accident so Holly has gone down to see her Dad for a few days to catch up with him and his girlfriend. My mobile has been a hotline as she is quite bored not being able to move about much. Lets hope the bone and skin and nail knit quickly and she can get back to riding. Off to the fracture clinic next Monday.
I am off to Addington to take Hanna (Stephs new horse) and Bridgit (the new small hack) to ride round the indoor school to see how they react to that to prepare them for Your Horse Live in November. Daisy will be joining them at this demo - I am doing a demo each day on Showing Your Horse - Accentuate the Positives - lets hope they don't let me down!!! Having had geldings for some time I now have quite a hen pen and they all let me know that they are girlies!!!
Hanna has been going through her MOT since she arrived and has been seen by Ellen Stanwell my Chiropractor and Annabelle Galt who massages the horses to loosen off any muscles that are tight. Dream the three year old is having her teeth looked at by Mark Slingsby on Thursday and will have her wolf teeth removed at the same time and then probably have an easy couple of days to let it all settle down. Sam is due another clip this week as he and Kate have another lesson with Rhett next week. They are going great guns and really making progress. Kate is still getting help from her Chiropractor for her straightness and Annabelle Galt does the sports massage (tough!!) to release all those tight muscles. Kate is really working hard at her straightness and it is showing in her riding - Sam is really appreciating it too!! Well done!
Time to sign off now - bath and bed!! another early start in the morning as no Holly to help!
Wednesday 30 September 2009
I had an interesting morning at the Hunter Show judging the ridden sport horse classes. I judged the 4,5,6 year old ridden sport horse class which was judged as a show class and then went on the judge the individual age categories where they had to also jump. The championship of these classes was eventually won by the six year old sport horse ridden by Louise Bell which was a lovely athletic moving horse and showed really excellent technique over a fence. It was really well presented for the class.
We went on the Show Horse championships with Aflie (Times Square II) and Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl). Alfie really surpassed himself here and won the Young Riding Horse class and then went on to be 3rd in the Large Novice Horse Riding Horse. Both these classes were well contested and we were really thrilled with these results. Steph rode like a woman possessed in the Novice class and the result proved itself!! He has now been sold to Rachel Chadwick and will go to his new home this week and we wish them all the success for next season. He has been such a lovely horse to produce and over the months has really matured and grown in strength. Next year I am sure his new owners are going to have some serious fun with him!
Daisy was second in the coloured horse class at this championship - as usual she behaved beautifully so I am now looking forward to HOYS with great anticipation!! All fingers and toes crossed!!
Sam (Socialiser) and Kate are forming a good partnership with each other. Poor Kate started off quite crooked in her position so was despatched to the chiropracter - she has been three times now and the difference is very marked. Kate has also had sports massages from Annabel Galt (she also does my horses as well) to help loosen those tight muscles - All this together with weekly sessions of Pilates has made a dramatic difference to Kates riding and she and Sam are really starting to show real promise - I am quietly excited about their progress and I am sure competitions will soon be imminent! Unfortunately horses cannot go correctly if the rider does not sit straight - Kate has shown to me how determined she is and has made formidable progress in a short space of time. This combined with two lessons from Rhett Bird and my lessons are all beginning to take shape - well done Kate!!
I have also had Eileen and Desmond Jenkins Ricardo Z three year old hack mare in to break - She was a joy to back (she had been well handled and shown successfully in hand which always makes my job easier) - I am very excited about her for next season. She is a fantastic mover and has lovely conformation. She has been with me a total of three weeks and already is going forward nicely with good transitions and has proved very bold when taking her out of the school around the fields on her own. I consider that she has done enough now and she will go back home for a couple on months to grow on and mature and then come back to me in the new year.
I have also had a five year old small hack in for schooling who is coming on very nicely, proving to have a very good brain.
Daisy is getting on well with her preparation for HOYS - her coat is looking very good under all those rugs - Holly and I are very fastidious in making sure they have enough rugs on at this time of the season because although it is warm during the day the nights become very chilly and this is when the coats just begin to turn. I have also clipped Sam the four year old dressage horse - he is being prepared for the DHI Challenge at the Brightwells sale in November and hopefully Holly will be contesting him for this competition (although I think Kate will be in hot pursuit at this rate!!) We are busy sourcing music etc.
Holly has also been to Rhett Birds to try out a six year old for Anna Harvey (Wizard) which hopefully she will be competing on in the next couple of months. It is a lovely horse by Rhodium and it is a fantastic opportunity for Holly to gain some more competitive experience - she loved producing Warwick for this owner so is quietly excited about this prospect as well.
We have also been to see another four year old dressage horse to produce for a client for sale which is a lovely athletic horse and hopefully he will be arriving after HOYS so that we can start his campaign.
Next week is HOYS so I will update you after that!!
We went on the Show Horse championships with Aflie (Times Square II) and Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl). Alfie really surpassed himself here and won the Young Riding Horse class and then went on to be 3rd in the Large Novice Horse Riding Horse. Both these classes were well contested and we were really thrilled with these results. Steph rode like a woman possessed in the Novice class and the result proved itself!! He has now been sold to Rachel Chadwick and will go to his new home this week and we wish them all the success for next season. He has been such a lovely horse to produce and over the months has really matured and grown in strength. Next year I am sure his new owners are going to have some serious fun with him!
Daisy was second in the coloured horse class at this championship - as usual she behaved beautifully so I am now looking forward to HOYS with great anticipation!! All fingers and toes crossed!!
Sam (Socialiser) and Kate are forming a good partnership with each other. Poor Kate started off quite crooked in her position so was despatched to the chiropracter - she has been three times now and the difference is very marked. Kate has also had sports massages from Annabel Galt (she also does my horses as well) to help loosen those tight muscles - All this together with weekly sessions of Pilates has made a dramatic difference to Kates riding and she and Sam are really starting to show real promise - I am quietly excited about their progress and I am sure competitions will soon be imminent! Unfortunately horses cannot go correctly if the rider does not sit straight - Kate has shown to me how determined she is and has made formidable progress in a short space of time. This combined with two lessons from Rhett Bird and my lessons are all beginning to take shape - well done Kate!!
I have also had Eileen and Desmond Jenkins Ricardo Z three year old hack mare in to break - She was a joy to back (she had been well handled and shown successfully in hand which always makes my job easier) - I am very excited about her for next season. She is a fantastic mover and has lovely conformation. She has been with me a total of three weeks and already is going forward nicely with good transitions and has proved very bold when taking her out of the school around the fields on her own. I consider that she has done enough now and she will go back home for a couple on months to grow on and mature and then come back to me in the new year.
I have also had a five year old small hack in for schooling who is coming on very nicely, proving to have a very good brain.
Daisy is getting on well with her preparation for HOYS - her coat is looking very good under all those rugs - Holly and I are very fastidious in making sure they have enough rugs on at this time of the season because although it is warm during the day the nights become very chilly and this is when the coats just begin to turn. I have also clipped Sam the four year old dressage horse - he is being prepared for the DHI Challenge at the Brightwells sale in November and hopefully Holly will be contesting him for this competition (although I think Kate will be in hot pursuit at this rate!!) We are busy sourcing music etc.
Holly has also been to Rhett Birds to try out a six year old for Anna Harvey (Wizard) which hopefully she will be competing on in the next couple of months. It is a lovely horse by Rhodium and it is a fantastic opportunity for Holly to gain some more competitive experience - she loved producing Warwick for this owner so is quietly excited about this prospect as well.
We have also been to see another four year old dressage horse to produce for a client for sale which is a lovely athletic horse and hopefully he will be arriving after HOYS so that we can start his campaign.
Next week is HOYS so I will update you after that!!
Monday 7 September 2009
Well sorry folks it been rather a long time since I updated my blog - time stands still for no-one! So here goes with all our news.
Alfie (Times Square) went to Mid Herts to do the Novice Riding Horse with Steph behaving beautifully as usual and was second - he is maturing all the time now and his muscle tone is altering - it takes some four year olds longer than others but I am very pleased with the way he looks now and he is a beautiful balanced ride. Toby and Ginny went to the Side Saddle Championships to do the Mountain and Moorland class with Holly as top groom and they came a very creditable fifth. Poor Toby had had only one practice at the weekend beforehand but as usual with his brilliant temperament took everything in his stride. Within his usual weekly routine he regularly jumps and pops over our cross country fences which he loves and this helps him to keep sweet and his body supple.
On Tuesday 4th August we took Warwick to Aston Le Walls Dressage with Holly to do the two Novice qualifiers which he won on 69.8 and 72% - brilliant scores which has now secured his Novice Winter Regional qualification.
On 6th August I left Holly in charge of the horses and flew over to Dublin to judge the side saddle classes. I love going to this show - it is a really sociable occasion - many stories and yarns are spun over many a drink! It is a great time to sit down and watch some lovely young irish horses going and the supreme champion was a really worthy winner. I flew back on Sunday night having had a fabulous time but with a few muscles aching from riding on different side saddles - some of them are not the most comfortable - in general I had some really good rides. One of my favourite classes this time that I watched was the retrained racehorse class - to watch some of the really famous racehorses being shown in the show ring was quite a sight. Hopefully I shall have one of my clients (Patrick and Ku Scott) contesting this class next year!
On 11th August Holly and Warwick went to Rhett Birds for a training session and we have all decided that now is the best time to advertise him for sale. He is a fantastic horse with a really trainable brain, lovely paces - what more can we say - Holly has become really attached to him - he is a really loveable character and they have formed a great partnership so it will be sad to see him leave the yard but hopefully he will find a lovely new owner to look after him.
On 15th August Alfie and Bow went off to Ashbourne Show. Alfie won the Novice Riding horse with Steph - great news! Bow went immaculately in the large hack HOYS qualifier not turning a hair at the flapping tents which many other hacks objected to so I was a little surprised to be pulled in further down a line than I would have liked only to be told by the judge that it was a shame that he was so naughty going round when she came to ride him - I did say that he didnt put a foot wrong. Anyway he behaved well for the ride judge and finally was pulled up to sixth. I was very disappointed especially when the horse behaved so well - I can fully understand when the horse is not a judges type but do get frustrated to get comments like I did!
Warwick went off to Aston Le Walls dressage again on 18th august and once again went well finishing with two seconds despite Holly not being quite on the boil this time due to personal circumstances.
On 19th august Ginny and Toby trundled off to Equifest for four days for their holidays and Toby was 2nd and reserve champion with Jack riding him in the Junior Mountain and Moorland class. Ginny then dressed up as Lady Penelope and rode to music from Thunderbirds and finished 4th in this class. I must say I would have loved to have seen this performance because we put this music together a long time ago with the help of Mary Martin and it really suited Toby. I know that this is a CD that will be getting a few more outings! On the last day Ginny was 2nd in a large class of pure Highlands - this was one of the few classes where the judge actually gets to ride them so a pleasing result. Toby has now gone back to Checkendon Equestrian Centre near to Ginny where she can look after him every day herself. I know that she has missed being able to do this whilst he was being produced with us. He was a lovely person to have on the yard and we shall miss his cheerful little face every day.
Warwicks advert came out during this time and I was inundated with phone calls. He has now been sold to Helen Turk from Cobham - a really lovely home for him and we wish them all the success in the future.
Kate Masters Sams owner has now started riding him and getting to know him and I am pleased to say they are making good progress. He is a bright four year old and Kate has not had experience at producing this type of horse so we are monitoring their progress carefully. She is a very determined girl which is great and I think with lots of help they will form a good partnership although I shall be watching their every step!!
On 29th August we had a lovely evening out with Denise Bumford and her husband when we all went to the European Dressage Championships to watch the Grand Prix Kur. Denise had bought these tickets for Holly and myself as a treat last year after Horse of the Year Show. As anyone will know that enjoys dressage we were lucky enough to be there on a day when history was made with Totilas and Edward Gal scoring over 90% for their Kur programme. I can only say that is was truly breathtaking and made the hairs on my neck stand up - what a horse!! The atmosphere was great that night and I was proud to be British and watch our three put up such fantastic performances. What a night!!
Sunday 30 August saw Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl) arrive back at the yard for her build up to HOYS. I really love this mare and am so looking forward to having her for longer this time. The first show was shall be doing will be the Coloured Horse and Pony Championships on 5th September.
I took Bow on Bank Holiday Monday back to Lady Benton Jones for a well deserved holiday. He has been a brilliant four year old and has behaved beautifully all season for such a baby.
I have just returned back from the Coloured Horse and Pony Championships on 5th September with Daisy and Teresa. Daisy surpassed herself by winning the overall ridden Championship on the Saturday night - she loved it. She also won the Sports Horse class in hand with Teresa. Teresa and I were both besides ourselves - so excited with what Daisy had done - she is a real little superstar! Hopefully we shall get her winning picture up on the web site soon so that you can all admire her!!
Anyway this week I am off to judge the sport horses at the Hunter Show on Wednesday at Addington and then two days at the Show Horse Championships on Fri and Sat with Alfie and Daisy so I shall post more news then. I promise to get blogging more regularly!!!
More news later!!
Alfie (Times Square) went to Mid Herts to do the Novice Riding Horse with Steph behaving beautifully as usual and was second - he is maturing all the time now and his muscle tone is altering - it takes some four year olds longer than others but I am very pleased with the way he looks now and he is a beautiful balanced ride. Toby and Ginny went to the Side Saddle Championships to do the Mountain and Moorland class with Holly as top groom and they came a very creditable fifth. Poor Toby had had only one practice at the weekend beforehand but as usual with his brilliant temperament took everything in his stride. Within his usual weekly routine he regularly jumps and pops over our cross country fences which he loves and this helps him to keep sweet and his body supple.
On Tuesday 4th August we took Warwick to Aston Le Walls Dressage with Holly to do the two Novice qualifiers which he won on 69.8 and 72% - brilliant scores which has now secured his Novice Winter Regional qualification.
On 6th August I left Holly in charge of the horses and flew over to Dublin to judge the side saddle classes. I love going to this show - it is a really sociable occasion - many stories and yarns are spun over many a drink! It is a great time to sit down and watch some lovely young irish horses going and the supreme champion was a really worthy winner. I flew back on Sunday night having had a fabulous time but with a few muscles aching from riding on different side saddles - some of them are not the most comfortable - in general I had some really good rides. One of my favourite classes this time that I watched was the retrained racehorse class - to watch some of the really famous racehorses being shown in the show ring was quite a sight. Hopefully I shall have one of my clients (Patrick and Ku Scott) contesting this class next year!
On 11th August Holly and Warwick went to Rhett Birds for a training session and we have all decided that now is the best time to advertise him for sale. He is a fantastic horse with a really trainable brain, lovely paces - what more can we say - Holly has become really attached to him - he is a really loveable character and they have formed a great partnership so it will be sad to see him leave the yard but hopefully he will find a lovely new owner to look after him.
On 15th August Alfie and Bow went off to Ashbourne Show. Alfie won the Novice Riding horse with Steph - great news! Bow went immaculately in the large hack HOYS qualifier not turning a hair at the flapping tents which many other hacks objected to so I was a little surprised to be pulled in further down a line than I would have liked only to be told by the judge that it was a shame that he was so naughty going round when she came to ride him - I did say that he didnt put a foot wrong. Anyway he behaved well for the ride judge and finally was pulled up to sixth. I was very disappointed especially when the horse behaved so well - I can fully understand when the horse is not a judges type but do get frustrated to get comments like I did!
Warwick went off to Aston Le Walls dressage again on 18th august and once again went well finishing with two seconds despite Holly not being quite on the boil this time due to personal circumstances.
On 19th august Ginny and Toby trundled off to Equifest for four days for their holidays and Toby was 2nd and reserve champion with Jack riding him in the Junior Mountain and Moorland class. Ginny then dressed up as Lady Penelope and rode to music from Thunderbirds and finished 4th in this class. I must say I would have loved to have seen this performance because we put this music together a long time ago with the help of Mary Martin and it really suited Toby. I know that this is a CD that will be getting a few more outings! On the last day Ginny was 2nd in a large class of pure Highlands - this was one of the few classes where the judge actually gets to ride them so a pleasing result. Toby has now gone back to Checkendon Equestrian Centre near to Ginny where she can look after him every day herself. I know that she has missed being able to do this whilst he was being produced with us. He was a lovely person to have on the yard and we shall miss his cheerful little face every day.
Warwicks advert came out during this time and I was inundated with phone calls. He has now been sold to Helen Turk from Cobham - a really lovely home for him and we wish them all the success in the future.
Kate Masters Sams owner has now started riding him and getting to know him and I am pleased to say they are making good progress. He is a bright four year old and Kate has not had experience at producing this type of horse so we are monitoring their progress carefully. She is a very determined girl which is great and I think with lots of help they will form a good partnership although I shall be watching their every step!!
On 29th August we had a lovely evening out with Denise Bumford and her husband when we all went to the European Dressage Championships to watch the Grand Prix Kur. Denise had bought these tickets for Holly and myself as a treat last year after Horse of the Year Show. As anyone will know that enjoys dressage we were lucky enough to be there on a day when history was made with Totilas and Edward Gal scoring over 90% for their Kur programme. I can only say that is was truly breathtaking and made the hairs on my neck stand up - what a horse!! The atmosphere was great that night and I was proud to be British and watch our three put up such fantastic performances. What a night!!
Sunday 30 August saw Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl) arrive back at the yard for her build up to HOYS. I really love this mare and am so looking forward to having her for longer this time. The first show was shall be doing will be the Coloured Horse and Pony Championships on 5th September.
I took Bow on Bank Holiday Monday back to Lady Benton Jones for a well deserved holiday. He has been a brilliant four year old and has behaved beautifully all season for such a baby.
I have just returned back from the Coloured Horse and Pony Championships on 5th September with Daisy and Teresa. Daisy surpassed herself by winning the overall ridden Championship on the Saturday night - she loved it. She also won the Sports Horse class in hand with Teresa. Teresa and I were both besides ourselves - so excited with what Daisy had done - she is a real little superstar! Hopefully we shall get her winning picture up on the web site soon so that you can all admire her!!
Anyway this week I am off to judge the sport horses at the Hunter Show on Wednesday at Addington and then two days at the Show Horse Championships on Fri and Sat with Alfie and Daisy so I shall post more news then. I promise to get blogging more regularly!!!
More news later!!
Tuesday 28 July 2009
Socialiser (Sam) went to Solihull affiliated dressage on 9th July to do two Novice tests where he won the Novice 28 with 73.3 and was 2nd in the Novice 36 Qualifier with 70.8 and I was very pleased with his more confident way of going and it was a good run up to Badminton the following week.
On 14th July Holly and I took Warwick out for the first time to Aston le Walls affiliated dressage where he won the Novice qualifier and was 2nd in the non qualifier behaving immaculately. This was his first party so it is always interesting to see how a young horse reacts to a new situation for the first time. He was confident and forward going and not at all spooky so a very good start for his career - well done Holly!!
We were up early the next day to take Sam to the Badminton Young Dressage Horse Finals. There were 53 in the class and I was delighted with the way he behaved. It is a very spooky dark indoor school with lots to look at for young horses. He scored 37.6 which was in the top half so a decent score for him to finish with. He is maturing all the time in his way of going and becoming more and more rideable as he gains in confidence. Hopefully now we have finished with the teenage spotty adolescent stage and he is finally growing up!!! We are really starting to understand each other!!!
We all trundled off the the Royal International Horse Show where Steph competed Times Square II (Alfie) in the Amateur Riding Horse. I think he was the only four year old in this class and he finished 8th and once again went very well for Steph so a very pleasing result for the pair of them. He is a very genuine four year old and I am looking forward to producing him next year for Steph when he has matured more - He is such a quality horse. The next day I was lucky enough to ride Clare Blaskeys riding horse I'm a Blue Chip which is a horse I have admired for many years especially when he won Horse of the Year Show with Robert Walker as a youngster. He is a lovely easy ride and I was delighted to be 7th with him - he holds his 14 years very well and is a credit to Clare and her team. I have to say the only reason I was lucky enough to be able to ride him was because Clare's back has been giving her some trouble and she has been signed off her riding duties for a while not that I am complaining!! Ginny and Toby were in the ring roughly the same time as I was so Holly was despatched to hold Ginny's hand and groom for her and give her moral support and help. We were all absolutely thrilled when Toby and Gin were 5th - an absolutely brilliant result and Ginny rode her pony beautifully with complete focus - very well done Ginny - I was very proud of the pair of you!! I have to say that Holly is brilliant at keeping people calm when they are nervous so 10 out of 10 to her and I think I have now been made redundant!! The pair of them are off the the side saddle championships together next weekend to take Toby for the Mountain and Moorland side saddle class while I go off to Mid Herts with Steph and Alfie and also to ride Clares riding horse "Glen" once again.
Hols and I were once again at dressage today at Aston le Walls with Sam and Warwick. Sam surpassed himself today where he won both the affiliated novice classes completing his Novice qualification for the Winter Regionals. Warwick once again went very well for Holly and was 2nd and 3rd in the Novice classes as well. We managed to get some very good photos of him which we shall post up on the web site as soon as possible. We shall probably take Warwick out next week without his stable mate to further campaign his novice qualification.
On 14th July Holly and I took Warwick out for the first time to Aston le Walls affiliated dressage where he won the Novice qualifier and was 2nd in the non qualifier behaving immaculately. This was his first party so it is always interesting to see how a young horse reacts to a new situation for the first time. He was confident and forward going and not at all spooky so a very good start for his career - well done Holly!!
We were up early the next day to take Sam to the Badminton Young Dressage Horse Finals. There were 53 in the class and I was delighted with the way he behaved. It is a very spooky dark indoor school with lots to look at for young horses. He scored 37.6 which was in the top half so a decent score for him to finish with. He is maturing all the time in his way of going and becoming more and more rideable as he gains in confidence. Hopefully now we have finished with the teenage spotty adolescent stage and he is finally growing up!!! We are really starting to understand each other!!!
We all trundled off the the Royal International Horse Show where Steph competed Times Square II (Alfie) in the Amateur Riding Horse. I think he was the only four year old in this class and he finished 8th and once again went very well for Steph so a very pleasing result for the pair of them. He is a very genuine four year old and I am looking forward to producing him next year for Steph when he has matured more - He is such a quality horse. The next day I was lucky enough to ride Clare Blaskeys riding horse I'm a Blue Chip which is a horse I have admired for many years especially when he won Horse of the Year Show with Robert Walker as a youngster. He is a lovely easy ride and I was delighted to be 7th with him - he holds his 14 years very well and is a credit to Clare and her team. I have to say the only reason I was lucky enough to be able to ride him was because Clare's back has been giving her some trouble and she has been signed off her riding duties for a while not that I am complaining!! Ginny and Toby were in the ring roughly the same time as I was so Holly was despatched to hold Ginny's hand and groom for her and give her moral support and help. We were all absolutely thrilled when Toby and Gin were 5th - an absolutely brilliant result and Ginny rode her pony beautifully with complete focus - very well done Ginny - I was very proud of the pair of you!! I have to say that Holly is brilliant at keeping people calm when they are nervous so 10 out of 10 to her and I think I have now been made redundant!! The pair of them are off the the side saddle championships together next weekend to take Toby for the Mountain and Moorland side saddle class while I go off to Mid Herts with Steph and Alfie and also to ride Clares riding horse "Glen" once again.
Hols and I were once again at dressage today at Aston le Walls with Sam and Warwick. Sam surpassed himself today where he won both the affiliated novice classes completing his Novice qualification for the Winter Regionals. Warwick once again went very well for Holly and was 2nd and 3rd in the Novice classes as well. We managed to get some very good photos of him which we shall post up on the web site as soon as possible. We shall probably take Warwick out next week without his stable mate to further campaign his novice qualification.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
