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!!
Wednesday 30 September 2009
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!!
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