There’s nothing better than to sit down inside on the couch wrapped up in a blanket on a rainy Sunday night as the smell of cooking eye fillet and onions travels through the kitchen and lounge room. To be perfectly honest, I’d much rather be making my way back from Ballarat Horse Trials, tired, cold, probably grumpy with aching muscles; being fellow horse riders, I’m sure you’d understand … maybe. I’m just as eager to find out how everybody went; as there were quite a few people there that I’m very fond of.
As it turns out, Georgia Connelly’s horse Zac won his first 3* with Megan! And what’s even better is that Will Enzinger picked up the second and third. Having known George since she was in junior school with my older brother, then being my baby sitter, house sitter, dressage coach and now good friend, I love hearing how great Zac’s going. As for Will, he’s been teaching me at Pony Club clinics since I was a tiny dot and mum became memorised by those famous blue eyes when he was 18 years old and for the past few years he’s been the best Coach I’ve ever had. Happy to help out at events, great advice, constantly changing his extent of knowledge when it comes to competition - I can honestly say he won’t get rid of me for a very long time!
Having fully recovered from a horse related back injury last year, it is not only incredible to be back in the saddle full time again but the count down for next season is on my wall, my phone and in my diary. It’s fair to say I’m eager to get back on a cross country course again. Not only that, but I swear my iPhone didn’t have nearly as many pictures of my horses on it, as I seem to be clicking away like mad. The horse crazy 13 year old girl is still lingering around it seems.
Drum looking keen to scrubbed for Boneo Park
On the 11th, I washed, plaited, cleaned scrubbed and polished everything I was taking to the Boneo Park dressage day. Deciding to leave Wyuna Clear Image (Ace) at home for this one and concentrate on Touch of Honour (drum), who is not only really fluffy at the moment but a croup high plain bay TB – not exactly striking dressage material here. But he’s been my main ride since I was 12, so we know each other inside out and make a pretty good pair in my eyes.
By the time we were competing at Boneo we look quite smart
Coming home with a second and third it seems that even after the 8 month competition break, we‘re not that bad! Drum performed neat and accurate tests, which I was very pleased with, athough we’ve done better tests and there is certainly room for improvement. When isn’t there in the world of horses?
Wyuna Clear Image (Ace) not so keen for early morning flat work, he thinks that hill sprints are far more exciting!!
As for Ace, the long legged 17hh TB – it’s taking m time to get used to him. His dressage is awesome as he gets better everyday. As for our jumping, well … let’s just say that needs some serious work. With the help of Will (also his past rider) we’re in talented and safe hands.
In another area of my life it would seem that my Myotherapist*.. and friend, Claire Stidston and I are in the beginning phases of launching our own business (exciting!) She has somehow convinced me that we need to run our cross country courses next season. No, that wasn’t a typo, we’re going to RUN our cross country courses … Eh.
Luckily for me, I’m not nearly as unfit as I thought I would be, so I’ve found myself enjoying my morning runs!
For now it’s the quiet before the storm. Together with UNI, 3 horses and work I seem to be steadily busy but with enough time to plan for more (how unusual for me). When July hits, it’s going to be full ball as I put Wyuna Distant Music (Winston) in full work again and introduce our rising 4 year old paint TB cross into light work, pick up another 2 subjects and then be busy organising Equi-lates.
Wyuna Take a Chance (Chance) – our rising 4yo filly by my mum’s Paint Stallion and a 1/8th Percheron 7/8th TB mare.
Currently standing at 16.2 ½ hh she’s going to be one big girl
For now, it’s time for a cuppa tea and TV. Happy riding everyone!
Lil xx
(Myotherapy is a form of manual medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and management of musculoskeletal pain)
