Hi everyone and a happy New Year! 2015 is the year I will turn 15 and there is so much to look forward to. We just got back from the USA where we went skiing in Colorado and Wyoming, both places where horses dot the white winter landscape and, everywhere we drove, we either called out ‘LOOK, horses’ or ‘LOOK moose’. However there wasn't a dressage or jumping saddle in sight, Western riding rules there.
While we had the best time, my little sister and I missed our horses soooooo much. Interestingly, one of the ski instructors we spent the day with said that the balance and strength required for skiing is very similar to riding. I also had some exciting news while I was in the USA that I had been nominated then selected as a finalist in the Junior Rising Star category for the Equestrian Queensland Annual Awards night. This is held at a swanky hotel in Brisbane city where I finally have a good excuse to really dress up. BRING ON THE SHOPPING!!!!!
It was hard to leave perfect snow with -3 degrees and return to 38 degrees heat but what made coming home easy and special was that we knew before our flight back, the foal we were expecting (Rupert bred by our mare Ariel and his sire Charlemagne Ego Z Finch Farm) had arrived a week early and was waiting for us. Before we left we entrusted our mare Ariel to our neighbour Abbie, who just started running a foaling business. Everything went great and Abbie was an amazing midwife and when we arrived home we jumped the fence to greet little Rupert, five days old and already a character. His mum surprisingly let us close to him immediately and soon we were all hugging him and he even lay down on our laps to rest. What an experience, they truly are magical creatures looking for friendship and I hope that he will love me as much as we already love him.
Bye bye snow and hello horses - back to it this weekend
All our horses were happy to see us and were healthy and actually excited (seemingly) about doing some work. Now I can’t wait to get them ready for the competitions coming up and build on last year with the help and support of coaches, family and blessed with the sponsorship of Promectin Plus Mini! It starts with a cross country clinic at Warwick, with Sam Lyle and Rebel Morrow this weekend. The main reason we are heading to Warwick is so I can conquer a bogey fence on the 1* star course and get some much needed cross country training for the young ones.
I am very excited about the upcoming events I will be competing at: Tamborine, Sydney Midweek and Sydney Weekend and Warwick in February and March. Very sadly, I have headed back to school (Grade 10) so have to make sure I am extremely organised when fitting in horse riding and school work! Watch out for us in our new Promectin Plus Mini pink shirts!!!
