On the stage (far right) at the Equestrian NSW awards night!
Jaymee’s Blog
With HSC finally over I am back in the saddle of my horse King, who Gemma kept fit for me last year. With pre-season training commencing weeks ago I was so excited to start the season with Wallaby Hill Horse Trials last weekend.
It was our and my first event in about a year, you could I say I was a little nervous for the junior pre-novice (EV105) we were entered in. Dressage went well placing us fourth, but behind my sister Gemma who was in 3rd place! And ahead of me by 9 penalties! Show jumping went amazing leaving all the rails up for a double clear round and remaining in fourth position. You could say I was just a little bit nervous and excited for cross-country. King and I flew round the course, but unfortunately that cost as a few penalties for being too fast, obviously didn’t gauge the difference between 2* and pre-novice time very well. Gemma unfortunately had a stop at the water on her horse Woody, but on a positive look that made King and I finish in 3rd. An amazing result for our first event in so long, I’m so happy with King and am looking forward to what this year will hold for us.
I was very fortunate to attend the Equestrian NSW awards night recently and get an award for the NSW Interschools' Championships in the Eventing. It was great to get to see the achievements of all the fellow riders in all the different disciplines; it really keeps you motivated to try harder and become better and hope that one day it will be you winning the awards.
2013 for me is going to be all about horses, university and work. It is my 18th birthday on Thursday the 21st of February and I would be spending the day at SIEC event, but have to attend an orientation lecture at Uni. This year (and the next four years) I will be studying a bachelor of commerce with a bachelor of arts at Macquarie University. We have just bought King from his owner that we were leasing from, Nidhi Dev, and I am looking forward to this year of riding him as my own horse. I start Uni next week and am looking forward to what this year will hold for me and King.
Gemma’s blog
Well it’s a new start in 2013! And we kicked off with some beach riding! We went down to Port Stephens in the holidays with some friends for 2 days. Riding on the beach was amazing - it’s like you’re living the dream! Woody was great - he was a bit scared at the waves but he led the way and was the first in the surf! Port Stephens was so cool we decided to spend more days there to do all the activities! We did jet boat riding, parasailing, patted the sharks and we went on the dolphin watch! It was the funniest 3 days and would love to do it again (mum)....
Now for the real thing – Woody’s first event this year was at Wallaby Hill and of course it started with the dressage. Woody did a great test and I was running 3rd, I was really happy with my results and Woody was going so well! On Sunday I started by getting ready for the show jumping - we did our round, Woody had one down but I was still so happy. I was still in 3rd position having Jaymee and King right behind me in 4th position!!!
Now for cross country.... I was quite scared about it as there were a few narrow fences. So we set out and Woody was going really well until the water... Woody has a terrible drift and I just couldn’t even get him near the water, so now with a rail and a run out up my sleeve that put me down to seventh. I was disappointed with my cross country but happy with my results.
Now I need to just concentrate as the Interschools is in a few weeks where I’m am doing the pre-novice eventing and 1m and 1.10m show jumping on Woody.
