Since I last wrote my blog, Billy Sparkle Pants (BSP) has been allowed to come back into work and I have finally, after almost a year of nagging, have been able to get him on Pentosan. His recovery is going well and I have been doing very light walking on him up and down the road. He’s been so funny! Very affectionate and very spooky!
I was really lucky to get a spot on the Australian Equine Behavioural Centre’s Anjanette Harten clinic and rode Zac, a 24 year old school master (above). It was, of course, love at first sight with Zac. Anjanette owned him when he was 4 years old and she was thrilled to see him again. When I met Anjanette she asked me what I would like to work on and I said learning to balance an older horse as BSP is terribly unbalanced. The lesson commenced and we worked on direct and indirect rein work and transitions. When Anjanette asked me to prepare for halt and I sat tall and gave a light squeeze on the rein she burst out laughing at my utter joy as Zac came to a beautiful, smooth halt.
To ride a horse that is so responsive and 24 years old was amazing! I truly was blown away as I have never really had that sensation before. It was an incredible moment for me and something SO simple! Anjanette said she loved our lesson because she could see my understanding growing and also my improvement during the lesson. It was fantastic and I would love to go back there with BSP and work on him!
After the lesson I headed back towards home and decided to detour to Strathewen. I had attended the Emergency Services Foundation Volunteer Leadership Conference the weekend before in St Kilda, where there was a presentation on the Black Saturday tree. I had avoided the launch as I wasn’t sure how I would be emotionally, so I decided after seeing the presentation at the forum, it was time.
The Black Saturday memorial tree - blacksmiths from around Australia and the world have spent countless hours crafting a memorial tree that weighs two-and-a-half tonnes and features more than 3,500 intricate and individually forged leaves.
I arrived and aside from some workmen near the pavilion, I was alone and spent quite some time reflecting and admiring the tree. Feeling good, I decided to take BSP out for a walk and headed to see him. He was happy to see me, nickering and I gave him a good brush and then we were off. Oh my gosh, it was SO wonderful to be back on him! I have missed him so much! I took him to the end of the street and back, mostly going sideways as he was snorting and jumping at everything, but we made it safely home and with a big brush and rugs back on it was dinner time and I tucked him in. My plan is to gently bring him back into work and focus on flat work and lessons to help him balance himself and use the correct muscles so he can support himself more. I hope to be back out competing by August or September.
So while I have not been riding I have been working hard on my scholarship, writing, diving (check out the photos below) and pencilling for an EA dressage judge as well as judging some PCAV events myself. There’s no rest for the wicked!
Until next time, happy riding and always continue learning!
Love Jenna and BSP xoxox
