The Selby Syndicate bought me Black Crest to ride in 2016
I have come to the unsurprising conclusion that I am a rubbish blogger…my last one was a summary of a year, and now this one is nearly a summary of two years.
So this is what has happened since I moved home to Australia from the UK.
- I bought an equestrian retail business (horsewerks) because I needed a “responsible” occupation that didn't involve riding horses for a living. I now need 36 hour days to get everything done.
- Sold Gus to a lovely family in Sydney. He is happy and spoilt and loving life.
- Have bought 2 x racehorses; Roy, now 6 and Kevin, now 4…they are progressing.
Roy at Canberra Horse Trials
- Was fortunate enough that a syndicate of lovely people (The Selby Syndicate) bought me Black Crest to ride in 2016. He flew around two 1*s brilliantly to start our career together, did a tendon and is now on rehab.
- Dan went 2* in 2015, then tried to die in April 2016 after going through a fence. He is alive and kicking. The bank balance continues to suffer.
- The Selby Syndicate then purchased Van Heck (Hector) from Rachel Cave. He is a next level jumping freak. We are working on the dressage. He is going to Adelaide, I am packing my best leg glue as he does not believe in brushing through brush (as you can see in the photo below)
- Mum sold my truck in June and decided to build a new one (thanks Wade Equine) - it is arriving four days before we leave for Adelaide.
- Put my mare in foal to Highland Blue Diamond. She produced a lovely filly who is called Maude after my grandmother. The foal and my grandmother share many attributes, they are both stroppy and opinionated!
- I managed to convince my bestest English side kick, Izzy Nowicki, to fly over here and come to Adelaide and Wallaby Hill with me. She is ace at making cups of tea in transit, ensuring my horses look beautiful and telling me to stop wimping and ride properly.
- We installed lights on our arena at home - I am thrilled to be able to ride at all hours of the day and night. Dad is less thrilled and thinks we should have fewer horses *insert standard Wallace family argument here*
That is about all that has happened really – it’s a bit like ride, work, sleep, repeat at times but it is great to have another job that is sort of outside of horses - particularly when it is raining! Whilst my people skills are developing (read: I have limited tolerance for silly people), I really enjoy finding new products and tracking things down for people that they may not be able to find elsewhere.
If you happen to be in the Highlands, I would love to see you in store! Otherwise I will see you all either on a horse or behind the trade stand counter somewhere soon.
LW
Dan at Goulburn
