An exciting win

 

We're getting better ...

I’m very pleased to report there has been much improvement in my show jumping since my last blog – about time!

I recently competed at the Pony Club State Equitation championships at Camden, which was a great weekend and our team from Zone 28 had one the biggest groups we’ve ever had representing our zone. I think I worked it out that three quarters of my rounds were clear, which I was really happy about and the fact that I won a class gave me added confidence to know I am on the right track. I’d never won at state event before so this has incredibly exciting for me and especially for Positano who has shown massive development (hopefully from all our training) leading up to the event. It was also great to practise on the same grounds as the Camden Equestriad event that I was going to compete at the following week was taking place. Unfortunately as it turned out I wasn’t able to attend Equestriad, which has been a set back as it would have been my first pre-novice.

I was very happy to come home with some ribbons from the Pony Club Championships

Apart from horse riding I have been busy this term at school because I was involved with our production of Aida, a musical by Elton John and Tim Rice. Being a part of productions like this are incredibly rewarding but also very testing, this is because my school is in Sydney and my horses are at Foxground, about 2 and half hours away. Weekend rehearsals are especially hard because my parents have to drive me to riding on Saturday morning and then back to Sydney in the afternoon for 9-5 Sunday dancing rehearsals (thanks again guys). Needless to say although I love performing in our school musicals, it’s always a relief to have my weekends back.

Going to a school in the inner-west of Sydney, there aren’t many kids in the same position as me and I don’t have any horse riders in my year, I’m actually only one of two in the whole school. Despite all the travelling I do handling schoolwork and horses has never been much of a problem me but I suspect it probably will be once I get into year 12 … but I’m trying not to think about that too much just yet!

The holidays are coming up and I have my sights set on Denman one day event. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish on my dressage score, which is always the aim! These holidays are quite busy after Denman there is SIEC later in July. I’ve also got a few eventing clinics including the junior eventing camp at Camden from the 9th-11th and then a Pony Club eventing clinic with Sam Lyle, which I am really looking forward to. Sam had ridden Positano before we bought him so it’ll be interesting to hear his thoughts on how he’s going. Good I hope! My coach Simon has also recently returned from his holiday in England where he was visiting family, which is great because it means more lessons. Speaking of England, only 32 days to go until the Olympics, can wait to see all the action!

Thanks to mum for taking my blog photos!