Early Days - Capel CNC 3* Redfoto
April has flown around and here I am ... back on the other side of the country. Slightly amusing that I am supposed to be a W.A based blogger and I find myself on the east coast for the most part of the time I am blogging!!!
To fill in the gaps as it has been a few months since I have last made it to the computer in time to write what’s been going on - February saw the horses back in full work. I've had anywhere from five to eight in work, five of those being my own and the rest being clients’ horses. Teaching picked back up throughout February and riding the racehorses soon became a bit much so I am no longer doing that. I did a 3-Day Kids Camp which was a huge success and an experience! I don't know where they get their energy from ... we had a full day with lots of lessons, practical sessions off the horse, theory sessions, as well as swimming in the pool ... and at 9pm we were still outside playing spotlight. I could hardly keep up! But had a great group of nine kids and the incredible Lily Knuckey to help so we survived ..... just.
We did a few dressage and show jumping competitions and training days with success all over the board, as well as a few clinics and I actually started back up having a few lessons myself again with some local coaches - Colin Chantler for dressage and Chadd Donovan for jumping. The last few years I had fallen into the swing of coaching a lot, riding a lot, still doing the clinics but not really having the consistent guidance from the ground. I've enjoyed going back to this weekly work and my competition results have already improved - hard work does pay off.
Blackall Park Lucy - Capel EvA80 Waylib Photos
Our first eventing start for the season was Capel CNC on the 21st/22nd March. Here I had Early Days in the CNC 3*** H/C (3* dressage, 2* cross country and 3* show-jumping), Blackall Park Lucy and Mistwood Hawke in the EvA80, and Ruby de Luxe in the EvA65. It was a busy weekend and on the Saturday afternoon after I had ridden 4 tests, jumped 3 showjumping rounds and walked 3 cross country courses ... I did ask myself then whether 4 horses at the first event back was a good idea! Thankfully I had Chanelle Kildea to groom for me - and I would've been lost without her.
Each horse went super - Daisy technically ran 2nd in the 3*** H/C - she managed a 58 penalty dressage score, 0 penalties to add on the cross country and we very nearly had a super clear show-jumping round ... until the last fence (of course - my last fence, of my last horse, of the last day of a very full on weekend) I just had to have the miss of a lifetime. So one fence down which we thankfully were allowed to come back around and jump properly!
Lucy ran 3rd in the EvA80 after an awesome 48 penalty dressage score. Hawke survived his first show jumping round ... and then his first cross country round! So we were pleased with him despite the cricket score. The star of the weekend was Ruby de Luxe who finished on her dressage score at her first event for 7th place. She was so much fun! And not bad for a pony who was only broken in over Christmas!
After Capel we had a great clinic with Stuart Tinney, as well as the High Performance Camp which was really informational and beneficial. All in preparation for WAYER CIC the following weekend - however life went a little pear shaped on the Tuesday when I had a very unfortunate fall off a client’s horse which set me back on the riding scale for a few days. I knew that I had to get Early Days to WAYER for both the qualifier opportunity, as well as the fitness and test. So we made the decision to put the young horses on the back burner for a little while and focus on making sure I could ride. After some awesome physio appointments with Caroline Massie, and a bit of R & R (e.g. sitting in my chair to coach for the week, rotating between resting on an ice boot, the redlight pad and the Equissage!) and Daisy having to deal with going around in circles in the round yard, thankfully I made it to WAYER with her.
In hindsight I'm so happy with this decision. Daisy went on to run a very close 2nd place in the CIC 3* at WAYER after her best dressage test at this level to score a 50 penalty (even scoring 70% from International judge Christina Klingspor of Sweden). She was relaxed, we were so accurate and it’s all starting to happen in the ring. Show jumping took place that afternoon - which ended up being very emotionally draining. Four days of no riding and my back not really working properly made me feel a bit all over the place, however Daisy helped me out and we just had one rail down. The cross country loomed the next day and the fantastic track build by John Nicholson was a huge test - probably the biggest I had ever faced. However Daisy answered all the questions and we came home clear with just 1.6 time - which unfortunately cost us first place! However the qualifier was what I needed and I am so thrilled with our performance. I could finally start preparing myself mentally for the fact that we were now en route to Sydney CCI 3*.
Ruby de Luxe - Capel EvA65 Redfoto
Four short and hectic days later (Thursday 9th April) we were on the road, and last night (Sunday 12th) we arrived here to base with Tinney Eventing for my time in NSW. Mum, Dad and I made the drive with travel buddies and friends - Michaela Martindale & Co, who are also over here for the same amount of time. On the gooseneck I packed Daisy, and young horse Blackall Park Lucy who is here for the training, the experience, and the Sydney Young Event Horse. Back at home we left Love That Blonde who I am so thankful is being kept in work by Emma Pearson, Ruby de Luxe who is headed to good friend Jade Moody's for some work for me, Mistwood Hawke who is having a bit of a spell and my two broodmares who have both had their positive 45 day pregnancy test. That's a bit of another story however I am so excited to lease a very successful breeder of top performance horses - BBD Fortune WB mare 'Spring' who is owned by the Bagley family. Spring is in foal to Shane Rose's Another Warrior (TB) and I am so excited by this cross. After an attachment to yearling foal Mistwood Sage (Higgins X Million Heiress xx) Dad took charge and much to my thrill, has put this mare back in foal - this time to the Chugg's Baluga. Another exciting cross!
Anyway so here I am, settled in - the horses travelled well and aside from being a bit attached to each other, are both healthy and happy in their lush green paddocks at Tinney Eventing in Maraylya. I have some lessons planned this week and then we are off to Camden Equestriad where Daisy will start in the CIC 3* and Lucy in the EvA80.
Before I finish - a huge and very public thankyou must be made, as life is such a team effort and I could not be here without a huge support network of people.
Firstly to my sponsors and a bit of a brag about some recent successes with products;
Saddles Plus Saddlery - Gary Johnson and the Johnson family, thank you for your endless support and guidance with the products. With only a few days notice, Gary came out to me the day before I left to send me away with a beautiful dressage saddle for Lucy - the Erre Plus Italia - so incredibly comfortable! This is tucked away nicely in the gooseneck with my Prestige Burto Event, Prestige DX Event and Prestige Verona K dressage. I am so blessed to have such nice saddlery, gear, and attire.
Spooks Riding Attire - Narelle Castles-Helsmans - thankyou Narelle for dressing me in such attractive, yet comfortable riding attire. I can't wait to show off the brand newly released Spooks Dressage Tails at Sydney CCI, finished off nicely with the show shirt and breeches.
Kelato Animal Health - Neryl Simmons - who rushed around for me and topped me up with these amazing supplements for before I needed to go away. I wouldn't hesitate in the slightest to recommend any Kelato product. You know that Swell Down that you've been using for the past few seasons? Well, that's actually a Kelato Animal Health product. Kelato have my horses looking and feeling absolutely incredible and currently we are running them on the Egusin, BetaCalm, NutriFlex, KelatoVit & Lyte and the Zanobolic – as well as swearing by the Swell Down.
FOX United Building - Phil Wood (aka Dad) - and Northam Auto Electrics - Neil Smith - as we wouldn't make it across the Nullabor without the gooseneck and the F250 that I'm very lucky to have as well as for the endless and ongoing support financially - thankyou.
To Stuart & Karen Tinney for your hospitality whilst I am here and Stuart's ongoing coaching.
To the rest of the team behind my horses;
Amazing vet Donna Colvin - and equally as amazing farrier Robert Smith for genuinely caring so much and always being there to help my horses. To Tracy Hockley who does our Bowen treatments and makes sure all of the horses are feeling well and on the right track. To my WA coaches Colin and Chadd for being great eyes on the ground this season, and for the last minute words of wisdom. To my sisters Samantha and Tara who both pick up the slack at home and take care of the horses left there, as well as being so supportive, I love you both dearly.
Finally to my amazing students and clients who have not failed to support - the going away gifts, visits, or phone calls and texts - and also in understanding my going away. My friends - some are over here with me doing the exact same thing, and some are back at home helping in other ways - but all are equally as supportive and I am so blessed to have you guys.
Lastly to my amazing Mum and Dad who are supporters in every single way possible. I can't thank you enough.
Camden Equestriad CIC and Sydney CCI are on the horizons and hopefully my next blog can post some great achievements! Until then!
Makayla X
