It has rained a lot
A brand new year always brings new challenges and we look at ways in which we can improve how we operated last year. It was also time to farewell a couple of workers and welcome new ones into the fold.
Rachel Watts (pictured above at Wallaby Hill) had been with us for six years and was a stalwart at Bimbadeen. There wasn’t much that Rachel couldn’t do and there certainly wasn’t anything that she wasn’t willing to learn. She was the one who took over when Shane and I were off chasing dreams around the world. It was a big reassurance to know that the horses at home were in such good care. Rach has now headed over to England to take over as Chris Burtons head groom and we know she will do an amazing job as long as she can survive the cold! It seemed only fitting that we farewell her in style so we organised a little bon vouyage party. And no party is complete without a few drinks and a pig on a spit!
The festive season had been a good one for everyone involved and we were reluctant to get back into working horses. However with a Bettina Hoy clinic in the second week in January there was no rest for the wicked and the boys came back into work on Boxing day. A quick walk over the scales would agree that everyone had outdone themselves in the eating stakes, both horses and riders alike. Mysteriously the scales stopped working just after Shane hopped on although he claims it was the rain that broke them and not him!
Normally the racehorses don’t really kick off until the middle to end of Febuary. However the boys had grand plans this year of breaking in 300 horses (last year was 215 and that was the most in the time I have worked here) and so the first of the breakers started the second week of January with some of our trainers deciding to get in early. By the end of the month we were up to 50 in work and 130+ horses on the property. And just to make sure we didn’t have any spare time we had around 30 eventers and young horses in work.
More rain
With so many young horses in work, the hardest part can be getting them out to competitions and exposing them to different environments. Fortunately for us we have the Bicentenial Park in Camden where we run a jump club once a month and also a hunter trials once or twice a year. To make things entertaining Shane decided we would take 18 horses to our last one. Two trips in the truck and a couple of floats later 18 horses made it to jump club and back just before the first of many massive storms to hit home.
Oh the fun of the rain ... not!
Riding in the rain isn’t fun at the best of times but riding in torrential rain that soaks you in the first two minutes of being outside is crazy. Many of us experienced this at the weekend event at SIEC. While we were sloshing around in dressage arenas, the guys at home were splashing around on the racehorses. Fortunately (or unfortunately as the case may be) Shane had the sense to put an all weather surface on the arena and track so that we could ride no matter what the weather. After the fourth change of clothes I think the novelty had warn off and one of the boys decided that riding in his scuba vest and goggles was a much better alternative to more wet clothes!
SIEC was indeed an interesting event. We took a truckload of horses as usual and there was never any thought of scratching from the event. A little rain never hurt anyone! However a lot of rain did cause the cancellation of cross country. Although speaking to Shane earlier that morning he assured me the ground was fine just a little soggy in places!
Capone and I at the Equestriad Hunter Trials
Capone and I have been going well after our little break over Christmas. A trip to Wallaby Hill for a clinic and some cross country schooling where Shane had us jumping some of the one and two star fences saw us well prepared for the preliminary class at SIEC. However the bad weather didn’t help us. Capone began his life in Germany in stables and indoor arenas and I think he still thinks that water is for drinking not playing in! The puddles on the arenas at SIEC proved to be very scary as he did his best to avoid them! But I have a big year planned for the two of us starting with stepping up to pre novice at Scone. Hopefully there isn’t too much rain between now and then!
