We are now based at Ashley Park
Hey everyone!
Hope your Christmas and New Year was fantastic and you had at least a slight chance to relax and unwind over the last month. I know my own relaxing time has been pretty vital. Coming into the end of last season I was pretty burnt out and the little things my horses do that normally make me smile (like my big horse Archie who particularly likes to groom me, vigorously; or Muz who will unceremoniously molest you for carrots if he even thinks you might have one) were starting to p**s me off! So over the last week they’ve both come gradually back into work (on the lunge to start with - I like my life!) and they’re relaxed and happy and I’m relaxed and happy too! Yay for a break!
In fact, I’m actually really excited about the fact that they’re both back in work and we’re starting the road to Melbourne 3DE in June! All of my comps for the first half of this year have been planned around making sure we are qualified and ready to go at Werribee. We are starting with the Top Horse South West Horse Trials at Camperdown next month where they are both having a Preliminary run because they won’t be super fit yet and they’ll go to Geelong the weekend after that for a Pre Novice start.
Archie and Muz in their new (freshly electrified) paddocks at Ashley Park
The big exciting news for me is that in the last month (actually more like the last week...) I’ve finally moved house! WOOHOO! I’m sad to have left the wonderful community and support at Jamie and Sue’s place on the Peninsula. Their constant support has been absolutely vital to my growth as a rider in the past two years and I look forward to continuing my relationship with them through regular jump lessons with Jamie. I’ll miss their fantastic arena, amazing fencing and green paddocks. I’ll even miss the chooks that climb in the back of your float as soon as you put the ramp down and their guard dogs, Billy and Curly, who after almost two years of me being there had finally warmed to me and made the executive decision not to eat me. Good thing I’ll get to go back for lessons!
Archie, Muz, my beautiful pooch Aslan, and I are now living at a property called Ashley Park in Yarrambat, about 40 minutes north-east of Melbourne. I’ve been friends with the owner, Darryl, for years now, and as well as the main house he has a 2 bedroom unit on the property which I’ll move into in the next few weeks once the current tenants move out. In the meantime, I’m bunking in Daz’s spare bedroom. It is so super exciting to not have to drive an hour there and back each day when I ride my horses and even more amazing that I get to roll out of bed every morning, stick my head outside and see my Fur Kids.
Asian seems happy his new home
Ashley Park has a round yard, small cross country paddock and a 20X40m sand arena, so we’ve pretty much got everything we need to make the place feel like home and get down to business! I’ve also got a tack up groom starting at the beginning of February - a client of mine lives in the area and wants to gain more experience, so she’s going to help me out four mornings a week in exchange for lessons. I’m going to have so much extra time, I’m not going to know myself!
That’s all from me today, look forward to updating you all in a month on how we’re settling in to the new place and how our first event for the year pans out!
Best riding
Nicole
