If you're going somewhere, I'm coming too. George one early morning not wanting to be left at home when we went to a clinic
I love giving the horses a break over summer, especially when they have had a massive year like 2013. What I don’t love is when you go into the paddock to catch your beloved horse, thinking it will come trotting up nickering, only to find it looking at you like it’s never seen a white person before and it truly believes you have turned into a two headed monster over the summer break. This was the reception I was faced with a few weeks ago when I decided it was time. So I grabbed a sugar cube or two and it was surprising how I turned from demon into sugar cube vendor in a space of seconds. Then you go through the ‘oh maybe I should give that one a quick lunge before I go eagerly kicking my leg over the saddle…’ only to find myself feeling slightly foolish as the horse trotted quietly around the lunge yard looking at me wondering what on earth I was up to. Of course they were all well behaved and I am delighted to say they seem to have learned something whilst being out in the paddock.
It has been a great start to the year with a slight changing of the guard at home with our beloved staff member inconveniently deciding to start a family which we are thrilled about for her… Bummer for us! We have recruited an international quality sweeper, eventing enthusiast and keen hat wearer, whilst managing to keep our 4**** pony rider from disappearing into the enticing early morning gallop and sometimes glamorous racing world alongside our show jump groupie, miracle multitasker at shows and accomplished chef who deep down wants to be an eventer / dressage rider I’m sure.
Congratulations to Rob and Cassie! (note from the Editor, the party wasn't so wild that Cassie needed to wear a helmet - this is an AEL photo from Adelaide!)
The only down side to January was seeing our dear friends Jamie Winning, Jamie Kermond, Dave Goodwin and Allen head off to Europe to join Julia Hargreaves and Hilary and Todd Hinde for a show jumping adventure although we are pretty sure with this Aussie force combined they are going to rip it! We also had the pleasure of joining Cassie Lowe and Rob Palm for their engagement party on the long weekend, a great party, a fabulous night, with lovely company and maybe one too many drinks. Needless to say some turned up for their 7.45am flights looking a slightly greener shade than others :)
We attended the Camden Equestriad hunter trials to dust off the cobwebs, remove the now attached black numbers from the number holder and check that all our horses still go into water as they haven’t seen any puddles for a while! The first official event of the year will be SIEC mid-week and weekend as I was sadly feeling a little underdone for the beautiful yet challenging Wallaby Hills event.
Wish me luck!
Tal
