Getting Murphy back into work
This is my first blog for you so where to begin! I guess I should start by introducing my team for the year. Currently I have four chestnuts at home, the first of which most of you will be familiar with, Tempus Fugit (aka Murphy). I also have an older but greener Thoroughbred, named Hope Springs (aka Bradley) and an Australian Stock Horse that grew too big for polocrosse, Touchstone Felix (aka Felix). These are going to be my main competition horses this year and then I have the addition of client’s horses, one of which is from Eliva Park Thoroughbreds (www.elivapark.com.au).
After getting home from Adelaide Murphy joined the rest of my little herd of chestnuts out in the paddock for some time to be human free and just be a horse. A little herd therapy never does the big ego horses some harm either! This also allowed me some horse free time over summer, spending much of it in a beach house, where my Mum was surprised with a new edition to the Lush Eventing team – a corgi!
The Corgi is named Flash – Bred by local equestrian champion Anne Taylor
My horses spend some time walking and then lots of lunging over trot poles to get them fit. As they get stronger over the trot poles and can build them up to having 6-8 trot poles or more in a row then I alternate with days of ridden work. I find this really helps to build strength over the sacroiliac area. I then don’t start jump work until they have been in work for 4-5weeks and then gallop work after that.
As you can see I use pretty uncomplicated equipment when I lunge and Flash looks keen to join in
January brings a busy month for me, spending the first half just getting horses fit, getting their teeth done, getting shoes back on (all of which normally involves a trip to Perth). Then at the end of Jan I have some lessons with the wonderful Peter Shaw, as well as Jon Pitts, who is back in town for a couple of weeks, and then have also booked a young one into Ben Netterfield for some jumping lessons. Lots to talk about next month – until then…
Tegan
