Sitting in the car on the long drive home from an event I realised that it was that time again – AEL Blog time! Luckily I had a co-driver to allow me to be passenger while I sit here and type this. We are currently trekking home from Moora, a few hours north of Perth for most, but for us a good six hour drive!
Murphy spooking mid-air at the drum on top the CIC*** apex, WAYER
Photo: Duncan Pratt
Since my last blog we attended WAYER CIC at Brookleigh, featuring the Olga Reveler Memorial class. This is the last event to be held at Brookleigh with the cross country course going up for sale. Murph went along for the CIC3* class where he was a very exuberant horse all weekend, and after a big spook just before cantering into the dressage arena the test was more an act of survival than actual dressage. But he jumped great, came in after cross country quite strong for his first big test of the year. Bradley also got around the CIC* finishing inside the top ten in a strong field and with a qualifier to get him to Melbourne.
Felix at WAYER CIC* - before his little water moment
Photo: Redfoto.com.au
Felix also went for the CIC* and after leading after dressage and showjumping the pressure was really on – but however, when a stockhorse decides he is heading elsewhere than where you want to go, there is not much convincing you can do! So after Felix said no to getting his feet wet, I walked home knowing that he is still young and still has some learning to do.
Our camp with good friends Leedale Lodge at Moora
So with that in mind we did some ‘at home training’ with a make-shift puddle on a quiet weekend and then packed up to head to Moora. Felix and Bradley were again entered in the one star and as Murph has never made the journey to Moora I thought it would be good for him to tag along and see some different cross country and do dressage in a different atmosphere. Murph was very well behaved all weekend. My aim for him cross country was to be a bit faster to the first few fences which I think I achieved quite well, but then just took him easy after that coming home full of running but a whisker of time. It was a great run for him in the lead up to Wooroloo CNC3star in a few weeks.
And it seems the training on Felix paid off – he was second after dressage and flew around a solid One Star track to come home clear. Sonja riding Michael Proctor’s stallion Showdown was leading going into show jumping, but knocking one rail meant that the pressure was on. Felix did a great job, he is so careful, and produced a great clear to seal his first win! Very proud of him. And it looks like he now gets to tag along to Melbourne in June.
Felix with his owner Ben Mitchell, and me, at Presentations Moora CNC*
Photo: Redfoto.com.au
So now it gets quite busy for the next few weeks before getting ready to leave for Melbourne with the team of orange – I am attending Jon Pitts later in the week, with much excitement, before going to Peter Shaw for a tune up on the flat before Wooroloo CNC. As for me, I get a weekend off coming up and head to Kojonup Pony Club for a day of Cross Country coaching.
That’s all for now …
