Weaning Time

Today was finally well over time to wean Haylee. She spent the day in the yard to settle and had some feeds and Bam next to her to keep her company and then later this afternoon with a lot of help from Dana, who was down for a saddle fitting, we loaded Haylee onto Danas float and took her the 200m down the road to where she is going to graze with Ed and Lexi. She was not the most well behaved once we got her out of sight of her mother, but we got there in the end. Angel is currently grazing with Fox to keep her company but is a little upset. Hopefully in a few days time they have both settled in. Haylee has both the old boys to keep her company so lets hope they are a good influence.

Taupo XC Training

Had a fantastic weekend away up at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo with Dana. We did 2 cross country lessons over 2 days with Margaret Lees who was just awesome. Taupo has such a huge range of jumps to choose from. We arrived there after dark on Friday night and popped Luca and Fox into some covered yards for the night with lots of hay and feed. We were staying in the hall at the NEC and well lets just say it took us an hour to get the fire going and then it was barely worth the effort. Please someone donate them a new fireplace!!!!

Sat morn we had out first lesson with Margaret at 9.45 which we started slightly late due to some stirrup leather dramas (DON'T ASK!). But we had an awesome lesson. Worked on stringing some jumps together and playing with some skinnies as they seem to be the new black. Everything is skinny! Then we had a play in the water which Fox is always a bit sticky thru. Sure enough he had a decent look first time in. But with a few goes he was popping thru quite boldly. We finished our lesson jumping a Pre novice palisade, over a few skinny logs on a turn and then around over a decent sized Novice pallisade. Both Fox and Luca flew the pallisade, the best jump of the day for both of them!

Then we settled the boys into a paddock for the day and Dana an I headed off to Taupo for lunch and extra blankets for Dana. And of course a 1 hour soak in the Hot Pools at De Bretts. Ahhhhhhh! Then we headed back to the Hall as everyone who was having the lesson was having a pot luck in the hall. Was a nice meal and a lovely evening drinking some wines and meeting new people. But did I mention the weather forecast that night.... -3 degrees.... hmmmm

Yes we did wake up on Sunday morning. I was buried under 2 sleeping bags, a doubled up Mink blanket and a brand new WB Landa that Fox has never worn yet. Fox was ok, he had 3 rugs on too! Wow it was cold. The pic at the top was taken at 8.15am as I was heading to saddle up the ponies, yes we rode in that fog! It made things a bit interesting as the sky was white, the ground was white, and the jumps were white. Hence the first jump I put Fox at which was a skinny, we went around! Yep he was just too confused with white white white to figure it out.

But we did get it together and popped over some tractor tyre skinnies and then strung the bank and then the roll top, 2 strides over a log into the water. And I heard Dana and Luca break the ice from a good 60m away as they jumped into the water!

We had a play over a tough combination thru the water, and I was stoked with Fox who was nailing the water finally. Yay a bold water pony! We headed into the land corp block and had a play with a couple of other combinations before we finished out lesson. Margaret is heading back to Holland soon but she promises she will contact us next time she is back in NZ.

Trucks were arriving in droves as we unsaddled and packed up our gear as Taupo Hunt week was starting and the first hunt was riding out at 12! So as we were leaving bang on 12 we pulled over and watched them all ride out.

An awesome weekend but just a tad cold!

Haylee gets a cover

Well I managed to pick up a little 3'9 rug for Haylee and it arrived just in time for some nasty weather. So Rich came out and helped me put it on her. She was really good about it even in the wind, just stood there while I adjusted all the straps and did it up nice and tight, even crossing them between her legs. Shes all grown up now :-) Go Hails.

Saddle Fitting and Bams first float ride

Dana and I got Tom from Berry's in Levin to do a saddle fitting. Good news was that my dressage saddle fits Fox well. Yay. My jumping saddle was also pretty much fine but was sitting slightly low at the back so this is getting padded at the back and then we will be all good. Pic is of us pottering around while testing the saddle.

Bam had his first float ride today as he came for a ride with us to the arena to have an outing. He walked straight on (his first time ever in a float) and travelled like a pro. He then stood for over 3 hours while we had the saddle fitting and then walked straight back on float for trip home so I am very proud. BUT he did attack the front padding of my float so he will be getting a grazing muzzle for future trips! A productive day though and now I know Bam floats :-)

First Post

Well hello! Seeing as its Winter there is not a lot happening with my horses. Paddocks are too wet to do much riding. Fox has the hairest legs you have ever seen on a TB! But on the right are the 3 horses I hope to have out and about this season. Haylee I aim to get to a few inhand shows, Bam I might do a few little training Show Hunter outings and perhaps a bit of flat stuff but will be taking it fairly easy with him as hes only just rising 4 and still a baby. Fox will be out eventing, SJ and a little SH.

In addition to these 3 I have 2 others. Angel is Haylees mum, she is rising 14 and I have owned her since she was 6, and Ed is 24 and has been with us since he was 18.

Photos of Angel (top) and both together (bottom) so they dont feel left out.

Check back as I will update this as we get back into gear for the new season!

Ciao