THE END OF 2009!

Well today is the last day of 2009. I must admit i have been very slack with this whole blog thing. Although in my defense I've been having some terrible back problems so haven't been doing a lot of riding lately.
The start of this season started with on and off lameness from Vi (i think I'll keep her in light work over next winter to see if that helps).
As soon as Vi was ok the Jeep packed a sad and needed seals fixed or something like that.

Finally the Jeep and Vi were ready to go, I've become a bit scared of the whole eventing thing at the moment despite our successful first go together. So it turned to a case of finding a nice local show to start with. Lucky for me Western Hills was postponed so i focused on that being our first day out.

Vi was amazing all day, we had a ok start to our flat classes, the class was absolutely huge and i wasn't really asking/pushing Vi and so she only gave as much as she had to (fair enough too). We had a break during the novice hack classes so i took that opportunity to really work on the two of us. We finished with the open hack class and Vi was amazing every transition was completely on the mark and she was very consistent. Unfortunately the judge didn't like us that day and we finished the Flats empty handed but i was stoked with such a good start for the two of us as a team for the season.
I entered two SH classes the first was a disaster, i rode terribly and Vi cruised around doing her own thing. The judge was awesome gave me some pointers to focus on for my next class. So for the 90cm class i focused on my riding and we did a much better round only pitching into a couple of the jumps finishing in 5th place and a ribbon for our efforts.

I'm hoping our next show will be the Upper Valley Equestrian day where I'm hoping to do some flat classes, dressage and some ring 2 SJ.

In November I came to the difficult decision to find a new home for Amy. She was still lame and thermal imaging showed what looked to be some Arthritic problems in her back legs. She had had a full life and deserved a long and happy retirement.
Lucky for all involved a lovely retired couple offered a forever full retirement home for Amy. She has 17 acres pretty much all to herself, people around 24/7, lots of pampering and free to wander around doing as she pleases.
We couldn't be more happy and i'm allowed to visit anytime, i couldn't have asked for more. It was very sad to see her go.

Tack area spring clean

I decided to clean up my area of the garage since today's weather consists of rain, hail and wind.

unfortunately i didn't get any before photo's but because i'm so lazy everything was just dumped in containers and piles everywhere.

And yes i know its still not even near tidy compared to some haha.

Beautiful spring day.

It was absolutely gorgeous today, Vi and i pottered around the paddock's bareback, then i gave Katrina a little trim.

Amy and Taani have taken themselves across the farm for better grass, so i left them there for now.

Photos added: Vi laxing in the paddock and before and after shots of Katrina's tidy up.

Dental Work

On monday i took Amy and Blondie to the vets to get their teeth done. I was lucky enough to have Kerri take me and them in her truck and she as always had her camera with her.

Both were sedated to get their work done so got some goofy photo's especially from the old fella (Blondie) he's like a drunk when sedated.

sunny winter weekends.

Lately down here we've been lucky enough to have some very nice weekends with beautiful clear sky's. And so yes i couldn't help myself and have started riding Violet again too. We've just been doing little 10min hacks and the odd couple of circles, she is so amazing to bring back into work too.

Both Amy and Violet have been perfect angels for not being ridden in months and minimal handling they have not put a foot wrong at any time, its been so nice.

Next plan of attack is attacking both girls for their spring makeover's although i may have to get someone to do it for me or they might come out worse than they went in lol.

Tomorrow I'm taking Blondie and Amy to the vets for more dental work, as yet they have no idea and am wanting to keep it that way so they'll go on the truck in the morning.

First Ride

I had my first ride since the start of May today, and Amy's first ride since Feb when she went lame.

We just had a short plod around and did a couple of trot circles before dinner and bed. I tried Amy in Vi's rubber mullen mouth, which she seemed to like.

All the others are still in hibernation, I'm wanting to bring Amy on as slowly as possible to make sure she stays sound.

<- (Amy waiting for her dinner)

Amy and Blondie are booked in to get their teeth done at the vets at the end of the month, and Vi will be coming back into work all going well in August.

Winter Woolies

                                                  

                                         

      

 

 

Winter has hit and all the ponies are finally in a paddock they will stay in (touch wood). As you can see from the pics they are all looking fat and hairy; all prepared for the cold weather. I have been busy organising paddocks, feeding out in the cold, wet, dark nights, getting new covers and the old ones repaired.

Taani will be getting hacked by our neighbour as a sort of lease. Blondie is still getting hacked around by the kids, Amy is lame again (she was only right for about a month grr), Katrina is happy being her normal self doing nothing and Violet is being a lady of leisure and looking very good for it too (she even has bare tootsies)!

Thats all the news there is for now, very boring time of the year unfortunately so guessing any blog entries will be few and far between.

Update: Violet

It has been far too long since i updated this which is very slack, but i thought i better since Vi and i have been doing well for the end of the season and now looking forward to being turned out for winter.

Our first lesson: We had our first lesson, which didn't go very well. Vi was very unsettled and not listening and i had been letting her do as she pleases leading up to it, so yeah not a good first impression.

I did learn a lot and hoping to have some more lessons in future.

Our first show - Levin: We headed to our first outing in Levin to do some SH and working hunter classes.

We ended up with a fourth in the lady's hunter class which i was proud of Vi for. She also carried me around SH nicely and up to 90cm which has been about my limit previously.

All in all a nice first outing for us.

Our second outing was a Dressage day at Onslow PC. We did a 2 tests, a 1.6 and a novice 2.4.

Our first test didn't go very well Vi was spooking at the scary white chairs next to the arena and gawking at the horse on the hill lol, as far as she was concerned everything else was more interesting than me.

For the second test i borrowed some spurs off Kerri and found Vi was a bit more responsive and by that time also well warmed up and listening well. She gave me a beautiful ride and tried so hard. We got a very nice score of 62.3% and a second place ribbon!

Yesterday we did our first ODE at Pre training level. After dressage we were in second place. We did a clear SJ round with a very untidy rider and took a few very tight turns and managed to come out in first place. Already in the lead gave me heaps of motivation to do a fast clear XC. So feeling as brave as i was we hooned everywhere, gave some jumps a few funny angles and made it over them all clear to come home in first place overall and with a pretty red rosette. 

Udate:Taani

A quick update, Taani spent a few weeks with a girl whose horse was out due to injury. She continued picking up placings where ever they went, although still needs some work building up her confidence jumping.

Another plus, she came back now loading on the float with no hassles, just walks straight on. Yay. Maturity and being used again must be doing her some good.

Our horsey neighbor has asked if she can use taani for mainly hacking once all her mudrash has gone, so she can retire her old girl, which is good, Taani will continue to get the attention she deserves.

Violets new clothes

I have been very busy sorting gear for violet, and until her teeth get done not doing any serious work. So i'm sure she thinks she's quite lucky getting new clothes and not really working for it. lol

I let her wear one of her new winter rugs as we were due to get a good weekend of rain down here, and i really should return the gear i've borrowed from perf.

Today, since it was too wet to ride/ for the dentist, Nick and i headed out to Onslow Show to vist Perf, her crew and Tanni who's staying with Anna while Sam's sore.

We missed the flat classes but Anna informed me her and Taani got a second in the pleasure class and the paced and mannered, so i'm one very happy mummy. Taani has been picking up placings in every show since she got back into it.  Anna decided the ground was too slippery for jumping especially since Taani's still lacking some confidence, so she's planning on organising studs for the little lady.

          

Nothing much to say

Well its all been a bit quiet here lately, tomorrow Leanne Hall's coming out to see Taani, Amy and to give Violet a check over, that'll be nice for the horses, make them feel all comfy.

Next weekend the dentist is coming out to see, Taani, Amy, Violet and Blondie on sat. On sun i'm gonna do my first lot of 'real' jumping on vi at the arena. And the week after is Upper Hutt PC Gymkhana so should be fun first outing for me and Vi.

Until then just laxing and bonding for me and Vi although she has decided to get some wierd lumps over her face so hoping she's just stuck her head somewhere she shouldn't and will go in a day or two.

Our first ride

Violet getting ready for her ride.

Violet and i had out first ride today, we went on a hack over the farm with mum on blondie. Vi had a really good look at the mini's tearing around and neighing but just cruized the whole way on a long rein happy as and not walking too fast so blondie could keep up.

I'm so happy with her and it is so nice to be able to relax and just enjoy the horse/ride. :)

Violet arrives home :)

    

                            

         

(sorry about photo quality, taken off my cell)

I met up with Perf at Te Marua gymkhana to get vi and bring her home.

We loaded them up, vi surprised me and almost walked over me cause i turned around to see if she was gonna go in and she was already heading in lol. Such a good girl, once in we loaded blondie, she decided she'd give him a few nips to trying establish some kind of relationship, but he's used to getting picked on.

After loading them all up i noticed a flat tyre, so we unloaded them, changed the tyre and on they went again, both perfectly behaved the second time too. They travelled wonderfully together and once home plodded around beside me while i showed her off and showed her around her paddock and too her water etc.

Vi decided to have a good roll once rugged and free to do her own thing. She half sat up as though gonna get up, then very weirdly started rocking back and forth scratching her belly on the ground. LOL.

We left them very happily grazing and i'll be heading down once its cooler for some dinner and goodnights.

NEW HORSEY!!!

Introducing Wynyard Irish Kriss (aka Violet)

Well i'm now the very proud owner of one stunning mare who i hope i don't embarrass too often.

Had my trial ride today and pick up tomorrow, that will be 4 mares in my paddock!

My riding skills need some obvious tidying up and my booty needs some more fat but otherwise it all looks promising. :D

Update

Well nothing too exciting happening here, back to work tomorrow :(

Amy demolished her rug on friday, so had to go rug hunting on saturday, man that girl really knows how to spend my money!

She is also lame and has a small indent/swelling at the base of her neck, so think she may have pulled a muscle. Entry's for our next show close in a couple of days so will have to miss that too. 

Blondie was taken to Battle Hill today. He's going to spend the week there playing stock/pony club pony for norms granddaughter. Hehehe.

Taani is doing really well and the only one available to be ridden atm, so have decided since i cant take Amy to upper valley on the 24th i'll take Taani on a CTR ride on the 25th. So should be fun!

Blondie's new little riders

Over christmas mum has decided to start giving Ngarangi and Terina (her foster girls) more riding so we can get them out to some sports day over the end of this season.

They have had two rides and they have the best little positions, they can turn, stop, mount (from a mounting block), get their stirrups back when their foot drops, and pull his head up when he thinks about eating; all without being on a lead. It helps that blondie is happy to plod around the paddock and follow the leader. 

Today both girls managed some little trots on the lead and holding onto the saddle. Every ride they have to help groom and tack up. Mum and i are just amazed at how well they're doing and how sure of themselves they are. Already they boss each other and mum around, telling how it should be done and taking charge at every opportunity!

Here are some pics of today. (sorry about the poor quality they were taken on my cell phone.

                                        

                  

Terina                        Ngarangi