NOT AT GUNNEDAH
We didn't make it to Gunnedah this time as we had a horse with a gut impaction.
Last Sunday the vet was called to the horse as it wasn't looking happy, lying down and not hungry.
It is an important lesson for all owners of horses, when your horse isn't interested in food suspect something.
The next day without an improvement we decided to take the horse to the vet clinic and we had an anxious few days waiting for some manure to pass through the system.
We were lucky with our horse and the team at Hawkesbury Equine Vets (at Clarendon)were efficient and very helpful.
The horse was on a drip for three days to help hydrate the horse and flush the intestine.
The importance keeping tabs on their water consumption cannot be stressed enough.
When you are at a competition all day make sure you keep offering your horses water and if they do not drink make up some electrolyte solution.
One day at a pony club sporting day I put lucerne in a bucket of water and carried it around with me and let Cha slurp on that all day.Normally he wouldn't touch a drink if he was working hard like that,but the lucerne tempted him nicely. Do not expect your horse to drink large amounts while working,eg; more than 20 litres at a time
There are plenty of ways to deliver electrolytes, by syringe in the mouth/ in the feed. There are many products on the market.
Sand/dirt in the gut, travelling and hard work causes stress.
What caused this one who knows but thankfully we have a horse at the end of it.
A bit of regrouping and we charge on.

CAMDEN WINTER FESTIVAL

The weather was magnificent and the ground very jumpable after heavy rain a week or two beforehand.
Liz had a great few days with her two horses.
With Greenbah she won the 1.10m two phase with a cracking round. She was 6th in another 1.10m and had one down in the Grand Prix 1.10m and the last fence down in the jumpoff class with a good fast time.
On the grey mare, Lady's First, Liz rode her in the 1m's for two seconds. One on the first day and 2nd in the Grand Prix.The other day they made the jump off but a mistake put them out of the places.
Harry rode Dusky Farm Jane in the Four year old and the 1 metre clases.
They jumped very well and Harry rode a great round in the jumpoff for the 1m GP just a toenail knocked one jump down otherwise they would have been right up there.
Lauren Nicholls was third in the 1m GP as well as riding in the 1.20m for experience.
We are looking for her next horse to be competitive in 1.20ms.
Millie Clarke jumped very well all weekend to win one of the 1.20ms with her chestnut horse Connelly's Eclipse.
As you might notice some of the height variations we compete in do not sound progressive.It also depends on the heights the organisers go with. Some horses find the 1m - 1.10m gap too big so opt for the smaller one.
Entering online has many advantages and one of the few disadvantages is the availablility of your favourite classes to get into.Entering early is the way but showjumpers are notorously late entering. Maybe we will improve.

The FEI AMATEUR Challenge for Category A-B-and C brought plenty of country competitors.
Aaron Hadlow riding his old mare Step Sister was the convincing winner,Rikki Cox was a very deserving runner up.
There was a good group from Dubbo.
Rikki and Sandy Cox, Dale Frew, Kate Edwards and Karleen Barton.
They certainly made their presence felt with plenty of places and wins.
I am off to Townsville teaching this weekend and all systems go for Gunnedah Winer Jumping Festival the following weekend.
Then it is July!!!!

CLINIC AT SIEC

Two glorious days of sunshine and light breezes kept all the young riders keen during the Jumping NSW regional Clinic for under 25 year olds.
The coaches were Rod Brown and Jenny Sheppard.
Liz rode Greenbah in her lessons with Rod.
Lauren Nicholls was also there doing her best to improve her riding.
It was a very pleasant two days, during dinner on Saturday night we(the official organisers)asked the riders to stand up and talk about their lessons.
Afterwards we had a talk about rules using the white board for Q and A's.
The purpose of these clinics is to foster young talent and bring some togetherness to our sport. United we stand, and the earlier we educate our youngsters the stronger our sport will be.The next clinic is a Wagga.
See Jumping NSW website for the info.
This week will be busy preparing for Camden Winter Festival. Three days of jumping will be something to look forward to.

THE BIG WET.
What a wet week,I am very lucky to have the grass area because there are still parts jumpable.
I am a keen jumper, I cannot go many days without jumping something!
The young horses (2/3 year olds)we have been starting ground skills with etc have been ignored this week.
Next week will we will be starting on them again, patience and perserverance.
If you take the time to teach horses in small bits it is amazing how well they remember.
One young horse was a bit wooden and slow to pick up on his backing up and being light off the halter,or to stay inside the halter, a phrase that makes sense as well.After a week or two of going slowly what an improvement. He is very light now when I ask him to yield backwards and sideways.I have learnt from smart horse people to teach horses on the ground what you need before you jump on.
I like the halter better than the bridle to start because the horse can learn without the pressure of the bit. It doesn't take long before you can add the bridle and you have a happier horse.Most importantly you have a lighter hand/feel on the rein.It will make a difference too when you are leading your horse around in the halter, no dragging you around!!!
Liz is riding in a Jumping NSW Youth Development clinic this weekend at SIEC.
There are two coaches and it should be a fun weekend weather not withstanding.