THE FESTIVE SEASON IS UPON US.
Our last show for the year was at SIEC.
We had one of those shows where we didn't go badly we just didn't go wonderfully.
As always there is something to learn from each competition.
Liz was 5th in a 1.05m on Lady's first, Ceasar unfortunately didn't reproduce the same form of the previous week's so no prizes there.
My horse had the one fence down-itis.Although he jumped well in the 1.25m's and did a good job over the big water jump in he main ring we didn't trouble the winners as they say.
Harry with Valondra did go well in the 2nd ring in the 1.10m-1.15m.
Not yet fast enough to be up the top end of the line but a couple of clear rounds and an 8th in those classes shows he is making ground.
I thoroughly enjoyed riding in the main arena (which is huge) and Leopoldo Palaicido the Course Designer is a genius.
His schedule is amazingly busy and for him to come to Australia every year is wonderful.
All horses will have about three weeks off while we focus on Christmans and New Year.
Harry is off on a family holiday, Liz goes away for a week to the beach and Steve and I will be looking after the horses.
It is hot and very dry here, so with a couple of truck loads of horses to move should a fire be near we need to wait for our break.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Look out 2010.

LIZ AND CEASAR 2ND.

The Sydney Jumping Club End Of Year Championships is a huge show.
The Club has run the champs for a very long time but in the last few years the size has really been ramped up.
The show is truly huge, two days and something like 1300- rounds jumped!!!
Liz and Ceasar were 2nd in the 1.20m Junior Championship,showjumping's young gun Tom McDermott was 1st and third.
David Sheppard from Victoria was the main Course Designer,he built at the recent Shepparton World Cup show and his courses are a delight and a challenge to ride.
Liz was 2nd on Lady's First in a 1.05m class.
In another class the mare slipped on a corner and gave Liz a bump on the nose when she nearly came off, the variances of riding!
Harry just had Valondra there as the other young mare has had a cough.
There have been a few horses in the district with similar symptoms,sometimes fat legs,yellow mucous from the nose bit like flu bug's in people.But strangely, she is the only horse on the property with the bug.
Val jumped very well in the 1.10m with a couple of clear rounds so we are looking for bigger heights very soon.
Greenbah and I jumped double clear in the 1.20m and 4 penalties on the 1.30m on Saturday but on Sunday he was kicked in the shoulder by a horse (not ours)as he was coming out to the ring.
Not great, I think it did affect him as he didn't go as well.
A couple of hot days now as we prepare for the ISS Tempo show this weekend and then we can relax and enjoy the Festive season.

BIG NEWS FROM WODONGA.
LIZ AND CAESAR WIN THE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.
At the Wodonga World Cup show last weekend Liz jumped a big course to win the main Junior class.
Naturally she is ecstatic, Ceasar sailed around in the very wet conditions to be the fastest clear round.
She won a rug and $300.00!
The weather wasn't kind the first two days, same as most of NSW over 39'.On Friday night the rain started and kept going until Sunday.It made a big difference to the conditions we jumped under, as the outdoor ring was very slipperary.
The indoor arena as anyone who has competed there is very small, but I say get in and learn how to ride in there.
The Course Designer (indoor)was Lesson Sirrett and he is very experienced.He always builds positive tracks.
We all had some classes indoors and Harry said he is very keen to ride again indoors.
Harry jumped a clear round and just missed a place in the 1.05m with Valondra.
Harry and Val are getting to know each other better and better.
In the 1.10m D grade Championship they had the last fence down. The course was strong size wise, but that is good for Valondra.She has a big jump and horses like her are actually better to ride when the jumps are bigger.
I jumped a good round on Greenbah in the 1.25m class with one down. I had a couple of indoor starts, he wasn't sure about these jumps coming at him from all directions.He jumped well enough and I am also getting to know him better.
Millie Clarke from Berry was here on work experience with her young horse.
We had some fun and she came with us to Wodonga.
She did very well with him and should do very well with him next year.
We have a week off, well a couple of days and very soon the End Of Year Championships at our local jump club followed by the season ending ISS at SIEC.
I have a picture of my young horse Corvette. He is starting out on his foundation training with my good friend and very good horseman Mark Rodney.
Corvette is by the Current NSW Showjumping Champion imported horse Conquistador(Belgian) and the mother is also an imported Belgian warmblood.
I bought him last winter as a two year old from Oaks Sporthorses in Camden.
So far he is a good boy. Corvette is very light on his feet with lovely soft movement.
We are a long way from Grand Prix but one has to start somehwere.

PONY CLUB TEAM TRY OUT FOR THE 2010 ROYAL.
Liz and her friend Jessica Conran competed in the Pony Club Area One try outs at Sydney Jump Club grounds on Saturday 7th Nov.
Caesar jumped well for a 3rd and a 2nd to earn a place in the team.
Lauren Nichols who has been coming for lessons for a short time is also in the team.
Jessica and her Orion's star are the reserves.See pic at the bottom of the three of them
The Royal is on next year in April.
All this seems to be very early but the royal requires a lot of paperwork and the pony club jumping is one event of thousands.
EQUITATION.
Liz and Jessica went to SIEC on Sunday for the State Championship Equitation.
It was a lovely day although a couple of showers came our way.
Liz rode the grey mare Lady's First and gained a 2nd in a combined equitation class.
I like those classes, you are asked to do a set number of strides between jumps a flying change, long crest release angle jumps ,demonstrate short turns, that sort of thing.(not all together)
Liz rode a 2nd horse for a 5th in the Young Rider Champs.
Jessica put together some decent rounds, her horse has been out of action and so really needed the outings.
It was good to see the 'regular ' showjumping riders there and winning. It is most necessary for our younger rider base to become better educated with their training.
OVERSEAS NEWS
Our Showjumping National Coach German Gilbert Bockmann was 2nd in the World Cup class in Verona Italy at the weekend, great job!!!
Next weekend we are competing at the jump club comp day before we head off to Wodonga
for their World Cup show.
I like Wodonga with the Indoor and outdoor,it has a good atmosphere and it is one of the biggest shows in the country.
Have a look at www.gallopon.com.au site for up to date showjumping videos and anything else horsey.
It is an aussie showjumping site.
Keep your eyes on the road ahead,
Colleen

Show at Orange

The Jump over the Mountain show in Orange is potentially a great one.
BUT the ground was hard the first day and despite some desperate watering overnight Sunday was slippery.
To add insult ,it rained for four hours making the ground treacherous.
There were a few hardy souls who fronted up to start but most packed their bags and left.
Liz and Ceasar went very well to be 5th in the Junior the first day and the slippery conditions thereafter allowed Ceasar to stay in the stable.
I rode in the 1.20m for a couple down Harry went around with the two young mares in the 105m and 110m. Some mistakes from inexperience kept him from being amongst the winners. We must keep going around for the miles as the experts say.
We look forward now to the Pony Club try outs for Sydney Royal and the following day the Equitation Champs at SIEC on the first weekend of November.

The year is racing away.
We have been to three shows in Canberra,first the Youth weekend followed by the State titles and finally the National Championships.
The team didn't figure in the high placings in any titles but they gained valuable experience.
Liz decided to retire her old Champion Silver Hollywood Charge at the Youth weekend.
He was 2nd in the Pony Grand Prix.I think he has been first, second or third every year for about 5 years.
Cha is 20 years old now and happy to watch the truck roll out the gate with some young ones on board.
Harry and his two young mares went around and around in their respective height classes for the three weekends and one day Dusky Farm Jane (the bay 4 year old) won the 90cm .
Harry zipped around and took a couple of daring turns to win convincingly.
The numbers were huge in those classes,two sections and approx 150 starters.
Valondra(the Vivant-Alondra) daughter, is now ready for D grade after those shows.
The time was well spent, as a coach you can see the riders relax and improve with the constant practise.
The nationals were tough and even though rain in Canberra has been scarce there was enough to make the ground less than ideal.Valondra's dad Vivant became the first horse to win 3 successive National Titles !
We came home tired and a bit sick, the weather was not kind,nothing over 15 degrees for a week or two,brrr.
The troops had a week off (definately needed)and we headed to jump club competition day on Sunday 18th October.
Liz started the day with a great round to win the 1.20m on Caesar's Palace.
Liz also rode the little grey mare Lady's First for a couple of nice rounds.
Harry rode Valondra in the 1.10m for a double clear round,well done.Jane was not to be outdone and was second in the 1.05m.
It was a great effort from Harry and the two girls, as it was their first time up a height.
We are looking forward to Jump Over the Mountains this weekend at Orange.

JUMP CLUB COMPETITION DAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 09
We took 2 horses for Harry, 2 horses for Liz and on for me.
Harry rode Jane (no show name yet) in the 85cm and 95cm for three clear rounds and one fence down.
Good effort from them.
Harry rode Valondra in the 95cm and the 1.05m classes.
In the 95cm they won the prize for the jump off round closest to the optimum time.
Val jumped the fences easily, she is 17.1 hands.
It won't be long before she will be in the D grades.
Liz rode Ceasar and won the 1.10m form a hot field.She also rode Greenbah for two down.Liz is still getting to know him in the ring.
In the 1.20m class Liz had a fault in the jump off.Liz said it was her mistake so she was happy with him.
Greenbah was third in the 1.05m, last fence down in the jump off.
All good practice for the next three weekends in Canberra with the Youth Festival, State Champs and national Champs.
I rode in the D grade with Ladys First the little grey mare, we had the first fence down in the jump off. She jumped well and handled the size easily.I am ;looking forward to having a go at the speed in the next jump off I get into.
I am the driver, groom, cook, trainer for this weekend at Canberra.
Should be lots of fun, although there is a lot of walking to do,ugggh!