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!

SEPTEMBER 09
WE ARE ABOUT TO START ON A LONG RUN OF COMPTEITIONS.
Liz has two horses and Harry has two plus the odd one or two floating around.
I have one D grader ,a mare I bought from QLD bred in Victoria with some Arab in it!
She is cute smart jumper.
The weather is great ,we re ready to go.
Adelaide Royal is on now and a few Sydney siders have made the 1500-1800km drive.
To compete at a Royal in the Senior competitions you need a horse C grade or better.
You need some experience to tackle those sort of shows.
Adelaide also has a World Championship COC qualifier.
The FEI put a minimum standard on competitions for riders to be able to be selected to ride in a major champs or Olympics games.
Bit like the times athletes need to run before they are able to be on the list to be selected.
In Showjumping they are called COC's.
There is certain criteria, x amount of jumps a certain max height, water jump 4m wide etc.
It is a big deal for our organisers to run.
Melbourne Royal has one as well in a fortnight.
I have been on the teaching trail for three months ,and it seems like ages since I have been to a show.
I am looking forward to the next three months.
Colleen

August 17th
I rode at the jump club competition day yesterday.
The day was glorious and the ground wonderful.
I rode Dale in the D grade .We knocked one down in the jump off and he jumped well and was fun to ride.
I rode the new mare Couscous in a height class and she was great.On the video her eyes are locked onto the jumps with her ears sharply pricked, she was ready. Sarah Curtis from Bega who has been staying training here for her work experience rode our old TB scoolmaster Don in the height class. Sarah has plenty of potential as a jumpng rider and I hope to see her competing at a high level with a bit more experience.
Once again there were plenty of horses at the comp day,where do they all come from?????
I have a couple of clinics to do, Dubbo and Tasmania andSeptember starts up with some shows.

Due to the lack of a webpage I will be setting up a wikki.

Any coach interested in e-learning ,I have added the resource from a group I as in some months ago .Please take the time to read what is on offer.

AUGUST 09
I went to Toowoomba teaching before the World Cup show and stayed on to watch and help a couple of riders.
The weather this year was very similar to the current Sydney we are enjoying.
Frosts overnight and beautiful days were the norm.
There were plenty of NSW riders and they made their presence felt by winning the main class the World Cup (Chuggy) and many others.
The show went for three days from dawn til dark well after dark on all three days.
Australians will most likey need to learn to qualify for the finals or championships very soon as the show organisers are being overwhelmed by the numbers of competitors around.
What happened to the big downturn caused by EI and the GFC???
I pleased to say horses and riders are still out there going for it.
We are not so busy with competitions yet but in another month we will be.For the last quarter of the year most weekends are competitions. Our little team of Harry with his two new young horses and Liz with her two and my ,well my list isn't definate as yet lots of floaters.Some not quite ready to go to shows and some might not get to a show(sacked).
Keep looking ahead.
Colleen

JULY already

Hello All,
I have been on the teaching trail the last 7-8 weeks.
The time has flown by.
It is good to get around the country and see what people are really doing wth their horses.
I was a presenter at the International Equestrian Science Conference at Sydney Centennial Parklands(old Sydney Showground).
It was great to see the suppport from overseas guests, and the other presenters were,Steve Jefferies of TV and Film work fame.
Georgia Bruce, Para-olympian and Clicker training expert.
Andrew Mclean Horse Behaviour Scientist and former competitor with Brett Parbury and Warwick Mclean as demo riders.
I took Dale, the very white clydesdale arab cross.
Dale found the atmosphere electric but he was able to show off his jumping skills in a bridle and a halter, I stood up on his back at the halt(not practiced at the canter yet)and we showed how to train the liverpools(water trays) and spooky fences which are part of jumper skills requirement.
Is is always very inspirational to attend these sorts of talk fests with a bunch of horse people because you come home with some fresh ideas.
The main approach to training was small steps and reward the smallest try,with a clicker or release of the pressure, or both.
I am sure if you are interested in looking up the texts and talks from this event it will be available soon. I will find out the details and post it!!
Back to having fun working my horses.
Colleen

Hello,
I have been in Melbourne assessing Level One coach candidates for two very long days.
It was icy cold with a bit of rain thrown in.Needless to say it was tough handling paperwork in cold wet conditions.
Werribee Park, the National Centre has two huge indoor arenas.The Melbourne Three Day Event was held on the weekend before without any rain luckily because the ground was very slipperary when our candidates were out there with the volunteer demo riders. The Cross country jumps looked great from the three day event.
Mnay thanks to Donna for getting onto the blog.
I HAVE A QUESTION OR TWO TO ASK
If you have been to a clinic this year, do you have a favourite excercise, could you tell me what and why?
I am off to sunny QLD this weekend to teach at a clinic in Cairns,I am packing my swimmers.
Bye,
colleen

Hello,
My computer has a few glitches, like not wanting to upload images.
Until the Computer Doc comes to see this particular patient I am unable to adorn this spot with some pics.
Please bear with us until we can rectify this technology.
Still miserable weather in Sydney.
Misty, rainy but not cold weather.
For us it is wet underfoot. Our local jump club has had three jump days cancelled because of the wet conditions!!!
I am off to Tasmania teaching the squad clinic, hope the fog enables me to land in Launceston.
Colleen

Due to a dely in reinstituting my webpage the blog is going to fill the gap,still.
Please try to add a photo so I can tell if that part is working.
Many thanks,
colleen

HAWKESBURY SHOW UPDATE
I missed our local show Hawkesbury.
Liz's old galloway Silver Hollywood Charge came out to zoom around and win three jumping classes at the show.He is a champion character.
Tango went well for a couple of places and went round the 1.20m for 4 pens.
Harry and Dale cantered around the d Grades and he rode Flynn in the 75cm class and they sailed around.
Flynn shows great promise, he handled the show and looked like a real pro at the jumps.
Peter rode Poet Corner and won the Grand Prix very good effort.
Three long days,up early ,even though the grounds are 20 mins away we were very tired but happy after the show.
Colleen

MAY UPDATE
The team of Harry Liz and I have travelled to two country shows in the last few weeks.
We had a great time.
Gunnedah Show some 61/2 hours drive North West is on the liverpool Plains and the area is rich with Coal deposits,the mines are coming!
Gunnedah isn't a large town but the show certainly is.
There were many Sydney and Central Coast riders there as well as the usual .
The jumping ran for most of the day and into the night.The footing was magnificient and the competition strong.
Harry rode one of my young TB's called Flynn in the 80cm and they jumped some lovely rounds.
Harry's other ride Dale went around the D grades and they jumped some clear rounds. Now it is jump off experience they need.
Liz had a good time in the Juniors for a 1st and a third with Ceasar.
I rode Tango for a win in the D grade and she had one fence down for the show and that was in the 1.20m class.
I also rode Liz's new horse 'Greenbah' in some smaller classes so we can get to know him.
Peter dropped in on his long drive north to Townsville. Poet was third inthe 1.30m the first day and 6th in the Grand Prix.
Grant Hughes won the GP,he has a team of 10 and supports these shows regularly.
Grant is a quiet achiever,the horses always are presented well but you shouldn't be fooled by his mild manner.
He is a very tough competitor and he wins most of the classes he competes in.
George Johnson was 5th in the GP so two riders I help were in the money.
The trip was interesting because lying on the sides of the road there was cotton.
We stopped so Liz could get a handful to take to school and show cotton in the raw so to speak.
The last time I competed at Gunnedah was approx 30 years ago.
I saw some familiar faces and the organizers of the jmping were on hand with tea and coffee for the riders.
It was a good show to go to.
The next week we journeyed to DUBBO SHOW.
Dubbo has been a strong supporter of showjumping for many years. The entries are easy and the stables are good.
The prizemoney is better than most and many riders compete on the May run incorporating, Nyngan, Wellington , Cobar, Gilgandra Walgett,shows.
Our team was one less because the D grades are not for beginners.
Dale and Harry negotiated them mostly alright without making a jump off.
Tango went well again for a 5th in the D champs, she made every jump off in the D grades with only one fence down in 6 rounds.
Liz again went well with Caesar running 2nd in the open 1.20m and =5th in the Junior.
I was the pilot on Liz's horse and we were on fire this week.
5th in the C and D ,1st in the C grade and 6th in the big money C and D.
Greenbah jumped 6 rounds with one light touch off in the last class.
Now it is Liz's turn, and we have the winter for her to get the hang of riding him.
Dubbo has a small band of showjumping enthusiasts who make sure everyone is happy and run the show for us.
The ground wasn't quite in as good order this year as others but still jumpable.
Many thanks to those hard workers who keep these shows going.
Of course the officilals too need mentioning because they have to sit out in all weathers and endure long hours.
The Cd at both these shows was Warren Priestly. He gave us plenty to think about and any success you won was hard fought.
We had a great time, and Harry noticed the difference with only one ride in the competitions.
It isn't as much fun watching as being in the events.
I have been to Perth teaching and my list is of 'gigs' is growing.
I will be away teaching for most weekends for the next couple of months.I need to pay for my passion, horses of course.
Colleen

APRIL UPDATE..

I have been busy with show and lessons.
Poet's Sydney Royal finished wth a win a third and a 5th.
We were 8th in the World Cup,and Poet finished up being the runner up horse in Section One to Drossel Dan.
Mr Poet was great throughout the show.
Peter the horse's owner is in Sydney to ride him at the next couple of shows.
Liz and Caesar were in 6th a couple of times during the Junior classes but didn't quite crack the places.
Natalie McNeil from Dorrigo was here riding at the Royal in Juniors.Her chestnut quarter horse Peppymint were 3rd and 5th twice and she had a win in the pony club area jumping.
A few days off and we went toCopabella Show at St Ives showground.
The past year or two the ground has been a bit dry and hard, this year too wet.
The ground held up but some horses didn't like the shifty ground which caused some slips and penalties.
Caesar was lame from the mud fever around his pastern, we had been treating it but just tender enough to be a nuisance. The skin was very inflamed.So Liz didn't get a start.
The symptoms of mud fever are cracked skin around the back of the pastern with scabs and the horses can be very lame. Sometimes the whole leg can be swollen and you think something is wrong with their tendons.
This time of the year horses with pink noses too are scabby,some zinc cream works well.
Natalie was sick with a flu bug and she didn't get to start either.
Peter and Poet went well the first day but didn't have such a good time in the Grand Prix.
Back to work this week to prepare for Hawkesbury our local show.
Three days of jumping.
Unfortunately the big two World Cups eventing and showjumping is on at SIEC too, pity to have two competitions within an hour of each other.
For us with a bunch of young ones it is Hawkesbury for us.
Harry was our head groom at the royal, and he came home a bit sick(normal show bug).
He is now looking forward to riding at Hawkesbury.
A friend of Harry's from North Qld Danial, came and stayed during the royal so we had plenty of helpers.
Danial is an accomplished horseman and we had him showing us some games to play with our horses. Danial is a keen jump rider as well.
The weather has turned cold now and it feels like winter. We have had a long time with warm moist conditions so it is a bit of a shock.
My face and hands will suffer for a few days.
Not much time left in April and May is when I start on my teaching rounds around the country.
Qld and WA for starters some weekends a home here and there.
Normally this is the time when the young horses get their start in showjumping. Off outside to start now, I hope to get something up on the web soon.
I am waiting on some pics from the Royal.
colleen

Sydney Royal,
Poet's Corner is starting in Section 1 and Liz in the Junior.
Liz was 6th on the first day,she went well and finished only a 100th off a place,good one liz.
Poet was great day 1 to be third and today Easter Sunday he won the A2.
He has been jumping very well ,Saturday he had one down in the first round.
The courses designed by John Valance are testing enough, they make you think but at the same time good forward riding is needed to get under the time.
If you add in three lines you are on a time fault.
The footing at the Royal is very good as are many other facets of competing there.
Liz has two more classes and so do I.
EI, equine influenza has done us a favour at the Royal.
The hacks are on next week starting when we are finished.
The ring isn't really big enough with hack classes harness classes led classes and us so with only three events on at the same time we have more room to play with.
It had been a good decision from the Royal Ag Society.
More news and a pic coming tomorrow.
Colleen
Of course there is more room inthe lockers and riding areas

News Alert,
My website has been vaporised, someone in the USA has hacked into the website and the website is no more????
I will be reinventing my site in the next week or two so hang in there.
We are still working on the video uploading techniques.So far we have saved the file on the computer and we are in the next phase.
Sydney Royal is rapidly approaching and the big wet is continuing.
Our jumping paddock is perfect still so all the horses are being ridden.
The quote for the week is 'Life is a party,sometimes not what you expect but while we are here we will dance anyway'
cheers,
Colleen

Busy weekend.
Our troops attended two different shows during the weekend.
Friday was Camden ag show.
Camden has changed their timetable from two days to one day with two rings, because of last year's aftermath of EI.
The result means more room to warm up and ride ,no harness horses, sorry they are a real hazard for us and we had a really good day.
Camden Show has reinvented itself in the last few years.
They have changed and enlarged their parking and the water taps are close as is the toilet block,all considerations when we have very early starts and late finishes.
John Valance and Jane Frankum are the chief organizers. Jane is the main steward/marshall and she is wonderful. John was the CD in the number one ring, his tracks always take some jumpingbecause of their technical nature and the light rails. The jumping equipment is very attractive, the footing was great and the numbers were good. There were 40 entries on the mini Prix for instance but only 8 horses fronted up for the GP. There were some notable ommissions because of the big event in NZ last week.
Brad Longhurst from Canberra was the CD in the 2nd ring and he is coming along very well. He is keen to learn and is putting in the miles and hours to be as good as he can.
Australia certainly needs more keen CD's.
Our troops had a day called experience, a rail here and there enough to put us out of the money.
Peter Carcary rode his horse Poet's Corner for a clear in the mini prix and he had a go in the GP for one down in the first round.
Peter did marvellously as he hasn't ridden in a class since riding Poet in the World Cup at Toowoomba in August 08.
We went to the local jump club on Sunday for the Hawkesbury Riding Club's annual jumping day.
Hawkesbury runs their days at our jump club and we have a crossover of members.
Harry was the main rider yesterday, he rode two young TB chestnuts, and he had a go with Dale again.
The two TB's haven't been out and they coped very well, both jumped around the 60cm and the 75 without penalty.
Harry was placed 2nd and 5th so he was very pleased.
I was 4th and 5th with Tango in the 1.05 and 1.10m.
Harry had a very busy day and he rode well. It was the sort of day riders to have to enlarge their experience.
When we can get an uninterrupted run at the computer we will put some pics up.
cheers,
colleen

Castle Hill Show another big success for the Brook Team.
The ground was as good as you could ask for,beautiful turf at this time of the year.
Mark Atkins the CD was given the thumbs up from the riders. The courses were flowing and a stile(short rail with light poles) kept the clear rounds in the right numbers.
Friday I have reported, Saturday was my day in the ring. We were 5th in the grand Prix,unfortunately Poet and I knocked one down rail in the first round.He jumped very well so that is the main thing for the upcoming bigger shows.
Liz and Harry had a fun time on the Junior/ Young Rider day on Sunday.
Liz rode her new horse,Greenbah(chestnut Tb B grader) in the 1m A2 for third .Silver Hollywood Charge won the class with a smart round.
Liz and Caesar were third in the 1.10m Junior and 1st in the 1.20m Junior.
Liz rode very well . To have two or three horses at a show makes a big difference for a rider.
They are able to keep going around and the experience is necessary for their riding education.
Harry was third with Dale,his first ride in the ring with him in the 1m.
Same for Harry, miles in the ring gives yoyu much needed experience.
Jessica Conran was 2nd to Liz in the 1.20m with her grey Orion Star.
This result is fantastice for Jessica, she has worked hard with Orion and he hasn't always been easy.
Next Friday is Camden show, with two rings on one day only. We will be busy and it is a long walk from the trucks to the arena!

Castle Hill Ag Show.
Our first day was very good.
Dale and I were double clear in the 1.10m and missed a place by 100th of a second,thats pretty close.
Harry made it to the jump off and he had one down which was a very good effort and Liz with Caesar knocked one down in the first round.
1.20m liz went around on Casear for 3 down, a couple of riding errors for Liz although she rode well most of the time.
Poet and I were clear in the 1.30m and I withdrew from the jump off ready for the next class the 1.40m.
Poet jumped very well in the 1.40m to win.
Amanda madigan was clear on Gifted and she with drew from the jumpoff ready for tomorrow.
mark Atkins from Sydney jump club designed the courses and did a lovely job.
The ground at Castle Hill is beautiful.

The weekend of March 7-8 -09.
I travelled to Royal Bathurst Show (for a look) just 2 hours from Sydney over the mountains due west of Sydney.
There were approximately 10 showjumpers attending.
There were 4 horses in the 1.20m, why is this happening to our ag shows?
Bathurst have had good C Designers for the past few years and revamped their program, but no -one is going.
The entries closed 6 weeks prior to the show,that might be one factor.
It is different for the big Royals as the classes are restricted, but Bathurst has 80cm classes.
Possibly stabling should be booked but entries 6 weeks out for a 1m class don't think so.
With a bit of tweaking these shows would be be better off,but who is going to help, we know volunteers are hard to find.
Some show societies are not easy to help either.
CD's and Judges work hard and pay for their accreditation and should be paid for their efforts.They spend some very long days in the field without much attention to their needs sometimes.
The showjumping fraternity needs to address the basic needs for both sides in the sport and we can grow again.

I was in Perth teaching over the weekend.
The flight is 4-and half hours,long enough.
The weather was good and the students keen.
They are a group of eventers organized by an old friend of mine Polly-Ann Huntingdon.
The first time I went to Perth competing I stayed with her in 1985. My trip was successful because I was 1st and 3rd in the Australian Championships, a memorable time.
Polly is a workaholic, she breeds some horses,she rides a Grand Prix dressage horse, she teaches swimming and trains lots of riders.Oh yes, Polly is a three day event dressage judge and she has officiated here at SIEC, NZ etc.
Polly shows you what you do with enthusiasm,she organizes clinics with interstate coaches as she likes to keep up with her knowledge, not that is is behind. Polly has trained in germany and regularly has lessons with Harry Boldt.
Our horses are ticking along ready to fire up for Castle Hill show in a week or two and Camden the week after.
The year is flying along.
Colleen

Hello,
Maitland Agricultural Show was a success for all concerned.
There were good numbers in all classes and there was a good quality field in the Grand Prix.
Poet and I were 4th, last fence down .
The Hunter region as well as us has been receiving heavy rain for the last two weeks, and I was not sure if the ground was going to be useable.
The use of a roller between classes kept the ground jumpable(little bit heavy in places).
Sue Bettington did a good job generally and she tries hard to do a good job for everyone.
Sue does what I believe in, not only one but two stiles/planks in every course.
These fences keep the clear rounds down and don't scare the horses/riders. Course Designers then don't need tricky distances or whacky corners. Nice flowing tracks with a careful fence or two certainly does the job.
Riders then need to teach their horses to jump them well, like water jumps,oxers ,combinations etc.
Chuggy and Vivant jumped superbly against the clock to win the NSW Country Championships.
The Hunter Valley Jump Club ran the jumping for the show and thank goodness they did otherwise the jumping may not have been held.
I won the 6-bar on a horse that hadn't been in one before.
I have been in more 6-bars than I can remember of course,so my experience was useful.
These events can be horse heart breakers,you jump until you cannot jump anymore.
Occassionally they are ok, knowing when to pull out is important.
It is not an ego contest,it is a testing class to see how quick your horse is with his reactions.
Nick Skelton has a grey stallion called "Russel' and they have won 17, 6-bars in a row.
That has taken a few years of course and they have jumped 7 foot or 2.10m approx. Pretty darn big.
Russel wasn't a reliable Grand Prix horse for a long time but eventually he was selected in the British team for Beijing /Hong Kong Olympics.
That isn't the normal nowadays but in our showjumping history we have had many horses with amazing 6-bar credentials as well as Grand Prix.
Two little horses come to mind, Destry from Wagga and Jabraski from Bundaberg.These horses were both sub 16 hand sizeand they were sensational performers.
Jumpers are a bit more fragile these days, the rails are so light. The horses of old (not all mind you but most) would knock too many jumps down now, even though they were very brave and generous.
In 2009 We are not jumping any bigger but the gear is much lighter, in Europe the indoor shows have 3m rails,not 3.5m or 4m in some outdoor shows. It takes a careful horse to jump 1.60m over gear like that!
Have a good day,take some time out to smell the roses as they say to keep yourself sane.

Colleen asks.
WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN SHOWJUMPING?
For starters ,
I would like to have 6 shows a year like Elysian fields.
The venue was magnificient, and the organization was spot on.
The venue of SIEC (Horsely Park) is wonderful too.
The big ring is a great experience to ride in.
Size wise SIEC is the closest we have to arenas like Spruce Meadows, AAchen Hickstead etc . We do not have the variety of 'natural obstacles' which is a pity ,they certainly are challenging.
It is an amazing feeling to ride in an arena of that size.
I must say Sydney Jump Club in Clarendon has a big ring, and the turf footing as good as anywhere I have ridden.
Course Designers need to adjust too ,designing tracks for those huge arenas.
Our riding would improve dramatically if we had more shows in venues like those.
Indoor competition, once you have some experience, it isn't a problem.Indoor shows up the flat training or the gaps!!
The horses' main worry is the noise factor,but more experience certaily helps them adjust.
Have I started you thinking?
You are only limited by your imagination, have a go!!!!!