Wednesday, December 23, 2009

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.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

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.