Thursday, August 5, 2010

2nd show in Toowoomba

Well we didn't knock them over so much this weekend.
Harry did win another 1.10m with a super ride on the jump off and rode in a 1.20m class with Titan.
Liz didn't have as good a time but I keep saying all miles to put into the bank.
I rode Valondra in two D grades for double clear rounds, she coped very well.The jumps certainly are not be the problem as she is brave and careful.
Our trip home took three days due to a stressed hose on the fuel line. Diesel was spraying out and luckily it was easily fixed after finally finding out what was causing the problem.Sometimes you can be lucky,as when the truck was grounded we were 10kms away from Willow Tree. Friends of mine and plenty of other horse people, Justin and Marisa Honner have a horse agistment and nursery just off the highway so our horses were safe and we didn't have to cool our heels in a garage.
Most people would remember Wil a big chestnut horse George Sanna and I and Chris Chugg rode in World Cups.Wil also became Michelle Barrera's first Grand Prix horse. He was owned and ridden by Marisa when he was a d grader.
I am certainly grateful for their hospitality and expertise.
The Big News for Harry and Jane is that she won the 4 year old Mini Series run by the Oaks Sport Horses.
Jane competed in three qualifiers for a 1st and a 2nd.
She wins a saddlecloth,we will get a picture up asap.
We have a quiet time for a couple of weeks for rest and recuperation and we will find somewhere else to go to ride over some jumps.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Harry is a state champion.and Liz wins too.

We are in Toowoomba for two big shows.
The Toowoomba Jumping Club ran the first weekend which was the Qld Champships.
Equestrian Qld will run the 2nd show with the World Cup both shows are on the Toowoomba Showgrounds.The facilities are great, loads of stables and an indoor plus the huge grass arena used for the Royal Toowoomba Show.
David Sheppard from Victoria and Graham Watts QLd were the Course Designers, and a grand job they did too, lovely flowing tracks .
.Harry convincingly won the 1.10m championships with Titan.
Harry's dad Mike was in the grandstand cheering .
Liz started the show by winning the first leg of the Junior Qld Championship by three seconds.
She and Greenbah jumped clear rounds in the Junior Champs every day but a rail or two in the jump offs kept her out of the placings.
They jumped clear in the first round of the Grand Prix, only 7 managed out of 60 odd competitors.
More experience in these situations will see Liz climb up the leader boards.
Harry with Dusky Farm Jane (the 4 year old mare) was third in the 90cm champs.
Our other competitor George Johnson was on fire all weekend, placed in just about every class he went in. He jumped two horses in the 1.30m-140m's.
There were loads of cojmpetitors and not many venues can cope with such large numbers.
Imagine the judges starting at 8am and going all day for three or four days ,out in all weathers. They are tough for sure.
This weekend Harry and Liz step up to the 1.20m's.
Let's see how we go.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

What a day!

The Mid -Winter Championships were packed with entries and the competition hot.
Harry and Liz were 1st and 2nd to kick the day off in the 1.05m. Harry was riding in his first competition on Celerity Park Southern Cross a B grader from Qld.Titan is his stable name.
Liz jumped a smart round to be close second on Greenbah.
Harry won the 4 year old class with Dusky Farm Jane and topped his day off with a win in the 1.15m article no 238 2.1 (one rounder)on Titan.
A winning treble,a just reward for all his hard work and dedication.
Greenbah jumped a sharp round in the 1.15m but the last fence came down,uugh.
Milly Clark rode a wonderful round in the 1.20m for one down on her chestnut Connollys Eclipse,definately a horse for the future for her.
Milly was 2nd in the 6 year old class as well with this horse.Milly's other horse jumped clear in the 1.15m at the end of the day in the dark just about.
Milly's mother Jenny won a class in ring 4 and it was the one I sponsored.
Jessica Conran rode very well in the 1.20m on Orion's Star for one down, super job.
Lauren Nicholls also rode well in the 1.20m on her Barney Bedrock for one down.
Great result for these young girls,they work hard and show great promise for the future.Coralie Christie rode on the 80/90cm on her young mare, by Aachimedes,very big scopey type with a lovely temperament.
George Johnson has two horses in the bigger classes had a great day too.He also placed in the 6 year old class with a client's horse.
George won the 1.30m with the super mare Wondaree Sprite,such a trier and George has a wonderful rapport with this feisty mare.
Auzbred(he has a small map of Australia on his shoulder for a brand)jumped superbly to be 5th on the Grand Prix.George should be sleeping well on Sunday night.
Ozzie jumped clear in the 1.30m as well but an incident at the start stopped him jumping in the jump off.
It was a great day and I am delighted for them and their efforts,parents and support too.
The INCIDENT was; the Judge rang the bell for George to start and as George was cantering around towards the start flags when the horse spooked spun around and dropped George on the ground.The horse was caught and returned to the rider and he remounted.The Judge rang the bell for G to be elimated.
I thought that wasn't correct so I told G to stay in the arena and we negotiated with the Judge.The horse did not leave the arena when he was unmounted.
G was reinstated in the class and was allowed to jump.
The reason G was not in the jump off was beause of time penalties. There are rules to cover these types of things.
There is a rule which states if you are over the time limit you will be eliminated. The time limit is the time allowed doubled,so for example 80 seconds time allowed,if you are over 80 you start accumulating time faults, AND WHEN when you go past 160 seconds (double the time allowed) you will be elimated.
So George had 45 seconds to get though the start (the clock starts then) plus 160 before he could be elimated for time.
Bit confusing sure but the rule book in very thick. A dressage analogy is;if a rider falls off or carries a whip as they enter the arenat up the centre line you can remount or drop the whip and continue because the test starts AT/AFTER the first salute,same sort of thing.
ANOTHER INCIDENT;Coralie was riding in the young horse class and came to a jump and the top rail was down. She pulled off and called to the Judge and asked for the fence to be rebuilt.
The Judge rang the bell for Coralie to stop and the jump steward put the rail up the judge rang the bell for Coralie to start and off she went.
These things happen form time to time.
When Coralie came out of the ring I said, 'next time don't pull off just keep going, it is the Judge and Course Designer's responsibility to make sure the course is correct and the same for everyone."
As a result of pullng off Coralies' horse lost its momentum, attention and had a couple of jumps down. This is a usual outcome when the round is interrupted especially with a green horse or rider.
Judges have a long list of responsibilites on a day and their days are very long with short breaks. Errors will occur, so it is up to the competitors to know their rules.
I remember at the Sydney Olympics in the dressage KUR when Ulla Salzgerberger with Rusty were ready to start . She waved her hand to start the music and nothing happened.Time passed, no music, frantic waving, consultation with the judges, finally the music started.
Ulla then rode to perfection to take the Silver or Gold, now that is a very cool head under pressure.
The rules state you must have a back up CD of music and if the music does't work for whatever reason you will be elimated! How would you feel???
It is all good learning,to know the rules is important, many arguments at competitions would be averted if more people were familiar with the rules.To know how to find the relevant rule is a must.
My mother is keen reader of the rule book, 'she says to know the rules means you are fair to everyone'.
The Course Designers Mark Atkins, David Sheppard , Sue Bettington and my Father Bob Brook showed how flowing courses produced good jumping,many thanks.The Sydney Jumping Club ran a massive day on good ground well done.
Big day Monday packing and cleaning etc for the trip North, not to warmer climes probably colder.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

School holidays

The holidays are always busy with teaching.
The July hols started with Jessica Conran going to the State Pony club Champs at Kendall on the North Coast of NSW north of Taree.
Liz was the social director of the weekend by the sound of it and enjoyed herself despite not having a horse to ride.
The ground was very wet and deep, Jess's horse didn't enjoy the going, but she made a jump off or two and placed once.
Liz's horses are back on track now to go to the Mid-Winter champs.
We chose to stay at home instead of going to Tamworth Jumping Club's three day show this weekend because of our horse's not being quite ready.Shame the dates clashed because we do not have enough good shows to compete at really. Both jumping clubs and both good venues.
Mind you both shows have plenty of entries.
Next week we head North to Toowoomba for the Qld Champs and the World Cup show.
Harry has been riding his team of three.Now he knows how much mental work it is as well as the physical.
He is looking forward to the shows as he is on Uni holidays.Harry's three horses are going in 1m/1/10m/1/20m.
Liz's two are 1m/115m.
Lauren Nicholls will be riding too on Sunday. Jessica C and Milly Clark up from Berry
will fill up the day no doubt.
After not having a competition to go to for a while all the kids are keen.
I do not have a horse to ride at the moment ready to go to a show so I will be busy teaching, grooming, driving,etc etc.
Let's see how they shape up!!!!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

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.

Monday, June 14, 2010

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!!!!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

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.

Friday, June 4, 2010

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.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

GOOD SUNDAY FOR THE GIRLS.
Yesterday we went to a Zone Showjumping day.
Liz took Lady's First,Jessica Conran rode Orion Star and Lauren Nicholls rode Barney (not sure of his showname).
Jess kicked off the day with a win in the Two phase and Lauren was 3rd.
Next was the jump off AM7, Lauren was 2nd, Liz 4th and Jess missed out by one place.
Last class was the AM5, Liz 1st, Lauren 3rd, Jess 5th.
It was a very good result for the girls.
Lauren was the age group Champion, well done for her and Glenorie Pony Club.
It is looking very Wintery outside now, the grass is brown and nothing much is growing. The horses are more hungry at feed time more then normal.
As a result we give them more hay (bulk) to help maintain their weight and hunger pangs.
A very good horseman told me once for an older horse "a rug is as good as a feed".
So for those very old horses or those who feel the cold a rug is essential ,especially on those wet winter nights.
At the opposite end of the scale we should not be rugging young horses.
I do not rug any horse until I start to think I want to take it to a show.
They do not need rugs and young horses need to have an uncomplicated life. Many a horse learns bad habits at feed time when people are trying to put rugs on them.
If there is shelter, trees or shed the horses cope very well, after all they are waterproof.
Our next outing is the Jumping NSW Clinic at SIEC in two weeks.
It should be a good weekend socializing and learning how to ride our horses better.
I am off to Townsville teaching this weekend so I will not need my overcoat!!!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Weekend of World Cups SIEC

What a big weekend,
Eventing World Cup and showjumping,there were hundreds of horses there.
I rode Harry's Jane in the 4 year old Young Horse Class.
It was optimum time for the jump off and Jane was clear again to be second.
She coped well and she is a tough girl, I like her for the future.Harry will have a great time with her.
It was nice to see many riders with their young horses.
The time has come for Australia to run these classes on a regular basis.
NZ has been running them for a few years now successfully plus of course the European countries which provides a solid base of educating the horses ,showcasing for sale and some stables specialize in producing young horses only.
The Sydney Jumping Club will be holding a qualifier in the next month or two.
I watched the cross country two and three star,for a while, which was great.
The main requirement is still the same, the horse must go forward and straight.There was a double of narrow hedges on an acute angle for the three star which looked quite formidable accuracy wise.
Those riders and horses just ate it up, very impressive.
Liz was an onlooker while I helped Millie Clarke in the Juniors and George Johnson in the 1.30m's.
George had a good show placing each day.He is very competitive in those classes.Millie rode well without winning a ribbon but what an improvement in the last two months she really is on the up and up.
The World Cup eventing was a cliffhanger,with Chris Burton jumping a clear to claim the $8.000.00 first prize.
Jamie Kurmond rode a classy round on the young mare Colthaga to jump the only double clear to win the showjumping World Cup.
We have a quiet time competition wise for a few weeks. I have a few jobs teaching clinics
We have 4 young horses that are ready to drive.
I use two long reins and lunge them and walk around steering them etc teaching them about the bit before someone gets on!their back!!
It is fun working with the young ones, you need to keep your wits about you, make haste slowly.
I am not a buckjump rider by any means but I can play with them and get them started.
I like to leave the rough riding to the younger brigade!!
I have learnt from smart horse trainers to teach the horses to do what you want them to do on the ground before you get on, it makes the horses' lot much easier.
I ask the horses to leg yield, sh in, backwards and sideways. I use a halter first so they learn to respond to light pressure before the bridle goes on.There is so much to learn about horses.
Sydney weather perfect, although the grass is dying off and the horses are bit more hungry at feed time now.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

MORE SHOWS
We are back from Gunnedah.
It is a big country show and the ground is magnificent.
Three days of busy ring events. Lots of kids riding around having fun with their horses.
We took two horses each, I rode the two four year old mares in the low height classes and Liz rode Lady's First in the D's and Juniors also with a horse James Mooney loaned Liz for the weekend.
Liz started off with a good win in the Junior A2 in the half dark.
Natalie McNeil riding her old favourite Peppymint was dropped off at the 2nd fence and hurt her back. The show was held up for her to be carted off, she was ok but a whopping bruise on her lower back will be there for a while. Natalie bounced back by winning the Junior the next day on her imported mare Vasandra.
Millie Clarke was there with her two horses.
She jumped well all show, but the last fence down a couple of times caused her grief.Millie chased the demons away with a good third in the Junior GP and a place in the D's..
George Johnson was there with his two horses for the bigger classes and he was 1st and third the first day in the 1.30m and 3rd and 5th in the GP. His young big warmblood Corey was a very good 5th in the D grade champs.
Shows like Gunnedah are great for getting the miles (experience)so necessary for learning.

HAWKESBURY
Our local show,the entries were big which is great. The ground was good lots of different classes to go in.
First day, Harry rode his sister's horse Vandal to go double clear in the 75cm. Pretty good for a four year old as he behaved perfectly.
Harry rode his four year old mare Jane in the 90cm and 1m to keep him busy for the day.
I rode Annie, Peter Carcary's 4 year old mare in the 75 and the 90. I was 6th in the 90cm. She is very straight forward and a very cute jumper, lots of fun there.
Liz rode Lady's First in the pony club classes and won the A grade jumping.
Saturday, Ceasar went well in the 1.25m Power and Speed to be third.
Liz was running second when the last horse to go went around everyone to win. That was George Johnson with Ozbred, George was 1st and 5th.
Sunday,
Liz won the EA Junior Equitation on lady's First, she had to ride well as Kelly Slater had ridden a very good round.
It was a breakthrough win for Liz as she had been placed there many times.
Caesar went around in the Juniors but didn't place.
Harry went around again with Jane in the height classes to finish off a busy three days.
Tuesday was a tragic day. As Liz was riding Ceasar he collapsed and died.Liz was not hurt but it was a huge shock for her.
It was all over very quickly and now he is buried down near the jumping paddock with my old favourite Rebound.
Ceasar was a delightful horse to have around and he and Liz were really going well.He will be greatly missed.
It is amazing the gap you feel in your life when they are gone.
I suppose a clydie cross with a white snip will be on the shopping list now.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Day two Copabella

Liz just had one fence down to run 6th drat, only three clears in the Junior.
Millie knocked two down but rode a very good round. For her first go at the big league Millie jumped very well.
The exciting news is that Chris Chugg and Vivant were equal 7th in the World Cup final world Class effort.
For us it is back to work this week and be ready with some other young ones for Hawkesbury.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

UPDATES FROM EASTER SHOWS

Liz and Ceasar jumped well at Sydney Royal for a 2nd and a 4th.
We came home and returned a week later to compete in the Pony Club AREA JUMPING.
In the last day two riders pulled out of the team for family reasons and we were left without a reserve and only three members for the team. The team normally has 4 riders with three scores to count like most jumping team classes.
The class was at 8am we were first out and guess what ,our team was the only one to jump all clear.
What a surprise, results like that don't happen very often.
The members were Lauren Nichols,Samantha Tripp and Liz.
Copabella Classic happening this weekend and Liz has qualified for the Junior Final today.
Millie Clark who has been here training for a few days jumped very well to finish 6th in the Junior,so she qualifies for today's final easily.
Lets go.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

CAMDEN SHOW
We survived a very hot day at Camden on Friday 19th March.
It was a very long day,we needed to leave in the dark and we returned in the dark.
I had a good day by winning both the 1.20m and 1.30m two phase events on Greenbah.
I had to wait until 5pm to have my first ride of the day.
Sometimes,waiting until late in the day takes your entusiasm away but I was determined to have a go and all went well.
Liz on Ceasar had two down in the 2nd phase of the 1.20m.
Nick with his D grader jumped two beautiful clear rounds in the D grade.
With his 2nd horse Quindoctro he had one down in the C grade.Nick drove homewards to Adelaide after the show.
His three weeks here training preparing for the Easter shows back home.
At Camden the courses were great, the organisation ditto but the ground was a bit hard!!!
I am very spoiled because my ground at home is practically perfect all year round, grass over natural sand.
Harry the university boy made a short social visit to the show.
After getting used to the new timetable of his life he is looking forward to having a few days break to ride.
I have been to Mudgee for a clinic and heading to Perth for a few days teaching as well.
This weekend is a vacant one for jumping while we prepare for the big one,Sydney Royal.
I will be the parent ,coach, minder etc this time as I do not have a horse qualified to start there.
Too many hot days left, bring on the cooler weather please.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

We have been to a couple of training days while we waited for the next shows to come.
The weather has been very hot and humid very tough on both human and beast.
Castle Hill Ag Show was splendid,beautiful grounds, lovely jumps good Course Designer, what more could we want.
Liz and I went round and round.
Liz won a Junior 1.25m on Ceasar and I was 2nd on Greenbah in a 1.25m class.
Harry was our helper which was much appreciated.
His horses have been holidaying like him until now.
Harry started University at UWS Penrith so he has been acclimatising to uni life.
Nick Crowe from South Australia, has been over here for a few weeks having some lessons with his two smart horses.
Nick is keen to step up to be competitive at the highest level he can and he has been
working hard just ask him!
Camden is on this Friday,two rounds lovley ground gear and CD again.
I am teaching this weekend at Mudgee.
Monday is looking like a quiet day.Perth is next on my teaching calendar the following week.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

MARCH ALREADY
We have competed at Nowra and Maitland Show's so far.
Nowra's ground despite all the rain held up pretty well.Warren Priestly did a good job with his courses.
We didn't win any prizes there but Cooper the D grader was 6th in one of his classes.
Liz had a fast time in one class on Lady's First but had the last fence down,that sort of show.
Maitland was next and the fortunes were much better there.
The ground was just getting to the firm side remarkably,the show was well run by the Hunter Vally Jump club with Sue Bettingdon designing good courses.
Liz and Ceasar were on fire in the Young Rider classes to run third both days and be runner up Country Champion.
Lady's First also jumped very well in the big D grade.
I rode Greenbah to be 2nd in a 1.20m class on the second day. We were double clear the first day in the 1.20m but a medium fast round was about 10th!
Cooper found the arena a bit daunting and knocked a couple down for not looking where he was going.
We have been to a couple of training days with the horses and Liz has been staying at Rod Brown's for a week or two learning about the routine in a big stable.
Castle Hill and Camden are coming up in the next week or two and Easter is racing towards us.
Liz is riding Ceasar in the Junior and the Pony Club Team jumping.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

New Year

The New Year is up and running, I have been watching and riding in the George Morris Clinic.
He is a genius teacher no doubt.
The improvement from everyone is enormous.A bit of application from the riders and their horses blossom.
George is very strict to his ideals. The basics of foundation training are all written down and have been used for centuries!!!
I have been teaching in Qld at the Warwick Horse trials Summer Clinic.
Everyone should remember Warwick as they were the first quarantine for EI in 07.
This week it is Dubbo.
The weather has been extremely hot and I am looking forward to cooler times, hurry up please.
Our first show will be next month.
Colleen