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