All packed up and leaving West Melton.
The boys dressed and ready for the last leg from Taupo to Cambridge.
The boys dressed and ready for the last leg from Taupo to Cambridge.Well, the trip was long but uneventful with 3 nights spent en route. The boys coped well with the trip - they travelled exceptionally well, once Des figured out each day he could actually turn around in the truck! He has this thing where he’ll load OK but then can’t figure out how to bend enough to make the turn – he’s as stiff as a board. Stupid really cos he has the ability to turn himself into a pretzel to scratch the inside of a hock...
After being here for two weeks I have to say I am more & more excited by the change. The property here is superb, with a fantastic soil type to run horses and a brilliant arena which is already being extended for me to fit a full size dressage arena. The end result will be very large - ideal for the young horses and plenty of room to jump if the mood took me. The tidy up of the boxes is also underway; in the meantime the boys are enjoying being in the paddocks full time. We are surrounded by top class thoroughbred studs and other equine operations. The sirens going off regularly were confusing until someone told me they were the 'bells' for St Peters college which is directly over the river from here - just a short flying fox trip for the kids when they get older!! (?)
I'm playing solo mum for three weeks as David has headed back to Christchurch to finish off his work however I've still managed to keep the horses working. I had the first lesson with Bill last weekend. Both the boys were stars and we’re looking forward to the season. Des has his first start at Kihikihi on the 6th. We’re doing Level 4 which is a bit of a step up but one he is capable of. Also the Level 3 tests are nasty!! Gosh won’t compete much for a while - he needs to stay at home for a bit to get more consistent. We have our debut season under our belt, now’s the time to get serious. We’re definitely aiming for a good showing for the Championship shows next year!
Apart from all this I also have Bruno in the paddock who spends his time hanging over the gate waiting to be brought in. He doesn’t have long to wait – I start work on the 15th and have to do two weeks fulltime to start (!!) but straight after that the aim is to get on and go with him.
The very exciting news is that I have been selected as a demonstration rider with Da Vinci for the upcoming International (FEI) Dressage Forum being held September 12th & 13th in Fielding. I'm so looking forward to the opportunity to ride for the visiting trainer Steffen Peters, who is the current World Cup Dressage title holder as well as the winner of every single big tour class at Aachen this year. Can't wait to hear what he has to say!
After being here for two weeks I have to say I am more & more excited by the change. The property here is superb, with a fantastic soil type to run horses and a brilliant arena which is already being extended for me to fit a full size dressage arena. The end result will be very large - ideal for the young horses and plenty of room to jump if the mood took me. The tidy up of the boxes is also underway; in the meantime the boys are enjoying being in the paddocks full time. We are surrounded by top class thoroughbred studs and other equine operations. The sirens going off regularly were confusing until someone told me they were the 'bells' for St Peters college which is directly over the river from here - just a short flying fox trip for the kids when they get older!! (?)
I'm playing solo mum for three weeks as David has headed back to Christchurch to finish off his work however I've still managed to keep the horses working. I had the first lesson with Bill last weekend. Both the boys were stars and we’re looking forward to the season. Des has his first start at Kihikihi on the 6th. We’re doing Level 4 which is a bit of a step up but one he is capable of. Also the Level 3 tests are nasty!! Gosh won’t compete much for a while - he needs to stay at home for a bit to get more consistent. We have our debut season under our belt, now’s the time to get serious. We’re definitely aiming for a good showing for the Championship shows next year!
Apart from all this I also have Bruno in the paddock who spends his time hanging over the gate waiting to be brought in. He doesn’t have long to wait – I start work on the 15th and have to do two weeks fulltime to start (!!) but straight after that the aim is to get on and go with him.
The very exciting news is that I have been selected as a demonstration rider with Da Vinci for the upcoming International (FEI) Dressage Forum being held September 12th & 13th in Fielding. I'm so looking forward to the opportunity to ride for the visiting trainer Steffen Peters, who is the current World Cup Dressage title holder as well as the winner of every single big tour class at Aachen this year. Can't wait to hear what he has to say!
