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The adventures of Phoebus

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The adventures of Phoebus

The adventures of Phoebus The chronicles of the many adventures of the grey Standardbred gelding Phoebus (a.k.a Foo).

13/12/2024

Little ride out last night. Elmo came along as well.

01/12/2024

11/11/2024

23/10/2024

A little ride at sunset.

13/10/2024

Our most recent endeavor. Looking forward to our first public appearance in a few weeks.

12/10/2024

I haven't posted for a while. Phoebus has embarked on a new adventure, but more on that later.

Today we had a little session in the arena and he gave me shoulder-in, travers and halfpass in trot in both directions. His trot work has come a long way. It seems like only yesterday that we worked on establishing a trot signal, after only using an amble at medium speed since I got him. He has also connected the dots between Spanish walk and trot and when asked will do a very collected trot that feels like a passage, with a floating feeling.

Canter work is also progressing, with more ability to collect, we have canter pirouettes to the left and the beginning of terre a terre. We are still struggling with right hand canters and I think we will get there via the two time movement.

Other than that, we are doing trail rides and he helps educating youngsters by allowing me to pony them off him.

Oh, and I introduced him to horse archery, which he seems to think is OK. His nice steady canter comes in handy for that.

24/09/2024

Phoebus as the schoolmaster.

10/09/2024

A little write up and pictures from the clinic with Anke from Anke Hawke Balanced Dressage, in my Narrawin Stud blog at

Once again, we had Anke Hawke from Anke Hawke Balance Dressage down in Victoria for a clinic. I want to thank my friend Yvonne who organises these clinics. W...

24/07/2024

A little archery practice tonight. It was fun, we shot while cantering tonight.

19/06/2024

It is almost full moon and almost winter solstice. Since it is a clear, still night and forecast for the next couple of days isn't so good, I grabbed Phoebus and went out. The forest didn't disappoint, it was lovely out there.

14/05/2024

Phoebus and his mate Keldan did the skill at arms display at the recent SA Medieval Fair.

For the first time, we did the hunting part with the boar spears by dragging the sack (rather than just leaving it on the ground). That was way more fun, both for the pair dragging it and the pair trying to hit it with the spear.

03/04/2024

Phoebus with his new barding.

18/03/2024

Phoebus and some friends went to the Ballan Autumn Festival on Sunday.

29/01/2024

Just a little riding session, working on various stuff.

24/01/2024

Two days in Phoebus' life. Today, being brave with the dressed up pell. Yesterday, being the big brother to one of the green geldings.

After being super suspicious of the fencing mask / shield combo, we ended up cantering past it and using it as a quintain.

And while it isn't his favourite job, he is fantastic for ponying others.

28/12/2023

Phoebus on ponying duty. Two old hands teaching two newbies trail skills.

28/08/2023

On ponying duty again tonight. Lots of Wallabies about, but logs were much more scary.

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Videos

First ride out in a while, making the best of the sunshine.

We practiced a bit of jousting on the weekend. My thanks to Amber for the video. I've never rushed Phoebus with this kind of work, and it shows. I ensured he had a good broad education rather than just running passes with him. As a result, he's so relaxed and nothing bothers him. He really is a good chap. He gets lots of praise as I know he has to put up with a lot. When in armour, I'm less mobile in the saddle, less well balanced, heavier, clumsier in my aids and the gauntlets make it harder to be sensitive with the reins. Also, the shield encumbers my hand movement. But as I ride him mainly with my posture, seat and legs, I don't have to rely on the reins as a main communication device. He basically canters off my hip move and a little leg, and he stops on breathing out for the most part. He is a pleasure to joust on, do skill at arms, or whatever I ask of him. I so wish I had known what I know now when I first started jousting, and I wish I had listened to my gut feeling rather than listen to others. I would have had a better time with Rev, and he would have been much more happy. Alas, I learned my lessons, so Phoebus (as well as others I have in training) benefit. Horses are very giving, and it behooves us to take no more at a time than is right for a horse. If the education was enjoyable for the horse because of consistency, lots of rewards, lots of breaks, a variety of challenges, and never asking too much, then comes a day when you can ask for a lot and the horse is happy to give all you ask and more. P.S.: I need to add that working/playing with people sharing these values is a key part of where I'm at with Phoebus (not just the jousting, but of course that especially). Without help and ideas exchanges, without training partners and the ever helpful folks who help me into and out of armour, none of this would be possible at all. A humble thank you to all of you.

Out for a little ride and testing the shamfrom. Mostly a pleasant amble and a little canter at the end. Shamfron is sitting well and he is so cool about it. I think I'll make him a new bridle though, this one was made for Rev originally and I think we need a fraction more length in the fixed browband. A good excuse to make another one :-)