Waterfall Shires

29/08/2024

When you have to take a step backwards to make sure that the leap forwards is not only positive but successful 👌

After last week’s blip I was nervous about tacking her up…. We took it slowly…. I believed in her and she listened to me….

Well done Lunar for trusting Mum 💜 ###x

26/08/2024

Honiton Hill Rally 50th anniversary

Absolutely amazing weekend away with Queenie and Lunar, never spent more than a night away before and this was 2 nights and 3 days…

Both horses horses didn’t put a hoof wrong and I could not have been more proud of them both…. Unfortunately following an incident with the cart last Thursday Lunar was unable to go into the ring in harness as she reacted badly when walking into the ring…. However…. Later that evening I stripped it down and had only the roller, blinkers and reins and took her back into the ring in wind and rain and she behaved like my baby girl again…. Ended on a positive ☺️

Queenie was entered in the ridden classes….her first time ridden in an arena and the first day she was on her own ….. thank you to Ben Willis for leading her round to give her confidence, Paul Willis for pushing her to do well (and running round the arena with us in trot ) and Charlotte Webb for bringing Silver in to act as leader….

This weekend has been an extremely steep learning curve for both me and my girls but has also been an amazing opportunity for us to learn, seek advice and up our game…. My plaiting has improved but I still have a long way to go….

However…. I managed on my tod on Sunday and was feeling quite chuffed at how Queenie turned out… and today I feel I’d improved again (following more advice from Paul and Julie 🙃)

Will post more videos and pics as they come through but safe to say I have thoroughly enjoyed this weekend and am so grateful for all the advice and tips given by others… and extremely grateful to Paul and Julie Willis for inviting me and the girls to take part in what was an absolutely fantastic showcase for the heavy horses 💜

23/08/2024

Finally found Lunar’s missing shoe 😂 let’s hope our luck is changing 🤞🤞

22/08/2024

16/08/2024

Out by 5.45am, beautiful sunrise and lunar was hoof perfect 👌 best way to start a Friday 😊

15/08/2024

😂

14/08/2024

💜 Crackerjack 💜

When your baby is happy to just plod along with you in the rain 💜 went on a monster walk this morning, further than he's ever been....no issues whatsoever 👌

First time with high viz leg wraps.... Wasn't impressed but 🤷. Saw lots of things he's never seen before,building site, builder's skip, village hall, different buildings, logs, swimming pool, tarpaulin covered logs.... Took it all in his stride 😚

Very proud mama 💜

12/08/2024

Welcoming in a new week.... The right way 👌 Lunar 💜

11/08/2024

Feeling mighty proud of these two beauties ... Queenie and Jim.... I never hack in company and never let anyone ride my bigger horses.... too much could go wrong and I'm a worrier.... however, Queenie was struggling to learn to ride out and would become stubborn and panic ...so I've been riding her out with Jim.... her herd friend....and she's loving it ☺️

She's becoming more confident, eager to go out, is rarely phased by anything and I'm quietly confident that she's going to make a super riding horse ☺️ today was only her third hack out since I started backing her.... managed 2 fields, a bridleway, main road and a 4.5 mile hack.... even had a deer jump up next to us.... and it was Jim who spooked 😂

06/08/2024

💜 Lunar 💜

A few pics from today.... Somerset rural Life museum in Glastonbury. 4th year running....best footfall ever.... Approx 400 visitors just to see Lunar 💜

My heart is bursting, absolutely bursting 💜 my beautiful baby girl 💜

06/08/2024

💜 Lunar 💜
Rural Life Museum 2024

Our 4th year and definitely our best yet!! Highest footfall of the year for the museum too 👌 and so many people saying they'd come especially to see Lunar 💜 my heart is so proud and my smile beaming 😊 several people came again after meeting Lunar last year bringing gifts of carrots and apples 🥕 🍎 🍏

To hear so many amazing compliments about my baby girl just makes all the hard work so worth while.... The most common compliments being "what a credit she (lunar) is to me" and "how amazing her temperament is.... "And also "how totally 100% attached and connected to me she clearly is....."

I am so chuffed to monkeys..... I was on my own today so the plaiting wasn't amazing as I didn't have much time but she tried her new flights out and again we received so many beautiful comments about how the colour suited her....

Heavy Horse Crafts thank you once again for letting me be creative with the colours, they're so beautiful 💜

Well worth the 4am start but Now for a rest and a cider 😂.

Lunar I love you to the moon and back 💜 you beautiful beautiful girl 💜 ###x

03/08/2024

👌

01/08/2024

It's hard work being mummy's boy especially when you have to walk all the way down the hill to get a mint 🤣

01/08/2024

And off he goes....😂😂 Crackerjack 💜

01/08/2024

💜 Crackerjack 💜

When you can't be arsed to walk to the top of the hill to pat your pony..... So you shout for him and he trundles down to see you.... Trips over his feet 4 times and then gives you a kiss and buggers off to join the rest of the herd 🤣

31/07/2024

"Mama, those tractors aren't so scary anymore....even with the trailer on the back.... "

Well done Crackerjack 💜

31/07/2024

Second attempt at sitting on Crackerjack after an inhand walk.... Food was a good distraction....10 minutes of sitting on and messing about.... Perfect 👌

Well done Mama's boy 💜

30/07/2024

Anyone looking for bespoke plaiting sets for Shires, Clydesdales, Suffolk punches.... Look no further than Sian Harris at Heavy Horse Crafts.... I have so many sets I could afford a month's holiday 🤦

I've chosen my own colours for each set, mostly variations on purple (👌) and Sian is not only helpful but also knowledgeable to the needs and wants of both the showing world and the breed....

Crackerjack's colours were inspired by my son's love of Bob Marley.... And me always saying Crackerjack looked a tad off this planet and 'worse for wear' shall we say 😂. I have my very own Rasta Shire 💜

However, the colours are vibrant, look amazing together and stand out perfectly.....

I cannot recommend Sian highly enough..... If you're looking for something special she's only a message away.....

30/07/2024

Second hack in company for both Queenie and Jim .... Today we went further again and we even went on to the bridleway to see how Queenie would cope....

Amazed at how relaxed she is considering I've not long been riding her properly, this is only her third hack out and her second in company.....almost like she's been here before.....

Super morning for it, 3 horses exercised by 9.30 am 👌

Well done Queen and Jim 💜

29/07/2024

Love this photo 💜

29/07/2024

💜 Queenie 💜

She just loves being centre of attention.... And I am so proud of her.... She's a pleasure to show and I'm currently breaking her to ride.... Multitasking pony but loves to please 😊

Queenie is mum to Crackerjack and Duke 💜

29/07/2024

💜 Crackerjack 💜

Still can't find the words.... My bottle fed baby who almost didn't make it and has had 3 years of being a field ornament to just allow him to mature and catch up, but who is now growing into an absolutely gorgeous beast who I'm so proud of I could actually burst 😳

Rasta colours for a rasta shire 😂 Mama loves you Crackerjack, so much you'll never ever comprehend xx

27/07/2024

Mid Devon 2024 Crackerjack 2nd place, Queenie 2nd place.... I honestly don't know how to express what I'm feeling right now....

This was Crackerjack's 2nd show, I've worked hard with him since his Bath and West debut and he was much much better today. He stood for hours tied to the lorry, he was plaited (hastily and with 5 people holding and distracting him🤦), he behaved in the ring, he looked amazing and he was moved from 3rd place to 2nd!!!! Normally we're moved down....never up....my baby was complimented by so many people who came to give him cuddles and many nice comments from the crowds were heard as we went around the arena.... And his trot up was absolutely bang on 👌

Queenie.... An old hat at showing by now but today she stepped up a level, she behaved impeccably for plaiting and preparation, she shone like a black panther and she was superb in the ring....her trot up was powerful and faultless. We also bumped into her breeder David Brock who hasn't seen her since she was 3 years old...I felt chuffed to be able to show him how well she's done and it was an honour to have him watch her ringside 💜

Oh and did I forget to mention that both my babies made it to the champions parade? 🥰🥰 This meant that I needed an extra hand to walk one of them around the main arena....so Buddy had to step up and take Queenie....immensly proud mum moment ☺️Crackerjack had had enough by then and fidgeted and span the whole 45 minutes but we made it out without damaging anyone or anything 😂

I am still on cloud 9.... Absolutely proud beyond belief ☺️

Today would not have been possible without help from Buddy Hunt, Gee Lucas and T. Thank you to you all. And thank you to Frances Bridger and Mac Bridger for your help and support. Today has been the highlight of a few quite awful weeks 💜