It is quite challenging to get teenage boys, especially those more interested in jumping, to be keen on dressage! But I couldn't be more proud of Izrael today, who has been working so hard at lessons, for getting a 74% at Eyreton ODE. I would like to get nine 8s on my test sheets!!! 🥳🤩👏 I think they look pretty cool & a nice harmonious partnership!
Starting my own horses has to be one of my most favourite things; it's so challenging and every horse is different and it's own personality but it is so incredibly rewarding 💙 I am super busy so it takes me forever to get them started but I do feel they eventually have a very good foundation from having to take time and repeat steps often.
There's generally nothing tidy about starting a horse, the tidy riding comes later 😅 This was my second canter on Elfie. I have to make sure I have very good rules and steering to begin with as I don't have a round pen. I have to put my brave pants on when I first canter them as the arena seems like a really big open space 😳 He was actually a real dude and felt like he would just keep going forever. Little steps 👣 love the journey! 🦄🧸🧝♂️
Everyone wanted to roll in the sand over the two days at Invercargill; these lucky monkeys 🐒 were allowed and thought it was the best thing ever 😍
Who needs doggo toys when you can steal flocking wool 😅🙈
Don't think this piece will be going in a saddle now 🤣
Elf is a pretty cool dude. 5th wee sit on him and starting to suss the stop, go and turn aids with me on top. One of the cats supervising from marker E 🐾🐈⬛
They learn like sponges at this age which is why it's so important for a horse to have a good start to its life & try to prevent bad experiences. This includes good handling from day 1 of birth. Little amounts and consistency is key rather than doing nothing then trying to do for too much in one session and then nothing again. The old school getting a 'wet saddle blanket' and working a young horse until its dripping is just a way of cutting corners and not doing things properly.
Nice positive, straight entry.
Wavered after X, before completely loosing focus at the dropped peppermint...typical Labrador 🦮🐷
My husband is away so it's take the farm doggo to work weekend. Not quite as entertaining as chasing cows but she found harrowing the arena was quite fun.
The next generation learning the ropes. Second time on the long reins and Elf is such a dude; he is not quite sure what's happening so he just goes really slowly 🐌 to work it out 🥰
Learning the turning & stopping aids and getting used to ropes dangling round his back end. Love this time with the babies 🦄
Well I definitely think this dude is ready to sit on 😅 couldn't care less about the heffalump on his back. As long as he has food to eat he is happy 🐷 Elfie is a pretty special big teddy bear 🧸
Best of luck to all my clients and friends over the next three days at Christchurch show 🍀 Unfortunately won't make it in to see anyone (look forward to seeing all your photos!) Busy week here at home with fittings, lessons & trying to consolidate some work with big Ginga 🍊 before we head down to the Otago Premier League event in the weekend. Looking forward to catching up with my South friends there 👏
A lot of saddles manufactured today are just stunning and works of art but what goes on inside them can sometimes be a bit more agricultural! I now have a pretty impressive array of power tools 😁 here's some clips of grinding some bolts out of a head plate and stapling in some girth webbing into a tree. I often get some startled looks from clients when I start working on their saddles 😅
Hope everyone is keeping warm in this horrible Spring snow ❄️ 🤞it's all gone before I head to Otago!!!
Tree replacement - stripping the old tree out & rebuilding on new tree.
