2017 Here We Come!

And so starts another year of training and competitions. The boys are signed up for show jumping and eventing  – rather an expensive morning on the couch. I am still considering dressage, it is not cheap but I know it is a necessary evil. Skylar is ready to start her agility career, so we’ll need to navigate those registrations too.

Yoda has achieved a lot in the last year and I am so proud of how far we have come. This year he is finally graded for his jumping and I am looking forward to see how far we can go. Unfortunately we only have 3 eventing shows in Cape Town this year,  but we will make the most of what we get!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milo’s dressage is coming on amazingly, if only I could say the same of his jumping! We’re going to have to keep trying and hopefully he will remember that jumping is fun.

Skylar and I are learning all about agility and just how much fun you can have with your dog. In her 18 months she’s already earned Canine Good Citizen Gold and her Intermediate Trick Dog Title. Hopefully we can get the Advanced and Expert titles in the next few months. It’s not so much about the ribbons and titles (ok, it has a lot to do with the ribbons!) as it is about doing fun things together. Being a Border Collie means we have to get creative about keeping her engaged sometimes.

Here’s to a year of dreaming big andhaving to continuously set new, higher goals. And hoping I don’t burn out before we get there.

 

 

New Horse!

This beautiful boy joined the family on 20 January 2014. He is 16.2 hands of pure awesome. In our three weeks together, he has been the calmest, happiest, most confident horse I have ever ridden. And this is just the beginning!
Here’s to Yoda. Let’s rock.

Meet Dancer

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Secret Dancer is a 3 year old, unraced, Thoroughbred that came through the SPCA REHORP program. His owner believes he was previously unbacked and without consistent handling for a time, had become somewhat wild.

On our first meeting, poor Dancer was so scared that I had to use join up to even get near to him. For the first week, I slowly worked on getting him to trust me enough to allow me to touch him all over and eventually he let me clean out his feet.

Over the next two weeks, we worked on our relationship through grooming and lunging and now I can proudly say he is working very well under saddle too!

He is currently on a five day a week program including lunging, arena work, and we are trying to introduce quiet hacks too. I believe varying this sensitive and intelligent boy’s work is very important to keeping him motivated and interested, but keeping it consistent and at his own pace is also important to him feeling safe and secure.

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Meet Milo

Lulus Milestone is my 2YO Appaloosa gelding. He came from Lulus Appaloosa Stud out in Mooreesburg and I’ve had him since he was a weanling.

Currently, he is being lightly lunged two to three times a week for fitness and we are trying to bring his naturally “upside down” neck right.

This little guy is my pride & joy and when I eventually get to riding him, I am sure he will be an amazing ride!