Another busy month has flown by, this one filled with a lot of rain. Last month I had a great weekend away at Melbourne International Horse Trials, grooming and watching for a few of the WA riders. I was very jealous to not be riding and came home more motivated to get some of the young horses back into work.
I had a bit of a sad time towards the end of June as we lost one of our beautiful broodmares to colic. Royal Academician (aka Acca) was a lovely horse and produced a stunning chestnut filly for us in late 2013. I think in the past 5 weeks I have had 4 horses colic! That time of year again. I have since done a preventative drench of a few of the other horses who haven’t yet been hit with it. Fingers crossed that that is the end of my ‘bad stint’ and we can have happy, healthy horses, at least for another year!
On the competing front, we headed to Dryandra CIC on the 28th/29th June where I had Early Days in the CNC 3***, Love That Blonde in the EvA105 and Julie Bell’s Blackjack in the EvA65. Daisy was fantastic around the 3* track and felt like a true experienced horse for the most part. I joke that she was a 4* horse in her past life, she just seems to know what to do. She jumped a clear show jumping round and we did a positive dressage test. Now I look forward to getting some good 3* runs under our belt to see the season out.
Love That Blonde at Dryandra in the EvA105 Photo by Redfotos
Love That Blonde had a 58 penalty in the dressage, jumped a clear show jumping round and a clear cross country, however we picked up 14 time when I had to stop on course after a bit of a gear malfunction. My back boots got pulled down when she misread the jump out of the water. The time was frustrating as she would’ve run a place however it was a positive how easily she got back onto her job after about a 40 second break!!!
Blackjack got a 53 penalty in his dressage and show jumping clear, then had a cheeky stop at fence 4 in the cross country. Aside from that he went well for the rest of the weekend. Thanks to Lily Knuckey for being such an amazing groom all weekend.
Early Days at Dryandra in the CNC 3*** Photo by Waylib Photos
We then zoomed back to Perth just in time for the Keith Urban concert on Sunday night at the Perth Arena!!! Mum bought these tickets for Aaron’s birthday last year, when we didn’t have the events calendar yet. So I was pretty tired but had a good time at the concert with Mum, Dad and Aaron.
Last weekend we had two days of Stuart Tinney coaching which was a super tune up before the upcoming Gidgegannup CNC and then Wooroloo CCI. My young Blackall Park mare went in the clinic and did such an amazing job so I have gotten excited and entered her in her first eventing start at Gidgegannup!!! Early Days, Love That Blonde and Kirsten McConnell’s Red Dar Jon will also go to Gidgegannup.
The weekend just gone, 12th & 13th July, the Future Eventing committee which I am involved in hosted our second ever event at Little Brigadoon CNC. We held EvA65, EvA80 and EvA95 and it was a super weekend including the weather. My role is event secretary and along with help from Mum, Sue Warren and Jade Moody we managed to keep on top of the most part!!! Thankyou to everyone for your help not only towards me, but also to those who got behind the event. It was a very stressful few weeks particularly in the lead up to this event and it still amazes me just how much work is involved in running one. I think friend and committee member, as well as AEL blogger Tegan Lush is doing up her next blog with a dare for everyone to get behind at least one committee and help towards at least one event in the year to get a taste for what is really involved. These event organisers are seriously underestimated and overworked so each new pair of hands will make a difference.
The Future Eventing Committee Photo by Waylib Photos
I managed to ride for the weekend too where I had Kirsten McConnell’s Red Dar Jon in the EvA95. Johno got a 58 in the dressage and had a super clear cross country round, however unfortunately pulled off a front shoe, and we believe he trod on it with his back hoof! As shortly after we finished our round he was sore. Sure enough we found the puncture wound so poor Johno was poulticed up and withdrawn from the show jumping. Horses!!!
That’s all for now. I’m still busy as ever, with about 8 horses in work some days including some new clients’ young horses. Thankfully I only own 4 of these! Hopefully the rain can clear up again for this Friday and Saturday when I hold my own Eventing clinic. Full steam ahead!
Makayla X
