Rachael - Petplan Equine Ambassador

After the National Side Saddle Championships things generally slow down competitively for me and my boys. The autumn/winter season starts to kick in, the nights draw darker and lunging for exercise becomes more of a priority than schooling. But before full ‘winter blues’ kick in, here’s what the boys and I have been up to!

Sleet

My ‘special’ (for many reasons) horse has been making the most of the softer ground! Trotting around the field like a two year old, playing and generally feeling very well. We’ve been hacking out regularly, just walking, unless we go down to the river where we have a play in the river and a trot back. I find doing some big circles in the water really frees him up and makes his back work. The aim is to get him to a couple of intro walk and trot tests this winter, on a surface, just to keep him feeling happy and entertained!

In September we did some product testing, with a photoshoot with the lovely Ruth Downing. It was so much fun and great to be able to use Sleet, he loves posing for photos!

Tristan

In the beginning of September I decided to take Tristan to the last local show in our area. As usual there were copious amounts of bubbles and bathing and whitening and cleaning involved, but as always, he looked fab!

We were loaded up, ready to rock but disaster struck! A flat tyre on the truck! I had pulled out of the yard and picked up a huge nail in my tyre! After having a tantrum at my friend who was with me, I got my practical head on and called ‘equestridad’, Ray, to the rescue, closely followed by my good friend Micky. Between them and with some challenges, they managed to get the tyre swapped to my spare and we managed to make it to the show, if a little late!

We had already missed the youngstock class, which was the one I was most bothered about as it is his last year in the baby class! But we still entered the coloured, cob and open pony. I couldn’t believe we came away with two 1st and a 2nd place. The judge loved him and we decided to stay for the In-Hand championship. It just got better! Tristan managed to take In-Hand Champion! Winner Winner!! I was so proud! He was such a good boy all day despite the dramas earlier on.

Although we’d done so well and the judge asked us to stay for the Overall Supreme, there were still a lot of classes to run, so we opted to leave and go home.

Since then I have continued to work on his backing and starting and although if left too long he can be cheeky on the lunge; he’s going fantastically! Unfortunately I haven’t had a saddle small enough for him, so I have started him bareback and he has been great! But we can only do so much, so I’ve bitten the bullet and ordered him his very own small saddle so we can move forwards with his ridden work without me getting a greasy bum!

In October we also celebrated Tristan’s birthday! He is now four! It is so hard to think he was such a little fluff ball a few years ago!

Lordie

Lordie’s been doing his usual amount of lunge work to keep him muscled and we’ve even been popping a few fences at home on the lunge! We had intended to go showing in September with him, but typically for Lordie, he heard the word ‘work’ and threw a spanner in the equation by getting a fat leg! Lots of cold hosing later and he was fine.

In the beginning of October we made it out to a local dressage competition. Lots of preparation had gone in as we were attempting prelim again. He was a very good boy and managed a reasonable score of 64.9% to take 2nd! He warmed up well and picked up canter correctly on both reins. He did trip and stumble in one transition (as the surface wasn’t great) but he was correct so I can forgive that.

The following week we attempted showing again. It was on a surface, so no risk of slipping as he’s barefoot and a nice quiet venue. Unfortunately, the judge was somewhat baffling in her choice of placings with the clear winner in the Hunter class finishing in 3rd (we were 4th). Safe to say we will not be showing there again, or riding under that particular judge.

Marcus

Since the Nationals, I’ve only managed to get over to see Marcus once! He’s been busy with his mum getting lots of dressage rosettes. So I went over for a quick hack and to give him a well-earned treatment session.

Over the winter, Amanda and I aim to meet in the middle and hire an arena so we get some practice in for next season.

Blee

But wait… what’s this… - ‘Goodmans Gift’. Yes! We have a newbie!! Welcome to the team ‘Goodmans Gift’, stable name Blee.

After months of searching, seeing lots of horses and nothing really making me feel that ‘yes’ moment, I finally found Blee! After a four hour drive to see him (and the same back), I decided he was going to be the one. A five-year-old Irish Sports Horse, standing 15.3hh and a very dark bay. Originally I didn’t want something so young, but hopefully he will grow and develop into a fantastic all-rounder, which will get me back jumping, eventing and when he’s old enough (minimum age 7) may even have a side saddle on!

He hasn’t been with me for long and is still settling in, but the plan over winter is to work on him at home and pop out to a few local venues to try some combined training.