I like you ...

The season is ramping up now - woohoo! We have a measuring day to take Brennan to next weekend and then a cross country practice weekend the weekend after. I have asked Kim if she will come over and take Brennan for a spin over the intro jumps at the Solway Showgrounds and she has said she would love to so he's going to get his first taste of XC. Karen and I will take him down on the Sunday so he gets a double whammy. Can't wait! I brought him in for another session on the lunge this morning and included a few trot poles and some barrels - He ate it all up and was very enthusiastic. This bodes well. Here are some photos and the video:

Some trot poles and a dressage rally

The weather has been kind to us this weekend and Karen and Brennan have a couple of good rides under their belts. You will notice from the photos that his mane is getting shorter - I have been brave and agreed to having it pulled so we can present a more workman-like and professional picture. Now I have done it, I am very pleased but it was actually quite a hard decision - I did love that mane. The fetlocks and tail stay though!!

Saturday was lateral work and an introduction to trot poles and Brennan was on form - he's learning and retaining everything and doing everything that is asked of him which is all that we can ask. Now I need to get some decent jumps and poles!

Today the local dressage group was running a rally alongside the show jumping group who had a practice day so Brennan had a double whammy to contend with. It was the first time he has seen show jumps and horses jumping over them and he was absolutely transfixed. In fact he left a considerable portion of his brain back in the yards and was lacking a little focus but it was a good outing - next outing may be a xc practice day. Now he is going to just LOVE that!!

Super pony!

Dressage Rally

Baby shoulder-in

I have a seriously cute pony and I am seriously excited about him! As I completely forgot to book the arena today and Becky was away teaching, Karen rode Brennan at home. The surface is not very forgiving but at least it has dried out enough now to no longer be slippery. As well as working on downwards transitions (which were a bit messy yesterday), Karen had a play with some shoulder in and did a couple of very snazzy halt and walk to canter transitions - Clever, clever pony and clever rider!

In other news, we have started to pull his mane *horrors!*. Honestly I felt sick when Karen started but I know it is going to create a neater and more harmonious picture plus it will make those hunter braids for dressage that much easier to achieve. He's not only going to be a smart performer when out and about but he is going to look pretty darned snazzy too!

And in more exciting news, Brennan's new saddle should be here by the middle of September. I desperately wanted to support a NZ business but in the end the strong NZ dollar and the incredibly low American prices meant that I have ordered his new Wintec Pro (with contourbloc) from a site in the States. The package deal includes all 6 gullets, gullet gauge, white saddle pad, Wintec webbers, stirrups and girth. A package that would cost close to $2500 if purchased here in NZ has cost me, so far, $985. I am just waiting for it to clear customs (where I expect to be required to pay another 20% in GST and Duty charges) getting it to me for under $1200. Does this remind anyone of a certain Rugby jersey story that was headline news here recently?

The Horse & Pony is out and our ad is in and looks pretty good. I have had a couple of inquiries and interest in Hamish for AI so am now considering building a dummy mare here at home and having Hamish trained so that both boys can be available via AI. If we can collect here at home, I am tempted to make Brennan available by AI only but will make that decision as and when.

Here are today's photos of my superstar pony and his fabulous rider: