Getting back my riding mojo

Another day and another ride and, as I sit here typing this, I am also gearing up to take Brennan down to Louisa's to do some jumping so it's a great horsey day.

This morning my friend Jane came out with her Arab pony and we went out for a hack together up the paper road. The full loop is 25km but for starters we settled for a few kms up and then back down again - Meg is not very fit and I don't want to overdo it with her. I think the horses had a fabulous time as we walked, trotted and cantered (and even had a wee gallop at the end) out on our ride. The paper road is a fantastic steady ride up through some lovely farmland grazed by sheep and cattle. It's super for fitness and, even though there are some harder/stonier sections, for the most part barefoot horses like Meg don't have any trouble with it. By the end of the season I hope she will be fit enough to complete the entire loop.

Setting out

 The tall and the short of it

 Meet 'n greet

 After the ride - Close pals now

 Jane & Denny

 Does my butt look big in this?

 Stepping out

 in unison

 On the way home, captured on Amy's ipod

So a GREAT morning out, happy horses and happy riders - And THAT is what it is all about!

What has been happening?

On Sunday I had a really fun day tagging along with Louisa and Rachael to the Horowhena PC One Day Trial at Waikanae Park. My role was that of photographer cum groom cum general entertainment. Louisa took Rei-Huia Squiggletop (Syd) and it was his second public outing and only the fifth time he had been asked to jump ... anything! He was a wee legend. 

His dressage test was his first time in a dressage arena and, aside from gawping at the people throwing bottles in the recycling plant RIGHT behind behind the arenas after going left at C, he did a very green but very nice wee test to end up about 1/3 down the field. Louisa took him quietly around the Show Jumping and he jumped the course clear but with a few time faults and then we went and walked the XC. I have not evented for years and so it looked huge to me but even Louisa commented that it was a pretty meaty course for Pre Training (the PT and the Training shared a handful of jumps) and this girl is a bonafide mad eventer who has ridden at International Events in the UK so I guess it was fairly big. We were all laughing about poor Syd being a bit too fat and unfit to make it around - little did we know he would absolutely eat up the course and finish with fuel left in the tank. He still got a few time faults but double clear jumping efforts = Superstar pony. I think his next start is going to be training level now - he certainly has the scope and the rider so, why not?! 

Scanned Tinks yesterday. Unfortunately she was not in foal but was teased and served today so finger's crossed for success second cycle. Might scan her after her cycle as she had a little fluid - need to make sure that is not still there after serving as will not help with conception success!

Yesterday I also went to Rei-Huia again, this time with Meg and we went off hacking over the hills. It was fab! I have my riding mojo returning and it certainly helps to have friends living so close to ride with - Great motivation. SO motivated in fact that I rode again today and even jumped Meg over the skinny log in the orchard paddock. I am such a nana rider these days - I want the brave kid who jumped the 1.20m gorse bushes with poles on top and the big ditches and banks around the old farm without so much as giving it half a thought back. Not sure where she went but I really miss her!

 Contemplating 'The Log'

 Don't touch it Meg!!

Tomorrow Brennan is heading over to Rei-Huia so Louisa can jump him over a few more jumps - Can't wait!

Brennan and Louisa

This morning I went and visited Rei-Huia Sport Horses which is the Sport Horse Stud/Training establishment of Rae Healey and Louisa Gleeson. I got to have a wander around and take photos of some of their lovely horses. Due to family illness, the stud needs to sell a number of their horses so I have offered to help photograph sales horses. I will be putting details up of various horses from time to time too so, if you are interested, do let me know and I can put you in touch with Louisa.

Below are photos of Saddle Hunter prospect 'Rei-Huia Liam' (2005 Willie John x Regal Vain mare) and broodmare 'Rei-Huia Bernadette' (2005 Hi-Falutin [Zabalu] x Laughtons Legend/Mellay mare). Both horses are lovely types (Bernadette would SO be coming to live with me if I had the room!) and if you want more information, do not hesitate to contact me.

'RH Bernadette'

'RH Liam'

This afternoon Louisa came over and had her first ride on Brennan. Louisa has very kindly offered to help us with Brennan's jumping education and I am very excited and thrilled to have another highly talented rider to help with Brennan. He's surely going to be a very well schooled and well rounded pony!

Here are my favourite photos from today's ride: