Rocco and Kaden

Kaden Weaver was a student of Kate's when she was based in Ourimbah, before E.I, before his HSC. He then travelled overseas before spending some months last year, riding with Kate in Maryland. He came home at the end of 2009, but returned to ride-"work" for Kate in a more permanent role. He's picked up the ride on Rocco a couple of times when Lisa has been unavailable.

There's some nice photos of all 3 phases at this Event at Rubicon Horwse Trials , where they placed 4th in a Novice Rider class.

Photos courtesy grcphotography.

Rocco and Lisa,

Kate brought some great photos of Lisa jumping Rocco at Loudon Hunt One Day Event. None of the dressage phase in this batch, but some beauties on the cross-country course and the show-jumping phase.
They placed 3rd in this event.

Photos courtesy of grcphotography.

Kate in Oz

Kate Chadderton is back in Australia for a couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, and to celebrate a "Big O" birthday with her mum, Dorne, in Woodford.
It was great to catch up with all her news and some Rocco stories on her flying visit to Newcastle today. SHe brought me a couple of discs of Rocco at competitions with Lisa at Loudon Hunt Club ODE, and Kaden at Rubicon, back in (our)autumn.

The photo above shows Lisa and Rocco setting up for a jump on the cross-country course.

Kate is back to Maryland briefly over Christmas/New Year before moving self and horses to Aiken's warmth, again, till April.

It's great to hear of her adventures and that her hard work is paying off.

Partners

Congratulations to Brooke Piper, of Yarramalong, Central Coast, NSW, the new owner of Canyonleigh Paeon (aka "Pan").

Brooke has been working with Paeon for the past week and the two have formed an easy partnership, recognised by Brooke's generous Dad, Mike. and grandparents Margaret and Tom.
Paeon showed no desire to return home with me when I visited his new home today. He's having a ball in his new home, with his new mate, own jumps, and arena. Brooke has already started teaching him the sporting games for Interschools competitions. We look forward to following the progress of the new partners.

Paeon Show-jumping

Pan has gone to the beautiful Yarramalong Valley to visit Brooke for a week to see if their friendship might develop into a more serious relationship.

I've posted this series of photos to allow Brooke to get her eye around what she can expect of Pan at this stage in his training.

This first set is of the show-jumping phase of his first Introductory level One Day Event at Scone, on September 26, ridden by rider/trainer Emma Armstrong.

(You can click on any photo to see it separately, and click again to enlarge, if desired)

Pan x-country

The first 3 photos are training at Heatherbrae prior to the event; The bottom two are on the x-country course at his first Introductory level ODE at Scone on September 25. Clear, and spot-on-time!!

Pan (1) dressage

These photos are from the start of Pan's dressage test at Scone Intro ODE, September 25,

Pan dressage

These photos are of the second half of Pan's dressage test at Scone Intro ODE on September 25.

Pan heritage

Pan's sire is the palomino stallion Canyonleigh Super Nova, shown above at Canyonleigh Stud, Yacamunda farm, Paddy's River Road, Canyonleigh.
His full brother was the very rich liver chestnut Canyonleigh Echo Commander who sired the palomino currently eventing in the USA, C. Sirecho.

Pan's dam is the bay mare C. Ariadne. He is shown above, as a 2 month old foal, with his dam in January 2006 at Canyonleigh.

"It's raining again!!"

We haven't got the floods which are affecting the Murrumbidgee catchment, with Wagga Wagga going under water this evening, but the Hunter river level is up. I'm told the mines/power stations in the upper Hunter are allowed to release measured amounts of the diluted tailings held in dams at periods like this when the natural flow of the rivers is sufficient to carry the lode...so that accounts for the river running at higher than normal levels at the moment, downstream of Glenbrook Dam.

At home, the ground had dried out after a week of dry, but with 2 inches of rain over 2 days midweek, the watercourse through the horse paddock is running again, to the tune of a number of frogs and crickets!

I woke at dawn this morning to the sight of Cloud hunting a flock of sulphur-crested cockatoos away from the feed. She wasn't very serious about it though, as the birds were very relaxed around the horses.
Laddie just watches!