Sydney 3DE 9/11

Photo courtesy Equestrian Australia.

Spent 9/11 (my birthday!)as a volunteer show-jump marshall for the third day of the annual Sydney 3 Day Event at SIEC. It turned out to be a lovely sunny autumnal day, (great day for riding) and a lovely relaxing time catching up with friends.
I also caught up with Ssandro's owner-rider, Matthew Anderson. He wasn't riding Sandro at this event, but rode a tall Thoroughbred (?) to 8th place in the Pre-Novice class. Sandro's having a couple of months in the paddock to get over a niggling hind fetlock soreness, but Matt assures me he's been behaving himself and is a lovely character to have around.

That was bonus news on my b'day!

Maybellene deserves her break!

Over the last three weeks Maybellene has really got her head around Jeremy's plans! He's been developing her responsiveness to his leg aids over the last few months and progressing his "asks" for 'More' flexion in leg yielding, 'More' stepping across in half-pass in trot and canter, stepping 'More' under in travers and renvers, maintaining rhythm in canter in 'more' smaller circles. Initially everything was foreign to her and it was all pushing the boundaries of her physical capabilities, but the exercises have been building her flexibility and musculature and it's all becoming easy. She now really understands what Jeremy is asking of her and is looking relaxed in her work..even the hard bits! She's at a stage where she can take a break for a few weeks and then go back to work mentally refreshed without a significant drop in her level of fitness. I brought her home after today's work: the mob were so excited to check out the newcomer in the horsefloat and she called out to them from the gate as I drove in. (Wish I'd had a video running!) So she's catching up with Cloud and Gracie in one paddock while the Boys are confined to their own domain.

Progressing Maybellene

Some more photos, courtesy of Liz, show Maybellene's developing understanding of Jeremy's lessons. She's 'sitting' more in the trot, progressing from shoulder in to halfpass at trot and canter, and preparing for canter pirouettes. Walk pirouettes are very well balanced and clear marching paces. Working her little sock off and increasing her concentration noticably from week to week!
She's very happy to get to work each day, which is lovely to see and a credit to Jeremy.

"It's raining again!" Take 2....

Thought I'd get some good photos of clean horses in the paddock this morning. They've had coats off for the last week as spring warmth develops, but I left it too late! We had an instant downpour at around 8am, so by the time I got out, the paddocks were running again, and the fetlocks were muddied! Two inches in the last 2 days and my paddocks revert to a watercourse off the hills around us!
The Inquizitive Boyz aren't fussed, but are checking out the camera straight away.

Maybellene & Jeremy, training

Lovely, sunny, windless morning on Saturday and Liz and Bethany came over to Lamb's Valley to see how Maybellene was progressing.

Many thanks to Liz for the photos.

Eventing progress

Bloomsbury youngsters out and about.

Photos courtesy of Main Event Photography.
Top: Matthew Anderson with B. Sandro 15th/29 at Wallaby Hills ODE
second: Brooke Piper with C. Paeon , 2nd in Encouragers class at Quirindi ODE;
third and fourth:Brooke and Pan at Hidden Valley ODE; 7th in the Newcomers class

Spring flush?

The sun didn't stay warm enough to allow for rugs off, on the weekend, but the mob enjoyed the opportunity to snack on the new grass sprouting in some early spring weather.
Gracie is walking normally now, without thinking of any discomfort, so she's mixing with the herd rather than staying clear of the boisterous youngsters. Lesley will be relieved!