Popart Starts his training

3 year old Pop Art started his training on Xmas day, he had a bridle and saddle on and learnt to be tied up and to trot up in hand. He also passed the plastic bag test see above, which helps them get used to the sound of waterproof riders coats etc.

Today he was ready to start longreining, just in the arena to begin with, he should be long reining out on the grass in 2 or 3 days time. Once he has been broken he will be taken to a few shows and then will be for sale as have decided to cut back on our horses in order to pay for the work on the 400 year old farm house we are having renovated. We also have some nice 2 year olds for sale.

Arena Eventing Lincombe on Rif Raf plus horse Shopping

I took Rif Raf Arena eventing last weekend, she absolutely loved it, when she saw we had to ride over grass to get to the arena she got a bit jolly as she thought it was the real thing! She loves her jumping.

She was a tad disappointed when she saw the sand arena but she still bounced round to go double clear to be 4th in both her classes, the 80 and 90. 

See a video of her 90 round here http://youtu.be/3yJek9sPEZs

Next blog post will be a run through of the horses that I intend to event next year, with several sold in 2014 its going to be a year of mainly bringing on youngsters for young horse classes, so 2015 is looking like a fun year of competing very wobbly horses round 80s and 90s!

Which is just as well as we have a house move on the horizon, only a mile down the road but a slightly bigger set up with more space for Ants cattle, chickens and of course a few horses.

I have been shopping for unbroken youngsters more news and pictures on my new purchases in next few weeks.

Also we have a new puppy a border collie called Hugo, he's fab very intelligent and has already been to his first show at Hartpury. He has also managed an emergency visit to the vet when he crept up on to a chair and ate 6 of Ants painkilling tablets, but no harm done as luckily I realised and was able to act quickly!

Hartpury Show Jumping

Phew what a busy day.

6 am - muck out 5 boxes +feed horses.

7.30 - load Massimo drive to Hartpury.

8 am - jumped superstar 3 yr old Massimo clear round 2x 70 cm SJ - I love him he is so bold and he was also extremely well behaved. 

9.30 - drove home to teach at 10.

11.30- load 3 horses drive to Hartpury

12.15 - jump 3 horses in 80 cm class. 

1 pm - jump 3 horses in 90 cm class

1.45 - loaded, untacked and on way home exhausted!! 

With help from Ant and Nikki Cox tacking up I jumped 3 horses in 6 rounds in 1 hr and 15 mins!!! 

My horses must work well under pressure as they didn't have a pole down all day, and with Massimos rounds early it was a total of 8 rounds jumped!

I ache now though!!!  

Below Rupert 5th in the 80 cm

Middleton jumping one of his his double clears.