News and Events

Shows, Party, Clinic

Another year has ended and another year has started as everyone turns over to a new chapter of their life.
This year ended with SIEC being the last show, everyone’s as excited about it as it’s always a great show, they’re also over it and so are the horses.
Nevertheless we all go out there ruthless to win. This year we took our whole team and figured it would be easier to keep them stabled in the complex (and it was), we were entered in young riders, mini prixs and the world cup. Greer was the only one out of the twins to be successful in the tough field placing second and third on Lucy and Brain, following Tom McDermott. Cruise place 6th in the final and just missed out on the ribbons and had a bit of a doozer in the mini prix but regained himself after that. Toby was proving to be very capable in the open 1.40m classes and Grand Prixs so we decided to jump him in the world cup…and he was a STAR. He just had 1 foot in the water and a fence down in the combination but we were very proud of himJ.

After that monstrous feat and effort from our team, we were in need of some serious celebrating. So decided to throw a beautiful 21st, organised by Matina Butcher and decorated by Danelle D’Costa (Letter D).
The party was held in Bowral at the gorgeous Briars. As soon as we got to the venue after hair and makeup of course, we got dressed and headed up to the open area where the scene of the crime would be. Before people started to arrive we decided to have a little drinky poo and take some photos. As the night went, more and more people were starting to arrive bringing more and more gifts (really guys you shouldn’t have).
And then a strange man in a colourful tuxedo came in with a pump and a really really long hanky, and I thought, I don’t remember inviting him. And then it occurred to me…the MAGICIAN! How exciting! He did a ring trick and then made me a flower out of long balloons. I didn’t think the night could get any better. I was having a great time walking around talking to everyone, and then, mum came and pulled Greer and I away and sat us down in the middle of the dance floor. I thought oh great here come the speeches, and this strange man with all this energy and a yellow fireman’s suit came storming through the crowd. I thought that’s strange I don’t remember inviting him either and then he took he’s top off! And it clicked to me. STRIPPER!! (I don’t know why I didn’t guess that when I saw suspenders under his jacket)!

January

George Morris clinics started the season of the New Year and lucky Danielle had 2 horses, Twins Quantum in the top clinic and Twins Zenith in the middle clinic.
Although the top group had tougher lines and obstacles to overcome in his lessons I found he was actually easier on them than he was on the bottom group, who on the last day of the intense 3 day clinic had to do 40 minutes of no stirrup work and when I say no stirrups I mean no stirrup leathers no stirrup irons NO STIRRUPS!

On the first day it was just the usual analysis and he picked his favourites and told the idiots who they were. In both lessons they started with some tricky dressage work to help supple the horses and warm them up properly so they were attentive and listening to the rider. In both classes they practically did the same lines and exercises except not as high, with a vertical instead of an oxer, more strides or an option of strides.
The main lines I remember were:
A triple bar – 1 stride – vertical – 1 stride – oxer # 4 strides with a right bend – tall vertical. The difference for the second class was the number of strides from the treble to the vertical; it was seven on the curb to the vertical.
A few of the exercises I remember, was trotting into a little vertical with a tarp underneath it, at first I thought he was mad but it was a great exercise for keeping the impulsion at a slow speed at a spooky fence, it helped keep the horse in hand and leg so they couldn’t go anywhere but over that fence!
I also didn’t realise that he would have the second group do it with no stirrups, Brian is hard enough to get going in the right direction let alone with no stirrups. Another exercise that was quite difficult was the double dog leg that went both left and right:

The second day George got on Cruise. He walked up to the horse and said “a happy mouth?”  “When a horse has a happy mouth in I guarantee they are anything but happy”
He put his head piece on and his helmet over the top and Ben gave him a leg up, he picked up the reins and looked at Danielle...”what are these?” he said, Danielle replied “they’re for grip” 2 seconds later he snapped “they’re crap! Gimmicks! Your all tricked into stupid gimmicks...they don’t make you ride better, they make you spend money”.

He did the line up and down the wall in the 5 up and back about 4 times. He said he didn’t want to get off and he really enjoyed the ride. I don’t know if that made Danielle feel good or nervous, in case she did something wrong because now he knew what a good horse Cruise is!.
It was a great clinic, because George is such a great teacher you find yourself doing all the techniques at home that you have learned from him.

February

Kiama

Kiama show this year was wonderful, the weather held off and the clouds made for great shade from the sun.
We took the four main horses, Cruise, Toby, Lucy and Brian. This was the first show that we were doing without Greer but with, Jack Erickson. He was the new driver for Southern Cross Horse Transport, which means he has to drive the team to all of the shows J
Danielle was a little bit nervous because she hadn’t ridden Lucy in competition for a while and she had never ridden Brian in competition.