Happy New Year

Originally posted 2nd January, 2012

Hello and welcome to my Blog, and new experience for me and something that I hope someone apart from myself will enjoy. I have ridden all my life, coming from a family where my father worked in the bloodstock industry and my mother rode competitively. My parents ran a busy hunter livery yard and also dealt in hunters and ponies. I have ridden many different young horses all my life and particularly love working with them, teaching them and enjoy observing the different ways in which they all get to grips with life. My particular favourite is taking young horses hunting – you spend a whole day teaching them about something you both love and there is no better way to learn about the horse you are riding.

The current residents in my yard are: Castleview Bouncer (Buddy) an 8 year old grey gelding by Grange Bouncer who has been prolifically placed in Foxhunters and has jumped well in 1.25′s and a few 1.30′s.

Wayfer (Ferro) a 7 year old bay mare by Creevagh Ferro, who jumped very well in 6 year old classes, being equal 1st at Windsor, was placed in a Newcomers 2nd Round and qualified for the main ring in the All England Jumping Championships at Hickstead;

Emma (Doonaveeragh Emma) a 5 year old brown mare by Creevagh Ferro, who qualifed for the main ring in the 4 year old Championships at the AEJC at Hickstead,

and last, but not least Little Penny (Biscuit) a 6 year old bay mare by Tadmus who arrived in September having done very little.

Buddy, Ferro and Emma all had a break after the AEJC in September and having been made redundant from my job (a research worker at the Institute of Psychiatry) I made the interesting financial decision to get another horse in case I hadn’t got enough to do! Mark, my husband, very kindly went halves with me and enter Biscuit, who I bought from Shane Breen, who very kindly and patiently tries to teach me.

All the horses have been back in work for some time now, and apart from Emma, who was last in are ready to go to shows again.

The old year ended with fun, a wonderful day’s hunting on Buddy on the 30th December, I had taken him cubbing quite a few times before he went on holiday, and all that getting up early and bouncing around was worth it as he was immaculately behaved and went beautifully. The New Year started with me feeling very weary – lots of late nights at this time of year, and a more serious note as the three girls did flatwork in the school and Buddy had a quiet hack, although his hunting had made him very jolly.

Horselife broken up with a drink with friends and a trip to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, luckily I have read the book so missed nothing during my quick snooze. A truly excellent film and true to the book – having Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomquist is of course no hardship!

First show back for Bud and Ferro tomorrow and a lesson later in the week, and Emma should joinin next week. January: – time for serious training and addressing those strange old habits that have crept back out hunting and hacking.

Winter sunrise at Alchornes