Showjumping
I have to admit I am not going to be that informative about the showjumping for you as I find it hard to watch any. I perform better when I have no idea how the other people are going, so i didn’t view that much sorry!
But I know that Nat Hibbert had 3 rails in the One Star, nothing major from what I saw. Makayla Wood said that Grand Elevation went well, he had 2 rails and she had 1 so they finished with 3 rails.
In the Two Star Makayla Wood went first for WA, followed immediately by Ben Leahy. If you have seen Just Corona go his showjumping is not is strongest phase however it looked like it was going to be here at melbourne. The round started amazingly but unfortunately once one rail came down a few more did and they finished with 3 rails also. Ben Leahy was next and unfortunately the issue about time penalties was stuck in his mind resulting in a rythym that was a tad quick and quite a few rails came down. This proved quite infulential as they both slipped down the leaderboard.
The 3 star started very very late after many delays we finally got going. Adam Bensonwas the first clear round to go on Enthusiast. I was 9th in and Murph was a tad fresh, but he warmed up amazingly! We had a few jumps that faced the crowd and quite a few tricky lines I thought it was a pretty tough track, very different to the tracks we see in the west. We were jumping clear and then Murph had a big spook at the liverpool jumping towards the VIP marquee, which we somehow jumped clear, but then unfortunately the next rail came down. It was the A of the treble, which ran along the grandstand side and I thought it would be his weakness. But other than that I was extremely happy with the round.
Now to head home – we left melbourne with a qualifying result which means we are on track for Adelaide 4 star. I had a lesson with Christoph Hess afterwards and learned so much, he said a few changes would make him World Class. It is the usual problem of when he gets a bit strong I ride him inslow motion, so the hope is that if I work on the flat work over the next few months it will make the jumping even better than it already is!
Onwards, upwards, and I can’t wait for Sydney!
Read More...Cross Country
Trot up draw
Hi all
Just to let you know the trot up starts with the Junior CCI* and the CCI* featuring Shaun Lonergan and Celtic Archway and Makayla Wood and Grand Elevation and Nat Hibbert and Buddy Rich. Followed by the CCI** featuring Ben Leahy and Makayla Wood and Just Corona. Lastly is me in the CCI*** followed by Paula Caplehorn and BML Diplomat bringing up the rear.
The draw will be on the website tomorrow after trot up.
Read More...Melbourne!! we’re here
Well we arrived here yesterday – I do apologise for not updating the blog yesterday but it became quite the full on day between losing my wallet (with lots of cash in it), to then setting off the brake away unit when unhitching, breaking the tv antenna, not having any shavings in the stables and then discovering that Murph and Casper had become very attached!
But we made it here in good nick 
Yesterday we went for the first ride and Murph settled quite well. Nat and I are stabled together so that is good. The night turned very very cold, poor Murph had all the rugs we brought with us on. We went to the local pub for dinner with all the other WA people including Paula and Ben would made it here before us! Luckily they ran into combined (afterbreaking down a second time) and managed to organise transport to Melbourne. So that was finally some good luck for them!
Day 2
Today I actually got to sleep in Sonja arrived today on crutches and wrapped in horse rugs, so I was able to have a lesson on the flat with her. Paula and I shared a lesson going through the test and it was amazing. Sonja is fantastic for all the little ‘tricks’ that help to make the test look and ride better, so I was in a much better mood after that. And to add to my smiles Murph and Casper have got over their love affair. I also had to spoil Murph by buying him a fleece hoodie to keep his face warm whilst being stabled here. He has never had one on before so I must admit he looks a bit funny, to the point where I couldn’t find his stable because I couldn’t recognise him!!
Tomorrow is the riders breifing and the first inspection so it will be busy day. I will update on how everyone goes in the first trot up Good night, and for those back in the west think yourself lucky that your warm! (a top of 9 degrees here today).
Ceduna
Leaving Ceduna started with a double shot coffee moment and lots of laughing at the truckie who ‘liked that rig’ on the two way! It was nice to pull into Ceduna in daylight, it allowed Nat and Casper and Murph and I to walk around the whole track to stretch our legs.
Both boys again drank and ate well – unlike us who had the luxury of frozen meals! Instead of plugging into power we decided to drag the microwave to the power, using a 44 as a table, and feeling a little out of place while the Woods’ sit in their truck watching television and living in luxury.
Today we are travelling through Port Augusta on the way to Hahndorf. Tonight we are staying with Megan Jones and looking forward to having a nice meal. Then tomorrow we pull into Werribee…woohoo!
Halfway there
So far our trip to Werribee is going quite well. Day 1 was Woody to Fraser Range and both the horses travelled amazing. We arrived at Fraser Range just a tad after other WA traveller Makayla Wood and her two horses (in the CCI* & CCI**). Both the horses drank as soon as they stepped off the float and we had to have a chuckle at poor Casper not getting his legs in order to step down the drop off at the end of the float (as we have no ramp) and having a stumble!
Unfortunately not everyone had a good day one – we received a phone call from Ben Leahy and his travelling partner Paula Capelhorn saying they were being towed back to Norseman!! Their car had done a fuel pump, but luckily Ben’s dad is quite the mechanic and I believe they are on the road again.
Tonight we pull into Ceduna, currently on the road; we are living on a diet of salted nuts, muesli bars and red frogs!! Definitely looking forward to pulling into Hahndorf to get some real food. Haven’t been through much rain, but there is lots of evidence of it, as Caiguna was quite underwater – a rare occurrence!!
Photos to come soon
Countdown to Werribee
Well the countdown is on – only 2 nights until we leave!
The weather forecast is not looking promising at this stage, so there is lots and lots of packing to be done of lots and lots of clothes! A surprise arrival this week of our annex walls for the horsefloat awning has meant many practices of putting it up and down, but boy is it going to be cosy and warm in there at Werribee.
Tomorrow all the horse gear gets packed before waiting for the arrival of my travel buddy miss Nat Hibbert and her horse Casper (who are doing the CCI* class, watch out for them!).
The plan is to ride Saturday morning (still debating what kind of work to give Murph), and then aim to leave about 9 to make our via Ravensthorpe and through to Fraser Range – look out for more updates!
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