Going Riding Again | Brand
Going Riding Again
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25.01.2022 Great day with Memphy doing some cross country schooling. I love this horse; I think we are a great team. I finally have a horse that loves doing cross country (like I do)!!! I gave Memphy a big ‘open spaces’ test to begin with, and it would seem his phobia has gone! Woo hoo!!! He stayed calm when I took him out in the middle of nowhere, and even Paul was still back at the truck. Good Memphy! I rode him around some weird/spooky-looking things, too, as we practised m...aintaining an appropriate speed: he wasn’t fussed. Then we went to find some cross country jumps to school where it wasn’t too slippery, after all that rain we’ve had recently. There was a ‘no hooning’ rule imposed on him today, too. Firstly, that is because I want him listening to me and being a safe ride on cross country. Secondly, it’s because the footing was slippery in some parts. Fortunately, Memphy came back to me quickly after each fence and didn’t get carried away. Yay! Memphy was an absolute machine with his jumping, especially since we were down some bush tracks he’s never seen before, and (apart from me, and Paul hanging back as our photographer) he was there on his own. He popped over everything nicely and confidently (). We started at Level 5 and worked our way up to Level 3. He’s not ready for the size and technicality of Level 3, yet, but he’s okay with straightforward/inviting jumps at that level in training sessions. Memphy was so good and happy with what he was doing today, and so calm and pleased with himself by the end, that I can safely say I now have a horse for cross country; it’s been a while! I’ve missed it because I love it. What a brilliant day! Now it’s time to enter Memphy in some horse trials! Jump all the things!!! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #rescueriders
25.01.2022 Finally, the internet might cooperate enough to post these pictures. We'll see. I had my camera out the other day when I decided to get some pictures of the horses. Taj has finally found something he's a natural at: being a poser. He thinks he should take up modelling full time, and have his own personal truck, and get liquorice, carrots and apples laid out for him wherever he goes, and only work at certain times of the day. I told him if he wants to be a model he'd have... to stay clean all the time, so I guess that's out now, too. Winny wants me to send her pics into L'Oreal for a sponsorship deal because she thinks '[she is] worth it.' Memphy was just going with the flow and Bundy could hardly be bothered. Love all of my Winsley Park horses (even Winny and Taj on their bad days! ). #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #rescueriders See more
24.01.2022 Love this boy #MemphisPJ #friesianwarmblood kicking goals in our ride at home yesterday #goingridingagain #WinsleyPark #dressage #training #classicaldressage #horses #sponsorerider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing
24.01.2022 When me and my boy were Masters Games Show Jumping Champions: I remember that day as Taj finally responding to the ‘buttons’ I had installed on him. I love my big, grey, Irish boofhead!
24.01.2022 So, Ive been busy! The horses have been wormed, the tackroom has been sorted and cleaned, the feed room has been organised and swept, and the hay shed has had a gear rack installed. Plus, since I didnt have much time/light left today, I was efficient by riding one and leading/ponying the other. Memphy was a bit cheeky and got told off a few times (by both me and Taj!), but then he behaved. Taj loves being the boss horse and the responsible one, and didnt put a hoof wro...ng while ponying Memphy. He didnt even head flick while we were doing it, despite a fair bit of trotting, and at one stage Taj was doing his best impression of a Western-trained horse as I was neck-reining him one-handed and he was on a loose rein. Clever Taj! Taj was also super-good and helpful when I parked Memphy and tied him up from Taj. Then I rode Taj away, since that will happen at outings and competitions. Memphy was good while that happened. Taj reverted to his irresponsible self, though. With about 50m to go before we finished, Taj got distracted by the cows next door, then did a big spook at some outdoor furniture next to the tackroom, and then looked back to the cows and spooked at them, too. Tajy!!! On Saturday, Im taking Taj out for a bush ride, which should help increase his fitness before he and Memphy attend our next show jumping lessons with Russell Johnstone. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
23.01.2022 I get to go eventing again!!!
23.01.2022 #cleverMemphy #MemphisPJ #friesianwarmblood 2nd in our first comp back after COVID-19 shutdowns & #doubleclearround finishing on the highest round he’s done yet! Thanks #caramutridingclub for a great #showjumping #competition #goingridingagain #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #rescueriders #pineappleclothing
22.01.2022 Tajy had his turn, and he was very happy to come in. He had a quick massage before I rode. Then Taj was really good, even opening and shutting the front gate (which he hadnt done before), until we started trotting, when Taj tried to convince me that he had no brakes! Between bouts of me telling Taj that he did indeed have brakes, and hed better start using them when I told him to, or there would be no treats, and chilling in various places while stuff was happening ar...ound us so that Taj gets better at relaxing in different situations, Taj was still being good. That is, until the last few minutes when he did one of his signature squeals that signals Taj is about to go crazy. For once, following that squeal of his, I managed to convince him not to turn into a giant breakdancing turnip like he usually does. Winning! We practised Taj using his brakes a few more times before we finished, and then I gave Taj a huge 2-hour massage. In doing so, I think I managed to peel back all the layers of the problem that I have been rehabbing. He was very happy by the end of that, and got wrapped up in rugs in an attempt to keep him somewhat clean overnight. After all that massage, I knew Taj needed to keep moving, so the stables werent an option tonight. So were off to Lethbridge for more lessons with Russell Johnstone tomorrow. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
22.01.2022 Just when you thought it was not possible ... (I had to get video evidence because I thought nobody that knows Taj would believe this!!!) #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
22.01.2022 The Winsley Park horses love it, too - especially Taj, with his ‘master suite’ of 2.5 bays. Memphy has had a go at self-loading on the truck after watching Taj do it all the time! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #rescueriders
22.01.2022 I would like to say that this doesn’t happen very often ... but then I’d be lying! The others were so funny; as I was heading over to Memphy, Winny ran up to me, whinnying, and shoved her head in my arms, Bundy whinnied and came ambling over, and Taj trotted over, whinnying, shaking his head at Memphy, like, ‘I told him not to do it.’ This equibraid/turbo braid electric fence helps keep the big, black, fence-wrecker safe: not a mark. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #RescueRiders #pineappleclothing
21.01.2022 Through the finish - woo hoo! We got round. Well done, Memphy!
20.01.2022 The weather wasnt awful like the forecast was; I managed to sit all of Tajs spooks while we bush-bashed on a trail ride; Tajy was the responsible lead horse, even having to go through some enormous bog holes (made by the 4WDs), with water almost up to his belly when there was no other way around, and Taj was happily trotting without headshaking: Id call that a fantastic day. Not only that - see my video on another post for the evidence - Taj also happily ambled along at a... loose rein walk on the buckle!!! It seems my horse that used to rush, try to take off, and leap around wildly on trail rides has (almost!) disappeared. There were a few big spooks, especially at the start, but Tajy really stepped up today. I am so impressed. Tajy had a well-deserved massage before I put him back in the paddock this afternoon. Thanks for the company, Terese. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
19.01.2022 Memphy at the end, that’s right, the END of the cross country course at his first ever horse trials, with both of us in one piece: mission accomplished! Unfortunately, we had some stops when Memphy forgot how brave he is now, but he was loving the adventure and taking me to 95% of the jumps. For his first go at competition cross country, he was awesome, especially when all of the challenges we faced to get him to this point are considered. Memphy did a fairly calm dressa...ge test with over 65% (and I’m glad I remembered it and managed to learn the right one!). In the show jumping Memphy was speedy but lucky, leaving all the sticks up. I determined that a change of tack was definitely required; fortunately the change worked well. Thanks to Lochard Pony Club, a little club that punches above its weight when it comes to running great clinics and competitions. Thanks to all involved in running the day because without you we wouldn’t be able to participate in the sport we love, and a big thanks to everyone that took the time to be a cross country judge as well. There was great camaraderie amongst the riders today, which was lovely to see and be a part of; I think we’re all thrilled to be out eventing our horses! Well done to my friends Kylie, Beck and Colette who all managed to place in our section, and congrats to the others who achieved their goals today. It was also great to see many of my school students competing, too. Thanks to my husband Paul who was chief truck driver this time, so that my ankle’s damaged ligaments didn’t have to work so hard and could be reserved for my riding and walking the course. Thanks to my sponsors for their support: #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #rescueriders We’re looking forward to following this up with Memphy’s first EA Eventing experience at Geelong Horse Trials in two weeks’ time.
18.01.2022 A 2nd for Memphy!
18.01.2022 And another 3rd for Memphy!
18.01.2022 The horses came into the stables for dinner, but the other three planned on leaving Memphy out in the cold; I guess hes annoyed them today. I rescued him, and knowing Taj would listen to me, I coaxed Memphy to go past him. Memphy got past lengthways but then didnt want to risk turning behind Taj to go into the stable where dinner was waiting. I went and stood in front of Memphy and signalled him to back up. He did. We repeated that until Id backed him into the stable, no ...halter or anything, and then he happily ate his dinner. Love how my horses listen to me. The horses all had pats, cuddles and treats since the weather was horrendous and not much else was going to happen today. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
17.01.2022 A 1st for Memphy! Looks like I have the funniest Friesian Warmblood in Australia and the dirtiest Irish Sport (or Draught) Horse in Australia!!!
17.01.2022 I was so excited about having my classical dressage lessons on Memphy again, that I only got 4 hours of sleep last night! Despite that, I went and taught my Year 9s this morning and then rushed home to bundle Memphy into the horse float and head off to Ros indoor at Lara for our lesson. Memphis was very cooperative when caught, especially since Taj was charging around us like a lunatic (cantering, wheeling, bucking, prancing, snorting, etc.,), since he obviously thought it s...hould be his turn. It would have been his turn last night if his head hadnt been covered in caked on mud that would have taken me far longer to get off than there were hours of light left in the day! Anyway, Ro could see noticeable improvements in Memphy since our last lesson (Yay!!!). Apart from Memphy going better, I was reminded of so many things that I used to do in my riding years ago, when I was riding more highly educated horses - and the difference I felt was incredible! I was buzzing all the way home! It was so nice to start my weekend so positively, rather than falling in a heap, semi-comatose, like I usually would. Instead, I felt energised. Then I massaged Memphy, for which he was grateful, getting a lot of big releases from him. Then I could see how jealous Taj was, and knew I needed to make a big fuss of him if Memphy was to have a chance of being besties with him again. I think it worked: I caught Taj, worked on his park in the paddock, adjusted his rugs, gave him lots of attention and took some photos, before giving them all dinner. Taj then seemed suitably appeased. May there be many more starts to my weekends like this one! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
17.01.2022 Internet issues here, so Ill try posting this for the third or fourth time. Hopefully, it goes through this time. Yesterday was ride day again for Taj. (Note: I have a veterinary letter for riding Taj & Memphy off property during restrictions due to animal welfare.) After circumstances had conspired against Taj last week, meaning he couldnt be ridden for 10 days, he went backwards dramatically and suddenly in his rehabilitation. With Taj having Headshaking Syndrome, he ca...Continue reading
17.01.2022 I left riding until the best possible day: today still wasnt good enough for Taj, because of his Headshaking Syndrome, so Ill try again during the week, because I feel like his health is starting to go backwards. It wouldnt be an issue if we were allowed to ride in indoor arenas, since Taj can do that no matter what the weather is doing. So it was just Memphy and me. Memphy was a bit of a fire-breathing dragon and was hot like a spicy jalapeo. It took 15ish minutes ...just to get him to start breathing properly and I felt like his back was quite tight today - another victim of appalling weather and not being allowed to ride in indoor arenas. Also, that was after about 15-20 minutes of in-hand work! Both Memphy and Taj have a vets recommendation for off-property exercise on an animal welfare basis, and its still flipping hard to work them enough. Anyway, the good news is: a. Ive still got it when my ride turns super-spicy ; and, b. I managed to get Memphy going properly, anyway - it just took an awfully long time. We finished on a super positive, with the best upwards canter transition he has ever done, with heaps of jump in his canter (and no bucking!). When we got back, the other horses had redecorated the front of the stables: it looked like theyd had lots of fun! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
16.01.2022 Luckily, he redeemed himself! #MemphisPJ
16.01.2022 I headed off to Horseland Warrnambool after work tonight to collect some things and check out the Mega Clearance Sale. Im glad I did! There were so many fabulous bargains. Then I fed the horses and spent some time in the tackroom doing washing and organising things more. After I do some schoolwork, Ive got a Chaff Chat article to finish off as well. Tomorrow, Ill be letting the horses into a new paddock and getting some hay. Im hoping the weather will be okay for some riding, too. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
15.01.2022 So, Memphys results for the AFWHS (Australian Friesian Warmblood Horse Society) Online Show were: 1st Funniest Photo 2nd Best Working Hunter in Action Photo 2nd Best Mane, Tail & Forelock ... 3rd Best Show Horse (hack or hunter) Photo 3rd Best Show Jumping Photo 3rd Best Eventing Photo 3rd Best Trail Photo Thanks so much to the judge and organisers for the effort in putting the online show together. I would have also done the video classes if the weather had been more cooperative! These results have really proven to me what a brilliant all rounder my special boy, Memphy, has become, and were loving every moment together! Even after his big day at the clinic today, I know tomorrow hell be first to the gate saying, Pick me! Pick me! and he is always super keen to head off on another outing/adventure with me. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
15.01.2022 New paddock time & happy horses. I just directed them through the gate, around the fallen tree, through the stable veranda, across the hard standing, past the washbay, past the hayshed and into the paddock, without drama. Then they got distracted by some green grass, not realising there was better green grass in the far corner paddock. A bit extra walking on my part, then I directed them again, and once they realised the far gate was open, the charge was on. Pretty ...good all things considered for moving 4 horses at once, at liberty, from one end of the property to the other. Such good horses at Winsley Park. I havent been posting much lately due to poor internet. Hoping things get back to sort of normal soon. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
14.01.2022 3rd for Memphy!
14.01.2022 Looks like it’s a good day for #training at a local indoor arena with #MemphisPJ #friesianwarmblood #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #RescueRiders
14.01.2022 Another 3rd for Memphy!
14.01.2022 Russell says horses do it differently each time, and that was true for Memphy today. He got a little carried away at times, but generally he was a very good boy. The even 6 strides exercise that we got every single time at Orford, we got in a perfect 5 strides this evening. Oopsies! Memphy thought he knew it all this time around and took a bit of convincing otherwise! We did get the 6 strides a few times, though! For Taj, it was his first jump back after the little spell and... the rehab that Ive been doing with him. Memphys lesson ran over time and it was a mad rush to chuck Tajs gear on and head out for my back to back lessons. It meant Taj and I hit the ground running, which wasnt ideal, and Im sure Taj did some extra flinging around because of it. Although Taj was his normal, erratic self, I was happy with him for his first jump back and that everything was holding together. Russell said it was hard with Taj because he tends to be erratic - yep!!! It was a good first jump back for Taj, though, because the jumps were easy-peasy for him. I was in an 80+ group, which is what Taj normally starts at, but we didnt get anywhere near that, anyway. The weather was awful, with rain, hail, gusting winds and a massive chill factor. Thanks to Paul for getting the footage that he did and for driving the truck home. I drove it there, but I was a little tired after my 3 hours of lessons and running around looking after the two horses. No gym membership needed! Thanks to Seetal and Angela Lethbridge Equestrian Centre for organising the day, and thanks to Russell for the lessons. Memphy and Taj both did well. I should sleep well tonight. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
13.01.2022 Battery going flat and power out after a huge storm so Ill be quick. Up early to ride Taj & Memphy this morning before the bad weather. Poor Taj had definitely gone backwards in his muscles & his proprioception is shot due to bad weather & not able to ride indoors. He gave me the hardest ride he ever has (!!!), and it wasnt due to being naughty - it is because he couldnt help it. It was like riding a giant calving glacier that was doing the Hokey Pokey. Poor boy. Then M...emphy started okay but got wound way up as the weather started changing and he heard a few scary noises, etc. He didnt mean it, but he got the closest he has to getting me off yet. 15 minutes of spook, run, spin/buck/dart/jib/whatever, repeat, and I put in one hell of a rodeo performance. My biggest mistake was letting him stretch down and scratch his leg when he momentarily stopped his repeat performance, only to have him tuck his bum, take off sideways and get back into the repeat performance. My left rein was dangling, Memphys mane and my broken finger were hampering my efforts to regain the rein quickly and at one point as he bucked and humped, I had to give up on the reins and put my arms down either side of his neck to stay on. Then I thought I was going to come a cropper with another spin, but seized the opportunity to grab the slipped rein and SOMEHOW managed to stay put while doing it. It was all just because he was getting worried, but Im not exactly sure what set him off. Id like to know for sure, so that theres not another episode like that. I calmed him a bit, got him to do a couple of things until he relaxed and breathed properly, and then we could finish. Talk about putting me through my paces!!! Geez. All I was thinking about (apart from how to stay on) was I cant fall off - Ive got two WebEx meetings with my students this afternoon. This is why Id much rather have the afternoon off - not the morning. So I ended up rushing to make it back to school on time - WebEx meetings went well - and Memphys many ribbons and prize (a cap) from the Australian Friesian Warmblood Horse Society online show turned up. When Paul got home it was to find a couple of fallen trees so we had to start cleaning that up (it took out a paddock fence) as well. What a day! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
13.01.2022 My horses were so clever today! An earlier video (if it ever comes down from cyberspace!) was about how, without any practice or prior training, at liberty, all four of them at once, walked along with me from the paddock at one end of the property, past the hay shed, through the yard, in the stables gate, under the stables veranda, through the day yard, across the arena area and into the new paddock. Then when I brought Taj and Memphy in to be saddled up at the stables, Wi...nny was being a troublemaker and trying to get the boys stirred up. It worked on Memphy. Winny, knowing her mission was complete, then flounced off, leaving Memphy at a loss. So, then Memphy was being painful, pulling and snatching at his halter in repeated attempts to follow her. Im sure Winny was hiding just around the corner and chuckling an evil laugh. I gave Memphy an unplanned mini halter/standing tied lesson, using light pressure on the headstall noseband, with a specific voice cue, and releasing the pressure the instant he stepped back, praising him. I did this about 7 times, before going back to grooming Taj, and then as Winny reappeared and then disappeared again, I got interrupted by Memphy another couple of times, so I repeated the exercise another three or four times on each occasion. Just as I was doing something I didnt want to interrupt with Taj, Winny whinnied and set Memphy off again. All I did that time was use my specific voice cue, and Memphy stopped and took a couple of steps back. Thinking it had to be a coincidence, I repeated the voice cue, and Memphy responded correctly again, and again, and again. I couldnt believe it. Hed been conditioned to give this response in about 15 minutes, without even using a food reward! The light had started to fade, since I was riding after a later-than-expected hay delivery, so I decided to pony Memphy from Taj. Taj was being super-helpful. Memphy was being a bit of a brat. Then, not long before dark, I decided to swap their roles, ponying Taj off Memphy for the first time. Again, Taj was super helpful.Again Memphy was a bit of a brat! Hes just starting to understand what I want him to do, but then he thinks he knows it all. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
13.01.2022 Im very proud to announce that Ive just become an ambassador for Just Strong, an active lifestyle clothing brand that realises mental health is just as important as physical health, and is all about empowering women: both things very close to my heart. To get your discount use this code: ANNIRW10 and go to https://www.juststrong.com/?rfsn=4662059.88b6a8 Your discount will be calculated at the order page. Here is a bit about the #juststrongclothing brand: Its a represen...tation of feeling connected and strong, no matter the background or adversary you may have faced previously. Its a representation of our message we are all strong. No matter your walk of life, your background, your sport (if you even do a sport) we all have our own version of strength. BE STRONG We want you to never give up and to stay strong physically and mentally. Our clothing is a symbol of standing back up, fighting against any resistance life throws at you and becoming stronger. This is the idea of where our company was born. Motivate strong women to overcome their adversaries and embrace their strength, no matter the source. If you embrace being all that you can be, join me in supporting this brand. Im thrilled to be part of the #juststrongclothing team.
12.01.2022 Four years later and still relevant; except add in the Victorian Government & Parks Vic, that want to engage in the senseless slaughter of our naturalised heritage Brumbies, to the point of extinction, because the authorities are operating on flawed data.
12.01.2022 I never accepted the colour blind myth, but horses do see things differently. I’ve had horses that I would ride on angles through doubles made of the same colour poles, to help the horse understand the confusing jumble in front of it. I’ve ridden confidently and at a set stride distance to help horses with coloured jumps that they don’t see as well. Have you thought that your horse ‘just hated’ jumps of a particular colour? Do they jump that colour better on sand or grass (when the poles contrast with the ground colour)? The next time your horse refuses a jump, don’t assume it is ‘being naughty’; maybe it just didn’t perceive the jump correctly. Food for thought, perhaps? #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #RescueRiders
11.01.2022 Taj was so happy that day! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
11.01.2022 So thrilled to be able to announce this!
09.01.2022 Another 2nd for Memphy!
09.01.2022 Where Take 2 of my riding career and horse ownership began: Im so glad it did. This was my first time riding after a 7 year break, which had begun due to multiple craniofacial injuries, and surgeries, from a freak horse riding accident. Its hard to imagine life without horses at all now. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
08.01.2022 Here’s Memphy giving me a hard time at the start of the jump off in the 65cm competition at Caramut. He’s discovered he can jump AND go fast; now, he wants to do that ALL the time!!! Better than freaking out about everything! Fortunately, he put this little rodeo show on before we crossed the start line and it didn’t take too long to sort him out. He went clear in the jump off and that’s the highest round he’s ever done (at 70cm). Well done, Memphy, you speed demon! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #rescueriders #pineappleclothing
08.01.2022 So I was hoping for a quieter, easier day at Mortlake for the Caramut Show Jumping Festival, by just taking Memphy and leaving Taj at home. Memphy had other ideas. Let’s just say, Memphy needs to remember his manners, rather than having a need for speed like he did today. I normally ride him in a super mild turtle top bit, but will reassess what he wears in his next couple of show jumping outings, until I’m sure he’s remembered his manners. I got him to slow a bit..., despite him cracking it with me, but not enough, since he charged at the last, taking out a rail. Amazingly, I think Taj would have been an easier ride today!!! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #RescueRiders
08.01.2022 I had a good afternoon out at Shady Haven Equestrian Centre doing a number of level assessments. Meanwhile, the Winsley Park horses were gorging themselves on the grass in their new paddock. Then I came home, planning to get ready for show jumping at Warrnambool tomorrow, and went to check the info, only to see that entry requirements had changed from entries on the day to pre-booked by Friday. I have a plan B for tomorrow but will have to wait and see what happens. ... #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
08.01.2022 Thanks to Kayla for getting this video of Memphy on the cross country at Lochard Horse Trials. This jump was only little, but a test of the horse’s ‘spookiness’ since it was a skinny, wriggling track to the narrow log surrounded by thick bushes and trees. It was like a little tunnel! Memphy wasn’t fussed at all; he was such a good boy. Something else I meant to say in my blog post yesterday was thanks to all those dotted around the course saying, ‘Go, Annemarie.’ It was a ...real boost each time I heard it, so thank you! That’s one of the great things about competing close to home. The warm up ring and the car park were much like being at a reunion for me, catching up with some people I hadn’t seen in ages, as well as seeing lots of others that I see more frequently, and a few new faces that I had just met and was getting to know. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #RescueRiders #pineappleclothing
08.01.2022 I dont know what happened to my detailed post about last weekend, but its been a few days and is still lost in cyberspace. The internet and phone signal has been shocking lately. Maybe it will turn up eventually. Yesterday was exercise day for the A Team boys. Taj was holding things up again, saying ... but theres this invisible thing in the neighbours paddock, that not even the other horses can see, that I have to protect them from. We cant come up to get some lu...Continue reading
07.01.2022 Receive a $300 Horseland Gift Card* with the purchase of any leather Collegiate saddle. Shop Collegiate saddles in-store! *Can not be used in conjunction with any other offer.
07.01.2022 It was fabulous to be out competing again!!! Hooray! My Winsley Park A-team boys, Winsley Taj and Memphis PJ had a great outing at Caramut Club Show Jumping. Whichever horse I was on and whichever ring I was at, it seemed to clash with the other ones. Plus, everything seemed more difficult and to take longer in the very high humidity today. Memphy really impressed: he was so good all day. There were some very excited moments (see earlier post/video), but he knew wh...at we were there to do and he wanted to do it! That meant he was no longer anxious and melting into a puddle every time he saw something new or different. (At last!) Memphy jumped clear in the 55cm and unfortunately had some green horse rails in the jump off - but you know what? He listened much better in the next class. Then in the 65cm, Memphy went clear again and was into the jump off. At the start of the jump off he was a bit of a dill, getting super-excited and just wanting to go and jump everything fast - right now!!! Once he got going, he absolutely flew over the jumps for another clear round in the jump off to come home in 2nd place! Woo hoo! Also, the jump off was the first time he’s jumped a round at 70cm. Yay, Memphy! He needed more jumping miles under his belt to rival the first-place getter, since Memphy is yet to master quick and sharp turns on the course (he managed some just fine before we started the jump off, though!). Taj began his day brilliantly with a lovely clear round in the 90cm. Unfortunately, the weather changed before the jump off and it set off his headshaking. We began the jump off but he was a bit all over the shop, so I retired him at Fence 3. It’s not his fault, and it’s not fair to push him when he’s like that. At the end of the day, Taj was entered in the 85cm in the other ring, but after the warm up, I scratched him from the class, since he still hadn’t improved. It’s always a roll of the dice when entering a headshaker in anything. Fortunately for Taj, he has ended up with me, where I always put the welfare of the horse first. Taj went back to the truck, and at the end of the day, I helped pack up the jumps. Thanks to Caramut Riding Club for a brilliant competition at the Hexham Equestrian Centre. It’s so good to be back! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #rescueriders #pineappleclothing
06.01.2022 Big day tomorrow! Memphy is having his long-awaited Eventing debut at Lochard Horse Trials with me in the Open 4. I’m trying to convince him that he needs to look like the much-loved event horse he is, rather than the unkempt, hobo-chic look he’s been going for lately, complete with hiding a forest worth of sticks in his ginormous tail. Whatever happens out in the competition world tomorrow, I absolutely love this horse, I have heaps of fun with this sweet clown, and I’m so ...glad that he has decided to trust me to work with him, enabling us to get to this point. There were times when I wondered if we’d ever get there. So here’s hoping he stays clean(ish) overnight, that he (at least mostly) listens and cooperates tomorrow, and that we have a wonderful eventing début to remember. Let’s go, Memphy, and jump all the things! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #juststrongclothing #pineappleclothing #RescueRiders
06.01.2022 Thanks to Shady Haven Equestrian Centre, I got to exercise Taj and Memphy today. Both horses were way more difficult than normal (yep, Taj can be worse than a giant turnip), which proves how much they needed the exercise. Both finished well, though, but after being put through acrobatic antics by both of them and managing to stick with them and persevere with my plan, I am stuffed! So Ill do a proper blog post tomorrow. Heres a picture of the two in the float, as we headed out down our driveway. By this point, Taj had already declared it was a fully fledged giant turnip twit day (worse than a giant turnip day, which is already really bad!). Memphy, at this point, was cool as a cucumber and must have a great poker face! #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
06.01.2022 I had a busy day, level assessing for HRCAV and then I headed to my fabulous sponsors: Horseland Warrnambool. Now is a great time for a wander around the shop. There’s lots of cool new season stuff, like the marble matchy-matchy sets, but for those that like their matchiness a bit more traditional, there’s plenty for you, too. I’m looking forward to trying out the stuff that I picked up. A huge thank you and shout out to the wonderful people at HORSELAND WARRNAMBOOL for their support of myself and the Winsley Park horses over the years. I greatly appreciate it. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool
05.01.2022 Memphy’s cross country round thanks to ridervideo.com
04.01.2022 Memphy and myself had a great time at the Russell Johnstone clinic at Orford Indoor today. Thank goodness were both fit, because Russells warm up was pretty brutal. Ive already booked two more spots with Russell when hes at Lethbridge in a couple of weeks: one for Memphy and one for Taj. So Ill have my work cut out for me to make sure Taj is ready, now that I know what were in for! Ill do a video edit tomorrow, when Ive had a chance to go through them (thanks for ...videoing, Paul!). Thanks to Sarah Tidbury at Orford Indoor and Macarthur Pony Club for organising the clinic today. We had a great day. Thanks for having us. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
03.01.2022 My Plan B for today turned out great. I took Taj and Memphy to Pullenboon South Equine Retirement to use the arena and get Taj out for a proper jump session. Memphy came along for a dressage workout and to get used to somewhere new. In the lessons with Russell Johnstone, we didnt get to jump big, so I was wondering where Taj was at after his rehab stint. I set up the jumps and put in a couple of easy ones for warming up and for no-brainer fences. I call them that because ...Taj could probably jump them backwards in his sleep, but I use them to correct things, rather than for the jumping effort itself. However, I was trying to get a read on Taj, so I optimistically set up some decent heights as well, bearing in mind that the last Freshmans we did at Lethbridge Equestrian Centre was where Tajs old injury had flared up and we barely completed my hardest ever 75cm round, due to Taj not being right. I am absolutely stoked to report Tajywajy is back and fully operational, jumping everything clear, including a jump I set at 1 metre. Memphy was a little unsettled in the new environment but we had a reasonable dressage session and he finished up being a good boy. If you watch the video, youll hear how I was immensely excited to have my Tajy back to his old self, jumping hug and jumping well. Both boys had an Equilibrium massage and some extra massage from me before we headed home. Thanks for the moral support people have given me while Ive been getting my big wild grey going again. Thanks for hiring the arena at short notice, @Genevieve Rounds - its a fantastic facility. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
02.01.2022 It was so good to get out for a bush ride today. Taj did well with Rox doing a spectacular spook at a kangaroo in the first couple of minutes. His Hidez hood was doing a great job with only one flick despite all the excitement. However, after Rox did that, all logs, stumps and rocks were deemed spook-worthy by Taj, which made me wonder how I ever used to get him round a cross country course!!! He had plenty of impulsion and it was definitely a legs-on and contact type of ri...de for at least 90%. I did get a couple of stretches out of him, though. He did really well with the heaps of motorbikes that were out in the bush today - even when some were doing monos as they went past our floats. It was a good work out for him, finishing with a whole body sweat and inches of foam between his back legs. Since Ive just rehabbed him, these bush rides are necessary to keep him fit and stop his old injury from reappearing. Thanks for the photo and the company Terese A Tomicich. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac See more
02.01.2022 Here it is: video edit of our first lesson with Russell Johnstone. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
01.01.2022 When your horse, at liberty in the paddock, while all your other horses are eating the hay you just put out, wants to hang out with you, instead - you know youre doing something right. Love you, Memphy. #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
01.01.2022 So, on my only part day off that I can organise to exercise Taj and Memphy off property (needed for their welfare/exercise - and mine! - and because I dont have anywhere safe to do much apart from potter around, at the moment), the weather decides to be atrocious with gusting winds around 45km+. Because of that I cant ride Taj at all, due to his Headshaking Syndrome, since he can only be ridden indoors on days like this, and due to stupid COVID-19, Im not allowed to use ...an indoor arena now. Today it wouldnt even be safe to float them to the outdoor arena I had planned to use with these wind gusts. Memphy needs a good workout and if Taj doesnt get the exercise, it will undo all my rehabbing of his old injury. I could have done with it myself today, since were back in Remote Learning and the horses are my happy place where I can forget about work for a little while. It wouldnt be so bad if I hadnt already had numerous setbacks with the horses due to the restrictions ... Okay. Pity party over! My Plan B is to oil some bridles. Hopefully, the smell of them will be a calming form of aromatherapy for me. Ill get them out for exercise tomorrow and hope for less rain and wind so I can ride here. I hope youre all doing okay out there. 2020 has managed to turn everybodys plans upside down. Horseland Warrnambool is still trading for our equines, and PETStock Colac for your pets, so it would be great if you can support them at this time to thank them for supporting us. Its tough for businesses right now. Comment below to let me know what youre doing to keep you and your horses happy during restrictions. If youre struggling, talk to someone you trust, or you can find help online at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ or for crisis support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Photo: the latest addition to my 2020 Autumn/Winter riding wear. (Mask not available at Horseland, but the rest is.) #sponsoredrider #sponsoredby #horselandwarrnambool #petstock Colac
