Firstly I will apologise that the 2019 update is only actually happening in January 2020 & that is mainly thanks to the various storms which curtail my outside activity!
2019 passed in an absolute flash & I naively thought that there would be small lulls during the year but I couldn’t have been more wrong! Guess it is my own fault for having 4 horses to train & compete! They are all at different stages in their training & therefore their personal calendars are different. Inevitably when one is having a quieter time another steps into it’s place & so it carries on!
A rundown of 2019 is probably the best way to go :-)….
Karisma (Darcy) is the 4yo half sister to Freddie & Humphrey. She is by San Amour & shares the same super mum as the boys….Donnabel. Darcy was the most hideous child…..we could not lead her, she bit, she kicked & we had to draw straws as to who had to deal with her! Early in 2018 (she was 3) she was sent away to grazing so we didn’t have to deal with her on a daily basis & then in Nov 2018 she went straight to Scott McLellan over near Fenwick. Scott had the task of breaking Darcy in…..at the time I had all intentions just to sell her asap. Scott’s reports about her were excellent…great work ethic, real trier & nice mover - I really thought he had the wrong horse! Turns out he didn’t & in April 2019 Darcy returned home. For all she is still no angel & does like you to pander to her likes & dislikes, she seems to have found her reason for being here & loves to work.
She has slowly been brought on through the year & did a YH 4yo class at Rockrose as her first time out. She was amazing & astounded mum & I with her maturity & acceptance of it all. The first 10 minutes felt WOW & then her petrol tank hit empty - thats babies though! Entries weren't high but that didn’t matter, even though she did win the class, the real win had been her attitude & behaviour throughout.
She had some easy time while I got the Regional & National Championships out of the way & then returned to proper full work with the aim of doing an actual test in November. I found a Novice Freestyle for her to do & felt this would be a perfect introduction for her….only I truly knew where we were meant to be at a specific time lol! After a few baby moments, we did gain 20mins of fuel in the tank & she again excelled expectations to get 75% in her first test.
I am really looking forwards to seeing how she develops in 2020 & hope to do Novice & maybe even a few Elementaries by the end of the year.
Hidalgo (Humphrey) continued to grow & develop & now stands at about 18hh…..to be honest I’m too scared to put a stick on him! Humphrey definitely proves that being big doesn’t mean that you are brave & bold, Humph is a mouse in elephant’s clothes! Humphrey has gained some fabulous results at Regional level - winning all 5 Regional Championships that he contested. This meant that he competed in 5 National Championships at Elementary & Medium level….gaining top 10 placings in 2 of them & an 11th in the 3rd Championship. In addition to Regional Championships, Humphrey won 3 Scottish Championship & was also a runner up. He is now very secure at Medium level so it time to tackle the flying changes. Things felt like they were making progress but then the anticipation that usually aids you in the process of teaching changes started to work against me & his size, power & strength took over. So, I’ve decided to admit that I am struggling & he will go to someone for a short time after the Winter Regionals to help me progress him further. He will compete in Medium & Medium Freestyle at the Regionals in a few weeks & our New Year Resolution is to be braver at National Championships if we get there!?!
Goofy La Perle (Goofy) after a slightly bumpy start to the year due to problems with his teeth, he has met all his goals. With regular visits to the Edinburgh Vet Hospital to see Professor Dixon & daily mouthwash(!?!) he is in a far more comfortable place & that is showing in his work. After a Winter Regional win at Medium, he went on to get 8th at the Winter Championships. It was then his debut at Advanced Medium level…it went better than expected & we found ourselves almost qualified for the Regional Championships. Regionals led to a win & then a 8th at the National Championships…not bad for 5 months at the level!
Goofy also won 2 Scottish Championships at Advanced Medium & then he progressed to PSG, getting just under 70%. To cap it all off he did a second PSG in November & gained the magical 70% & qualified for the Winter Regional Championships 2020 - such a good boy!! Very proud of what he has achieved in this hard year of learning.
Goofy will compete in the Advanced Medium, Advanced Medium Freestyle & the PSG at the Winter Regionals in a few weeks.
Goofy’s owner, Gordon Grainger won an award himself in 2019. Gordon won the HorseScotland 'Owner of the Year’ & received his award at a ceremony held in March at Dunblane Hydro….Congratulations!
Both Humphrey & Goofy have continued to benefit from training every 2 months with Carl Hester & a monthly day with Paul Hayler. I look forward to introducing the babies to them & to see what they think of them.
We made the tough decision to retire Freddie during the summer, it was an emotional day for Mum, Freddie & I….though Freddie was blissfully unaware as mum & I bubbled beside him out in the field. He has given me so many absolutely amazing experiences & memories - he is definitely a horse of a lifetime!
Colin returned to work & competition…..I had my boy back & he gave me a test like old at SNEC in October gaining 74.8%. I couldn’t believe it when I saw a small swelling on his leg. Back to rehab for him but we have been here before & will come out of it again.
In November, Mary bought a 3yo mare from the Oppenheimers….Headmore Bella Luce. Betty travelled up from Surrey in November & is now with Scott McLellan to break. Betty unlike the boys is little & I am looking forwards to working with another little girl….& if she is anything like Darcy then I’ll be a happy smiley person!
Throughout the year I have continued to have the support of my sponsors, without them my job would be an awful lot harder & I am indebted to them for their support. Thankyou TopSpec, Equilibrium, Uvex, Sankey Saddles, Emma Donaldson (Equine massage) & HorseScotland. Thankyou to the horses' owners; Lady Hope and Gordon Grainger.