BLUEHORSE JULY 2008 NEWS
Written by Kim Johnson
Well, finally we’ve has some better weather! And with the sun out , the tins of paint came too. The yard has had a fresh lick of paint and the stables oiled ready for the winter.
The new mare who arrived from Portugal was completely wild. The lorry driver was so good and thought the mare was so nice he wants to keep in touch with her progress. Both Kate and her daughter Rebecca have been spending lots of time gaining her trust and she’s like a different horse. She has got fabulous paces and just floats along the ground. She’s a very striking mare!
This month we took some horses out to dressage. Charlotte rode Zenu – this was his first competition he’s only 4 and only recently been castrated. He behaved impeccably, easy to handle and remained relaxed. Charlotte gave him a really good ride for his first show. Kate took up the ride on the Duke who had a first and third – Kate’s aim for the next competition is to stay within the white boards throughout the whole test. I had the ride of Util he behaved excellently. We had a fourth in our test and were thrilled.
Sarah brought her horse Sam a part bred thoroughbred up for some schooling. Sarah has worked really hard establishing better horsemanship with Sam and building on their confidence as a partnership and achieving a better approach so Sam understands exactly what Sarah wants. They went to a local show and had a really good time – Well Done!
Ant has also been busy making us a bull for our working equitation. It’s fantastic and certainly gave the horses something to look at!
Kate and Freddie spent the last week of July teaching in Hampshire and working with the Al Kingston Stud. Both Kate and Freddie competed at the Spanish Show, which was held at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. They did very well, Kate rode a young horse only recently backed , she showed the mare off really well Susan and Maz Albayatti the owners of the stud were very pleased.
Freddie also had success with the mare he rode and the judges were all impressed by the way he showed the mare off The Show was really fun, Charlotte and I went up and watched and really enjoyed it.
There was some interesting handling of horses!! I am sure we are going to be busy teaching horsemanship skills in the next month or so not to mention showing in hand skills.
We have been hosting Dr Dave Siemens a chiropractor from the USA, there was a noticeable improvement in all the horses. An even bigger improvement of Kates hips she can get on from the ground now.!!!
Dave is coming again in November we cant wait.
Kim Johnson on Util.
Freddie at the Al Kingston Stud.
Charlotte riding Zenu.
Kate riding Xavante.
