Equestrian Life

Ok. So firstly, I am a little behind with my updates, mainly due to the enormous amounts of horses that we have in work, but also due to the fact that I have been busily preparing to return overseas. The last few months have been hectic. All horses have been jumping well with places in [...]

The 2011 Pau CCI**** was a fantastic event with southern French hospitality and beautiful mild autumn weather providing a sunny disposition for the final of the 2011 HSBC Classic Series. My Summer/Autumn competition season had been limited for a variety of horse and rider related reasons so I was very much looking forward to competing [...]

One thing about my life it is not dull. I planned to write this last Monday after the Harvey CNC but instead I have been flat out with sheep. Anthony Archer our stud classer and a farmer from Tassie  has been down home since Monday getting our stud rams sorted for sale and classing up [...]

Hey everyone, Well the Winter season has officially started for me, it opened in Moorsele CSI*** with 25 degrees and not a cloud in the sky for 5 days!! It was a little rude to be jumping indoors…  But it was a great show and the perfect start indoors, Bella feeling fantastic as you can [...]

So I made it through my first show without a few important things… coach, supergroom and…. what was it again? Oh yeah, my horses!! I was pretty nervous about riding Tops’ horses at a show for the first time. Thank God Edwina was there! I also was very lucky to take Heidi, a groom from [...]

The spring season is underway, and I have finally broken in my new Logan float! I was beginning to think putting horses in it would be such a shame, as it was so clean and new, however they managed to do both number ones and twos in it on their maiden voyage, so the spell [...]

Sitting at home thinking I have never seen so much rain – I have lakes in some of my paddocks! The boys and I  are getting excited to be heading into our local Royal. The ponies shall be out  at Melbourne Royal  tomorrow and are competing on Tuesday. They don’t like the rain much but [...]

It’s been so long since my last blog that I had to go and check the website to see what the last thing was that I blogged about!! I’m much further behind than I thought I was as I was sure I had written about Valkenswaard! So, I’ve done a few things since Chantilly.  Had [...]

I wanted to write about work-life balance, not because I’m an expert on the matter by any means, but because I think it is something we all struggle with, and it is also something I am trying to be better at. We all know how much time riding and training consumes, and although I love [...]

On our way to the Adelaide Royal with a truck load of beautiful ponies. I love my job! We had a very relaxing trip with no drama although Mandy (a new mare on the truck) proceeded to squeal every time Kolbeach Chance (Adam) glanced her way.  I’m sure that by the time we got there [...]

I don’t know what it is about all big shows, but after the event is over, I feel as flat as a tack……and its not just me, but all of my friends and colleagues in the dressage business feel the same. I’m not sure if it’s the excitement of the event, or the adrenalin that [...]

It is now 3 weeks since the accident and I am out of hospital thank goodness. My amazing mum has, with the help of some incredible friends, organised all of the ewes ready for lambing and then ducked up and grabbed me. The trip home was better than I hoped and didn’t have me crawling [...]

I am now writing from the civilised location of the breakfast room at the Inter-motel in Lummen where the organizers of the Lummen CSIO4* kindly host us…they provide breakfast too, just not the late night coffees or the large ice-cream that Amy (Graham) & I just had to have last night! We had reason to celebrate [...]

  6th May 2011  It’s now Friday night and the last two days have been a continuous whirlwind of equine activity under some magnificent sun at SIEC (Sydney International Equestrian Centre)…sorry CDI dressage people, it rained on you for the whole of the previous week…that’s because you’re on The Dark Side! On Wednesday morning, Claudia [...]

I finished my last blog on the Saturday morning of the Lummen CSIO4* Show when I was gearing up for the much anticipated Derby of Flanders…I had been psyching myself up along the lines of ‘this competition should be perfect for my eventer/jumper “Koyuna Sun Storm”  being a cross between Jumping & Eventing at 1.45m.’ [...]

Those of you who read my blog after Dressage with the Stars may remember two incidents where things went slightly pear-shaped. The first was my fall on the morning of the 4-year-old class, and the second was being unable to keep Bridie, my ride, from shying drastically off the long side of the arena during [...]

Well the news is good…sort of! Having seen my surgeon he is pretty happy. The x-rays are good, there is evidence of bone repair. He even said I looked well. Only problem is he said he doesn’t trust me! I ask you. Apparently he would allow a normal person onto 1 crutch now but he [...]

In the fortnight or so I’ve been home from the week at SIEC, it’s been filled with house sitting, dog minding, teaching, and trying to convince Willy he loves all this attention in the lead up to M3DE, and doesn’t need a big fat rest for a week just yet! It’s his first big event [...]

Melbourne 3 day is now just around the corner and the closer it gets the more anxious I become about all things involved.  This year I am taking 3 horses- which is a first for me and should prove to be a very busy week, between competing, working them, walking them, mucking out, plaiting, walking [...]

I received my first “Horses in Sport” video from a neighbor when I was 11 years old… it featured the likes of Ginny Leng, Mark Todd and Bruce Davidson who were all preparing for World Games at Gawler in Australia… It was after watching that video I decided I wanted to be just like Ginny [...]

Firstly, I would like to say ‘Hey’ to any readers of this new blog that I am endeavoring to write. As I am not particularly technologically gifted, (as those who know me, will thoroughly understand) the whole blog writing is slightly new to me; and in this sense I hope that it comes across in [...]

Wow, Copenhagen is the coolest place to have a Show! Similar setting to Paderborn but the Bernstorffsparken is a much nicer park…would be an awesome place for a Cross Country course! Must still be some ‘Eventer’ in me. LOL. I have taken some great shots this morning but then have managed to lose my camera…hoping [...]

Week one has been a complete blur after 33 hours in planes and airports and backing it up the morning after I arrived to go to Bramham Horse Trials. I thought I was doing pretty well… until… Thursday morning I woke up with the Flu and the jet lag hit me!!! I have also been [...]

The month of May flew by, with the Sydney World Cup at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre the first weekend. It was great to have Vettori out after his well deserved break after WEG. What a horse! He went to the World Cup as if it was a walk in the park! Coming in with [...]

Well quite a lifestyle change for this little country girl! It was back home for me over the Xmas break with the horses spelling for a while and some time for me to make some money! Working away and it’s always good to be home but it came to a point where I decided that [...]

Pre Melbourne CCI 2011 I was asked, as last year’s winner, to submit a quote to help promote the event. I remember it went something along the lines of how it would be different for me this year because JAGUAR had been retired, but how I was looking forward to coming over with Parkiarrup Illicit [...]

I start my first blog in heed of the warning of knaves from Rudyard Kipling and shall endeavour to keep them at bay by having a light, friendly and hopefully humorous insight into my day to day happenings … When I arrived home from Melbourne 3 Day Event as the sun was rising on Tuesday [...]

It’s exactly a week since Willy and I won the CCI* at Melbourne 3DE, and it feels like a month already! I had every intention of writing this blog as soon as I returned home from the event, but in superhero style, I had decided that the day after M3DE was a great time to [...]

I am writing this from the Virgin Lounge at Melbourne airport after just finishing another great clinic at the Yering Equestrian Park in the Yarra Valley. Another full weekend of 15 riders per day, all of who are mad keen dressage riders who are on their own mission towards achieving personal satisfaction within the sport. [...]

“That’s just horses for you…” How often have we heard that phrase, and how often does it follow a horse incident you would have rather avoided? Well, nearly five months ago, that was my mare, Casey. The week leading up to our first Intermediate 1 start, she injured herself. Rewind further to around 18 months [...]

For me June has been a brilliant month, the perfect way to finish off a busy year of eventing. Melbourne Three Day Event is the finishing post for the season and a chance to compete against riders from all around the country. It is also a great social time as we are camped out at [...]

As I was just about to prepare my horse Tundra (Frosty) for his and my first 1*start, Dad came home with great news (well so he thought) and informed me that Frosty had been sold to Indonesia! I was not happy at first as I had no horse to move onto and was dying to [...]

We have just arrived in Vierzon after a very successful time in Pompadour.  Lord of Loxley and I debuted at our first international competition in Pompadour where we finished 5th in the Prix St George with 66.92%, 6th in the Intermediate I with 67.02% and 2nd in the Intermediate I Freestyle with 72.93% using Hans [...]

It was a bit of a panic getting everything sorted for the trip to Europe. The transport company kept changing the date for the horses, and everything else hinged on that.  But we did, it. The horses went into quarantine at Redleaf in mid-May and I left towards the end of May to get things [...]

YIPEE I AM OFF MY CRUTCHES. Went to see my surgeon on the 28th of June and he said I could get rid of the crutches. He suggested 1 crutch until I felt I didn’t need it then to get rid of that one as well. Being me I felt I didn’t need it by [...]

Our first show in Europe couldn’t have been much more different from what we are used to in Australia. While the horses were trucked south, leaving Stal Tops on the Tuesday morning and stopping overnight in Lyon, we all boarded the plane in Eindhoven early Wednesday afternoon for our leisurely trip to Monaco via Nice. [...]

I’m currently hanging out in my hotel room in Chantilly anxiously waiting for tomorrow!  The horses (all 7 of them) are settled in, relaxed and happy.  The ring looks amazing, it lies infront of a castle!  I will get some photos up soon hopefully. Oh and must mention that I walked past Beezie this afternoon.. [...]

Well after a massive 6 weeks in Europe, it was lovely to return back to Melbourne, to see friends and family and obviously enjoy the beautiful weather winter. Mud, Mud and more mud.  As far as the eye can see. I have to admit, I think I became a little spoilt having gotten used to [...]

We have made it home safe from Chantilly, everyone is looking a little worn out and tired, so looking forward to 10 easy days before Valkenswaard! Chantilly was really beautiful.  Driving there alone was pretty breathtaking.  I remember thinking, I could live here… then hopped out of the car to try and get directions from a local and remembered [...]

It feels only fitting to begin my first blog in the airport lounge on my way home. This trip is a well devised plan to surprise my Mum after my parents were unable to come to Aachen this year, an annual tradition these days now that I am based in Europe. I have been doing [...]

News for this month starts with Orchard Hill joining the ‘A’ Squad alongside Sarah Ingham’s Watermark Grayson. Vettori and Panamera remain on the Elite Squad. With the addition of John and Jane Pittard’s ‘Pluto Mio’ we have a full house of International horses looking good for the future!  This month Stuart went off to Quirindi [...]

A very knowledgeable and experienced trainer, now renowned sports psychologist, Lisa Stevens, has given me a great deal of advice in recent years. I have, and continue to use much of Lisa’s advice, some of which I use every day. Lisa once told me that a horse can evade it’s rider in one of four [...]

The real story, where it all began, you’ll just have to take my word for it… Once upon a time far far away in Glenorie, Dave spotted a little pig snuffling in the yonder neighbour’s paddock. Over the coming weeks the little pig, on a rainy day could be seen grubbing around closer and closer. [...]

It’s been over a month since my last blog, so I must apologise for being struck by a bout of ‘off-seasonitis’, which consequently involves ‘non-IT-comprehension’…ie I forgot I owned a computer!  THE OFF SEASON After William’s Wonderful Win at Werribee (haha, you’d think I’d be sick of the WWW jokes by now!), I gave him [...]

I have just got into the hotel, and am afraid this will not be as indepth as I had hoped – I have 50 minutes to write this blog, fix Patrik’s website, shower and be downstairs to celebrate Sweden’s 4th place, Patrik’s 6th and Sweden’s qualification into London next year. Carl really did reign supreme, [...]

The week that was, or now the week before the week that was. Sydney mid week and weekend event at SIEC. I can only speak on my behalf, however am wondering if others share my train of thought… When the week of SIEC pops up in the eventer I am always excited. I think about [...]

To say today has been interesting would be an understatement! I have been a ‘dressage hussy’ as I call it (otherwise known as a wife/partner of a significant rider!), for several years now, so  I have been very fortunate to go to many major competitions and observe. Today was without a shadow of a doubt [...]

What a day! I can not really put into words how this day has been. We are currently driving back in the truck. Patrik is still wearing his bronze medal tucked safely under his jumper. I am sitting in the passenger seat going through over 300 photos from the day in a slight champagne haze [...]

Hey guys, So where to begin … I’m at home at the moment, training with the young horses and my stable rider Ola. She is a great young rider with a lot of talent, heading to her first CSI in the Netherlands next week in Roggel. Ola did an amazing job training my young horses [...]

With record entries for Equestriad (470) and very competitive combinations we were all thrilled with Jane and John Pittard’s ‘Pluto Mio’ finishing with one of only 4 clear show jump rounds. (Only 2 under time) Pluto looked and felt very comfortable and relaxed all weekend.                   Eventing [...]

The last few weeks simply depict our life at the moment…busy busy busy! After returning home from Europe in August, I have been concentrating on getting my horses in shape for the run of Championships that are being held throughout September, October, November and December, completing my DVD Training Series due to launch at Equitana [...]

The countdown to the Garryowen has begun! Sixteen days to be precise. Two years since my first attempt and I finally have all the gear I need (or so I think!). The Garryowen is perhaps the most confusing and costly event in the showing world, yet is possibly the most prestigious and thrilling to win. [...]

I left the European Championships with an over keen urge to get back to my routine and start the program for the rest of the year. With 2 Grand Prix horses to campaign in 2 totally different ways I really wanted to start back into it and get the next few stages of my plan [...]

Finally I am competing again! Yea! On the weekend of the 17/18th of September I took Nikki Brooks’ Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison (Ben pony) and Simon and Rebecca Bell’s Belfast Mojito (Mojo) to the Alcoa Fairbridge CNC. Ben pony was in the 3* and Mojo in the 2*. Ben pony was a good boy doing a [...]