October 1st 2009

Well, I guess we might as well just write off the blog entry for September as there is so much that has happened that I just have not got round to tapping out on the keyboard so I will try to recap the main happenings on the yard here.

But first, for Luca fans, here is an up to date photo of himself. I am really delighted with him. He is still bursting with energy at most times but has started obedience training and I am finding it really fun working with him as he is just so bright.

A couple of other horses have also left here to go to new homes. Djoval has join Iggy down in the Borders with Rachel Jay where he will be competing in endurance. Iggy have been doing great things in Borders teams and Colin sounds as if he is really enjoying him. I believe Djoval has been out to a hunt ride with her and behaved impeccably.

Kate Robertson has bought Hermes, a 4 y.o. skewbald cob x arab, and also sounds as if she is getting on well with him. Hope to see you out an about at some pleasure rides in the near future, Kate.

I got a message from Gill Brown in Cumbria who bought Nougat back in 2006. She writes:-

Just to let you know that we have been having a good season. Nougat got to Advanced in July at Silk Willoughby. We have just done the 80 km ER at Cumbria Challenge the aim was really to take it easy on our first race ride and we came 9th. I am delighted with him he enjoys the rides and I think we will get faster next year. I really enjoyed doing a race ride so I think I can now answer rather belatedly the questions you asked me about what level I wanted to ride at!

Tali and I at Perth

Last but not least, I am really happy that Mon Talisman, who I have been competing up to 80 km this season, has been sold to David Yeoman, our top British male rider. He joins Haszar and Eleazar de Landas, both of whom were bought from me and with whom David has had great success. I hope he will have just as much good luck with Tali, who I believe is one very special horse.

                                                 Sarah and Genghis at Perth doing 60 km.

And I nearly forgot to mention that Sarah Norris now has bought Genghis and has completed his first 80 km  ride successfully at Forest of Deer. He now looks a picture. What a transformation since he arrived here and how great to see Sarah with a really competitive horse now. I wish them lots of fun for the future.

Duncan and Rumelito at Scotsburn

Ridewise, I went down to Drumtochty and took Djoval down to do a BTQ while Duncan achieved his BTF riding his own Danny with Donna Hemmings and Sameh. Duncan then rode my Rumelito in the 60 km at Scotsburn over a hard, stoney track to gain his first STQ while I rode Louis, who unfortunately was vetted out with a slight muscle tweek in his hindquarter. However he is now fine and just did a very hilly 32 km at Novar to prove his soundness. I took Rumi down to Forest of Deer (again a very hard, stoney track) and accompanied Emma Matheson on Prince in the 60 km class but sadly Emma's pony lost a shoe and we could not refit it so she was not able to gain her STQ on that day - but there will be lots more rides, Emma! Rumi did another 20 km after that but unfortunately we just have too much on just now to go down to the Red Dragon even though he is well fit enough. I will be watching the website with green eyes!

And somewhere in between all that we managed to fit in a festival at Belladrum which was a welcome change from the horses.