Long Overdue Update

Well, its about time. Tomorrow its been six months since I sent my beautiful Tom Kat over that Rainbow Bridge. Can't believe how the time has gone so quick.

Kandy had continued to impress me.

Days two and three of the Winter dressage series saw us get two seconds and a first and second on the last day resulting in us winning the Overall Points Champion and a wonderful wide sash. What a star and I must say my ribbons look lovely hanging in the lounge.

We have also has two jumping lessions with Gary Sinclair who is a wonderful instructor. We had a blast at each day and Kandy is happy to jump 50cm.

We alo completed at the Western Hills Spring Show, where she went really well. The Judge unfortunately only had eyes for just about the same 6 horses in each class. Never mind. The only bad thing about the day was Kandy's behaviour at the Float. She was a right bitch, she started stressing as her best paddock friend was a few floats over. She bit me, kick me and barged me into the float.

On Sunday we tackled our first ODE at Te Marua. I was very unprepared due to a rather nasty fall two weeks earlier in which I think I cracked a rib or two as I'm only just coming right now, although it still hurts to sneeze!

Our dressage was the worst test she has done as I had little time to warm up, due to the long ride to the arena and once I was there, the judge gave me my bell and I didn't realise which gave us 30 seconds to get into the arena. She did do a nice second half of the test and her cantering is getting better so that instead of running into the canter, she reacts to my request and goes straight away and on the correct lead.

Show Jumping again wasn't great. She was happy doing the low practice jump and felt really good going over it but once I faced her at the 65cm height she said "don't be stupid mum, thats too high and went to the left and I went to the right. Not sure how I managed it, but I did a very atheletic dismount and landed on my feet thank goodness, as I was determined to to land on those ribs again.

So after being eliminated from the SJ, I decided to just give Kandy a look at the x-country jumps being the first time she'd seen any. We managed 4 out of 14 as I was just too worried about falling again to push really hard. We did two small logs, a nice max size jump near the end of the course and the final ditch. I let her look at all the jumps and only did the once I felt comfortable with. She hated the water jump and refused to get her feet wet so tomorrow we are going to do a river crossing with her best paddock friend in the lead just to get her used to the water.

Our next outing is in two weeks at our Riding Club Spring Show where we will do flat classes and jumping at 60cm, then I'd like to tackle the Battle Hill ODE on the 21st as that is a course I know well and really like.

All this means I really need to get her jumping this week at least 60cm which now I've done the first ODE should be a breeze.

Te Marua Horse Club Winter Dressage Series - Day 1

We headed off in the most appalling weather only to find it quite nice at Te Marua. Just my luck I was the only one in my class that turned up so I warmed Kandy up and did a reasonable test. In fact, I was stoked with how she went and we ended up with a sore of 73%, which is not bad for our first ever test. We also got some lovely omments as well. The second test was done in the "big girls arena". I made a stupid course error, me not listening, but was still really pleased again. We ended up with 71% for the second test. Kandy took everything in her stride, no stressing out, no shying at the strange arena, she just got in and did what I asked. We ended up with a lovely red ribbon for our efforts. Here is a video of eah test. Finally, some ridden footage.

Test 0.1



Test 0.2

Falling off Kandy

I fell off Kandy tonight. It was a long way down and by far the worst fall to date. I ended up flat on my face and very winded. Kandy decided there was a monster in the trees and shied. I lost a stirrup and while trying to get it back ended up all over the place which freaked her out even more so she decided to try being a bucking bronco. Before this, we had a lovely ride, doing some nice trotting work and circles, getting ready for next weekends Dressage test. I hurt all over and she broke her bridle after taking off, doing some more impressively huge bucks. I don't think shes had anyone fall off before. I guess thats all part of riding. She's only young and has previously been turned out for the last four years, so I guess everything is new.

Despite the fall, I am pleased with how she is going, she is quite straight at a trot and I am becoming more confident with each ride. I even tried to canter tonight and we managed a few strides before resuming a trot. I need more space for the canter as were we were schooling was quite small and she does take a bit of pushing along to canter.

Ainsleigh rode Rusty at the same time which was also another experience for Kandy and she handled it very well. Although the ride ended badly, I am still achieving lots each time and Kandy is becoming softer and more responsive with each ride. I can use quite a loose rein and am starting to introduce trot-walk transitions.

We do need to work on her manners while I'm trying to mount. Tonight she was a right tart, even swing her rump in my direction while Ainsleigh was holding her. After a few firm telling offs and tap with the crop she soon got the message and stood sulking after I'd mounted, waiting for Ainsleigh and Rusty.

WOW

I had a wow ride today,. It was my first decent ride on Kandy so Dad came down to supervise me and give me some confidence. Once I was ready to trot her she went unbelievably well, straight into an outline and maintained it beautfiully. Dad said she is very light on her feet. I am stoked and still buzzing. Yes she had her moments, but that is to be expected given she is young and very green. I have never experienced what I did today and some things started to come back to me from my pony club days, like rising on the correct leg and changing over when on the diagonal. Haven't cantered yet, but I'm quite happy to work on trotting first and once that is nice, relaxed and balanced, then I will give her canter a go.

After the flat work, we decided to go into the jumping paddock to see what would happen. I walked her around the various small jumps and fillers and while she was unsure I could feel the trust come through and she ended up walking by the scary filler. We walked over the trotting poles and then Dad said give it a so. I walked her over a very small jump and she clipped it so next time she picked up her feet, then we did the cross bar as well. Trotted over the small one and straight over the small cross bar. No hesitation what so ever. We did it again and I decided to finish there on a good note, mainly because I was so happy with such a large amount of progress in one day.

What a doll, she has by far exceeded my expectations of a young very green off the track thoroughbred. Can't wait to get her out and about to see what happens.

Our first outing will be a rally at the Te Marua Horse Club and then their Winter Dressage Series held over three months.

Part of the team

Kandy has settled really well and over the weekend was moved to a new paddock. She has been a bit grumpy towards me over the last week but tonight was a gentle sweetheart. Here are dome photos of Kandy and her new mates Antrica, Rusty and George.

A New Journey Begins

Kandy arrived last week and has settled well. She grew quite attached to Tom in the few days they were together and couldn't quite understand where he'd gone. She now has little Rusty as new new best buddy. I asked him to look after her and he has taken the job on with vigour.

Her first Farrier visit was such a big non-event, don't know what I was worried about. She has good strong feet and healthy hoof walls. She was really good for the Farrier, somebody new I'm trying and he handled her really well, growling when necessary but otherwise very gentle with her. She didn't even flinch when he was nailing the shoes on, like Tom used to. There was lots going on around her at the time, Warren was butchering a hogget on the table, trucks being started up and plastic bags flapping everywhere.

My Dad has taken an interest and is keen to help me along with her training. At the moment, we will take things nice and slowly.

Farewell Tom Kat

I let him go on Sunday 2 May 2010. My beautiful boy passed over the rainbow bridge at around 11.20am. I had to walk away after giving him my final cuddle. Julia was fantastic and took the time to explain to hubby and my Dad the issues with his feet. He was basically walking on his pedal bone and the laminae was just not re-attaching, but she did say that what we had tried to do (barefoot) was a good thing. Tom knew the journey was over as when I lead him from the paddock and over the sharp stones, he didn't flinch as he usually does. He is a poem that my grazing owner gave to me.


If it should be, that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, cannot be won.
You will be sad, I understand
Don’t let your grief then stay your hand,
For this day, more than the rest
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We’ve had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears,
You’d not want me to suffer so
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they’ll tend
Only stay with me till the end,
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know, in time you will see
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has swished
From pain and suffering I’ve been saved,
Don’t grieve it should be you
Who decides this thing to do.
We.ve been so close, we two these years
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.
Smile, for we walked together
For awhile.

Welcome Kandy

Kandy loaded on the float with a little help from a side rope. She got a little upset leaving but travelled well and unloaded like a dream, waiting until we were ready to unload her. She went into her paddock and trotted around, unfazed by everything. Tom was the big show off, cantering around with hss tail in the air, a memory I will cherish. After a few sniffs and squeals from Tom they were aquainted, Kandy was head down to much on the limited grass. Here are a few photos.

With sad news comes some good news

I feel a bit stink, but I answered an ad for a mare needing a home urgently. Of the three criteria I have she meets the temperment one perfectly and is in fact a gentle giant. She is huge and measures 16.2 hh unofficially. Her name is Kandy and she is a well built TB mare and the most laid back OTT I have come across. We went to meet her today and had a small ride and then just hung out with her. My daughter (7) came along and I caught a few moment of them together, Shannan up on the rails giving her a good scratch and Kandy lapping it up. I even had a few nice moments scratching her in a nice spot, her head dropped and the bottom lip started quivering, so cute. She is bigger than I wished for and I'm not sure the Dressage saddle will fit, even the Wintec needs a med/wide gullet in it and the girth well, my 120cm didn't go near her. Here is a phot of me on her and I'm quite pleased that I don't look like a dwarf on her.

Sad News

It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to let Tom cross the Rainbow Bridge. This is by far the hardest decision I have ever had to make as he is my one in a million pony on the ground that is.

I have recently had x-rays done and they showed pedal bone rotation in one foot and damage to the pedal bone in the other with signs of arthritis in the other. The vet has been wonderful and fully supports my decision as I suspect this is what she would have suggested, but left the decision up to me, which of course I needed time to make.

He is so up and down at the moment that he will start to feel good and over do things and hurt is feet again. Last Sunday he was watching the other ponies playing and I sensed he wanted to join in but was just too sore. He flicked his head and I undertood then that I needed to end his pain and set him free.

Sunday the 2nd of May is the day and he will be one day off being Eighteen and a half. Over the past year I have really bonded with him as I have visited nearly every day. I will be heartbroken as he has such a nice nature and is such a gentleman. Riding him was always a disaster and thinking back I suspect he has always been in pain and just put up with the riding but tried to hurry things along.

Update

Tom is progressing really well.

Back in December I had his back looked at by Brian from Taupo. My poor long suffering boy was out in his hips and poll area. According to Brian he had been sore for sometime. Tom was such a gentleman through the whole process of a strange man pulling and tugging at his back legs and then his front ones. At times he wasn't sure and gave a few hefty kicks but the end result was one of a very relieved pony whole looked like he was too scared to move in case the pain came back.

His feet are coming on nicely and after three months there is nearly half a hoof of new growth. Lynne is doing an amazing job with his feet and does different things to get them to encourage them to grow down as they should.