Long time no post, naughty I know but so much has been keeping us busy.
Parkway Engineering - Custom Built Floats, Float repairs/rebuilds.
Our new venture is under way, we have found an awesome workshop to lease so we are ready to go. Just need some work. Bro-in-law has been made redundant so my Float now has his undivided attention and will be on the road by 30 August 2009. It is starting to look quite ok considering the old dunger it used to be. It is being painted by a pro this week, the floor and ramp will be fitted, new tyres will be sourced and fitted and then off to get a WOF. So excited as I have waited over four years for this to happen. The work done to date is of a high standard with lots of attention to detail to make the float look great. We are planning to build another Float which will be available for lease/hire. My one will also be available for hire when I'm not using it. It is great to be able to have some input into creating the perfect Float.
Tom Kat
This week has seen me ride three times so far and I'm loving every moment. I've even entered a Dressge and Jumping day in Waikanae at the end of the month.
Tom is such a dude and I feel with more time together we will starting clicking (only been riding him for four years LOL. On the ground he is the perfect gentleman and follows me around like a puppy. Today for example, I needed to move some gorse out of my temporary arena so he followed me for a bit and then just stood by quietly waiting for me to finish. Once riding was under way, we went around the track a few time to warm up and then attempted the dressage test. Walked it out a few times then tried to ride it properly. What a laugh. Tom has trouble cantering on the left leg, so when he struck out on the right leg, I managed to get him to do a flying change onto the left leg. Will be practising lots as this is the first time I have had the space to set up a makeshift arena. Quite cool really. We have a lot of work to do so hoping that in three weeks we can manage a reasonable test. I know there are no issues with jumping as we have been clear for the last three or four events we attended.
Visited a horsie shop in Levin on Tuesday so brought the Dressage test book and ordered a new bit to try. Decided to try a Frenchlink Eggbutt. At present he is in a plain loose ring snaffle which he just ignores. I have tried everything, relaxing while I ride, pressure then releasing etc. I used the Peewee today and had the most wonderful canter on him. Think this was the first time I felt I wasn't holding him back excessivley. I hate the fact that I always feel like I've to hold him back. Had to give it another go and he was great. This was after the dreadful practice session in the arena so there is a glimmer of hope for us. Cantering has always been an issue as he thinks its race time. Today felt like a real break-through.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Up Date
Tom has settled well at the new grazing and is such a pleasure to be around. Unfortunately, his three paddock mates are moving on this weekend, so he will be going in with the Land Owners horses. This is good as they will be moving to better grazing. He has already been in with the 'girls' and there were no issues. Two of them are Kaimanawa's and extremely pretty looking girls.
Riding has not featured much so far as it is too wet and the track around the paddocks has been taped off. It is just so muddy down there that I cannot get my 4x4 through any more. He is getting his feet done this weekend so my plan is to start try to ride three time a week and bring his fitness up slowly, ready for the show season. He has a bit of diahorea at the moment, so I will be investigating a toxin bindert.
FLOAT
It is so nearly ready, just need a floor, the breaks done and ply on the ramp. The most exciting news is hubby and brother-in-law are planning to set up a small business building horse floats for hire/lease and to sell. They will use my one as a template, as it is nice and big. Brother-in-law is a very talented Engineer/Tool maker and has some great ideas. They are going to lease a building and set-up a workshop.
Me, I have been busy learning the Truck business and doing lots of driving. Me doing this is a great benefit to our business as we no longer have to get relief drivers to cover illness. I'm loving the driving and have so far got my Forklift operating Certificate and Dangerous Goods endorsement. I can now sucessfully load and unload the truck and do deliveries into stores. Found out very quickly how hard a job it is. Opening and closing 14 meters of curtains sure takes it out of you. I am now driving two days a week. We are preparing for the big Foodstuffs move starting in October where it looks like we will be double-shifting the truck as there is so much freight to move to Palmerston North. Lots of dollars to be made!!
Riding has not featured much so far as it is too wet and the track around the paddocks has been taped off. It is just so muddy down there that I cannot get my 4x4 through any more. He is getting his feet done this weekend so my plan is to start try to ride three time a week and bring his fitness up slowly, ready for the show season. He has a bit of diahorea at the moment, so I will be investigating a toxin bindert.
FLOAT
It is so nearly ready, just need a floor, the breaks done and ply on the ramp. The most exciting news is hubby and brother-in-law are planning to set up a small business building horse floats for hire/lease and to sell. They will use my one as a template, as it is nice and big. Brother-in-law is a very talented Engineer/Tool maker and has some great ideas. They are going to lease a building and set-up a workshop.
Me, I have been busy learning the Truck business and doing lots of driving. Me doing this is a great benefit to our business as we no longer have to get relief drivers to cover illness. I'm loving the driving and have so far got my Forklift operating Certificate and Dangerous Goods endorsement. I can now sucessfully load and unload the truck and do deliveries into stores. Found out very quickly how hard a job it is. Opening and closing 14 meters of curtains sure takes it out of you. I am now driving two days a week. We are preparing for the big Foodstuffs move starting in October where it looks like we will be double-shifting the truck as there is so much freight to move to Palmerston North. Lots of dollars to be made!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Big Move!
The big moved happened over the weekend. As I could not secure a float I decided to ride. I was very worried about Tom's feet coping with the ride as it was about 10km's. He came through extremely well.
The ride itself went better than I thought and we ended up having a great 'adventure'. Tom was very jig joggy to start, but I put that down to my nerves about riding that far on the road. Once he and I settled down we had no issues. I decided to take a short cut through the old college, only to find part of it block off so we had to find another way through. Went up the back of the college buildings and found some covered walkways. Got off and led Tom him down these. I think because it was so spare of the moment, he wasn't bothered at all. This then led us down to the bottom field where I let him stretch his legs and went for a slow canter. Then it was back on the roads again.
I tried to stay on the grass berms where I could, (even went back and picked up the deposits Tom left on the way!). Stopped in at Mum and Dads for a quick drink, and that certainly brought back many memories of the Pony Club days when we would stop there to get ready and plait our ponies.
The ride has given me a huge confidence boost and the way Tom has coped with all that riding and shown no signs of lameness is a huge relief.
The last leg of our journey was down the Coast Road which is a 100km area. Nothing phased Tom, he was just so perfect I couldn't have asked for more. The whole ride took just under three hours. I left his paddock just after seven and was at Mum's place by nine and at the new paddock just before 10. I also was amazed at the difference my new Flexi irons made, as when I hoped off after so long in the saddle, I didn't have sore knees.
I have been maded to feel very welcome at my new grazing. Tom stayed overnight in a small paddock and was introduced to his new friends on Sunday. As I've never had him in with other horses before, it was quite a sight to see him galloping around the huge paddock, showing off with big floating trots and flying changes.
He has a few cuts but I suppose this is the process he has to go through being introduced to a new herd. He is still on the outer with the other horses and one in particular likes to bully him a bit. His name is Nuggets and yesterday he stood at the gate watching and when I went to put Tom away, Tom stuck his head under the tape and escaped. I ended up having to lead Tom away from the gate area and Nuggets so he had his own space. This situation doesn't do my confidence any good.
I suppose it will get better as I get to know the new horses. The other two are fine and tend to leave us alone.
My plans for the future are now to start practicing a few small jumps to get the jumping confidence back, set up a dressage arean and do a lot of flat work which is where we always fail and wait until the new season.
The ride itself went better than I thought and we ended up having a great 'adventure'. Tom was very jig joggy to start, but I put that down to my nerves about riding that far on the road. Once he and I settled down we had no issues. I decided to take a short cut through the old college, only to find part of it block off so we had to find another way through. Went up the back of the college buildings and found some covered walkways. Got off and led Tom him down these. I think because it was so spare of the moment, he wasn't bothered at all. This then led us down to the bottom field where I let him stretch his legs and went for a slow canter. Then it was back on the roads again.
I tried to stay on the grass berms where I could, (even went back and picked up the deposits Tom left on the way!). Stopped in at Mum and Dads for a quick drink, and that certainly brought back many memories of the Pony Club days when we would stop there to get ready and plait our ponies.
The ride has given me a huge confidence boost and the way Tom has coped with all that riding and shown no signs of lameness is a huge relief.
The last leg of our journey was down the Coast Road which is a 100km area. Nothing phased Tom, he was just so perfect I couldn't have asked for more. The whole ride took just under three hours. I left his paddock just after seven and was at Mum's place by nine and at the new paddock just before 10. I also was amazed at the difference my new Flexi irons made, as when I hoped off after so long in the saddle, I didn't have sore knees.
I have been maded to feel very welcome at my new grazing. Tom stayed overnight in a small paddock and was introduced to his new friends on Sunday. As I've never had him in with other horses before, it was quite a sight to see him galloping around the huge paddock, showing off with big floating trots and flying changes.
He has a few cuts but I suppose this is the process he has to go through being introduced to a new herd. He is still on the outer with the other horses and one in particular likes to bully him a bit. His name is Nuggets and yesterday he stood at the gate watching and when I went to put Tom away, Tom stuck his head under the tape and escaped. I ended up having to lead Tom away from the gate area and Nuggets so he had his own space. This situation doesn't do my confidence any good.
I suppose it will get better as I get to know the new horses. The other two are fine and tend to leave us alone.
My plans for the future are now to start practicing a few small jumps to get the jumping confidence back, set up a dressage arean and do a lot of flat work which is where we always fail and wait until the new season.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Update
Well, its been a while, so theres lots to say.
Firstly Tom is on the mend. Had a bit of a run in with my Farrier as we mis-communicated about the length to leave him in between visits, so I had the vet out again and it is now all sorted. I am even riding again, on the vets advice, but only for short walks around the paddock.
I also have new grazing sorted and move in three weeks. It is a huge 40 acre property and Tom will be in with three other horses. The paddocks are rotated every six weeks and once a paddock is vacated, we only need to harrow and then it is rested. Will be very different grazing routine for me as I am on my own at the moment, with Mandy of course.
I am even allowed to set up a dressage arena and jumps if I want too. I will be taking my poles down with me and leaving them there without the worry of them being stolen. So looking forward to the move. There are only two things I will miss, one is Mandy the Donkey, I'm note sure how she will cope on her own as she just loves Tom, but if I don't move his feet will not get any better. The other is my riding buddy (when we can co-ordinate it) Sarah. She has been wonderful over the four years I have been there, sometimes even taking me out to the odd show. Sarah was very supportive just before Xmas when it was suggested that he may have to be put down, so I guess once the Float is ready there is no reason why I cannot go back for a ride.
FLOAT
Well theres been lots of progress since I last posted. My float now has new axels, hubs, stubs and a draw bar and a brand new set of brakes, which it did not have when I brought it. Had to really put the pressure on to get the work done, so Tom's feet where used to get some sort of action. This weekend, my Brother-in-law and Hubby took it over to the workshop to replace the last of the steel that needed it and put in extra re-inforcing along the way. I was nearly in tears seeing it finally being towed down the driveway for the first time in nearly two years. The chassis has has a good coat of rust preventing paint and is now a shiny black. I am ordering the ply for the floor and ramp this week and Dad has some for the sides. Just need the new tyres on the rims and we are very nearly there. My aim is to be able to take Tom to the Waikanae ODE at the end of April. I have chosen this ODE as Waikane is really sandy surface and we should have had some jumping practice by then, not the mention the dressage we will also be able to do once we move.
Firstly Tom is on the mend. Had a bit of a run in with my Farrier as we mis-communicated about the length to leave him in between visits, so I had the vet out again and it is now all sorted. I am even riding again, on the vets advice, but only for short walks around the paddock.
I also have new grazing sorted and move in three weeks. It is a huge 40 acre property and Tom will be in with three other horses. The paddocks are rotated every six weeks and once a paddock is vacated, we only need to harrow and then it is rested. Will be very different grazing routine for me as I am on my own at the moment, with Mandy of course.
I am even allowed to set up a dressage arena and jumps if I want too. I will be taking my poles down with me and leaving them there without the worry of them being stolen. So looking forward to the move. There are only two things I will miss, one is Mandy the Donkey, I'm note sure how she will cope on her own as she just loves Tom, but if I don't move his feet will not get any better. The other is my riding buddy (when we can co-ordinate it) Sarah. She has been wonderful over the four years I have been there, sometimes even taking me out to the odd show. Sarah was very supportive just before Xmas when it was suggested that he may have to be put down, so I guess once the Float is ready there is no reason why I cannot go back for a ride.
FLOAT
Well theres been lots of progress since I last posted. My float now has new axels, hubs, stubs and a draw bar and a brand new set of brakes, which it did not have when I brought it. Had to really put the pressure on to get the work done, so Tom's feet where used to get some sort of action. This weekend, my Brother-in-law and Hubby took it over to the workshop to replace the last of the steel that needed it and put in extra re-inforcing along the way. I was nearly in tears seeing it finally being towed down the driveway for the first time in nearly two years. The chassis has has a good coat of rust preventing paint and is now a shiny black. I am ordering the ply for the floor and ramp this week and Dad has some for the sides. Just need the new tyres on the rims and we are very nearly there. My aim is to be able to take Tom to the Waikanae ODE at the end of April. I have chosen this ODE as Waikane is really sandy surface and we should have had some jumping practice by then, not the mention the dressage we will also be able to do once we move.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Sharing a secret!
Update - Had the Vet out to Tom on Monday, I must say excellent service that did not cost the earth. Rung the Vet at 8.00am who is located in Featherston and he was at my paddock by 9.15. He came down to Tom, who was very reluctant to move and inspected his fett. They were not as bad as he was expecting so advised that with careful feet management there is a good chance Tom will recover, but I have to move he away from the boggy soil, that in summer is ok, but in winter is just too wet.
Tom is on a course of bute which has helped a great deal. He is even trying to have mini hoons now, on Thursday morning he was so anxious to get back into the paddock, he stood there nudging the gate, so I let him go and what a show! Front hooves in the air, prancing around and attempting a canter, much to my horror. I told him off for being so silly and told him he shouldn't be doing that, should be taking things easy.
Then yesterday morning again the same sort of thing but only at a trot.
Well here is a photo I took to Tom and my daughter Shannan, who is 5, sharing a secret. Also, some other random photos as well.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
My beautiful Tom Kat's future does not look to good at the moment. His front feet are extremely sore. Have the vet coming ASAP and he along with my Farrier will help me make the decision. I am praying that is will be treatable as he is only 17, although after doing lots of reading tonight and listening to what different people say, I'm not so sure.
He has a history of bad feet. I think that this has been there all along and what triggered it was getting is feet done yesterday. His front left has separation and there was a lot of "rot" in between the hoof wall and the Laminae, Farrier showed me and it was gross. His front right looked worse before he had his shoes taken off.
My wonderful riding buddy Sarah has offered use of her stables if needed. Hubby has also been great as Farrier stopped him today when driving past to tell him what was happening.
At the moment we are leaving him in his paddock, as he is still moving around. I just wish he would lie down at times, especially when he has his two front feet way out front and then he tries to rest the back one.
Mandy the Donkey was due to have her feet done today, but Farrier did not turn up - I was going to ask his opinion, although do not want to offend my farrier who has dealt with Tom for many years.
He has a history of bad feet. I think that this has been there all along and what triggered it was getting is feet done yesterday. His front left has separation and there was a lot of "rot" in between the hoof wall and the Laminae, Farrier showed me and it was gross. His front right looked worse before he had his shoes taken off.
My wonderful riding buddy Sarah has offered use of her stables if needed. Hubby has also been great as Farrier stopped him today when driving past to tell him what was happening.
At the moment we are leaving him in his paddock, as he is still moving around. I just wish he would lie down at times, especially when he has his two front feet way out front and then he tries to rest the back one.
Mandy the Donkey was due to have her feet done today, but Farrier did not turn up - I was going to ask his opinion, although do not want to offend my farrier who has dealt with Tom for many years.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Well, TomKat is look so stunning this year, but his feet are a mess. Had my Farrier out to him today and front left is just rotten, he shoved the knive up in between the sole and hoof wall and scraped out all the crap. Looked so gross, my heart sank, as his feet looked liked they might be getting better. His advice was to keep him out of the mud and not get them wet so raced home and got my little bit of tape and taped off an area to confine him in. Thoughts are this wont hurt as he and Mandy are very round. So hand filled his container with water and left him for the night.
Myfarrier Bram is just wonderful, came back down to check Tom and made him some rubber pads to ease the pressure on his soles, and will be back down tomorrow to check on him again. I so wish I had my own paddock close by so I could keep an eye on him better.
Am in tears tonight over the future of my beautiful TB called TomKat whom I just adore,
Myfarrier Bram is just wonderful, came back down to check Tom and made him some rubber pads to ease the pressure on his soles, and will be back down tomorrow to check on him again. I so wish I had my own paddock close by so I could keep an eye on him better.
Am in tears tonight over the future of my beautiful TB called TomKat whom I just adore,
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