It's Been A while...

Well, it has definatly been a while since I last put an update on here! 2012 has been my quietest horsey year for a long time. After ESB Golden Goblin was sold in February to a fantastic home in the ACT, I had a little break from riding. I was aiming to compete Gamble in the show jumping season, and do a few CT days and dressage. I decided not to do any eventing this season as Gam seems soo much more confident show jumping.

Gamble winning Grade 1 CT

In February we had massive rain and my paddock flooded. I was knee deep in water, my show jump poles were floating around my paddock and I had to move the ponies to higher ground for a couple of weeks. It was just mad-ness!

Paddock with a water view anyone??

                                          The 'dry' rescue paddock! Not quite as deep as mine

 

Prior to the season starting I took him over Wodonga way and he turned from show jumper to cow pony! We rounded up soo many cows, on hills (which is a very different landscape to what we are used to!) for 5 hrs and had a total ball! Gamble really took to the mustering and didn't take him long to become 'cowy!' Needless to say he and I both slept VERY well that night! Extra apples for him :)

Gamble was working amazing mid year and I was really excited about the up coming Ag show run. Aiming to do 1.10m at most shows and hopefully have our first 1.15m start towards the end of the run. Exciting and nerve wracking, but you have to have goals!

That unfortuantly wasn't going to happen this season. 2 weeks into the run (and at my local ag show) Gamble starts to become cranky, refuse 90cm and bolt. We retired in the 1.05m because he was just not right. This is very unlike him and I was very disapointed as we had all the local Ag shows coming up in the next few weeks.
I called my wonderful Sports massager, Kirsty Swinton from Equine Dynamics, and she came and assessed Gamble. Unfortuantly he had really strained his hamstrings in his right hind quarter. So massage work, a few days rest and back on light duties and pole work for 3 week, gradually working our way back up.

We missed 3 shows before getting back into it. We started at 80cm just to get confidence back, and it was so relieving to feel I had my pony back. Our first show was 2 days at Wodonga. Gam jumped well and placed 3rd in the 90cm.
From there, we did the rest of the local circuit and placed 4th at Cobram in the 1m and completed the D grade with 1 refusal but left the rails up. I was soo happy to be ending the season back in D grade! Not quite 1.15m but at least we got back to where I wanted to be.

1m at Cobram

 

1m Presentations

                                                                 D Grade at Cobram

 

Gamble then had most of December off and has just come back into work now. There are a few comps starting in Feb, so we will aim for them, and a 3 day show jump comp in early March. Here's to a good 2013!