And so it was written the rains would come....

Sooo much rain...and we're so lucky we're on high ground...6 inches of rain over 5 days....dams all full.....nothing too much washed away....

Abrock Noah - Riding Lesson!

Don't laugh, wasn't that funny. Decided that we needed to see if I could switch Noah's focus to ME - yes ME - instead of everyone and anything anywhere but on his back... So had a 7am lesson with Jenny Kunde on Chris Forrester's u-beaut arena - it was great fun. Jenny was extremely complimentary re Noah and commented that he was the right shape to be able to use himself.... Wryly I was thinking to myself ...how challenging is this going to be.
No pix this time but get some next time as didn't quite know what the outcome was going to be....there were a skillion horses about and he was okay (just) to get into the arena, had to dodge a couple of geldings in the paddock to get there.... Luckily the instructor arrived after I was in the arena :) phew.
Gosh I forgot how hard you have to work to collect them and get them using themselves AND going forward. He is definitely NOT a fizzy horse, so at least his brain remained in his body...but Driftwood, retired chammmpppiiioonnn 28 endurance horse insisted on standing "over" the arena and keeping watch...bit challenging initially but actually Noah was really really good.
Few pigroots and jumps in the air when asking for a canter but when he did canter he was sooooo beeeeaauuttiiifffulllll - a real buzz. Jenny also had a ride, which I found invaluable as it enabled me to actually visualise what she wanted and to see how he goes for someone that isn't making MY mistakes. My hands were far too mobile and inconsistent contact then blocking and jamming him....and not enough leg, then too much all the time....
So much fun! Another lesson next week, can't wait, and will have to do some practise beforehand....Noah is at present in Tom's yard enjoying the white sub clover with Keema hanging over the fence at him demanding he get out of "her patch" now...and not even lifting his head. A different horse after the lesson - so much happier and willing to be obliging. I think HE LIKES IT!

Abrock Ned - The Story

Well, let's see. "King Ned Rules" - is Sonya's catch cry for her very special friend & equine partner. It wasn't all that an auspicious start for Ned. He came to us out of the drought as an undergrown "pony" with a glimmer of good breeding. (I'm sure someone would say the same about me:)

To be honest I never thought he would be as successful as he was - early in the piece he had a suspect knee (in my mind; not in Ned's apparently)..... There were three of them - I nicked named the "boys from the bush" and dreamed one day that each might achieve a Quilty completion and the buckle that goes with that.....

All up Dad (Barney) paid $200 for them. They came to Queensland and we (meaning Marty/Maurice) started them under saddle and the rest (as they say) is history. Ned was by far the most successful but the other two Fireaway and Spotty (aka Flyer) were also incredible endurance horses for their inauspicious start in life.

Ned achieved two QBs, Spotty managed one and Fireaway and I got within 14km of the final third one.....such is the nature of endurance.... I love character building...

Ned went to live with Sonya after both her mares were claimed by a mystery illness.....

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The "Willow Slide Show"

"Willow" the wonder horse

Baz came out to train with "Willow" yesterday....wow....what a morning. He hadn't seen the "shed"....ran over the blue water bucket. Then I asked him to get aboard Noah first as he was being a bit silly....stallions...mares....thing.. Will was the complete gentleman....Noah thinking with his other bits too much.

Quilty Training

Well, I did a foolish thing.....i'm up for riding the Quilty at Nanango in a little over 2 weeks time. Not sure how I'm going to manage it but been trying to claw my level of fitness up to that of the horse (Aloha Kamahl) that I've been offered. Rode the Brymaroo 80km the w/e before last and it was tough. My little finger on my right hand took a clobber (think PI greenstick fracture), got dehydrated and pretty exhausted. Feeling much better this week. Because I have to remember "I AM an ATHLETE!" Apparently...... PS the horse in the pictures is Blue Bronco (Shahdara x Blue Meanai Lady), Kamahl was at Marburg at the time.

Sunday Riding the Stallion!

Last Sunday I saddled the stallion, Abrock Noah, and we set off on a training run. Marty and Kholonial Amazzon had already gone earlier up to Mt Nebo with "Mad Jan" and the fabulous Fabio. Noah and I took the path into the Lake from Kholo Rd along MacDougals Lane. Still quite damp through here and the 4WDs and motorbikes have sure chewed up the track where the water flows ax it in the low spot. Noah needed lots of encouragement to get out and going this morning, the first couple of kms can be such a bore (horse thinks way too much work this endurance training). Noah sure looks after himself. Though after a while he got into the swing of things. We ended up going by the sawmill and into the 1000 acre conservation reserve ....write more later