Flynn

Last year for my birthday I was given a horse,

FLYNN

came into my life, this big brash standy, a large boy at 17hh+ and a bit of a clown, a crank and out of Badlands Hanover.

He was perfect, he has legs like tree trunks and a calm cool nature, altho he hates other horses but the minute that halter goes on he is a big lamb, beautiful ground manners which is just as well as I need a crate to stand on to brush him and a ladder to get on him.
photos of Bess found these and had to add them

and this is Flynn

Bess is the Best

How on earth could I forget Bess??

I have had Bess for a couple of years now, gosh doesn't time race away?
she is 26 years young and has been a broody all her life, having raced as a youngster but only once or twice, her race name was Lombo Larouche or something like that, I have found her record she had 14 foals and was in WA, VIC and NSW, being sold after her last foal with Lombo stud and going to a small breeder in NSW, slipping that foal and being sent to the Camden sales, yea thanks for that you piece of shit owners.  

She was purchased by a small group of concerned horse lovers as the mares are so often the biggest loosers and go off to the doggers by the hundreds.

My friend at ABS got her in fact I was the one who transported her down there along with Maxx who was to be trained, well it all fell in a big heap and not long after I was collecting them both again, Bess was a "gift" as my friend could not honour the financial arrangements and said I could have Bess in liue. 

How could I say no?   She is a doll, and even tho broody brain she is a sweet girl to handle, strong and determined but she does eventually give in to your way of thinking, a safe plodder for me and the kids and the agistment loved her as she was so easy to put a learner on and know they would be fine, she paces but who cares.

And another Meet Jake, Zazu

My new boy Jake
renamed Zazu

He is 3 year old and trained to be a pacer but was too slow despite a costly operation to stretch his ligaments in his back legs.
Zazu, renamed by Charlotte is a sweetheart of a boy, a big sooky lala, but all my horses pretty much are in their own way.
Zazu is unbroken but super quiet on the roads as he was driven in sulky some distance from his stable to the trotting track in the middle of heavy Condell Park traffic.
Hence he is going to make a good trial horse etc.  He is not super big, about 15hh with some filling out to do and he has dropped weight since the above photo but in general he should pick up as he is on hard feed and is grazing all day as well. 

He is not getting on with my others very well, but does have a mate in Casper and he does boss the old mare Bess around a bit but he tends to run thru fences and has been out three times since I got him.  Beside this we are determined to keep him as he is just that nice, very worth putting the time and money into to have him broken in and he will be going over to Cathy soon for just that.  I want to see him build up a bit bigger in size tho before we do start him out under saddle, but I have no quams that he is going to be amazing.

What's one or two more??

So when is one standy not enough??

It's been a while but that doesn't mean I havn't been very busy collecting horses.

After Max, there came two little colts, Pebbles (named in memory of Rocky, and Casper) both purchased from the dogger yard at the sales along with about 40 other lucky little welshy and welsh cross foals that had been collected from various studs - isn't it a poor show when reputable studs breed haphazardly and create this excess of horses, who are most likely bound to be dog meat??

 

Poor little mites, Pebbles (bay) and Casper

 

 

With some time and some love, worming and some good feed, lots of handling and lessons these boys became the kindest, most loving pair.  Pebbles left to live his life out with a wonderful young family in the Hunter Valley, he is a much loved and spoilt member of this family some 2 years on.

 

Casper was given to my husband as I was only meant to be bringing one home, lol, well it was his birthday and he always wanted a grey horse.  Casper remains with us in our herd of five horses, three of which are standies.

 

Little Casper





 

 

First bath

His new paddock pals

Just babies

Pebbles has a new boy

 

 

There is a lot of satisfaction rehoming a horse to such a wonderful family, this boy is so loved, ok spoilt, no loved!!!   He joins them in the cubby house, he walks onto the deck for evening drinks with friends. He walks into the office to spend bonding time with the head of the family.  He chases the dog, they play tag, and if the family are out and about you can bet your life Pebs will be there.

 







Maxx is in the house.

I have a new standy, Maxx, he is a big spunky hunk of a boy and I adore him. How did I come by this little man? Well have to blame ABS because she had tracked down a mare she wanted and the only ways she could have her was to take her partner in crime, aka Maxx.

Both horses are gorgeous and in need of a new home so I coughed up the required $600 and we collected our ponies, well the idea was that ABS would take Maxx (really he didn't even have a name) to her place and train him and re-home him, but one look at the fine piece of horse flesh had me head over heals in love.

What is a person to do?

Keep him of course.

LOL

Max is now my very own standy and I have to admit it feels good to have a standy in the paddock again. He is currently getting some training with ABS and is doing well, he is a smart little cooky, a big sook, and gives the best standy cuddles ever.

I am totally in love with this big hunk.

Joni Mac

Joni Mac is a sweet horse, on the ground his manners are impecable, but when I am on him it is just all nerves for both of us. He is just that sensative and he needs a more experienced and confident rider.

I have not been able to sell him as Dad loves him and he is even confident to handle Joni himself as Joni is so gentle, I decided to keep Joni as a companion horse for Pandora when she arrives.

Ok so some photos are required.

He feels so thin compared to Rocky had such a broad back and chest that I felt like I was sitting on something substantial = poor skinny Joni, oh well he doesn't have to put up with my fat butt on him anymore, at least not until I get a lot better.

JoniMac is doing well, he has gained weight, had his teeth done, feet done, and is currently eating his way out of Calm wood. What is the go with this freakin timber chewing?? Just about ready for me to ride so this is going to happen on Tuesday, Di will give me a lesson on my boy and we will see how he goes, he has had a rider on and even tho Jen is a light weight compared to me, he was very quiet and careful with her and did well. Di has also been on him and done some work with him as well as putting in consistent ground work with the boy.

All we need is some nice weather.

I am still not dealing with losing Rock very well, it is so difficult for me to let him go, I think I have done so to a certain extent but I have really missed his kind nature and is little quirks that were so endearing of the boy.

With love and Respect Rocky

Rocky was in my life for such a short time, it makes you wonder what the deal was, why his star shone so brightly but so briefly in my life. I can not answer that but I do know that he had a huge inpact in my life, and much for the better. Taking Rocky on made me face a lot of issue's in my life that I had been ignoring for way too long. Firstly my weight and fitness level, this is a biggy. Since a child I was always very active, riding, walking, working, I even jogged two hours every day when working in the city around the Domain. Alas since having my tonsils out and discovering the taste of food, a young family, two babies and two miscarriages I pounded on the weight, I don't blame anyone but myself. Now as a 'mature lady' (hate that term) I am fat and unfit.

I know that the people in my life wanted to see me get fitter, happier and enjoy my later child free years. In the meantime I am popping anti-depressants and blood pressure tablets and sitting around on my arse eating chocolate. Feeling sorry for myself as my children move out of home and decidedly need me less. Hubby interstate with work more often than not and a very empty life here at home for me. The good part of course are my work and my friends but still something was missing, something was just not fulfilling some need I had.

Enter Rocky, this big roman nose standy took my heart the minute I saw his pic on Horse yard. What a stunning boy, big, I needed big, bold, gorgeous boy. I could not wait to meet him.

When I did finally get down to see him over Easter weekend 2010, I knew that I had to have him, was he right for me? Maybe, maybe not, here I am a raw novice rider again entering riding in my late 40's and taking on a green broken, big, bold athlete of a horse. Crazy stuff really.

But in my heart I knew that Rocky and I would get along and that he was coming home with me.

I had him for such a short 6 months, with lots of ups and downs, mostly me falling down. Hahahaha. No, I came off once, but it wasn't till I finally found Di Holden from Calmwood that I started to understand Rocky and understand how to get myself riding again and I was even becoming confident on Rocky. He was such a big goof head, loveable and cheeky. His spirit still lives with me every day and I now know why he was in my life.

It was to introduce me to some really wonderful people. He got me up off my butt, I have had to walk heaps, move, stretch, balance, sweat, be exhausted and sore, ache all over but still carry on

and all this I did happily because it wasn't a case of slogging my brains out in a gym, it wasn't doing something so boring and repetative that I wanted to shoot myself, it was a joy of a horse, an animal that was entirely dependant on me getting up off my arse and tending to his needs. I had to work to pay for the things he needed, my lessons, feed, hoof care, teeth, vet, agistment etc. So even work took on a new light. I had purpose in my life again. For this Rocky I thank you, with love and respect my beautiful boy, thankyou for being part of my life and opening a whole world of wonder and love and joy to my life. I will forever be gratefull, and till we meet again, remember you were loved by alot of people.

Sad Loss

I can not believe it but on Saturday the 2nd of October, the long weekend here in Sydney, I lost my most beautiful Rocky to a brown snake bite.

These pics are some I took the week before he died, he was happily cropping grass with JoniMac, checking out the reno on the horse float and generally being the fabulous horse he was.

I am so glad I spent the day just being around him that day, and taking photo's of them both, JoniMac was so distressed when we lost Rocky that I have sent him out to Calm wood to be cared for by Di and for him to get some lessons in being a ridden horse. I had intended to do this anyway, hence the 2 weeks work in a factory I had just done to have the money for the training. The money however, went to the vet bill, it cost me 1100.00 to put Rocky to sleep.

RIP MY BEAUTIFUL BOY I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

Flying Horses

Wow doesnt time fly when you are playing with horses??

It has been a long time since updating all the coming and goings at Kellyville and since Huelio left I am very happy to announce that he has found a new home with Jeff and Hayley. He is doing wonderfully because he is finally at a place that has activity going on all the time and a herd of horses for him to sort out. Jeff is a standie fan like me and was interested in Rock but I beat it to the punch by putting down a deposit on Rocky before he could get out and see him.
I really think that Huelio is a perfect horse for Jeff, and Jeff agrees saying that Huelio is wonderful.

Since the last post I have had Rocky out at a riding and training centre with the amazing Di Holden. She spent a concentrated 2 weeks working with Rocky and I and teaching us how to get on and work together, for Rocky to learn how to be a riden horse and for me to gain more confidence after my fall from him.
It all worked very well and I am really keen to keep up the lesson's with Di. This is now all going to happen as planned as I have purchased a float, well one that needed some work, a new floor but as Tony is so clever he is able to replace this himself keeping the cost down to close to my original budget.

In the meantime while Rocky was out at Calmwood, I brought up another horse from Karleigh, JoniMac, aka Johnny, aka Fonzie. A lovely black/brown 11 year old standie with a good racing record to his name. JoniMac is very sensitive, gentle and smart, we absolutely love him. He has proved to be everything we were wanting in a second horse, he is a thinker, and not at all pushy so that Dad is able to handle him easily, even to the point of taking his rug off for me.
A short lunge session proved that JM has nice looks, almost thorobred like in his features, a lovely movement and easy, easy to work with. Show him once and he has it, and tries like crazy to get it right the first time. If he is going to be like this in future I think a riding career, maybe even dressage might be his thing.

So I have two very different horses. Two that suit us all very nicely and they will not be going anywhere, apart from Di's for more lessons and I hope to repeat the success I have had with Rocky with JoniMac, I can not wait to get started.

Photos to come.

Bye Huels, you will be missed by me

I love Huelio, he was not only a lovely boy, sweet as anything, bossy and opinionated but he was fun fun fun to ride, I felt really safe on him. He is just a real 'been there, done that' sort of horse. I think I could have come along very quickly in my riding ability if I had been able to keep him.

One huge and insurmountable problem for my Dad was that Huelio went visiting neighbours on a regular basis, then stood at the fence waiting to be let back in. He could get out but couldn't get back in. He liked visiting the young boys, one down the back of the property and one two doors along, all gained by safe paddocks but as he was creating a problem for Dad I had to make a decision. Take him back to Karleigh or get an electric fence.

Well with Dad, really and truly over it all, and Tony willing to buy an electric fence and repair the old fences, but so unwell that I really hated to add yet another day of yakka to his list, I reluctantly decided that the best thing was for Huels to go back to his 'herd'.

Rocky is missing him, he is seeking out more attention from his people. Will I seek out another horse? Maybe, I do have my eye on one little man atm, we will see how the land lays for the moment, not push my luck, but with fingers crossed I may be able to give another horse a home that will love him to pieces.

KISS Clinic at Bargo

We had a wonderful day out at Bargo with Pieta from Kalimbah standardbreds who demonstrated her methods of natural horsemanship to safely mount and ride a young standie off the track. Shadow is bound for a bright future and he was a lovely boy to work with, I had a little hands on work with him myself and was delighted at his calm response to flexing and finding a safe place with an on the ground one rein stop, for want of a better description.

Once the horse is comfortable in this on ground technique it is a safe place for him during a disturbing moment under saddle. By bringing his head around to his shoulder, calmly and gently, giving him a nice pat and telling him what a good boy he is, reinforces that under saddle this position, which is achieved in the same way with rein, allows him to de-stress and find some safety in your instruction. So faced with say a scarey motorcycle on a trail ride, a one rein stop, placing his head around into his shoulder reminds him that you have the matter in hand and all he need to is wait it out in his safe place for your next instruction, the worse they can do is circle around for a while but will be unable to take flight, buck or spook to any great extent.

I knew of this technique of course and have done some at times myself but have never had the total package explained to me so well before. It only makes perfect sense to reinforce the technique on ground first and I can not wait to start to work with Rock.

Apart from the Saturday being a total mess with the float being hired to me both unroadworthy and too small, an angle float when I had asked if it was a straight load. Rocky just doesn't fit in a standard angle load. He was squished in and I could not tow him for 1 1/2 hours like that.

I got my money back for the float cost, but forfeited the course fee. Never mind, it is all a learning curve, and I will be more careful next time.