Foxton SJ

Decided that Neo needed another outing, and Manfeild were running another of their winter series just up the road at Foxton. Worked out pretty well, as not quite as far to travel. Ended up being a very quick day (loaded around 7am and back in the paddock before midday.. ok, only 10 minutes before midday, but still pretty good going!). I didn't end up doing any classes, just took him in the practise round at 95cm and made up our own course - trying to just keep him calm. He actually went really well - I didn't do every fence, just a selection of uprights and oxers. Didn't want to push my luck and have him get all hot and excitable.


Then I took him back to the float and whipped his saddle off and did some bareback schooling around the other horses - again, he was pretty chilled out. Good news, really. Thanks to Leia for the piccy too :) In our styling practise round gear!

Zak making progress

Today Zak was really good! Still just walking, as I want to get him behaving and doing as I ask at the walk before doing more. But today was really good, he was striding out properly, and even when a visitor to the arena had their horse being hosed he didn't seem to mind at all. Very impressed with my little boy. Also, his bum looks less like a tee-pee from behind now, and rather more like a picnic table! Growing up and getting to be the shape of a real horse, perhaps?


Neo was his Neo-self, not too jammed up and seemed pretty happy. Might take him to Foxton tomorrow for showjumping, but won't bother with continuing up to Aokautere for XC. Now just to see what the weather is like in the morning (as it seems I have turned into a fair-weather rider!).

Battle Hill

Well, I decided against going over to Wairarapa for cross country, but did want to take Neo out somewhere... so just loaded him in the float and went down to Battle Hill. I was hoping for just a quiet wander around, but there was a pony club rally going on - which probably worked out even better - gave him something to get a bit "eyeballs on stalks" about, without having to actually do anything himself. We just did a walk around, and a little trot, but mostly just keeping it all chilled out and relaxed as possible. He got a bit excited on the way back to the float, but nothing too bad.