News

Sunday 8th August - three of us from White House Farm are taking our neddies for a jolly day out at Newark Dressage. We're not very brave though as we are all doing the BD Intro walk/trot tests! Some of the other liveries are coming with us for moral support - or bullying whichever is most appropriate at the time - and not forgetting Kim's Dad, Mick, who will no doubt be kept very busy yelling tests as well as manning the frying pan for the mandatory bacon butties afterwards!

The bravest is Kim with Squidge who is doing her first canter test, Prelim 7 as well as the Intro B.

Carly with Coco are aiming to do both A and B - so am I with my toyboy, Tone! He is an ex racehorse who has done a bit of showing but NEVER done a dressage test in his life! Overall should be interesting! Can't wait to see what he thinks about going down the centre line towards a shed full of dragons!

Watch this space for results and piccies - if we all survive!

Well, to begin with, Carly's horse, Coco, decided to roll too close to the post and rail fencing on Saturday evening, broke a rail and damaged herself a bit too - despite Carly's best efforts lungeing before 7am on Sunday, she wasn't quite right so had to withdraw. Hey ho, that's horses for you...

Next, my Tone had the farrier on Saturday who, having removed his shoes, found bruising on his sole and toe so he was a bit footsore. Nevertheless, cleaned, plaited and on rubber matting and soft bedding off we went to sleep. Sunday morning dawns - already with Carly's bad news we feed, tidy, bandage tail etc, hook up trailer and get Tone out of stable to load. EEK he can't walk! Or he really doesn't want to put his front feet to the ground outside, but seems to improve after a few more steps so - as its on a surface, we'll go anyway - and it is our first competitive outing EVER so it will be an experience - then see what he's like at the other end.

Meanwhile, Kim arrives to get Squidge ready - we leave for the show. We arrive at Coddington - Tone's not too bad on the soft grass and better on the rubber so we'll have a go. Carly gets a phone call - its from Kim - all loaded and setting off - FLAT TYRE on the lorry! Cannot believe it!

So at the end of the day, we did manage two out of six planned tests and although mine weren't very forward, we did score over 60% in both, which is not bad for our first ever attempt.