We’ve had accidents, abscesses and ailments galore. I think it’s fair to say we’ve shared them out equally between the two and four leggeds! So some of our dreams were put on hold; however we mustn’t forget what we have achieved.
So here’s a look back at what we made happen in 2018 and our targets for 2019. We’re so excited looking towards our goals for the next 12 months. We are starting this year with all six horses in the herd sound, happy and in work, for the first time..EVER.
Thanks to Drifter’s tip top diet from Forage plus, keeping his pssm at bay, he has started to compete in affiliated showjumping and he gained a couple of placings and qualified for second rounds.
Drifts goals: our main aim for him each year is to keep his muscles healthy. If we can achieve this and prevent his pssm from taking hold, I would like to continue his affiliated showjumping career. It is my goal for him to get 5 double clears so he can go the national amateur champs at Aintree in November!
Rush is working Medium and is fitter than he’s ever been. He competed a few times, with over 70% in every test - we’ve even managed our first 9!!
Rush’s goals: the main aim this year is for him to compete affiliated at elementary. I’d love to qualify for regionals with him, so we’ll need some high percentages with consistency. At home we’re going to continue his dressage career by teaching him the advanced work. Starting by adding changes on each rein over the next few weeks!
Biz, is now lightly ridden, her second round of sarcoid treatment has appeared to work and she finally trusts enough to start her work.
Biz goals: for Biz this year we want her to be happy under saddle and confident in herself. I hope to get her out to do some lower level dressage and around a course of Showjumps. The most important this is we crack her sarcoid condition and ensure she’s comfortable to continue her work. Lastly, I’m hoping to increase my own confidence with Biz, she’s not been easy, but I’m sure she’ll be my biggest teacher.
Lia is broken and went out to do her first intro test. She’s the sanest baby I’ve ever known and has taken to work like it’s always been part of her life.
Lia’s goals: the aim for Princess Lia is to register her affiliated dressage this year. She’ll be 5 this year. To do this we’ll work on her strength and ability to carry herself through her back. She’ll progress slowly at her pace, she’s got a lot more growing to do, but elementary at home is our goal. We’re also off to horse camp in March!
Joli is now properly riding away, she has had a few successful trips in the trailer since her accident and she has popped her first jump under saddle.
Joli’s goals: this year for her is all about gaining strength, balance and suppleness. She is 5 this year and she is enormous and still growing. She has done very little so far as she is so gangly! So this year she needs to build strength through her frame so she is able to carry herself properly. She will be going to some dressage competitions and by the end of this year, hopefully be popping a course of showjumps. We also really need to build her confidence with travelling and get her out to see lots of the world. We are aiming her for a horse camp in March!
6. Hope has been very lightly started and has hacked to the pub and had a little walk, trot and canter on each rein and is taking to it all like a duck to water.
Hope’s goals: for Hope this is a year of learning the basics. She has a great head on her shoulders and is so bold, which we hope will also carry through onto the cross country field as we are aiming to event her. So we need to get her dressage right. She will go out to some dressage competitions this year and we will also take her out on some farm rides and cross country rides, with a lead horse to build her confidence and to show her some natural fences. Thanks to the wise words of Will FP, we will be showing her the solid fences first. As young event horse, we don’t want her to assume that all jumps fall down if you get it wrong!
So there you have it. Six horses, some big goals and a whole lot of fun to come for Team EL I’m 2019.
Whatever you plan to do this year, we’d love to know! Aim high, enjoy your horses and remember to hug them everyday!
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