Bring on the season!!

Well the season is upon us and bring it on I say. I had my first outing on Mousie to a dressage and showjumping training day. We still have plenty to work on, like the arena is NOT going to gobble him up, it was expected as he hasn't been in a pipe arena before. He got some 7's for trot work but also got 3's for the gobbling up bits. I got 8's for my riding of a green horse which was nice.
I also did a round of show jumping, was mousie first ever course as he has never jumped more than 3 jumps while at Jill, and he flew round, actually felt like a jumper. Even jumped through two doubles, one was a 1 stride and the other was a 2 stride. I was extremely impressed with him, was still green and gawking at the fills which is to be expected for a while but we got some lovely comments from a SJing lady down here that said he had a lovely jump and was a kind horse, and looks forward to see him in the future. I think he is going to need plenty of miles and lots of jumping over different things for a while to get him more confident. Hopefully this Sunday I can get someone to go out on the cross country with me, would be good if he could go with another horse to get the hang of things.

Georgia gets her new pony on the 27th Sept, a month early. The above pic is her riding BJ at the dressage day, I hardly saw her all day, the lady who owns the pony was fantastic and lead Georgia round and even took her over some cross country jumps!! BJ is just the right size for her at the momment, he is only 9hh so looks a tad small beside Mousie, could proberly walk underneath him if he want.....not that I think Mousie would let him!!


I clipped Mousie out on Saturday, was a bit of a mission as the clippers died and I had to finish him off with Gregs hair clippers, I would have liked to have done his legs aswell but his coat was too thick for Gregs hair clippers!! lol.

We had our first race meeting of the year yesterday and only Penny Parker started, Donny was the only rating 90 horse to nominate for the 1200 so he just came along for the ride.

We were hoping the Dag didn't disapoint like she did at the end of last season, We put Terry Mosley on and he did a good job, she got 5th and he reminded her that she is a race horse by smacking her to the line, she was 6 1/2 lengths behind 1st but was a big improvement from last season!! She only has a few more starts then is off to stud.

Peter Porter will start, if there is enough open horses at Southland, Catherine his jockey is busy on her bike and ready to get back on him. She gels very well with him and he settled well in his last start with her and won by 1 1/2 lengths, High Seas was 2nd and went on to win the THANO @ GRANGEWILLIAM STUD PREMIER at Riccarton Park.

10th Sept 2008

Well not much has been happening around here, as Georgia and I have had the chicken pox, which I do not recommend having to anyone!! Georgia the star breezed through hers with not many complaints, when I felt like I was getting eaten alive! Anyway 9 days later I am on the home straight, just waiting for the blisters to heal over and hopefully not scar.

The weather has been terrible for the last 3 days and we are right back to where we were a couple of weeks back with surface water everywhere. Things had dried out enough to run the level round the paddocks that were cut up with mud, not they are back to how they were before. Oh well we are on the home straight now...hopefully.

The horses are all well on target for the races on the 17th at Gore, alougth there people who think that they wont be held as already on meeting this season has been abandend due to lack on nominations. The meeting at Gore is begin run by Winton Jockey Club as the new track hasn't been trialled on yet, needs to have 2 sucessful trials before the course is signed off by NZTR.

We have 2 new additions to the family here, yet to be named, both are well bred and settling in well, after arriving this morning. They had their new covers on this morning with no hassles. Georgia is away at the momment but I can't wait for her to meet and name them, with no doubt very 'interesting names' lol. They are getting feed 5 times a day/night and living in the weaning shed, when the weather is nice they can be let out in to the mares yard which has lots of nice grass for them. I have a nice wee house all made up for them and they seem very happy. One of them is just a teany tiny wee girl, but are both healthy.

Catch Up

Penny Parker after her track work out. Well the week has been pretty busy for us, had the equine dentist come on Wednesday which was great, both Mousie and Donny's teeth were bad despite been done 6 months ago by someone less experienced. We used Regan Dunne from Invercargill and I highly recommend him. Was very good with the horses, Mousie took one look at him and had the look of "your kidding yourself if you think you are coming anywhere near me!" but Regan was very good, just stayed quietly with Mousie until he settled, and then surprised me big time by behaving himself for the rest of the time. Donny on the other hand was very naughty slamming both Greg and Regan in to the wall, and in the end had to be tied up to the young horse wall so Regan could get out the fragmants of wolf tooth out. All ended well and Greg and I were both very happy with the service we recieved.

Then on Saturday we headed to the track with Donny and Dag, was exciting as it was the first track work out of the season, both worked keenly and now its count down till our first race meeting.

Donny after his first track work out.

Today (Sunday) my brother who hasn't ridden for years hopped on Donny and did a round of the track, Donny took his job of looking after Callum very seriously and walked most of the way, never putting a foot wrong, I was so very proud of him, he just looked like an old hack!!

The next day as looking after Callum.

Another Sunny Day August 26th

Donny wishing me a happy birthday, business as usual for me. Greg was kind enough to let the horses out of the boxes before he left for work this morning so I could have a bit of a sleep in for my birthday, but after that was just a normal day.

All the horses are working very well and are on target for there first work out at the track on Saturday, should be an interesting day for both horse and rider fitness! lol.

Well we had another lovely sunny day today...sorry you lot up north that are flooding up North.

I got heaps of jobs done outside after I had a lovely lunch outside with a good friend. I got the Lawns mowed, windows washed, which isn't the easiest with the top floor of the house, and bushes tidied up with the trimmer. Yesterday I sprayed the stinging nettle and docks out of the paddocks and also hemlock in the fencelines and sprayed the drive, so it has been a productive week so far.

Both Greg and I are looking forward to our first races on the 17th Sept which we are counting down to!! Rock on season.

23rd August

Left: Nancy

Right: Mousie

Right: The young ones having a grand old time playing in the puddles with their covers off.

Left: Finishing off finding something else to do. You can see how much rain we have had prior to today.

Well we finally had a nice sunny warm day today and I had the chance to take everyones covers off. After the inital itching the young ones spent 20 mins galloping round the paddock playing. Was a great sight to watch, Greg didn't think so as much when it was time to ride Donny and Donny wanted to run too. lol.

22nd August...........remind me when summer is.

Well this weather is def getting me down. The place is very wet at the momment!! Surface water everywhere as well as mud. I can't remember what the drought was.

To the right is my luffly birthday present from Greg, they are just

define. Top marks for Provista Horse and Rider (http://www.provistariding.co.nz/) for their brillant service. Alougth my birthday isn't until Tues I had to open them up straight away. I am not that worried about putting them on a horse at the momment as they would get DIRTY! lol.

Well putting the boots on Mousie has been delayed as he has pulled up lame, I'm pretty sure it will be an absess and would burst out in time, but I will just keep an eye on it. I am really gutted as I was off showjumping on the Taieri in the indoor arena.

The horses are booked into to get their teeth done on Wednesday by a new dentist that I haven't used, but apparently is the best, and only the best will do!!

We had a busy afternoon picking up stones on the new track proper at the Winton Racecourse, was our last duty as Greg as president, the AGM is next Sunday and his 2 years is up.

17th August.......WET WET WET

Mousie leading himself into his box, this is his daily rountine, makes it easier for me, I can lead Nancy who isn't quiet as keen to go inside.

Well I thought we were wet before but nothing compares to how wet we are now. I wasn't sure what the weather was going to do, so I worked Dag first thing in the morning, we both got soaking wet but she was better behaved as the mud was bogging her down somewhat.

Took me ages to dry her off, put an extra underrug on her and let her warm up in the day box before I put her outside with Donny with a bale of hay to share.

Typical Murphy's law it was a lovely, if not a bit chilly afternoon, so I got to work Donny, he was fresh after his day off yesterday, things were going ok, until a family on bike cycled past, if that wasn't enough to look at out bounds a big barking black lab, which scared the young ones which inturn set Donny off at a full gallop, took all my strength to pull him up, not that he is dirty but wasn't really fair when the young ones in the middle of the track were racing him!! But we got over that and he settled in to work well, even his canter work was good.

Both horses had to cross the streams and canter through all the surface water, I think Donny really enjoyed it, put his head down and powered through it, if the water is still there tomorrow I am going to set some hay bales up on the other side to get mousie used to jumping in and out of water.....should be interesting as he hasn't been worked since Jill on Thursday due to the weather.

15th August

Today started very slowly for me as I was very sore after my lesson with Jill Ullrich yesterday. Mousie is feeling very well and spent the first 1/2 hour trying to plant me, I was not impressed, but in typical Jill fashion we just carried on and mostly ignored his tantys that he was throwing. He did nearly get me at one stage, I had shortened my stirrups as he reared, then kicked out, twisting his body and I lost one stirrup and was over one shoulder, thought I was a gonner but he didn't do anymore once he realised I was in a spot of bother. lol.

I just love Jill, she has such a fantastic way of teaching and giving both horse and rider confidence, Mousie hadn't jumped from the last time we had a lesson due to the weather but I have to make more of an effort to get him out and about. At this stage we are not going to do doubles but just trot past them and hopefully the judge will let me carry on. He really needs and out to be out seeing different jumps in different places to get his nerve up.

Things are ticking along here with the racehorses, Greg and I are counting down the days till our first race of the season. Penny Parker has been a handful and is firing so hopefully she can blot out her bad performances at the end of the season with some good races before she heads off to stud.

Dependable Donny is loving been in work and was most annoyed that Mousie got to go out without him.

Today the weather was 4 seasons in one day, started off with a frost, then nice and breezy, then got very warm, then wind, then rain a bit of hail and it seems to have calmed down now.

Computer Problems Suck!!

Well after numerous days of just a little bit of online time before I was promptly kicked off, well hopefully it is sorted now.

Nothing much else has happened since the last time I posted, all the horses are working well and on target for the first race on the 17th Sept when Penny Parker will have one of her 4 starts before heading off to stud. Peter Porter will start his capagin in Oct.

Ozzie is enjoying been turned out and Nancy has settled, had a bit of a mission to get a cover to fit her, but all is sorted now. Her first few days with Mousie were interesting as she was in season and mousie thought she was disgusting. She is on NZ Minerals and Alliviate so her hormones have settled along with her nerves. She is now settling into the routine of the other horses which is good.

Mousie has started on EquiJewel and after a few glitches of how much to feed, now have it sorted and hopefully the weight will come on him aswell as Ozzie, who I am sure has put on weight already.

This was mousie today after his first ride in his new extra wide dressage saddle, it was great, he strode out much better and even felt good enough to have a few bucks to make sure I was concerntrating. We are off to Jill Ullrich on Thursday which will be good, hopefully the weather will hold out. We have had some really grotty weather this month, the last couple of days have been very very frosty in the mornings but have turned out to be nice afternoons.

On sunday I am also hoping to go to Dressage lessons, depending on if I can get a babysitter.

The season is looming and I am hoping that Mousie continues to gain weight.

Had our first bill for Scruffy at Volksraad for grazing today which is $12 a day. So pleased we don't pay grazing for all our horses, we haven't had one yet for Piggy at Keeper, be interesting if the price is similar.

The Otago/Southland racing awards are at the beginning of October, so my weight loss plan def has to go to plan!! lol.

2nd August

Well my day started early, well not as early as Greg as he was working, but i wanted to be up early to get the horses out of the stables and settled before I had a the big change around with Ozz and Nancy.

Mousie couldn't have cared less when I took Ozz out of the paddock and put him in the weaning yard. Then I caught Nancy who had come to the gate after I called her, popped her in the paddock with Mousie and put Ozzie out with the young ones. I couldn't have asked for a better swap around. But Nancy didn't settle all day, either did her mates across the track.

I just left them to sort if out. Was interesting to watch Mousie and Nancy as they are full brother and sister, and to see just how similar they are.

All the horses had the day off today as planned.

When I went to put Mousie and Nancy in, Mouise took charge and headed for his stable by himself, he's a bit like a dog really, but he had to go through another wee paddock, round a corner, past the hay shed round another corner to the stables, and in his box he went. Actually worked out great as it ment I could led Nancy behind him, she was pretty good but didn't really know what was going on. We started to break her in before the winter but it just got too wet, so we turned her out. I will start on her again tomorrow, hopefully she will remember what the deal was. She is still unsettled in the box, but she has a nice feed full of minerals and alliviate c which should help her settle in to things.

Nancy looking unsettled in her box. I brought her a new rug, and will put it on in the morning after I have scraped some of the mud off.

1st August-Happy Birthday Ponies.

Mousie on his birthday. As you can see he is CRAZY, not!! lol.

I have been trying to weight him up and I think it is slowly working. I am trying to work him as little as possible but keeping up his fitness at the same time, not that he is/needs to be super fit, but still have jumping and dressage clinics coming up.

The funny clip is because my clippers died half way through clipping him, so had to get a friend to finish him off, was going to do an irish clip on him but he didn't like his belly been done, so that is what he ended up with. Has worked out quiet well as he mostly sweats on his neck.

I was very disapointed to see that Ozzie has lost weight after I compared photos of him in June, and I have decided to turn him out for a couple of months to weight up, so I am bringing in Mousie's full sister Nancy and break her in and take her out to the outings that I was going to take Ozz to.

Had another great day handling the young ones, Tess is super friendly now and I even patted Polly THREE times today, which is a break through, she is very warey but was happy to patted, I am really pleased that she is coming along as she is the only one that I dont smooch.

Cold old day

The girls out eating in the wind.

Mousie and Ozzie cleaning up there lucerne hay in the wind today.

Well today was a miserable day and Greg, Georgia and I are all fighting with a cold of some sort. Did manage to head out and see young ones, I sat on Nancy again for the second time, she couldn't have cared less again, which is great.

Penny's leg has filled out due to the bandage coming off but the wound is crusting over, again is great.

I measured my girl Testament, and she is 155cm already, she is going to be a lovely big girl, doesn't have the longest length of rein but is a well put together wee girl. I can't wait to break her in and get her going, won't be doing that until she is 3.

Donny and Dag both worked very strong today and things are looking good for the next race season, which starts tomorrow. lol.

Windy Day

Was a very windy day here today, all the horses were on their toes with the wind wipping up under their tails.

Went out and socialised with the young ones straight after working the horses, and Penny, who has had serveral surgeries on her near hind leg after trying to jump the fence. First happened in October and was boxed for 3 months, which I hated, I had her out in a wee yard during the day just to get some sunlight.

After the injury healed up we turned her out with the others, but then after a month a hole appeared, something burst out, so back in she came, was handy as we are breaking in a 2 year old Yamanin Vital filly so she was paddocked with her.

I had some fanstastic spray to put on it, got it healed up again, turned her out with the others again, but alas another hole burst out, so I phoned the Vet and he came and xrayed the leg, and there were heaps of splinters on the bone. So after another surgery, in which I nearly passed out on the vet, things were looking good. It has been bandaged for what seems like forever, Greg and I were changing it as little as possible as per the vets instructions.

Today I noticed that she was chewing the bandage, so Greg and I grabbed a lead rope and the sicssors (sp) and I took it off in the middle of the paddock. WOW, it looks so good, wound is so small and very clean. The leg was itchy around it so thats got to be a good thing, I gave it a good rub and Penny just loved it. I will just keep an eye on it, they are out on the young grass so not muddy, but I don't want it to go backwards. That is how she got her name Pretty Penny as she has cost Greg a few pretty pennys. lol.


Can't help but feel very sorry for the poor people up the country fearing with the dreadful weather. Hopefully all ends well.

29th July 2008

Well a busyish day today running round doing all sorts of different things. Firstly after working the horses, I had to go to the police station to give a statement on an accident that I witnessed and helped out, couldn't believe that it took over an hour.

I had a great morning with the young ones, Tess is getting much more friendlier by the day, which is fantastic as six months ago you couldn't pat her at all. Today she had big smoocheys and even backed in to get a bum rub, which was a bit of a worry, don't like been at the back end of a yearling that is only just coming round to getting friendly. lol.

Greg very kindly cleaned out Ozzies box, so he had a fresh bed to go into tonight. Greg is still complaining about my show/event horses been inside, but I very nicely explained to him that I am mucking out all his horses boxes, so two more isn't a big a deal. lol.

I harrowed another paddock today, and zoomed round the track with it which worked well picking up all the clumps.

Then a lovley afternoon in the garden, Donny was looking over the fence the whole time watching, he is such a dude.

28th July 2008

Pretty Penny (penny) left; Polly Pock (polly) behind; Testament (tess) right, happily grazing.

One of the finished paddocks.

Well I've had a great time today harrowing the paddocks that the young ones were in. Saw a great idea online, of using a gate, so I hooked it up to the bike and away I went. I did the new arena paddock on Thursday and the big paddocks today. They are the only ones that aren't too wet to do, we have had alot of rain and have a bit of surface water on the paddocks around the stables.

Mousie and Ozzie keeping an eye on things.

The young ones next door didn't bat an eyelid but Mousie (Ice Pack) and Oz (Preview/Power Pack) didn't like it at all, both grew about 2 hands and didn't eat until I had finished. I am really happy with how the paddocks came up, Will be great after I have had some sheep in and some line on later in the spring.

Peep Purr's absess has blown out on her cornet band finally. Aparently abcesses have been very frequent lately, so atleast I'm not the only one in the country dealing with them.

Greg has finished nightshift this morning, so has slept all day and is going to work the horses today, as Georgia got home from her weekend with her father and has been skiing so she is very tired.

Welcome

Donny, Peter Porter at home after his first ride after a winter holiday.
Donny "helping" Georgia with her Kindy project.

Winning form at Gore, May 2008. Jockey Catherine Tetzlaff.

Donny winning his first race at Kurow Jan 2008. Greg and I were stoked and very sunburnt!!

Well I'm finally giving the blogging a go.

I'm not very computer savvy and Greg is worse so than me, so bear with us while we get the idea.

Firstly I will introduce ourselves, my name is Emma and my partner Greg and I train thoroughbred racehorses, we do everything ourselves, from breeding to breaking to racing (apart from the jockey). Our breed has been going for over 3o years and goes back to Carron Howe who was the founding mare. She had a checkered past until she was given to Greg mother Pauline, who showjumped her to A Grade (think that is now Grand Prix), her first foal was to Gate Keeper which was a filly which was named Polly Porter, Polly went on to be a group one winning filly, winning the brooklands filly of the year. Pauline and Polly had a big following and were well liked in the racing world. Pauline was one of the first women trainers and the most sucessful in Southland. Polly's Career was marred by injury and end the end was turned out to be a broodmare. Carron Howe's other foals were Fleetwood Mac, who won the listed Invercargill Gold Cup and other winter cups around the country, Valerli was another gelding out of Carron Howe who went on to win listed races and then carried on to be a top jumps horse.
All of our horses that decend from Polly Porter, have P P in their names eg. Peter Porter, Penny Parker, Pool Play etc.

Phew well that is the history of our breed. It is very senitmental to us and Greg's mother Pauline died very young, leaving Alister, with Greg and Stephanie Jane to bring up. Pauline's last words to Greg where to make sure that the horses were nominated for the races. So Greg has carried on the tradition from Alister, who after Paulines death took out his training license.

Our current horses are:
Peter Porter; 5 year old gelding who won 6 races from Jan 2008 to May 2008. Just coming back into work after a winter break. Building up to cup week at Riccarton. Our stable star and a lovely horse, with an amazing temperament.

Penny Parker; 5 year old mare, having last race prep before heading off to stud, she will be served by King Maker.

Peep Purr; 4 year old mare who is currently maturing out in the paddock and will start her winter campagin again in the Autumn.

Power Pack; 3 year old gelding, currently spelling from racing until he is 5, but will be doing some showing and eventing in the mean time.

Peach Pie; Broodmare, on her way to stud to see Keeper.

Picka Peach; Broodmare, on her way to stud to see Volksraad.

Ice Pack; 5 year old gelding, by Yamanin Vital retired from racing and is now going to be my show and event horse.

Zamboni; 2 year old filly full sister to Ice Pack, currently in the process of getting broken in.

Testiment; yearling filly, 1/2 sister to Zamboni and Ice Pack

Polly Pocket; yearling filly, 1/2 sister to Penny Parker

Pretty Penny; yearling filly, half sister to Peter Porter.

Glen Tui; by Volksraad, Tui was a winning 2 year old and hasn't done anything since. She is owned by Greg and my mother Julie. Heading to stud to Painted Black.

Phew and I think that is all of them.