When it all just gets too much...

Last weekend Hogan had obviously been worked far too hard and just had to take a break, but as he couldn't get the wrapper off the Kit-Kat he decided to lie down instead. All together.... Ahhhhhhhh.

He didn't seem too disturbed by the audience but shortly after he did decide it was time to get up.

Calling all juniors!

Thought you would all be interested to know (and where better to advertise than the Livery Blog?) that Mandy is going to be starting a new 'Clinic' on a Tuesday evening, especially for the Junior livery owners. It will be at 6pm and starts Tuesday 10th July. Each session will be for an hour and cost the price of a normal group lesson.
We are aiming just to run this for the summer, but may revise things come the winter months!
All those wanting to book, please contact us in the office.

Theos 1st outing!

Even those at the top of the chain need lessons every now and then, so yesterday, David, Theo and I headed off to Buckinghamshire for a lesson with Judy Harvey.

There was quite a crowd watching - either had their lesson or waiting, or just for a bit of a look!

Theo was very well behaved - went up and down the ramp on the lorry without any issues (very refreshing as those of you who knew Otto will agree, I'm sure!).

Here are a few pictures of the day - we were lucky that the sun came out specially for the session!

Hollie and Munchkin

Hollie has been riding at Wellington since she was 8 - she is now 12. She has been lucky enough to have Munchkin on loan for nearly 2 months now and is thoroughly enjoying every minute.

Hollie does everything at 100 miles an hour so she and Munchkin are perfectly suited!

If you want to see a video of the Pony Club Drill Ride at the Gala Evening, click here!

Jessica and Sam

Hi everyone.

Well we are the new kids on the block and felt very welcome in the livery tack room on Saturday.

Jessica 8 years old and mum Sam would like to say hi along with Teddy our 13hh section b gelding. (i'm sure you have met).

We are very new to this. Teddy is our first ever pony and we are both a bit anxious and excited at the same time!!

Please feel free to say hi if you see us in the yard and we are very open to any advice you might have for us. We felt it safer to have Teddy at Wellington, first to get all the help and advice new owners crave and also for Jessica to continue her lessons here.

Here are some Photo's of Teddy and Jessica!

Fox proves he is no slouch!

Well, it's official. Fox can do it when he's got a good XC pilot on top. Thrilled mum stood by and watched as Fox clocked up 30 for his dressage. Fab job Wendy! And again in SJ when the pair successfully navigated a SJ course that took its toll throughout the day due to heavy going and a technical, full-up course. Fox just had one down. They then proceeded to XC where with much aplomb and with much verbal encouragement from Wendy, they sailed round the course to finish clear and inside the time.

As for Blaze, no pilot error on the XC this time... but a little waver on the dressage course saw that phase end on a score of 36. Same as Fox on the SJ. 4 faults at the same fence... a true parallel where Blaze just did not seem to see the front rail. A dash round the XC course and on track for a placing, only to be dashed when 6 time faults were awarded... for going too fast!

Huge congratulations to Helen and Rebel for their placing first time around. I'm going to tell every event organiser to put them in a different section!!!!

All good fun. See y'all soon!

Look who I bumped into last night!

Hugo poses for the camera!

BCA

What an event it turned out to be! Huge congratulations to Wendy coming 2nd in her section with Fox, and Ruth for coming 11th place in her section with Blaze, and to Helen who came 10th in her first affiliated event with Rebel!

Luckily the rain held off for the day, but the going was not great especially in the showjumping.

Helen had a very respectable dressage score of 34.2, and then a double clear, and then a glass of champagne to celebrate!!

Rebel was immaculately behaved when we arrived and throughout the show - I dont think I have ever seen a horses expression change so much from wearing his dressage tack to his jumping tack...you could literally see the grin running from ear to ear!

Unfortunately, poor Rebel had to go through wearing his rather bright pink hood for no reason! 4 of his plaits had come out so they had to be re-plaited. Poor pony, embarrassed for no reason!!

Proud mum, sharing a moment after the XC!

Well done Wendy!

Congratulations Helen!

Premier League

Well, it is over for another year, and I think we have all just about recovered! A fantastic show, I think all would agree. Shame about the weather for the gala evening, but none the less everyone seemed to have a good time. I managed to escape the office for a little while to watch Jennie Loriston Clarkes demo ride with Nicky and Richard Barrett which was highly entertaining and very interesting, and proof that even horses at the very top level can spook at an umbrella!

Above, enjoying the fabulous hospitality marquee this year hosted by Louise and the Sherfield equestrian team.

Right, anyone want to put a caption to what John and Paul may be pointing at and discussing?!

Next dressage event is the Area Festival in September, after many weeks of JC - it all starts this weekend after the showjumping.

Many thanks to all helpers during last weeks show - we couldn't have done it without you!

BCA results

Do hope Pip will do a full write up but many congratulations to Wendy and Fox who came second yesterday .

Plus a big Welly well done to Helen and Rebel who came 10th on their first affliated outing .

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

As the preparations were underway for BCA tomorrow I managed to take a sneaky shot of Rebel sporting a new lovely new hoodie. Proud Mum, Helen, assures us it's to keep his plaits in place... Rebel's very thankful that it's too warm for his pyjamas - yes, they really do have sheep on them.

There'll be a big Wellie presence (Fox, Cosmo, Cammy) - but think of Kate in the early hours plaiting like mad!

Good luck everyone!

Sadly no video

Having been daft enough to tell us all she was riding Claude today it was no wonder there was a small audience on the bales today to watch when Ruth and Claude entered the indoor school.
We all agreed that his trot looks fab and Ruth was doing a great job with some help from Susie who was schooling Tilly.
Having decided to start her cool down without cantering Ruth was 'encouraged' to try a quick blast of canter and blast was the word , Claude responded immediately to the leg aid and took off . Ruth's face was a picture and her language choice to say the least ! Bless him he responded to the official aids and came back to trot very quickly with Ruth literally shaking on top .
She's decided that Claude's exercise tomorrow will either be on the lunge or time in the field - I wonder which he would prefer ?

Oh my, what a handsome chap

Brian's away for a couple of days so I'm in charge of pony faffing! Yay!



And my treat this weekend is riding Claudius - a few twists in the stirrup leathers will be required.

If you squint and put your nose against the screen you'll just about make out Tommie Tom and Legs having pony love in the field.















And squint a bit more to see Hugo munching away oblivious to my happy snapping!













But just for his Mum here's a better one taken the other day.

Missing dog - OSCAR

Great time had by all at the festival last night with plenty of good food and drink flowing freely.
I must say it's the best festival I've been to so far - well done to John, Louise and all of the Welly family of staff and friends.
On a more serious note, can everyone take a look at this page please http://www.doglost.co.uk/poster.asp?ID=9869
Unfortunately, another Welly dog has gone missing. This time it's Kate's little lad Oscar.
He's only a wee little lad, so he may be hard to see if he's lost in the woods, but hopefully if we all keep our eyes peeled, he'll be back home soon.

Premier league day 1

Day one of premier league is over and from my position of general dogsbody ( I was a steward / assistant secretary / runner etc ) all went very well . Congratulations to the Welly representatives in class 3 . Sarah and Oran did them selves credit in their first advanced medium test and Sarah - your hat made all the difference !
After less a less than ideal start to the year for Caroline she and Fly did very well on only a month's preparation and came a respectible 10 th in the class.
Hope the weather forecasters have got it wrong for Wednesday - at present we are promised rain ...

Fox jumps blind

At Tweseldown recently, Ruth rode Fox as it was high time that he jumped a clear XC. He did so, but it seems the trick is to shut his eyes.....

Hope all bloggers and livery owners, present and abroad, are doing well... and looking forward to a hectic week at our second home! Take care all.

Fox jumps best with his eyes closed

At Tweseldown recently, Ruth rode Fox as it was high time he did a clear round XC. He duly obliged, but it seems that the trick is doing so with one's eyes closed. Bless him! Hope all bloggers and livery owners are well and looking forward to the busy week ahead with the festival.

The weekend!

Sadly the weekend's been and gone. It started with Brian and Claude's lesson and ended quite rightly with a beer at the pub!

In between there was lots of shopping (yes it took 4 attempts to find the right sized fly sheet for Geoff) and pony faffing.

Claude and Geoff spent an hour in the field munching together with Claude squeeling and bucking to try and kick start some hooning. Naturally it didn't get the reaction he wanted from Geoff, who couldn't lift his head from eating position.

The yard has been transformed - if any of the horses had stood still for long enough they might have been painted - the hospitality tent and stands are in place and competitors for Premier League are rolling up.

Newest member Theo looks very settled in his new spot and Hugo is still in charge of the field!

Me thinks I might be in trouble for this...

As Diane and Tommie Tom practiced posh dressage, I was on hand with the camcorder...

Only one thing remains to be said:

POSTURE!

(Clikey for video - needs sound for the full effect!)

Hello



Lexie and I have finally managed to set-up our account after Gavin kindly sent the link.


Biscuit has settled in well and can't believe that he's only been here for 6 wks. He is still trying to get through to his owner that he's a boy and therefore if you plait him he'll roll as soon as you put him back in his stable!!


Biscuit showed Lexie how good he was at X-C last week when they did the Event week in half term - she was only heard once saying 'Oh my God' whilst leaping over a jump!!!

Rodeo

It was only a matter of time before we made it to the rodeo, and where better to start but at the World Championship Qualifiers, then out to dinner with a PSG dressage rider who has to travel 1000 miles to California for competitions!

The dogs are settling in and as yet, there have been no signs of the bears! Can someone please tell us how the explain to a Labrador the concept of time zones at 3 in the morning!
Follow this link to keep up with the latest stateside action

Missing you already

Wellington may seem a little quieter for a bit with Gav and George jetting off on a new adventure.

I think this chap's going to miss his mum.