My late April events took a rather embarassing turn, in fact I had some blond moments that were so cringeworthy I am too ashamed to recount them! Suffice to say there are some "E"s on my record that have nothing to do with horse performance! At first I blamed lack of sleep after late evenings plaiting and washing, but then I decided foolish errors were determined to happen in threes as much rest with extra paid yard help and extra course revision on the day still didn't avert two further episodes. Luckily I got over the desire for the earth to swallow me and touch wood the embarassing spell is over now.

Sunshine jumped easily round Intros and has moved up to Pre Novice. He was a little surprised to have to jump higher over the show jumps, but is completely unfazed by the cross country and is well liked by dressage judges. He will soon be ready to sell as a delightful Junior horse. Scar had Pre Novice double clears followed by a less successful first Novice of the season due to a huge show jumping course and disorganised practice ring. He made up for this with a very good run at Mattingley obtaining a placing, I hope he also finds a good new home soon.

Kiwi ingeniously managed to avoid any work for several weeks by catching a virus followed by a cough. At least this enabled him to put back on all the weight he'd lost out hunting (he was so bouncy I had to keep him out all day), so he now looks like a show horse! He has finally had two runs, the most recent one ridden by Isabella who did a brilliant job producing a double clear! Sadly, he will have to go too, as I can't afford to be paying for so many horses myself, and I need some more stable space now as well.

The yard had an interesting addition in March, a German bred Hanoverian ex-dressage horse! Nino belongs to Louise Woof and is a large chestnut gelding who didn't take to the pressures of pure dressage (who can blame him?!). A friend suggested he be sent to me to attempt eventing instead as he appeared to have jumping ability. In the meantime he has mostly been sitting in a field for a while so he is now 13 and arrived looking very roly poly compared to the skinny ex-racehorses, but I am sure would not have looked out of place in a dressage environment. It was actually refreshing to have a huge crested neck to admire, and although I couldn't hug my arms round it, the rest of the yard could all benefit from a bit of it! I guess I am just too used to Thoroughbreds. I also had a shock when I first rode him, he has the hugest trot I have ever experienced so I nearly got bounced right out the saddle! He is certainly flashy and has been turning heads ever since!

Needless to say Nino went straight on a crash diet and a fitness course, I also investigated his jumping and taught him to hack. On day one we encountered ridge and furrow... this led to panic, he stood on the ridges with absolutely no idea how to negotiate the furrows! Two months later he is a completely different horse, loves hacking and variety, is more willing to negotiate new situations, jumps confidently and easily and looks pretty much like a smart eventer! He has decreased two rug sizes and now fits many of my horses' rugs and girths! All this transformation has culminated in winning his first Open BE90 at Mount Ballan recently!! A 24 dressage gave room for a pole down (I think the jumps were too small so Nino's concentration wasn't at its best) and he took the cross country in his stride, you'd never guess he was an eventing virgin! I actually find the dressage challenging on him, warmbloods seem to work by pressing slightly different buttons and things happen in extremes, so when I try and steady him I sometimes feel like he is threatening to launch into passage!