It was an eventful CDI this year, with not only riding 3 horses, but having 5 most wonderful Ladies assisting me. I only wish that we had done a little better in our success, but we were so happy with the way the horses all went. We took Basil (A’Seduction) for the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special, CC (A Spider Bite) and Penny (A Heaven Sent) in the 6yo and 5yo events.

Three years ago when Penny was a yearling, she loved to live in her paddock. She was not really into the creature comforts of the stable. As she matured and went under saddle, she told me she wanted to stay barefoot for as long as she can. She loves being one with nature, our Pen, so I nicknamed her “my Nimbin Pony” (after the town of Nimbin here in the Northern Rivers), ‘cause she reminds of someone who would live there, someone who loves living with one in nature, and a balance of all things, with a little bit of magic on the side!!!

AND BOY did she live up to her nickname. She was so cool at the CDI, so relaxed and chilled. The girls were talking of hanging some posters up in her stable of rolling pastures and trees. Penny’s first really huge event and she showed an absolutely amazing attitude. Pen put in a good run in her first round of the young horse championships. Considering she has done 2 other young horse classes, both achieving 71%, we were all pretty shocked to see the judges did not respond to her this time. But oh well, I do have the thought that these YH classes are a bit biased, (a little like the Hack ring): big names, big horses, powerful movement. But Pen, she has it, attitude and power, but the judges did not consider this today. Oh well. She will make the most amazing competition horse for some very lucky rider, and right now I want to campaign her onto higher levels and get her changes and half passes happening.

CC is completely different to her little sis. We call her our OH&S girl, cause, man oh man, she is right on top of it all: safety, safety, safety comes first. CC must make sure the environment is safe, the conditions are up to 5 Star, (as that is what she is accustomed too), and then she will perform. She went so fantastic. CC had to compete in the main GP arena, so it is all dressed up with pot plants and 5 judges boxes, and flags and signs and all, BUT CC excelled and gave me the trust, that bond you have with your horses, and she went so great – she finished 5th only, 1% off placing 3rd, with the horses in front of her all having been imported into AUS. CC did the same at the Qld YH championships last year. She will be a Grand Prix horse of the future. Both her parents are GP competitors, so she is a very lucky girl. Sue and I completely enjoy training her and her antics keep us laughing!!

Basil on the other hand, he was told for weeks leading up to the CDI that he was not going, until the night before. Then he saw us packing and preparing his horse float and parking near his stable for a quick getaway in the morning. So he arrived there almost so relaxed, it too was funny. Unfortunately due to my hand having been broken last year, poor Bas had not even been out to a competition for 7 months or more and I think it was a bit of a shock to him. He must have thought he was in a type of semi retirement, just training at home, and he has a student who has a lesson on him every week. But to his credit, considering that most of the other horses had been to many events in the last several months leading up to this prestigious 3 Star international show, I was very happy with his effort in the Grand Prix. The international judge from the Netherlands had never seen us before and he gave us 7’s for Piaffe and 7’s for our transition out into Passage. This I was very happy to see as I had been working on this. It was good to see credit for my training. The centre line judge had us in 11th place. So you see I would like to have had a better result, (maybe finish in the top ten), but I was most satisfied and happy with my man Basil, and he too was very happy doing his test.

And my 5 lovely ladies were absolutely fantastic, and really spoilt me so much. I felt like a princess, with a team of horses and a great team of supporters.

It was a great fun CDI this year.

Here are Wendy, Amelia and Sue. Missing are Lizzie, Poppy and – Sally – she must be the one they keep an eye on!

Basil (A’Seduction) in training at SDS in 2008 as 11 year old. Photo: IB

A’Seduction is now 16 years old. We bought him when he was an 8 months old colt. He has won so many Regional and State Championships and so many trophy rugs, I have lost count. We competed in a total of 6 young dressage horse events, every time finishing in the Top 3. He was 3 times a Champion of his Age and twice he was awarded the Champion of Champions. And now this year we have two of his baby girls qualified for the Young Horse Classes at the Sydney CDI. We will also take A’Seduction himself to compete in the Grand Prix International class. So WOW, I never in my dreams thought that this would ever happen. We are very proud of A’Seduction and his two girls. He has produced some amazing lovely trainable young horses. There are many out competing now and doing extremely well.

The two girls going in the Sydney CDI Young Horse Classes this year are A Heaven Sent (aka Penny) and A Spider Bite (aka CC). They are going in the 5yo and the 6yo events. The fields are so strong, with so many very nice top quality horses. But you have to realise that they judge just what they see on the day, and if you have a little glitch then you suffer the consequences. Success will show up as the years pass by with many consistent performances, and the results will be on the board. And ultimately, that is what we all want: a well behaved, calm, flowing, active and alive test, then we progress up the classes to Grand Prix. IT’S SO EXCITING!!!

Penny (A Heaven Sent) as yearling in 2008, and in Dec 2007, 11 weeks old

A Heaven Sent has the most beautiful temperament, and lovely suspended trot action. She is also a very pretty girl. Pen is my little worker girl, she loves training and practising all her work. When she was growing up, I called her my Nimbin Pony, as she loves to be outside with nature, she loves being in her paddock and she is very laid back about life in general. As she grows and matures, I believe Pen will be the near perfect dressage competitor!!

CC (A Spider Bite) in 2009, 3ys old, and as a 7 week old filly (Photo: IB) in Jan 2007

A Spider Bite, and yes she was actually bitten by a spider when she was a yearling, cause I knew you were going to ask, how did she get that name? CC has already won 3 championship rugs herself. And she has won her first test this year, the medium at the NADEC event – she even got a 9 in that test. She was soo well behaved, calm yet a bit excited, just what you need to produce a good test!! We call CC our OH&S (official health and safety) girl: CC makes sure everything is safe before she goes anyway. She is spunky, studious, and is the life at any party she goes to!! CC has the big plan picture already set in her goals… Grand Prix!

So it is very exciting for Peter and me to have a Family Affair going to the Sydney CDI International 3 Star 2013. And of course thanks to a big team of friends, students and owners, this plan can happen.

Last edited 21.12.2013