Flying High then Flying Off!

So it's been awhile again... so much to say!

Firstly, Frankie and Ocean are around no longer... their owner left the paddocks abruptly and after I'd done some really awesome riding with her gelding. But it is nice to just have my three to focus on and no one elses!!

And that's exactly what we've done!!



.Honey.

We've started trotting! It was an amazing experience, I thought I'd need to be on the lunge, and that I'd really suck at it... I had no idea what to expect and my horrible brain was making me think all the worst things! But when it actually happened - WOW! The feeling was amazing... knowing that I helped her achieve that, even though I was a little shaky at first, it was soo cool! She was awesome, and just powered on through like a pro... I remember when Katy started posting on Evo... he just about died lol... Honey didn't even blink! She's seriously the best horse to back and start when you're someone like me!!!



.Evo.

On the same day, I got an amazing 'present'... I've seen Rahn ride a million times and enjoy watching and learning from her. But to have her ride MY boy!!!!! WOW much?! As if I weren't already on cloud nine from Honey - to have my best friend ride my boy was like the icing on the cake. In less than an hour she had him going incredibly well... working at the walk and trot and then I got up. Oh my freaking god! I almost cried with happiness... he felt so beautiful... and when he trotted - I KEPT UP!! It may not seem much to some.. but to me that ride means everything. It showed me where I have to work to get him going like he was, and therefore have an easier time riding him!

Unfortunately when I went to work on him the next day, he had a spook and cantered off on me... I only had one stirrup and as much as I held on for a bit, he did his magical slam of the brakes and spin trick - I went flying to the ground. I've got some serious soft tissue damage to my right elbow, and still struggling a week later to walk as fast as I usually do. But I'm not letting my injuries hold me back... if I could have full use of my arm, I'd be back up in that saddle now! I almost rode this weekend actually, I was itching to pop up on Honey's back for a plod... but I knew better :P Stupid brain haha. It's odd though, how I'm acting so keen to get back up. I'm not scared to ride or anything, like I usually am. I tend to make myself panic and what not, but even when he bolted I don't remember freaking out. And sure I'll be nervous to ride him but not scared to... if that makes any sense. I'm not scared of my boy, it was a freak accident. He is to me, still the safest horse I know for his size. And ever since the fall, he's been overly protective of me. He keeps lavishing me in love, and like any girl who is being treated so nicely by a gentleman would react - I love it!!

.Bailey.
Where to start with Bailey?! She is like a new horse! I've been joking and saying that I sold her for a new and improved version. But she has seriously changed. She is now incredibly happy in her work... she sometimes still argues but never to the point that she used to. She is more accepting of everything. She's enjoying things again. And her paces have really improved, especially her canter, which has always been rather flat and wobbly. We've left the riding arena to the big open space up the front - which used to be asking for suicide - and Millie had her working very nicely, and even let her climb over the mounds of dirt up there, Bailey showing off her 'mountain goat' skills. On Sunday, Millie and Bailey went out on a hack with two other girls, and was pretty well behaved considering she hadn't left the paddock in months, apart from her small road ride the day we took her up the front.

But the icing on the cake with her is having her go over a pole. Those who know Bailey understand that her and poles just don't mix. She'd rather rear, dig her toes in, etc, than go over a pole on the ground. It used to take forever to convince her that she could and would go over a pole, and her rider's usually felt unsafe doing so. It only took 5 mins to get her over the pole on Saturday. She did two tiny leaps and then realised that the rears weren't scary anymore to Millie (she hasn't reared in the past 2 or so weeks cos she figured they weren't helping her at all lol) and decided to go over it. She liked the praise she got for it... and because I believe in doing things three times before rewarding and stopping, Millie took her around again. She hesitated both times but didn't need any convincing to really go over it. The next day we popped her over it again, it took barely any effort. She knows how to jump, and has a cute style too. So we're quite excited and hope we can introduce jumping soon. That pole is definitely going to be part of her daily ride though! Here's the video from the third 'jump'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbiuBd2wOA

Well that's about it for now... I've got one more uni exam and then I'm free for a bit. I hope to be back up in the saddle by the weekend. Honey's having two weeks off, and so if I can start riding again, I'll probably start her on next Monday. Evo's going to be lunged a lot this week to get him ready for the weekend and Bailey's going to be lunged over jumps this week while Millie's away!

Over and out,
Chelle x

Wow, what a weekend!

So I'm sitting here typing this, feeling incredibly tired and drained... sore as hell in my right leg BUT ON CLOUD NINE! What a weekend!

I was already having an awesome week, and the last few days just topped it off. I feel like my confidence in the space of a week has sky rocketed... and I know that something is going to fuck it all over again... but for now, I'm really enjoying it, and all the new experiences! So here's some photos and the current news!

I didn't get any photos of Evo, so I guess I should talk about him first! He was a really good boy. Had Saturday off, but I worked him yesterday, doing loads of tempo changes in the walk and figure of eights, serpentines etc... I also did something new with him, which he was a bit hesitant with at first... I dropped all contact and just guided him with my legs. I know I'm hand orientated... I know that's probably my biggest problem, I use my hands to balance and I shouldn't. So we plodded around with me doing things like putting my arms out or up, putting them on my head etc... he flipped at first, and didn't understand but then got the idea... and at one stage I even closed my eyes and just focused on his walk. It was an incredible feeling. I then felt ready to go into the trot... I don't know what's up but I guess since I've focused a lot on the walk, I suck at his trot again... but I was determined to continue trying and he is always so awesome and puts up with me. I was trying to loosen off my contact and find my balance towards the end, and I got it a few times. I think I might have a lunging session on him one of these days... just so someone can focus on keeping him going while I focus solely on getting the trot right! I'm not complaining... I'm in no hurry to go anywhere with him... and know its harder for me to find any balance on him cos of being heavy... and I know we'll get there so that's all that matters!

Right, onto Honey! Fifth ride today and introduced changing the rein in different ways... on a diagonal (making sure she didn't have no sharp corners to make), and down the length of the riding pen... at first she was like "What the!? Whyy are we turning here?" But she's just a lovely mare to ride. I don't feel nervous at all on her now... I just really enjoy plodding on her... She felt at one stage, cos I had her moving forward quite actively in the walk, that she was going to try a trot... I decided very calmly that I would allow it to happen if it did, and not shut her down immediately, but bring her back to a walk calmly. She didn't though... I really don't wanna flip out on her back. I just want to keep things as relaxed as they are now haha. She even spooked today (star fish) when I stopped her and went to hop off, the stirrup leather made a funny noise. Or I'm assuming it was the saddle. I usually would pull back if that happened, and feel my heart race... but nah, not today I just said standddd and she did. No fusses ;)

And now for Bailey. WOW much?! The difference I've seen in my pony has shocked me in this last week. She actually is working! Millie and I came up with a training plan for her based on something Rahn taught me "a good walk leads to a good trot" and so forth... well that's more than true! She went from being the one calling the shots, rearing, not listening etc on Millie's first ride on Tuesday, to working in a lovely frame, walking at different speeds with a relaxed manner, and then rewarded with the trot - in which she was forward yet controllable! The biggest point was that it was the first time I saw Bai lick and chew - what a happy horse! She's really working as a team with Millie and I'm so damn proud!

And finally a quick word about Frankie... rode him twice this weekend/today and boy is he lovely! He's strong... incredibly strong, and fast... but I really like him... he paces but does trot and when he does he just plows on through... I'm already working on steadying it up... but he's so unfit and been out of work for ages that it will take some time. He did a wee 'bolt' on me on Sunday... just sped off and took a bit to bring back to a steady trot, but he's not dangerously out of control or anything. I'm really glad to be riding him because I get the chance to get in some major trotting. I don't have a horse that I can just go for a trot on - I can't balance enough on Evo... and Honey's not there yet - and I don't ride Bailey that much. So he's really gonna help me... and in return I hope to help him!

So that's it really... having a break for myself tomorrow... going out to see Soph and April... and then on Wednesday it'll be back in the saddle and riding probably three horses, haha!
Over and out,
Chelle x

A Productive Week!

Well it's only been about a week since I last wrote in this and I feel like I have just as much to say as last time! Haha it's been an incredibly productive this week! Not only was it the final week of lectures for this semester, I had an essay to write, and worked all the horses regularly, PHEW!
So I best get on with this... breaking it down by each horse again.

Bailey.
I had my awesome friend who used to ride Bailey get back in contact with me... and we organised for a ride on Tuesday. I lunged Bailey the day beforehand and she had been quite fresh but relatively good... could have been a lot worse! Millie came out and rode her and she was a little naughty... once again, she could've been a lot worse, and she always likes to test the rider on the first ride anyway... Millie handled her like a pro, and was keen to come out again the next day... which went so well, in my opinion anyway! Bailey was very forward but she wasn't incredibly naughty and I think if Millie just relaxed a little more, and just gone with the trotting, they would have really had fun! I lunged Bai today and she was super relaxed... it was really lovely... she had a big trot, but very consistent... and listening to all my aids... I was so proud of my pony! I'm hoping its gonna be like that this weekend!


Evo.
This week Evo's been up and down in the scale. On one hand I've changed his training. I've decided I spent way too much time focusing on getting his trot, and focusing on myself, that I've neglected his suppleness and training in basic 'thinking' work. So I've taken to just riding mainly in the walk, with a couple of trots at the end. We're both really enjoying it! I'm using my paddock as if it were an oversized dressage arena and riding a lot of serpentines, figure of eights, varying sized circles, playing with the tempo of his walk, halting etc. I've found at the end of our sessions he's been a lot more attentive and feels like he's using his back better! Which I'm all for! He did have one bad day and I couldn't get him to focus AT ALL! Every time I put my leg on he'd leap as if he'd been stung. Some days there's not a lot I can do, especially when he's in moods like that. He's also been a shit to catch lately... last two days he's been enjoying trotting circles around me until he's ready to be caught. Big shit, lol.


Honey.
With Honey I feel like I could write a novel... but I'll try to keep it to a minimum. Since Friday last week, I've been working with her daily (with the exception of Sunday) and up until Wednesday, all I was doing was sitting up on her back for longer periods of time and doing some desensitising while I was up there. However, Rahn came out on Wednesday and had me and Honey on the lunge, teaching her to stop and go. Although as a cart horse she was taught to go and stop and steer, its different with a person on ya back I'm sure! But she was really cute about it all, she really enjoys her work! So then Rahn took us off the lunge and made me walk her around by myself... I can't say that I was relaxed at all.. I was worried that if Honey did something, I'd make the situation unpleasant with pulling back or something and then she'll probably freak out more... but she's a wee doll really... some rough areas here and there but nothing major.
Yesterday I rode her by myself... I rode her defensively, as everything that could go wrong, did... it was really windy, really cold, the horses around us were going nuts, and water was running in the trough beside us. We were both incredibly alert but apart from a couple of head tosses she didn't do anything.
And today, well apart from not wanting to go forward at first (which confused me cos I thought she was enjoying her work, and is a very forward wee girl) we had an awesome ride... her halts are near perfect and she's really walking forward quite nicely :) Her changing of rein is more smooth now too, before she was really hesitant about going a different way haha! I think with time she's just gonna be my favourite horse to ride... although Evo is beautiful and lovely... I'm hoping that Honey just remains as uncomplicated as she is... I mean just getting up on her and going for a plod is fun for me... even if my nerves sometimes get in the way.

Well I have to end this now, my brother is hounding me to go watch Ironman with him.
More from tomorrow, with a bunch of pictures too!
Over and out,
Chelle x

It's Been Too Long!

As the title suggests, it has indeed be far too long since I last posted a blog.
I have now moved house, written a few more essays for university, met and ridden some new horses, and of course, been working on Evo and Honey with their training!
Spring has also arrived, bringing along with it as Rahn likes to call it "Spring Fever" and boy, do my horses have that or what?!


With Evo, I've been doing lots of trotting and with every ride I feel like I'm getting stronger in my position. He's been a rather super cool dude... with a couple of days in question, but he's allowed them now and then! He's proved just how much of an adaptable horse he is... we've been having some really bad winds here in Christchurch, and there are some days where I just can't avoid riding and have to get in a quick session or else I've just wasted more time... and each time I do ride him in the wind, he actually settles down in it... I've found he's been a bit of a prick for others in the wind... but for "Mummy" and the exception of Simone, he's been really good. It just makes me even more proud of him... not many horses can handle the wind, it messes with their brains... but he settles into his work, starts accepting the bit and trots around happily, as if the gale force isn't bothering either of us haha. To some, it is cruel to subject him to this... and I do try to be as accommodating as I can be... but I'm not going to baby him... and if he doesn't seem to be affected by it, I should count myself lucky, not guilty for it!


Honey... wow, where to start?! If I wasn't writing a catch up blog, I would go into more detail over my beautiful ginger pony. Today she gained the title of "Super Ginger", and that's exactly what she is. We've been working together getting ready to be backed and started... and although I've not been able to be consistent and train her daily, she does get the saddle on at least 2-3 times a week. I did make the mistake of missing a step in my training, and although I was like "ugh you idiot" for a couple of seconds, I valued the lesson I learnt! I mean, backing and starting Evo was like a blur to me... sure I soaked in all the knowledge I could like a sponge, but I was so stunned and "deer in headlights" about it all, that I was sure to miss things here and there. So this time is so much more relaxed, half because I am more confident and I do know what is expected etc, but mainly because Honey is pretty much relaxed too. Anywho, today was the big day. My exceptionally talented best friend Rahn (yes, I do mean this Rahn, so let that head swell, haha!) came out to help me with this procedure. Rahn is experienced with backing and starting horses, and has a really easy approach to it all, allowing for it to suit the horse and her. Honey had a bit of an issue with the bucket, but she had that problem with me too. We got passed the "fetlock biting bucket" and soon were swiftly going through the steps to mounting, till finally Honey is being led around at a walk with a rider on her back! I was so freaking proud of my girl! She was really cute, and got all proud of herself and found this really cool stride to her walk... and looked like she was nodding her head going "yeahhh I'm so awesome!" Lol. Then, and I knew since we'd had so much success, that Rahn was going to tell me to get up... I admit I was nervous... who isn't?! This is my baby pony, who although didn't put a foot wrong, didn't have any real knowledge of being a riding pony! But I sucked it in and got involved straight away, putting in a big effort and overcoming my nerves. I actually was up pretty quickly, and after lowering my heart rate, went for walkies on my own pony! The feeling was exhilarating! I slowly relaxed and found my balance, and enjoyed myself. Rahn quoted on my bebo that I said while I was babbling away with excitement on her back - "You're such a good girl Honey..you're just what Mummy's needed, a short strong smooth super ginger pony." And she's exactly that... to think not even 8months ago, I was too afraid to trot on Evo for long because I had no faith in myself... and even before that, I was struggling to overcome nerves that would sometimes leave me with panic attacks for no reason! And here I am, sitting and walking upon my pony who I've not owned long, who I've looked incredibly forward to backing and starting, not to mention rode her without stirrups for the whole time (if you don't know me, I am reliant on stirrups as I have balance issues and a bad knee) ! I was so proud of my Honey Bee, but also myself... who knew I'd come this far. Oh yes, the babbling has began again and all the thoughts are just poring out of me... but I guess the point I'm meaning is that I amaze myself. I used to think I was a rubbish rider... Evo soon took care of that, as you can't be a horrible rider to be on his back! He's trained me so much, and now I get the pleasure of using what I've learnt, on Honey! I'm so incredibly excited!!!


As for my gorgeous lil minx of a pony, Bailey, well the lucky toad has been enjoying life as a paddock ornament. I have unfortunately got her up for lease/sale to the right home, because of this fact. I'm not stupid, me and Bai will NEVER make an awesome team like me and Evo, or what me and Honey WILL make... and I've had so much fun with her, it's time for her to have some fun with a nice new person, who is lighter, smaller, and more determined... that and doesn't have two other horses to train and work, one who is an incredibly attention seeker, and also two more SBs to ride and start training too! I'll always love Bai... she was my first pony.. and if I had all the money out, and my own land, I'd put her into foal, and let her have her dream of being purely a paddock mate/broodie. But alas, the world has yet to be that kind, and although she will only go to the RIGHT home, she does have a "For Sale" sign above her head.


I've mentioned a couple of other SBs to muck about with, and this is true. I have a mate at my paddocks who is needing to gain her confidence back on top of a horse, and since I have more experience, I've offered to help her with getting her horses fit and ready to help her along her journey. The first is a bay gelding named Frankie. He's approx 15.2hh and a sweetheart on the ground... his history tells us that he's a bolter, and although I usually shy away from bolters (lol Bailey's done it to me enough thanks), he's been otherwise a gentleman to me! He is sore, and had a chiro visit, but I do believe with exercise he will brighten up a bit, and show me his naughty side! But for now, he's been really awesome, and I'm hoping that with some nice, consistent work, and enough exercises to occupy him, the bolting thing won't be an issue. He does pace, and I am working on correcting this... because when he does trot, it's rather lovely :)
The second SB is a lovely mare whom I've known for quite some time now, who my friend has recently taken on. Her name is Ocean, and she was one of Rahn's horses! Ocean is a beautiful big girl, who I've always been fond of. She's had a sketchy past, and therefore does have areas where she will look out for herself out of fear. But on a whole she's a lovely mare, that Rahn believes I can do a good job at backing and starting myself, of course with her advice and help if I ever need it! I'm in no hurry to get started, as my main priority is Honey's training and Evo's of course... but it's exciting to know I'm going to be extending my horse knowledge some more by learning how to work with her, as well as help her into a lovely riding mount!


So I think I've said far more than what is needed. I am excited, and anticipating more training with these lovely horses, and spending some special time with my wee minx of a pony!
Signing off,

Chelle.

Ridiculous amounts of unneccessary words.

So with all the hectic events around me at the moment, I've not taken the time to come and write about Sunday's ride on Evo!
My friend Irina came out to meet my horses, and have a wee ride on Evo. She'd been excited ever since I'd told her she could come and ride if she wanted to, and was almost buzzing as we got to the paddock :) Evo instantly clicked with her which was nice... and Irina really liked him too, along with the others, even though Honey went 'ahhh Stranger Danger' when Irina went to rug her and came to me, haha.

I rode him first and gosh he felt lovely... the ground's firming up now, which is so awesome... and I'm not sure if he was showing off or my riding was good that day, because he was showing her what a dressage horse does, lol. I asked him to walk and got an active stride and then he accepted the bit, and I was so pleased to have him walking nicely underneath himself on the bit that I almost didn't want to get off. We had a couple of trots, which went well, but I could see that Irina was dying to ride, so I hopped off and let her have a go.

She actually has a really nice seat :) And was the first person I've met who wasn't fazed by his trot... in fact she got determined to get used to it and kept him going... all of this off the lunge too, I was sooo pleased not to have to play safety net on the ground for once! She was up on him for awhile, poor bugger thought that workies didn't last that long anymore, haha!

Although while she rode him, I realised something. I let a lot of people ride him, and although all his schooling is done by me, and he gets it relatively well when I'm teaching him, I don't actually stay on long enough when people are with me because I feel like they're dying to hop up... or I don't wanna ride in front of them for too long cos they get bored or something. I let my feelings for others watching, inhibit my training. On this particular day, I didn't care - I was freaking pleased with the way he worked for me. But if I didn't give in so early... if I didn't let everyone ride more than me - I'd be a hell of a lot more balanced and down the track. I know this must seem like the obvious to most... you're probably all sitting there going 'freaking tool, lacking common sense much?'... but I've never realised it in this light. Sure I usually don't wanna get off, but one look at the people waiting to ride, and I do. And some people call out to ask how my knee is, and it makes me think oh, I ought to get off... like a robot being instructed to do something.

It's this revelation to myself... this unrecognised feeling to please others, that I've realised I need to take a 'fuck it, do you own this horse? no?' attitude in a sense. I always think I'm a selfish person when I ride when I have visitors, my Mum always taught me to share I guess. But what sort of message am I sending to Evo? That its okay to have a quick schooling session now and when they get longer, he'll get confused? That Mummy can't ride for long? Sometimes that IS the case. He's a long horse and takes a lot of energy to get active enough for my liking. But it's not really the reason... I just don't want to seem rude.

It's no secret that your horse generally tries the most for you... and he's a textbook example of that. I weigh heaps, I won't lie... although I'm working SO HARD to lose that. And it doesn't help that I have had issues this winter over feeding. I've gone from good quality to shit grass, AND had my hay eaten by others if I left it in the shed. I'm lucky now that I have my side all fully locked and blocked off, so others' horses won't be able to climb in and get to it. So with only hard feed daily, he's lost a bit of weight. I feel awful about it, and I'm sure some people think I don't care enough. I know he's light, and so the impact of MY weight, on his back is a lot worse than say someone as light as Sophie, who's not even 40kgs. What I'm getting at, is that I know how much extra I make him have to balance and work, because I weigh so much. But you don't see him whinging about it. Sure, he does trot more nicely for Sophie, cos the ground is slippery as hell and he's an unco, massive animal... I get that. But he tries so hard for me, in the state that he is in... I mean he could be a lot worse, I know I over exaggerate a bit but I've had comments about his weight. So if I were to spend more time riding him, his topline is gonna reappear and he'll look so much better. I know this is all common sense, but I'm saying it like this cos not everyone reading this is completely intune with horse care/talk.

Thinking about all this now makes me keen to write down my goals. So I'm gonna end this ridiculously long blog now... with quick mentioning that Bailey is MUCH better from her ordeal in the weekend, although I'm still being quite sceptical about feeding her.
Chelle x

A Breakthrough, and a Disaster!

Wow, I have so much to say right now, and I don't really know where to start! I thought I'd skip the goals for now, while my mind is complete mush, and focus on today. I thought it'd be easier to just break the 'chapters' to each blog up by horses, so lets hope this works!

.Evo.
Today was a good day for my big man. He'd had all week off because of me having only enough time to muck out, feed, water and go! And since my good friend from uni is coming out tomorrow to ride him, I thought I ought to make sure that's a good idea!
I expected some major work on my behalf - he's usually really lazy, and I have to nag a lot to sort of 'wake' him up. But today - I'm not sure if the bad wind had anything to do with it - he was rather interested in working, so I used it to my advantage. We warmed up around the outside of the paddock, he did have a couple of nappy moments over the girls grazing down the back, and a hissy fit over the puddles in one area (you'll all soon learn that Evo despises water and its his only true 'ugly side' ), but for the majority he was really well behaved. I didn't want to work on the walk today, although I do admit I could have spent more time on it. He was readily accepting the bit at the walk, but I felt there wasn't enough activity coming from behind. I'll really have to work on that.
But I started doing some trotting in straight lines, and it actually helped me so much! Why the hell have I stuck to circles, when doing straight lines made me find it almost EFFORTLESS to post?! At first I was horrible, and with all the water everywhere (BRING ON SPRINGGGGG!) my paddock isn't exactly the best place to school, so there's only certain parts to use. But once we got going, I was on fire... I felt that with a little more stability in my legs I would have breezed through it! What an achievement! I can't wait to hop up and do the same thing tomorrow while I show my baby boy off to my friend!
After cooling down, I took him back up to the shed and let him eat some of the spring grass coming through... I wish I could rest a part of my paddock for that right now! After some hard feed, and grooming, he had his rugs put back on, and went off back to his girls.


.Honey.
Miss Honey Bee was in a reasonably good mood today! She played the whole 'I'm not really grumpy at you but if I put my ears half back you might realise that I don't wish to be caught and taken out of my paddock for groomies' act. She was much better about going away from her friends today, a lot less reluctant... still a little iffy, but not as bad. Groomed her and only had one issue, when a horse next door broke out of its paddock and started galloping, Honey shied and pulled back so I was quick to untie her. She soon settled down and I went back to grooming, covering and feeding, on the same deal as Evo.
However she did get a little annoyed with Evo crowding her today when I had Bai up in the shed area, and decided to just go through the gate to the big space beside the paddock, since the fence wasn't on. She was thankfully not hurt, and just let me catch her, as she knew she was in trouble, lol.


.Bailey.
Today, with Bailey, I had the worst experience of my life. After grooming and rugging her back up, I gave her her dinner... and she choked on her feed. Her vital signs decreased rapidly and I completely freaked out, watching as she coughed up flemmy stuff, and also had it coming out her nose. She went lifeless and was heaving for awhile. Thankfully with some help from a friend (and useless advice from a vet), we managed to settle her down and she bounced back, now that whatever was lodged had moved down through her system. To be on the safe side, I went back out two hours later to check on her and she was looking much brighter. But I've never seen a horse lose its signs of life so quickly, and never want to see it again. It was one of my nightmares almost come true, and I've realised how much I take her for granted.


Tomorrows notes: Making sure Bailey is better, Irina's first ride on Evo, and another grooming session for Honey!

Chelle x

The Exciting New Blog - Introductions!

I've always been the type to feel the need to express how important the first entry in something is. For example, I used to keep a diary, but the laziness pandemic got to me and it's been years since I've had one. However, every time I got a new diary (more than often it wasn't because the last one was full, but more likely my Gemini characteristics of never having enough concentration to finish things, and I'd gotten bored and wanted a change), the first entry was vibrant, more than one page long and really neat. Unfortunately, I tended to go downhill with it after that, maybe a couple of coloured gel pens, and not longer than a page long... yes it is shameful I admit... but I always have a nice front entry... so what I'm trying to say is, that it is very important to me, for this entry to be good.



For those interested, my name is Rochelle, but I'm more commonly known as Chelle, or Chelle Belle. I'm 22 years old and in my first year at the University of Canterbury, studying a Bachelor of Arts degree; double majoring in History and English. I also love to write fiction, and hope to become a published author one day. My interests, mainly involve horses, writing, reading, and listening to music. I've been horse riding since 1997, and am proud to own my three babies, Bailey, Evo and Honey. I also have a dog called Izzy, two cats Misty and Mikah, and one goldfish named Dougie.


The intent of this blog is purely to keep track of what's happening with my horses. As I have three horses, all with different stages of training and needs, I thought this would be a good idea. Also, after writing up a blog about Evo on my bebo account, a few friends thought a blog would be a good idea for me, what with being the writer I am and all, lol. So here it is... let's introduce these ponies of mine!


Meet Evolution aka Evo. He's a 16.1hh (estimated), dark bay NZ Standardbred gelding. He's by Caprock, out of Gliding Dawn, and currently 10yrs old. I've had the pleasure of owning Evo for the past year and a half, and many claim him to be my soulmate. He's been the first horse that I've started from scratch, although I've had some help along the way! Despite his inexperience, he'd do anything for me, and is super willing. I have to admit this blog will feature a lot about this boy, as he is my main riding horse, and is in training for his first ridden show next year, as well as a few inhand outings this year! My goals with Evo are to do dressage, and I'll elaborate more into them in my next blog!



This is Let's Go Dancin' aka Bailey. She's a 14.2hh, mahogany bay NZ Standardbred mare. She's by Cam's Trickster and out of Lady Module, and is currently 10years old. I've had the pleasure of owning Miss Bailey since she was almost five, when I adopted her from Equine Rescue. She's a difficult pony to ride, as she's very much an alpha mare. However, as much as I've grown to be too big for her, Bailey has got herself a few devoted fans who come and ride her. She was my first pony and naturally I'm very attached to her. Bailey's attitude can sometimes be less than desirable, and to be honest sometimes I get sad watching her potential waste because she 'doesn't want to be ridden' on that particular day. But she's a great friend, and I hope to eventually breed from her. But for now, she's a pleasure hack for some little girls, and I'm hoping to get her going better under saddle in the upcoming months!


And finally, this is my recent addition - Lovebug, aka Honey. She's a 15hh (estimated), dark chestnut NZ Standardbred mare. She's by Live or Die, and out of Ballroom Belle, and is currently four years old. I recently bought Honey and she's my new project for the upcoming spring weather, my good friend and I plan to back and start her under saddle. I already have some loose goals for this wee mare, mainly in the dressage ring, but she may just be the horse to get me back into jumping! We'll see as we progress... the main thing is, she is, like her name suggests, a complete honey, who's personality starts shining more and more as the days go by!



Well there you have it, my three ponies, who this blog is dedicated to! I'll be back shortly to introduce we're we are at with each pony, and what I'd like to achieve in the upcoming months! This will also provide a place for me to describe my feelings about my riding, as I'm the first to admit I have a lot of flaws, but unlike some, I work extremely HARD to make sure I'm getting passed my limitations!


Chelle x