The Journey to WEG 2010

Hi All

Sorry been a bit slack doing this lately but just seem to keep being late home I shall try to get onto it

Cheers

Sonja

BLOODY COMPUTERS

SUNDAY. 

Sorry everyone I started to write this this morning but obviously lost it.

By now no doubt many of you have heard that Jag had to be withdrawn from the competition.

Some where on course and I suspect it was fence 17a into the water he has driven a spike in through the front of his boot. The spike then punctured the skin and has actually entered the joint cavity.

This has set up an infection in the joint. Bear and Pottsy the team vets were amazing. They ralied around and got it all under control. Jag is now in the Rodd and Ridle vet clinic where he has had 2 operations in less than 12 hours. It is believed he will make a full recovery. Anyway I am pretty waked at the moment so shall add to all this tomorrow.

 

FOURTH AT THE END OF DRESSAGE FOR AUSTRALIA

Friday

Well the scores are very tight have a look at the EA website for them. Basically Jag and I did not do as good a job as planned. He has been going so well but decided to revert to his spooky ways in the ring. As a result I became a little defensive. The horses that scored are so naturally uphill and such fabulous types.

We are 34th after dressage on a 48. something.

However I am still (and I think no one would disagree) thinking that this is not going to be a dressage competition.

There are probably 14 fences that wont cause problems but the other 31 I think will all claim there victims. Don't think those 14 are give aways they are just the big single fences. Very big fences. The spectators are not allowed to walk on the track so I suspect they do not have a true understanding of the size of them.

So what do I do between now and 1.33pm tomorrow. Well the plan now is a BBQ which Sam Griffiths family have kindly organised followed by an early night where I shall run through the course in my head a number of times. If sleep is  alluding me (which I doubt) some suduko will solve that problem.

We are heading out to walk as a team at 7am. Then we wait. Thats the worst bit. I will no doubt watch the closed circuit a fair bit and probably go to sleep in the sun somewhere.

Then it will be onto the boy and do our absolute damnedest to go clear and under time. We can but only if I am totally focused and on the job. (and the gods of eventing are on our side)

Tonight is the dressage freestyle which I would love to watch but I am here to do a job. Mum and dad are watching I shall buy the video.

So tomorrow when I write his blog I aim to be feeling a whole lot better about myself.

Jag felt super today when we had a little pipe opener very fresh. I think he is as fit as he has ever been so by 1.44.14 tomorrow I shall have had my moment of truth!

CHeers

Sonja 

 A JOLLY GOOD START.

Thursday

Paul and Stuart got us off to a good start today with Australia currently in 2nd. Paul is 5th individually. Peter Atkins also ran today and is 35th individually.

Jag ran through the test with Harry and then a quick jump with Wayne. He enjoyed that. My test tomorrow is at 10.48.

During the day I walked the course twice trying to become very familiar with every little hill and turn (as well as the jumps of course).

This arvo EA put on a small party for our all important horse owners at the grounds which was great. Then we ducked back to our hotel and quickly cooked some meat on the BBQ. We are all so over American food.

Not much else to report now just want to go and have a long hot bath and think about riding beautifully, accurately and calmly on the most amazing black stock horse to produce the test of our lives.

Cheers

Sonja

WELL WE ALL PASSED TROT UP.

Well we have 6 hoers through to the dressage. Don't assume this is a given. Poor old France had one undergoing colic surgery last night and you would assume that as it is in the USA that they would trot 6 but no they lost one too - before they got to trot up.

Jag thought it was very scary as there were masses of cameras at the end of the strip. Of course that is a bit scary for inexperienced horses like him!

He worked well on the flat. One of the things with a Harry lesson is you count the "goods " you get. Well today for the first time ever Harry gave me a "perfect". Please let the judges agree and translate it to 10s.

Walked the course with Patch again and it is looking more jumpable which is a relief. 

Had arena familiarisation which was fine. 

The team has been announced. First out is Paul Tapner at 9.48 am tomorrow. ( thats 9.48 pm in WA) then Peter Atkins as an individual at a bit after 11am. Stuart is the teams 2nd rider on Thursday arvo.

Fridy sees Burto at 9am. First cab off the rank for the day as an individual. Then Jag fires at 10.48 (I think) for the team wit Sam anchoring us in the arvo.

In other news Bret is through to the freestyle in 9th after the special so that is super. Rachel  was great she just said he was a little green.

Tonight we just had an informal BBQ which was great.

Tomorrow we see not only our 3 guys in the eventing dressage but also the 2 reiners in the reining individual final.

And hopefully I will find my phone again.

Cheers

Sonja

WELL IT WONT BE A DRESSAGE COMP!

TUESDAY

Well after our normal morning jog for bear and lessons with Harry where even Harry told Jag he is a very good boy. We were finally able to walk the course. (in between watching some dressage)

Firstly to the dressage. Hayley had a _______ of a day. She was belled out for unsoundness after about the 3rd movement. Apparently he looked fine in warm up. If it helps at all she was not the only one. Parzival the 3rd of the Dutch horses was also belled out for blood on its mouth. Even so the strength of the Dutch in dressage is so great they still won the team. The Brits were 2nd and the Germans I believe just narrowly defeated the USA.

Australia has 2 riders in Bret and Rachel through to the Special which is great. 

In the reining we also had another rider qualify from today for the final so that gives us 2 riders into the individual.

Anyway on to the course. It is 11mins 14 secs on undulating ground. The going feels good at this stage.

Fences 1 - 4 are all big table top spreads. 5 is a dew pond type water jump. It is a rail in through the water to a rainbow trout back out of the water to a kingfisher. 6 is a parallel with not huge rails on it. 7 is tough. It  is a coffin complex with a hanging rail in to a step 1 stride down hill to a ditch then 3 up hill to a big brushed apex. You can go left or right hand. Either way it has an acute face on it.

8 is a wishing well with a right hand curve to a bank apex. 9ab is 2 angled hay feeders.

10 is the most beautiful log over a substantial ditch. 11 is just a rising box but it lands down hill to a double of corners on 2 strides at 12. 13 is a fort. you need real power to jump up out of it. The fences are brushed and not wide faced. 14 is a ukulele. 

15 is another hanging rail with a bounce on landing into a sunken road. 1stride across the sunken road and up out to a house type thing. 16 is a nice big ditch and brush.Then we get to the main water.

Situated at the side of the main arena it is tough enough. 17a is an angled brush over a gap off a drop into the water. Its then through the water to a step out and then a duck. After that you do a sweeping left hand turn to a set of birch rails set at the top of a step pinch down into the water. Turn left in the water and go to a Normandy bank which is water to water.

19 is another big table over a ditch. To give you some idea of width if a lay ontop of the fence I don't reach from front to back unless I stretch my arm forward so it is wider than I am tall.

20 is another apex. Interestingly it has no ground line at all. 21 is a hanging log down hill to 22 which is the 3rd water jump. 22 is a set of brushed birch rails into a dew pond back up out to a brushed skinny.

23 to 24 is 2 angled sheds. 25 is a house then just to stop us having even a remote thought that we are nearly home we have 26.

Wayne described it as the vicarage Vee times 3. You come down the hill a right angle left turn to a narrow brushed fence over a humdinger of a ditch with 3 forward strides to the same thing again. Its tough!.

27 is a bridge over a ditch and 28 is a fruit box.

anyway I will try and work out how to put up some photos of it all for you.

Tomorrow we have the official trot up at 9am. Australia has drawn 10th.

After that we shall be off to really start to come to grips with the course. The actual team will be announced after trot up and then we will know which day the wonderful Jag and i get to strut our stuff.

Mum and dad arrived safely today and looked very relaxed after their time in New England Great to have them here now.

So must to bed.

Cheers

Sonja 

 AUSTRALIAN DRESSAGE TEAM GOING GREAT

Today the first 2 Ozzie dressage riders strutted their stuff and were great. I believe as a team they are currently 7th. Rachel and Lyndal as the 2 dressage riders were the only 2 Ozzies competing today.

This morning I took Jag for a quick canter. The last 2 times up the track he did them along side his new girl friend Leilani. Basically as far as Jag was concerned he might think she is cute but she can just keep her head behind his if she is galloping alongside.

It was remarkably damp and cold today which is a bit of a shock after the heat. We all made a point of braving the weather to support the ozzies though. I speak from experience when I say it is great at the end of a test to see all the Australian flags waving.

Tonight we had a bit of a nibbles and drinks party for riders, owners and family here at the hotel which was good. It is so good to keep on getting to know the others and understand more about the different disciplines.

Tomorrow it starts to get serious as we have briefing at 9 and can then walk the course. We will try to watch Hayley and Brett but obviously course walks take priority. As Burto and I agreed today we really are getting to the stage where we want to get on with the job.

So tomorrow I shall aim to give you the first taste of the 2010 WEG XC course.

Cheers

Sonja

 

THE FIRST MEDLS ARE UP

The USA have started at the head of the medal table. The team gold for reining was expected to go to them so that is no surprise. What is great from Australias point of view is that we have 1 rider through to the top 15 and 1in the 16 - 30 group. Hopefully after the elimination final we will have 2 in the individual. As a team we finished 8th. Not bad for riding borrowed horses.

In the endurance I have not heard the final results but believe WA rider Norbert Radney was vetted out during the ride. This is a great shame as we only had 3 riders so will not finish a team. At the time I believe - but don't quote me that they were lying 21st, 22nd and 23rd.

Our 4 dressage riders all breezed through trot up. Apparently 2 horses were not accepted but dressage is different to eventing and they have another go at passing tomorrow. Lyndal is our first rider at about 12.40 then Rachel at 4.40 ( I think). Hayley will ride in 3rd position with Bret as the anchor man. Both these 2 will be on Tuesday. The top 30 will go through to the special and then the top 15 to the freestyle.

As for Jag he is being his normal Mr cool. Lesson with Harry went well. Tomorrow we are all having a canter. Only 12 horses a day are allowed on the gallop track so it is as well Rob was on the job early to get us booked in.

Sharon tells me Oddie is being good so she is happy. After Sharon and i had both finished working horses we went around the trade. Alltech the naming right sponsors are a big agricultural company. We had a quick look around their stand today but will explore further when dad gets here and my comp is over.

This evening Alltech had invited the riders to a cocktail party at Spindletop Hall. Now owned by Kentucky university it a HUGE mansion.

Built in 1935 it is the result of enormous oil wealth. The oil field in Kentucky produced over 340 000 barrels of oil PER ACRE per year. Now as a farmer I do understand talking in terms of yield per acre but must confess I have never before thought in terms of barrels per acre!

The food was great and we enjoyed the evening. So now I am tucked up in my bed for an early night.

Cheers

Sonja

AFTER THE OPENING 

Well the opening has come and gone. The athletes missed the first half of it while we waited to march. We mustered in the Para indoor where would you believe they actually fed us. A first I think at an opening. It was Pizza but it went down well.

Some of our Para riders can of course not march so they went in a golf buggy. Ours was great with flags all over it and a boxing kangaroo tied to the roof.

One of the best acts we watched was 10 Friesians doing a musical ride. However we had the most fun when Dan James came in. One of the Australian grooms knows Dan very well so we had a great time making comments about his tight pants. We are assured he is VERY good with a stock whip! 

I think it is Casey Chambers who came in and did her reining demo with no gear at all on the horse. It is a lovely thing to watch.

Dressage have trot up tomorrow so That will be them underway. Other than that after 2 reiners for each team our 2 are lying equal 17th and the team is 7th from  21 teams. Not bad as they are on borrowed horses.

So heres hoping that after tomorrow we have some successful performances on the board.

 

AND THE GAMES BEGIN 

Saturday

Competition is under way. The reining teams comp has started. Of interest to dressage fans. Anky was first out for Holland and scored 211 I believe.. They have 5 judges and video it all. The top and bottom score are dropped and if the judges disagree they look at it on the video. Each competitor starts with 70 and that is added to and subtracted from with each movement.

I believe the first Australian gained 210. We will have one more from each country today and then 2 more tomorrow. If memory serves me correctly the top 15 go straight through to individual while 15 - 30 have an elimination round from which 5 go through to the final. However don't quote me on that.

Endurance had their trot up this morning. It appeared they had 6 lanes of trot up operating at the same time. I haven't herd how ours went but I don't believe they were worried. It was done on a sand arena.

Today we had our first lessons with Harry. Jag continues to be a good boy. It is however difficult as we only get 15 min of arena time per horse which is not a lot of time for a lesson. We could not have a decent arena today just some out the back where they have put sand on the grass. Thank goodness Jag is used to the paddock.

The weather today is super clear but not hot. I believe the rain is returning tomorrow till Wednesday.

With the opening tonight we shall all head off to that. I am sure it will be a good show.

Anyway want to catch a nap now as it may get late but I shall try and add to this after the opening.

Cheers

Sonja

 

RAIN GLORIOUS RAIN

Friday

Well after all the heat, this afternoon it decided to rain. A decided blessing as it will not only help to settle the dust it will hopefully soften our hateful training gallop track and it cooled it down. All a bonus.

So the day started as per normal with trot up followed by a dressage session with Wayne. Jag seemed to think he shouldn't bother to start with but once I convinced him he did have to do some work he was a good boy. As we have so little time in the arena I never really get to see the others work.

After work was over Nat and I went off exploring to find white saddle cloths. My plain white saddle cloths at home did not look great so I decided before I left home that as we were only allowed to bring 75kg of luggage per horse that I would get new ones here. BAD mistake. Everything in America is super size. Including saddle cloths. Jag of course is not super sized so unless I want it in his flank I am in trouble. So I am now frantically trying to get Europa to send me some over with Jags favourite vet Michael Procter.

The joys of it all.However it was fun. Nat and I were on bikes which as I have mentioned are not my natural environment. I am fine if the road is clear but not so good if clutter exists. Nat was in hysterics as I bounced off cars left right and centre.

After this I went and sat and watched some reining training. Just happened by luck that Anky was training while I was there. I really done understand it yet but it was good to watch. Should the horses in the spin go around the hind leg or the middle? I have just realised the spin is actually done in trot in front as they have to keep one front leg on the ground at all times. Anyway very interesting and I am sure the riders stand will be packed with dressage riders when Anky competes.

So lessons with Harry tomorrow and the opening ceremony so slowly we come closer to the pointy end of the trip. Bring it on!

Cheers

Sonja

FUN IN THE SUN

Thursday

Well the day started as normal except I didn't hear my alarm. Very embarrassing. However I did make it from my phone ringing to the van in 3 minutes! Yes I was dressed. Nat thought that might make me in not such good form for the day but as I said to her that is actually pretty normal for me at home.

We trotted up then headed up to school. Jag was a very good boy. He was soft and really light. As Wayne said Harry will crank it several gears yet but all is good for now. So while the others kept schooling I wanted to hack Jag but we are not allowed to go hacking unless we take a steward. (apparently we may take our horses to look at the jumps.) So we headed back to one of the big communal arenas where the dressage riders tend to be which is always very interesting.

It just so happened Lyndal was there getting ready for a lesson so we had a pleasant walk and chat. Lyndals horse is much bigger than he looks but he just looks really athletic. Lyndal was really pleased with him as he was being so relaxed even when an endurance rider fell off and the horse galloped past.

The rest of the reiners arrive today so I will get down to watch them.

After I had worked Jag and we and finished with him Nat, Sharon and I headed of to explore the venue on bikes. Unfortunately the exhibition on loan from one of the Arab countries was not yet open but we still enjoyed looking around.

There is  big exhibition of the horse which seems to encompass many breeds some of which I hadn't heard of before.

The trade does not seem as big as at Aachen and of course there is more Western stuff than at Aachen. We did find one amazing boot shop. They will tailor boots for you. You can even choose your material. They can offer you 3 different cow hides, alligator skin or even boa constrictor skin. It was pretty wild.

From there we headed to the Makers Mark bourbon tent to have a look see. It is the VIP tent and amazing. There is a Rolex stand and a stand that sells the most beautiful furs. It appears that in the cost of the ticket you get all the food and drink included. It really looked fun. We sorted of agreed that if we could just get those medals they would be the only VIP tickets we would need. Another incentive ...... as if I need more.

Finally I decided to come back to the hotel courtesy of the dressage guys. The rest of the guys were in the pool so Sharon and I joined them for a game of water polo. Great fun. 

Anyway thats about it for now so will catch you all later

Cheers

Sonja

PS I have often said my friends are awesome but Julie Mcwhirter takes the cake today. Sharon and I are sitting on my bed and had just rung our great friend and sponsor Nikki Brooks of Brookleigh Equestrian Estate back in WA. Nikki was in New York at the time so that was great to catch uo. As we had enjoyed talking to Nikki so much we thought lets use Skype to ring another good friend Julie McWhirter back home in WA. Only problem was it was 4am.

Sorry Julie we love you! 

AND THEN THERE WERE SIX

Today Peter Atkins arrived into camp. Other than that Stuart Chris and I all had a jump then Paul joined us for a hack. All up Jag worked for a bit over 2 hours.

It has been hot today and continues hot up to this Saturday. No doubt it will pour for the opening which would be sad for the organisers.

In the arvo it was more time in the gym and pool before a shopping expedition with the grooms.

Megan is coming back on Monday to join us so it will be good to see her again.

Tomorrow we will all have a bit of a schooling session and I am hoping to go and meet the reiners who have started to arrive. I think it will be interesting to watch them a little.

Nat tells me the food in the athlete and grooms area is very good so that is a bonus.

Anyway cant think of much else to tell you now so 

Cheers

Sonja

DARN, DARN AND DOUBLE DARN.

(OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT)

Tuesday

By now no doubt many of you may have heard the eventing teams very bad news that the wonderful Jester became unwell on the flight over. As a result he will not be lining up for us. The advice is he will be fine but not in time and as the welfare of our wonderful equine partners is everyones main concern he will stay in LA until returning home.

This will certainly mean we all have to work even harder to win the team competition but on the other hand it probably makes the individual easier to win! Megan and Jester are such a competitive combination we will really miss them. My sympathies to Megan and all her supporters.

On a brighter note Happy Times and Inonothing arrived today. Both horse looked like ours on arrival. In need of a good drink. Happy really does have the most beautiful head. Inonothing didn't seem to keen on taking his out of his lunch to speak to us.

Jag had a good hack around today. He ended up hacking out for 1 hour 30. Mostly walk but also trotting up an OKish hill. He enjoyed it but wanted to show any other horse that was going faster that he could beat them to the top. Burto and Stuart both schooled theres. Jag gets very bored if he schools to often. Once Harry gets here there will be heaps of time for that. For now we will concentrate on the fitness.

For those of you that don't know our trot up is on Wednesday next week at 9am. After that the actual team will be announced. The team is 4 riders and the other 2 run as individuals.

On the Tuesday we are able to walk the course instead of just sticky beaking as we hack past. Thursday and Friday are dressage with xc Saturday and Show Jumping on Sunday.

Mum and Dad have arrived safely in Boston and are on there fall colours tour before coming on down on the 28th.

Have a look at  this link on the EA website. It is Hammish Cargill and Dave Cameron's humorous but informative TV guide to WEG. The one called up in the air is the best video on flying horses I have seen. You will even see Jag looking very show pony black. The 2 blokes are coming over so will be doing updates to the site on a regular basis.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/EquestrianAUS 

 Another spot to watch is obviously the EA national site and also the site AN eventful Life which has bits from lots of different WEG people popping up.

Any way off to the hated Gym now then I think a swim is the order of the day.

Cheers

Sonja

THE UK BASED RIDERS ARE HERE.

Monday

Well finally Sam Griffiths and Paul Tapner have arrived to join us. There horses will not be here until tomorrow but we hear they are well in Quarantine under the care of assistant vet Graham Potts or Pottsy as he is known to us.

Also arriving today were Hayley and Lyndal Oatlys horses who both look very well. Great to catch up with Hayley.

With people arriving all the time it is difficult to get a car to go off exploring now so after our normal trot up and flat work for the horses we came back to the hotel. Burto, Sharon Jarvis of the para team and I sat in the spa with Brett Parbury firing questions at him about his days as a Bronc rider on the USA rodeo circuit. It was really interesting. His affection for the bronc horse was very evident.

As Sam and Paul only arrived late we ordered in Pizza and sat around and ate those. 

Tomorrow the main thing apart from working ours will be the safe arrival of the horses. Now they are allocating arenas we have drawn a hot time at 1.15 pm but we will still trot up as per normal. Harry Boldt arrives Friday so on Saturday we will get serious with the dressage.

The other thing of interest today was watching Tortillas work. His transitions are breath taking. Tomorrow we are going with Brett to watch him work so that should be very interesting.

An amusing part of watching people work is looking at what they are all wearing. Apparently working in black top boots is just NOT ON. They need to be brown! Saddle cloths and bandages must match and jods and shirts must all tone in. Thank goodness Greg at Europa saddlery manages to keep me and Jag so well turned out or I would feel right out of it. 

Cheers

Sonja

 

NOT MUCH TO REPORT

Well a pretty quiet day in Kentucky for us all today. Left the Hampton Inn at 8 and headed via our normal morning stop at Starbucks then straight out to the horses for an 8.30 trot up.

Rob had booked us an arena from 9.30 to 10.30. (Due to the number of competitors wanting to use arenas you have to book time. Unfortunately some countries get pretty greedy so as of Tuesday we are allocated arena time. Problem with this is it may mean working in the middle of the day. The forecast is for it to get hotter so this is not great for the horses.) 

Today for the first time we were able to actually school them. Jaguar the professional was his normal delightful self. After about 30 mins schooling it was our hack around the track before putting them away for the day. 

Rob has purchased fans for all the horses. Jag things this is as it should be. Nat puts his feed in front of the fan and he stands there with his head in front of it. Every so often he turns around and backs up to it! He is such a dude.

One of the great things about these trips is getting to meet people from other disciplines. Tonight we ate with Racheal Sanna who I met at Aachen WEG and Lyndle Oatley and Bret Parbury who I hadn't. They are both great fun. It is really good to chat to them about what they have been up to. Hayley flies in tomorrow with hers and Lyndals horse.

Nat sore Tortillas standing around today and her impression is he is tiny. I asked Bret if it is OK for us to watch his lessons with Edward which he said is just fine so that will be really interesting. Funny isn't it that Bret has actually lived in the USA doing Rodeo. Now that is one dressage rider no one can call stuffy.

Tomorrow Sam and Paul arrive with there horses coming in the next day.

Anyway think that is about it so catch you next time.

Cheers

Sonja

 OH THE JOYS OF BEING FIRST

Normally I just love being first however I am not sure being first into the event site is such a great idea. It means we are the crash test dummies that find out all the problems.

There is no doubt the organisers want to run a great games its just they don't seem to have given to much info away to the people on the gates.

Yesterday Rob our esteemed team manager was told we couldn't ride on the steeplechase track we had to go another way to get to the hacking. So being good people, that is what we tried to do. The only problem is they hadn't told the people at the gate that! All very boring really.

Other than that everything is good. Jag is very well and seems to have a number of fans from the endurance fraternity in various countries. At first we thought it was Nats legs they liked as they kept asking the grooms if they were the one with the black horse. However after they started turning up at his stable to take photos we realised it was Jag not Nat!

I must say thank goodness for Show pony dye as even while we were hacking lots of people were saying what a beautiful black horse. He really does gleam at the moment. Mind you we had a mild panic as the vets were putting in the drips for fluids all the horses got on arrival as we worried the alcohol would take all his colour out but no it wasn't a problem. Lets hope the judges also think he is a very beautiful black horse.

It will certainly help keep him on top form as he is now back on his Mitavite Formula 3 and eating like a pig. I thought this morning he had put weight on and was very pleased when Bear made exactly the same comment.

it was a light day of work again after the vaccinations but hopefully tomorrow we can step it all up.  

After we jogged the horses up and hacked them out. Burto and I headed of to find the gallop track. It was really very funny as it is a standing joke that I can not ride a bike. Its just one of those things I skipped over in my childhood. However under patient tutelage from Burto and much laughter from Nat I have now ridden around on the bike for 2 days. I don't have time to worry as in between keeping my balance and not riding on the wrong side of the road I seem to be doing quite well. As there are plenty of undulations it is even helping my fitness.

Mind you with this rotten cold it doesn't take much to make me puff. The cold of course is causing me some entertainment as I really need to get it out of my lungs ASAP. However human drug testing is the next issue. So of I head to the chemist with my little ASAD card. The chemist was very confident "oh this will be fine" so I took it and then headed straight to my computer to check them out. They were correct so it was down with the pills and then a good sleep.

The grooms are all planning on heading to a university grid Iron game tonight. I would love to go but think an early night would be more sensible. There will be plenty of time to play after the comp once we have our medals and Australia is qualified for London 2012.

Cheers

Sonja

 

DON'T YOU LOVE FREIGHT COMPANIES

Friday 

Well the horses arrived and our gear which was supposed to accompany them didn't. Brett Mace our chief de mission keep trying to track it down and eventually we discovered it had arrived in Ciannati at 6 am and then disappeared.

Later 1 of 4 crates was located back in Atlanta. I ask you. The other 3 crates were just sitting there. With what I imagine was a fair bit of kicking and screaming from Brett 3 pallets arrived at about 9pm sat night.

I was lucky my saddles turned up. Stuarts didn't! However by about 1 this arvo all the gear was finally located.

In the morning we all took our horses for a hack around the venue. The ground where it is not watered is really hard but the arenas at walk felt good. We all only walked as it is 5 days since the horses have been worked. Nat also had him out in hand for 2 hours walking and grazing during the day.

Jag has decided Burtos horse is very gorgeous and is very sad if she goes away. Other than that he is very happy and eating and drinking well.

Later in the day we went for a bit of an explore around the venue. The Man of war memorial is super. What a horse only beaten once in his racing career.

This evening we picked up all the grooms and headed into Lexington for Thai which was very pleasant.

Now I must grab some sleep before the morning. It will again be a quiet day tomorrow as the horse had to be vaccinated with Nile River Virus and Eastern and Western Encephalitis. It is suggested a quiet day after that. Very few horses react to it but we will all be cautious.Any way bye for now

Cheers

Sonja

 

WELL THE PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED

 

Well finally I am in Kentucky even if Jag is not.

The horse which included the 4 eveners, the 4 para horses 1 dressage horse and a NZ evener all flew out of Sydney via Hong Kong and Anchorage. Bear as we call our team vet (Dr Denis Goulding) flew with our horses.

The first port of call in the states was LA so they then have to do 2 days quarantine there before flying down to Kentucky. On the flight to LA they were in pallets with 2 to each pallet. Jag shared with Vettori. Apparently Vettori wouldn't go on so Jag went first and Vettori then decided it wasn't so bad.

The people flew out of Sydney at 2pm on Tuesday and arrived 21 hours of flying later in George Town (near the horse park where we are staying at the Hampton Inn)

The grooms including the wonderful Nat Hibbert who is looking after Jag are staying in caravans on site. I believe the showers are a bit basic but she seems to be surviving.

Today after a sleep in we went shopping for things like buckets and brooms etc as it is cheaper to buy them here than freight them over. We also organised bedding and feed.

Jag is on paper. We were amused when we realised it was shredded bibles!

As for feed my wonderful sponsors Mitavite have shipped over all the Formula 3 Jag needs for the time here. It is so great when you can just keep them on a product they are doing so well on.

I also have my Advanced feeds joint Helper and Vit E with me. At his age his joints really do benefit and after a long trip where he will have had no excercise from Monday to Friday a bit of security to help stop him tying up is a big bit of piece of mind.

Jag will arrive if all goes to plan at about 1pm tomorrow as should all our gear. Then he shall be off for a good walk as we slowly build his work up.

As for the venue it is slowly coming together. The XC course is a ribbon of green across the paddocks as it is quite dry at the moment but the XC is irrigated.

The arenas look good. From driving past it seems to be a similar surface to HK and Jag liked that so that is good.

Anyway cant think of much else to tell you all now. I will try to keep this up to date for you all and get some photos on it for you soon

Cheers

Sonja

 

 

 

My friends are doing a great job.

So while I am over here what are the rest of the team up to.

Well it seems everyone is going great guns.

Jess and Pierre went very well at Wooroloo and she is planning on giving him his first PN run soon. Tegan and Mojo are also planning on a PN run at Narrogin this weekend while Jackie and Windy went Show jumping and she was a very good girl at what was her first show jumping comp.

JAG SET TO COLLECT MORE FREQUENT FLYERS!

So its official. The team is announced and Jag is off to Kentucky. This will mean he will have competed on every continent in the world. What a brilliant old man he is.

He will I am sure be delighted to be on another trip with his good friend Jester and I am sure the black and white pair will take great delight in renewing there friendship.

At the moment he is staying at Shane Rose and Niki Chapmans Bimbadeen Park and is stabled next to his other old friend All Luck. Lucky may be retired but it is a very luxurious retirement and he and Jag often stand there discussing the world or so it seems.

We will stay at Bimbadeen Park until Wednesday the 8th before heading into SIEC for a team gallop on the 8th and training camp from then till we fly out on the 13th of September from Sydney.

The horses go via Hong Kong and Anchorage in Alaska. They then quarantine in LA for 3 days before flying down to the Kentucky horse park. Riders and grooms fly on the 14th  straight to Kentucky and then we just chew our finger nails waiting for our horses.

The English based horses don't arrive until the 19th of September.

So fingers crossed all is on track!

 

Thank goodness for friends

One of the big problems with going away is what to do with all the other competition horses.

This year Sonja will have horses all over the place.

If Jag does go Ben will most likely be left at Bimbadeen Park with Shane Rose and Niki Chapman. Ben has stayed here regularly and he finds it a very good place. There is lots going on to entertain him but there is green grass and safe fencing to contain him.

Parkiarrup Loire is staying at Kojonup in WA with Simon and Rebecca Bell who own Belfast Mojito. Rebecca would like to get back to ridding but as she and Simon are both vets with 4 children Bec needs something that copes if it has time off. Loire is so straight forward she will do this and she is much better off staying with 2 vets and getting some work that sitting in the paddock.

Meanwhile Mojo (Belfast Mojito) is staying with Tegan Lush at Woodanilling near Kojonup. Tegan is on the national YR squad and has an amazing young 3 star horse. Tegan is going to do a number of events on Mojo while Sonja is away so that he can run CIC* at Brookleigh as soon as Sonja gets home.

Parkiarrup Windrush is staying in Perth with Jackie Sept. Jackie is Jennifer Lucas (our farm sitters granddaughter). Jackie is also the owner of Windys mum. Jackie is aiming to get her out and about for Sonja so next year she is ready to kick on.

Meanwhile Parkiarrup Pierre is staying with Jess Manson (also on national YR squad). Jess has Pierre coming along well and again he will be ready to fire for Sonja next year.

To round it all off Loire, Pierre and Windys dad The TB stallion Future Options will be back at Oakford Equine hospital acting as there teaser for the season and standing at stud. Meanwhile Parkiarrup Perigrine who is still entire (what do you do if you get a super tempered well bred black colt) is staying with Jennifer's daughter Fenella just down the road.

It is the help of people like all of these friends that is of incalculable assistance in keeping every thing on track while Sonja is away. Thank you to them all. 

 

 

 

 

Jag and Ben both named on Squad

Well the 2010 list of nominated entries has been released. Much to Sonjas delight she has 2 horses listed in the 14 horses named.

Obviously the mighty Jaguar is the front runner for her to take to WEG but it is great to have the back up of Ben (Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison).

Sonja and Phoebe will leave home on the 19th of August to do the 4 day drive to Sydney.

Both horse will run at Sydney in the 4* test event which is being held especially for the WEG contenders and is a compulsory start.

Dressage is Friday XC saturday and show jumping Sunday. All horses will then be vet checked before the team is announced on the 1st of September.

After that Sonja and the boys with good friend Nicole dark will stay on in Sydney untill camp commences on the 8th of September.

The horse will depart on the 13th of September from Sydney. On the plane will be the Para horses, Any dressage horses from Australia and any event horses.

The horses fly to Los Angeles and spend 3 days there in quarantine. They then fly on down to Kentucky.

The English based horses arrive on the 19th.

Opening is on the 25th of September with trot up on the29th. ( Phoebes Birthday)

After the Eventing finishes if Sonja does get there she aims to stay and support great friend Sharon Jarvis in the para dressage.

Dan and Phoebe will both be coming over while family friend Jennifer Lucas farm sits.