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HOW NOT TO DO MELBOURNE 3 DAY

 

OR MELBOURNE 3 DAY ON CRUTCHES!

 

Pre Melbourne CCI 2011 I was asked as last years winner to do a quote to help promote the event.

 

I remember it went something along the lines of how it would be different for me this year as no JAGUAR.  But how I was looking forward to coming over with Nikki Brooks of Brookleigh Equestrian Estates Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison and Simon and Rebecca Bells Belfast Mojito. What I didn’t realise at the time was just how different it was going to be as I was on crutches.

 

As many of you will know from previous blogs I sort of wrecked my pelvis back on the 12^th of April. It is  (I think) coming along nicely however my surgeon condemned me to 2 crutches until at least the 28^th of June.

 

Some people would have been smart and stayed away from a major 3 day at this stage but the Johnson family had enough reasons to go that we did anyway. Pity my poor mother who had to look after me and dad (he had a mild stroke on the 4^th of April) .

 

I think the main reason mum and dad decided to go was for Christmas I had bought them tickets to Love Never Dies the sequel to Phantom of the Opera of which we are all great fans.

 

This was organised for the Wednesday before trot up. Originally I wasn’t going to go but once I wasn’t competing the opportunity was too good to miss. Would I recommend it? Well I am glad I went but wont be rushing back. The set was fabulous but my old choir mistress would have been very disappointed with the diction. There are also chronological failures between it and the film that annoyed me. However no more on that as I will ruin the plot.

 

So because we had tickets for that we decided to come anyway as my working pupil Ben Leahy was competing on Le Directeur in the 2*.

 

Being a bit keen on theatre and not having access to much of it in Albany we then booked tickets to Dr Zhivago on the Thursday night. We were disappointed when Anthony Warlow was not singing but his understudy was good. The set was quite dark and simple but the show was simply BRILLIANT. I would happily go again at the drop off a hat.

 

Music was super, voices powerful, diction excellent. My only complaint was the seats, but then I am very fussy about seats at the moment!

 

Hence mum, dad and I had a very enjoyable period of culture. Not that we were the only ones as Ben and his family all went to circus de solei. Ben was sent as a learning experience to look at timing rhythm etc and also because a bit of culture never hurts anyone. Mind you he has begged me not to buy the music from what we went to see. Bad luck Ben!

 

Anyway on with the competition.

 

WA had a small contingent there. There was Paula Caplehorn and Tegan Lush in the CCI***, both doing there first 3* CCI. Ben and Mikayla Woods in the 2*. It was Mikaylas 2^nd or 3^rd CCI** but Ben’s first and only his 4^th 2* of any description. Then we had Mikayla and Nat HIbbert in the CCI*.

 

Tegan is only 21 and lives about 2 hours from us so I have been her mentor for a long time. Paula works for my wonder vet Michael Procter of Oakford Equine hospital so is also part of the Parkiarrup Vet team. Hence these 2 were both keen to use my experience.

 

Poor Paula did not have a great weekend as her car broke down on the way over just West of Ceduna so about 20 hours driving from Melbourne and she had to organise a horse transporter to bring her and Ben’s horse on to Werribee. Paula was happy with her test and coped well in the atmosphere.

 

Unfortunately she was jumped of on XC so that was the end of Paula’s competition.

 

Tegan had a better weekend. Her horse Tempus Fugit is only 7. Tegan picked him up off the track and has produced him herself. Murphy as we call him can be tense so we were very pleased with his attitude in the ring. Tegan did a great job to keep it all calm. The score had her mid field but we were all really pleased with the job they both did..

 

After XC Tegan was very disappointed in her self as she was nearly a minute over time but as I said to her I couldn’t care a less. I am so much happier that she rode quietly with control rather than fanging like a lunatic. It made it so much better as a learning experience for her horse. When they are that young it is so much better to go steady rather than fry them.

 

Show jumping Tegan had just one rail, which was no disgrace. So at the end of it,

 all, a happy Tegan, with a clear idea of what to work on. To me this is the most important thing for young combinations.

 

Something I seem to surround my self with is over achievers. I am lucky enough to have 3 very special young people in my life.  All have them have dedication, determination and ability. There is Tegan, Jess Manson who won the Trans Tasman YR in NZ last year and then there is Ben.

 

Ben of course is living with us as my working pupil. Only 18, Ben has only been riding for about 5 years. OK he is a natural athlete having been offered a scholarship in soccer with a professional team but to be at a 2* CCI within 5 years of riding and only having got a decent horse recently. It is I think pretty impressive.

 

I think Ben has now stopped planning how to slit his wrists as the final result could have been so much better but I was very proud of him.

 

After dressage he was =4^th. Christoph Hess gave him three 9s in the test and an 8 for riding. WOW was I pleased.

 

Then XC he rode a super round, clear and under time.

 

Next morning Le Directeur looked very happy and breezed through trot up. Unfortunately show jumping was not so great. Ben had never jumped indoors in that sort of atmosphere. As he was aware time was tight he became a little keen and lost the balance. The result dropped him to 16^th. Poor Ben he was devastated but being of the mind set he is he had with in half an hour text me a message which was an excellent analysis of where it had gone wrong and how we would work to fix it. So the end result was not what it might have been but an excellent example of the highs and lows of eventing.

 

Mikayla mean while had been lying 5^th into show jumping but 4 rails dropped her to 12^th. Never mind. She is also young and achieved the Qualification she was after.

 

In the 1* Mikayla and Nat both gained their Qualification so that was super.

 

So basically a good weekend for us all. No ribbons but that’s eventing and the great thing about our sport is you don’t have to win at these levels to learn. To me at these levels for these YR that is what it is about.

 

We are now lucky enough to be on a plane heading home. Luck was with us, and the ash cloud stayed away so we could fly.

 

I didn’t do much shopping at the very good trade section but do have a lovely new hatpin from EJ&Co who of course sponsored the event.

 

I also have a portable Haygain steamer to complement my large Haygain steamer I use at home.

 

The Haygain is a fabulous invention that you pop a bale of hay in and then using only 7 litres of water to do a bale it steams the bale. This kills all the mould, fungus, bacteria etc that is in the hay. It also gets rid of the dust.

 

This significantly improves my horses’ respiratory health. The horses really enjoy it and they waste much less of the hay. It also smells good and I feel as if I am being extra nice to my horses on a cold night when I feed them the hay after it has cooled enough to not burn but is still warm. Its rather like a mug of hot chocolate for feel good factor.

 

Should you be thinking of buying something like this when I researched it I appears the crucial thing is that the hay is taken to 100 degrees C or else it will not kill all the bugs.

 

Also be careful as the outside can get VERY hot and always open carefully as steam can burn (as Ben discovered)

 

So now the excitement is over, when we get home I am off to catch up with Sharon Jarvis who of course is keeping Nikkis Illicit Liaison in work for us to watch her work him, her own Oddie and Michael Procters lovely new imported Sandro Hit stallion Showdown before we head home tomorrow hoping to goodness it will rain soon.

 

Boredom here I come sitting around until I see my surgeon at the end of the month and am I hope allowed to start my rehab so I can soon get back on and get serious about coming over to Adelaide.

 

Cheers for now

 

Sonja

 .

 

 

MOORA CNC

 

I must say I felt a little despondent on the 6^th of May when Ben boy jumped in our truck, loaded up 4 horses and headed off to Moora. I didn’t begrudge him. I just wanted to be going to.

 

Ben had Ollie in the 2* and much to my delight took the lead after dressage. Unfortunately Ben’s reaction times are not yet as quick as we need as he is so inexperienced. This was only his 4^th 2* and a silly glance off dropped him to 6^th. As I keep telling him. You learn from your mistakes!

 

Arcas and Ulysses were good. Both clear and under time XC while Bruce’s over active imagination resulted in a couple of spooky stops but we were still please.

 

Meanwhile Jess and Edward finished on their dressage score.  Jess has decided to go PN on him at Brigadoon in 2 weeks time so that is great.

 

Jess also finished 2^nd in the 2* so that was good.

 

I believe Moora did a great job with aerating the ground and the course certainly sounded as if it asked plenty of Questions.

 

Mojito did not go as he is back at his owners Simon and Rebecca Bells place while he waits for me to recover and Ben pony didn’t go as he is not going to Werribee so he can also just wait for me.

 

After Moora Ben boy stayed on in Perth for a Wayne Roycroft clinic. He may no longer be national coach but there are many people in WA (including me) who really respect his teaching and knowledge. The great thing about him not being national coach is we get to see more of him.

 

 

WAYER @ BROOKLEIGH

 

Well while I was lying in Hospital Ben boy, Jess Manson and Tegan Lush took a collection of the Parkiarrup team to the Wayer @ Brookleigh CIC.

 

Ben Boy ran Ollie in the 2* and achieved his qualification to go to Werribee to do the 2* which was great. Ulysses and Arcas both went clear XC to do a respectable PN run while Bruce didn’t go as it only went to Prelim.

 

Meanwhile Jess had Edward in the Prelim where he gained valuable experience and was a good boy while Tegan Lush rode the lovely Mojito to win the CIC** from start to finish.

 

Tegan also won the CIC*** on her own Tempus Fugit.

 

So a good weekend for all involved with the team.

 I AM  BORED

 

Sorry I have been quite so remiss in keeping this updated, life has as per normal been a bit silly.

 

The competition year started well enough with Ben Leahy my wonder working pupil and I heading off to some show jumping days where Ben pony (Illicit Liaison) excelled him self winning a C&D grade a D grade and a 1.30m class while Belfast Mojito (who belongs to Simon and Rebecca Bell from Kojonup) also went very well with a number of wins and seconds at D grade.

 

Our first ODE was Capel, which is near Bumbury. Between us we took 8. I had 4 and Ben 4.

 

Ben pony won the CNC** from start to finish on his dressage score while Mojito ran a good 4^th also on his dressage score. I also had Ignore Me for my good friend Jackie Sept in the 2* while Jackie was in Italy for a holiday…lucky thing.

 

My 4^th ride was a really cute new one we call Parkiarrup Edward. (see my horses) who had his first run at Prelim. He is so cute and I had a ball on him. He was way to green to be competitive in a good prelim field but we had fun!

 

Ben boy meanwhile had what was only his 2^nd 2* start on Ollie. I was happy with them but Ben is the sort that will only be happy when he finishes on a dressage score of 0!

 

Ben also had 2 young ones there. Ringwould Ulysses and Wrestwood Arcas. Both Ran in the PN. Ulysses went clear XC while Arcas had 1 stop XC. Not to bad considering Ulysses came to us from his owners and breeders Jim and Gussie Saunders in mid January while Arcas came from Owners and breeders Sir Harry and Lady Mallet at the beginning of February. Basically neither horse had done much so it has been a great experience for Ben starting to produce young horses.

 

Ulysses is actually a very pretty nearly palomino ASH who’s grandsire is Jaguars sire and gosh can he move. (have a look at horses for sale)

 

Ben also rode Parkiarrup Notorious. Bruce as he is called at home has the most amazing jump. He can move BUT he has an over active imagination! I suspect Bruce will spend most of the year in Intro but once he becomes confidant I really think he will fly.

 

So after Capel everything kept pottering along until the 4^th of April had a mild stroke.  As far as strokes go we have been very lucky. No paralysis or speech problems dad just can’t see left. Hopefully this will improve but if you go to shake hands with dad and he doesn’t take your hand, forgive him. He can’t see it.

So that was Monday. Tuesday the following week I proceeded to decide that one invalid in the family was nit enough. My dear little Edward stumbled. He didn’t even fall but in the process I dislocated my pelvic synthesis and fractured my pelvis in 2 places. Let me tell you it hurt.

 

So with the help of some fabulous people in Albany and WAIS I was flown to Perth on the 15^th of April (please always support the Royal Flying Doctor service. They are essential to us in the country) and had my pelvis screwed back together on the 18^th.

 

I was unable to come home as poor mum had to get all the ewes that were due to start lambing on the 1^st of May broken up into lambing groups and inoculated. Fortunately for us we have some amazing friends. Ben boys dad, Brendon and sister Naomi, along with great friend Rebecca Blyth and daughter Bianca plus Chanelle Condren all rallied around and spent Easter helping mum solve the problem. The generosity of some people can never be repaid..

 

So on the 30^th of April mum was able to escape to Perth and get me. It was so good to be home.

 

I am to see the surgeon on the 17^th of May (yes I am counting the sleeps) when I hopefully go from no weight bearing allowed in my right leg and 2 crutches to 1 crutch and partial weight bearing.  This would be a huge bonus as I could then at least help mum a little around the house.

 

Mum is amazing. She has both farms to run plus neither dad nor I can drive so mum has to do it all. Ben boy is happy to help but is currently away for a week. Come home soon Ben!

 

So Ben boy is trying to keep the horses ticking over with some horse off with friends. Mum appears to be keeping her head above water while Dad and I are trying to recover.

 

 

Anyway I shall try and keep you all up to date with the horses and family progress.

Cheers

Sonja

 

 Jaguar is home.

I’m afraid this report covers quite a long period.  A very busy period.. Sharon Jarvis and I with help from our friend (local farmer Rebecca Blyth) went to Sydney to pick up our horses on the 28^th of November. We then drove them home over the next 4 days.

 

Jag was well but light on after his injury in Kentucky. He was very pleased to be home just not so pleased to see me. He was quickly back into eating all his Mitavite and has now put on a heap of weight and looks much better.

 

Jag is doing some light work giving young friends the odd ride where he is very much teaching them how it should be. (according to the gospel of Jag anyway)

 

Ben (Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison) also came home as he had been spelling at Shane Rose and Niki Chapman’s Bimbadeen Park. He looks the best he ever has. I left directions for him to be “made fat”. They certainly did a great job of it. He lived on his Formula 3 and Power on and has never looked as good.

 

Having got the horses home my new working pupil Ben Leahy arrived to start his year with me.

 

December passed in a whirl of starting to get horses fit and farm work. We had a 300 ewe AI program to get through just before Christmas as well as all the other rams to get in.

 

After a quiet Christmas I flew to Tasmania on Boxing day and coached down there with one day off until returning to WA on the 5^th of Jan. I leave for Sydney on the 11^th for Shane and Nikis wedding then I will observe t the George Morris clinic before flying home to do 3 days coaching in Perth..

 

Our first comp for the year is a dressage comp in Albany on the 22-23 where Ben and I will take 6 horses between us. It is a nice close comp as it is only 1 hour away.

 

Following that I have my one weekend home between now and the end of June. However I shall be busy as we need to get the rams back out then and there is an awful lot of fencing to be done out the other farm.

 

Having sold a heap of horses through 2010 I am also in the process of hunting down some more. However the team is still looking good.

 

Nikki Brooks horse Ben (PIL) is heading the team and is a horse, which I just so enjoy. He is the main plan for London. Backing Ben up is Simon and Rebecca Bells Belfast Mojito. A really nice Australian stock horse that I have very high hopes for. I am hoping he will be Bens back up for London.

 

Parkiarrup Loire and Windrush are coming along behind that. Both home bred. Loire is 1* and 6 while Windrush is 5 and about to go Pre Novice.

 

My working pupil Ben has my old (10) Le Directeur and a relative of Jaguars to ride as well as a very well bred horse Wrestwood Argus for the Mallets. So that is the basis of his team.

 

We are planning on bringing Ben Mojito and Le Directeur at the least across to Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide 3 Days and if anything else is ready we will take it as well.

 

So a full year is ahead but plenty of opportunities and fun along the way is, I think in store.

EQUITANA

 

26th November

 

What a whirlwind Equitana was this year. Not just for me but for everyone.

 

I flew over on the Wednesday night on the mid night horror. Wednesday morning 5am I was in the sheep yards out at our Swindon Downs property organizing XB lambs and ram lambs to go home. At 5.30pm we finished unloading them off the truck at Parkiarrup. Twelve and a half hours later I was in the ASCOT store at Equitana. I suspect I didn’t make much sense for a little while!

 

Retail work is something I have now done 3 times in my life and each time it has been for Greg Johnson of EUROPA saddlery. I must say I do not want to do it full time but I have enjoyed doing it on these occasions, as my main job is actually just to chat to people. It still amazes me watching peoples faces light up when they see the medal.

 

MITAVITE had done up some great autograph cards for me which people seemed to appreciate receiving. (Jag allows me to autograph them on his behalf). Even though I was spending most of my time on the ASCOT stand I did manage to escape and say hi to MITAVITE and Kaye from EJ&CO jewelry. 

 

Kayes range continues to expand and is just so attractive. For those in WA it will now be available at EUROPA when it opens it new Midland store shortly. So anyone looking where to direct the other half for a Christmas present head to EUROPA. You may have to ask at the moment but it is there.  For everyone else just head to the EJ&CO web site.

 

The book an eventful life was also selling well. All the riders were at Equitana at some stage so many people took the opportunity to get the book signed. Again a super Christmas present. Purchase it from the web site or soon EUROPA will also be carrying it as well.

 

I did get some free time and used it to explore surfaces for arenas. I really like the look of the crumbed rubber as it seems to use less water than most surfaces and it is recycling tyres. I also really liked the look of the new arena watering system from rapid rain irrigators. It will work from low pressure water and is much cheaper than putting in a fixed system. The fact it is portable is also a big bonus.

 

I have no doubt I missed more than I saw at Equitana but it is a great event I just hope the rumors about it being every year are not true. I think it would loose something if it was.

 

So Sunday arvo I was back on the plane to home as I was supposed to be shearing on Monday however wet sheep put paid to that until Thursday. Very annoying. Rain for us at this time of year out at Swindon is just a pain. It reduces the value of the dry feed, can damage the crops waiting for harvest and possibly cause a false germination where the seeds germinate then just die off.

Thursday we managed to get most of the stud ewes shorn for some fabulous wools and we will get them finished today I hope. We should get a start on the flock but not a full day as you guessed it the sheep are wet again. If only it would rain in the growing season!

 

Joy oh joy it stopped mizzling and we should get in a full day. Tonight I fly to Perth and then onto Sydney tomorrow to finally pick up Jag at 4pm on Sunday. Cant wait to see the old sod. No doubt he will only be pleased to see me if I have licorice!

 

We shall spend Sunday night at Bimbadeen Park before pulling out Monday morning for home. All being well we shall make Perth Thursday. Then with all the horses home it will be time to get onto firing them all up for season 2011.

 

Cheers

 

Sonja

A BUSY TIME

17TH Nvember

Well I seem to be finally catching up on some farm work. Anthony Archer our stud class has been over to sort the sheep up into joining groups for us. We certainly have some very advanced and exciting young sheep coming through. Now the stud registration is through I can get serious about preparing some sheep for show to start raising the profile of the sheep. So while everyone else was having fun at Adelaide I was in the sheep yards.

Good friend Tegan Lush had a great event winning the YR championship. She was excited. Bec and Simon Bells Mojo had a huge learning curve the exposure will have done him nothing but good.

Tonight once I get these lambs on a truck from one farm to the other I shall fly to Perth and onto Equitana. Have to come home Sunday as we start shearing on Monday.

Anyway look forward to catching up with everyone there. Keep an eye out for me on the Europa, Mitavite, EJ & Co Equestrian Australia and Animal therapeutics.

Catch you later

Sonja

 LIFE IS JUST A JUGGLING ACT

 

The great thing about my life is it is always varied. I think it would drive an organised person insane but as it has been suggested that I already am, that is not a problem.

Brigadoon CNC went very well for my horses. All my young friends that are riding them have done a super job.

etgan Lush and Belfast Mojito did a 44 dressage in the 1 star to take a 9.7 penalty lead into xc. With a beautiful XC round and slightly amusing SJ round where Tegan was nearly jumped off they won by a little over 10 penalties.

Tegan and Mo leave on Sunday to head to Adelaide where Mo will do his first CIC** and Tegans own horse Tempus Fugitus will run in the CCI**.

We are not expecting Mo to win but as Tegan was going it is a great opportunity for Mo to gain some more experience. He really is a super horse and I am vey much looking forward to getting him back next year. Tegan will also do Camperdown on him.

Parkiarrup Pierre and Jess Manson won the Junior Pre Novice . A 48 dressage, they won from start to finish. Pierre has now come home for a holiday until I return with Jag and Ben in early December.

Jackie Sept gave Parkiarrup Windrush her first Prelim start. Windy may be green on the flat but gosh she was super XC. She really hunts her fences and thinks they are sufficiently dangerous it is important to keep her toes well away from them. She still makes mistakes but it is her aim to be well clear. Windy is looking quite exciting for next year.

Ben Leagh didn't start with Le Directeur as he is being a sensible young man and concentrating on his final exams.

Since we got home we have nearly finished the weaning at Swindon and finished hay making at home. all the little bales of horse hay are carted but there are an awful lot of big bales staring at me waiting to be carted.

So what do the next few weeks hold. Hopefully Anthony Archer our stud classer will arrive next week to do the classing then shearing at Swindon and getting the rams in by December 1.

In between all that I shall be at Equitana with great friends and sponsors Greg Johnson of Europa Saddlery and also catching up with Mitavite and EJ and Co the jewellers.

Duck home on Sunday to get back into the shearing by Monday then back to Perth Friday night to fly to Sydney to collect Jag at about 4.30 pm at the airport on the 28th. We shall pull out for home on the 29th aiming to be in Perth on the 2nd of December.

Jag is I believe well while Ben is I am told is delighted to have started on the horse walker to leg him up ready to start working as soon as we get home. he really does prefer to be busy!

So that is about it for now. Catch you soon with more news from the Johnson mad house

Cheers

Sonja

WHATS UP DOC

28 October 2010

Well here I am safely back in WA. I just wish the same could be said for Jag.

Some of you may have heard he had a bit of a set back earlier this week. What would have happened with out wonder groom Amy McGregory (stuart Tinneys groom) I do not know.

Amy stayed in America to look after all the horses in quarantine. Every day twice a day Amy took the horses temps and checked them out as she did there daily routine.

Jag normally has a very low temp. About 37.2 in the morning. On the morning in Question Jags temp was 38.3. Not excessive but high for him. He was also about grade 2 lame. Amy fearing it was a flair up of his injury quickly summonsed the vets.

After much worry it appears he has a low grade celulitus in the leg. Fortunately Amy caught it very early and with the vets was onto it in a flash.

So it appears Jag will leave shortly to start coming home.

All the horses will leave Kentucky about 6pm WA time on Friday to truck to Chicago. They then spell for about 5 hours before flying via Holalulu to Auckland.

They quarantine there until the 29th of  November at which stage I will pick him up in Sydney and drive home with Sharon Jarvis and Oddie Nikki Brooks wonderful Ben and Jags favourite vet Michael Procters 2 new imported mares.

Cheers for now

Sonja

 

 

 WOW BACK TO REALITY

 

Well I finally arrived back in Perth on Friday the 15th of October. Straight into the Brookleigh CIC. 

Held at the beautiful Brookleigh estate the event goes through to 3*. I may not have been riding but not only do I help organise the vent I had 4 horses running with friends riding them for me.

Tegan Lush was riding Rebecca and Simon Bells Belfast Mojito in the CIC* where she did a super job to win from start to finish. Tegan also won the CIC*** on her own horse Tempus Fugitus. Murphy as we call him is a very talented 7yo TB that Tegan has produced herself.

Kirsten Twinning a great friend who organises clinics for me in Perth was 2nd on her own Newhope Nendo. A super jumping horse and again only about 7yo.

Ben Leagh who will be my working pupil in 2011 rode my Le Directeur to win the CICJ* which is great as he is finishing year 12 at the moment.

Then in the junior PN Jess Manson who came East with me earlier this year came 2nd on one of our home bred tb Parkiarrup Pierre. Pierre is by our TB stallion Future Options who goes back to Jevington. Like the rest of the progeny Pierre has a fabulous temperament and does a great dressage test. Pierre has a very stylish jump and once he  gets stronger will be very flash.

The fourth horse to the team was Parkiarrup Windrush. Ridden by Jackie Sept Windy is a very sweet but very green 5yo mare also by Future Options. Windy makes a great shape over a fence and has the same super attitude to her work as Pierre.

Unfortunately Windy cut her nose while chasing flies at the horse float. Poor little girl needed 3 stitches so we withdrew her from the comp.

So after the comp mum dad and I headed home on Monday. It was so good to see the place. The stock are all very fat as we are one of the few spots in WA that has feed. This wasn't only luck it is also due to our very good agronomist Paul Ommedae and Agvivo for some super advice.

Anyway before I left to go East back in August I had organised to have the micron testing on the rams done on the Tuesday. That was all going well until a bush fire broke out about 20k from home. Mum and dad finished the micron testing. I went fire fighting. Oh joy.

Wednesday we weaned the XB lambs at home before I did my first aid certificate on Thursday.

Friday was a little more sheep work before heading to Perth to coach for the weekend.

Monday I had a lesson with Wayne Roycroft on Mojito and Pierre before heading home. Of course you cant waste a trip so I made a quick detore to pick up 2 rams that were having semen collection done by Simon and Rebecca Bell (yes Mojitos owners).

Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday were spent weaning lambs at Swindon before coming to Perth today as mum is TD this weekend at Brigadoon CNC where Mojito, Pierre and Windy are all running.

Gosh some of our stud lambs are fabulous.

So as you can see life is back to its chaotic self but it is the life I love. At least I have no time to get bored!

Cheers

Sonja