Galileo (Leo)

His legs are still bent but that often takes a while to straighten out, but everything else seems fine.

Jasper

This is the last ever foal by Ambertson ex the same dam as this year's foal. (4 year old)
He is looking a bit lean because recently he got an abscess in both back feet.. He's on the mend now and putting weight on nicely, he will start being trained probably next month, once we are sure his feet are ok and he looks a bit better. I think his finished height will be at least 16.2 hh, he's 16. 1 hh now.

Rene

he's started back in work this week only to get mud rash!
it will soon be gone and he can start hacking.

jezebel 2nd hack

this is after her second hack, accompanied by another horse and a dog!
She only misbehaved once which was attempting to kick out at the other horse when it came too close behind in canter, but went happily in front of behind otherwise.

Jezz second time ridden

This is probably as good as we could achieve on day two.
She cantered on both reins, did lots of rein changes, the steering's a bit iffy but by the time she's hacked out a few times that will be better.

You want join up? I can do that!

Almost ready to go it alone

Learning to go from the leg.

we tap with a schooling whip from day one to teach them to respond to the leg. Head position doesn't matter, forward movement is the aim at this stage.

Steering.

we keep a contact from the beginning as this mare has been long reined previously.

First ever canter

we canter as soon as they feel willing, this first canter as you can see is reasonably balanced.

we canter on both reins.

Learning to halt.

End of the session, nicely relaxed.

We utilised part of this pond

to build a very useful water jump!

I spy with my little eye....

This green stuff's nice and comfy

This end first? Possibly not!

Leo

DAD who is not amused to be so far away!

Galilleo first day

the harem

other three brood mares, two of which have been covered this week.

Jezebel first steps

This four year old by Harper's Bornival is almost ready to get on as you can see. She has been extensively long reined and led out in tack from another horse, lunged etc and will soon be sat on and go straight out for a hack. with an older horse. Not perhaps the normal way of backing but it works for us, as we have high banked hedged narrow lanes and the mare is already traffic proof.

retired horses June 2008

Narramore Final Matinee

This is Jacques, five later this year, competing at Pontispool Intro BE. Had he not jumped so big over a ditch and then been faced with the Pre Novice option which he effortlessly jumped, he would have ended up 4th...as it was it was instant elimination...
His breeding is by Matinee du Madon (Selle Francais) ex a TB x ID daughter of Ambertson (Knock Boy bloodlines) who's dam was our foundation brood mare.
Funnily enough I can see her expression and way of jumping in this pic, she was by a stallion called Frere Jacques, hence this one's name.