A summer round up and the plan before winter hibernation!

Hartpury was a busy but a very good show, I had Woodlander Rockstar doing the Int 2 PL Classes and U Rockstar doing 1 Int 2 PL Class as well at the CDI Small Tour, sods law I got the lurgy on arrival and even though I did find myself streaming and breaking out in hot and cold sweats it was gone by the end of the week, nothing better than riding to cure a cold!

Mike also rode Woodlander Dornroeschen in the Int 2 PL Classes, she took the honours the first day with my 2 following closely behind, I managed to get my own back on the final day and won with Woodlander Rockstar! I was especially pleased with him because it was outside in pretty awful conditions (the weather had been very mixed all week and we were very lucky to have indoor facilities to save us when things got really bad!) The evening before he had taken part in the Stallion Gala which was rather eventful, the occasion was all a bit too much for him and he threw in a few of his own acrobatics, I was a little concerned that he might have been a bit wound up for the following day but he managed to hold it together well and did some very good work. Mike did very well with Half Moon Delphi finshing in the top 3 in the CDI Big Tour debuting her new Shakira Freestyle which suited her down to a T. He also rode Torino in the CDI Small Tour who finished 2nd with a win in the Freestyle, U Rockstar was close behind.

Not long afterwards Mike went to Hickstead PL to get Woodlander Farouche out before the World Young Horse Champs in Verden, she hadn't been out for a while so was a bit on her toes but didn't disappoint earning just short of 100%! We fitted Addington Regionals in just after before they left for Verden, U Rockstar won both his PSG and Int 1 Regional which I was thrilled about, Mike won the Medium Open Regional on Half Moon Dynasty. I held the fort at home while they went to Verden, there was a huge amount of pressure to do well and I was so thrilled when I heard the result!

Once home we had Somerford Regionals, Half Moon Dynasty went really well again to take the Advanced Medium Open title and a fairly green Fuerst Sinclair was 2nd in the Medium Open. Mike also took Woodlander Dornroeschen to complete qualification for the small tour. All in all we have 8 horses qualified for the Nationals, we are also doing the Masterclass on the Saturday and Sunday!

After the Nationals we will take a little breather and concentrate mostly on the training and moving the horses up a gear (I am looking to consolidate the Grand Prix work with both Woodlander Rockstar and U Rockstar and bring them out at Grand Prix next year, they still need to work on building up strength and fitness for the work even though they are quite familiar with the movements now.) We will also take a few of the younger ones out to some local shows to give them some experience before Winter sets in, then it's hibernation!!

Tour de France!

Hello hello, sorry it has been so long since my last update, there has been so much going on, technology has also been problematic at my end but think we're there now! Where shall I start?? Mike did well with Woodlander Dornroeschen at the Winters to win the Intermediare 1 FS. We have taken a few horses out to Addington and Somerford Premier Leagues to get qualifications for the Nationals, we just have a few more to get so will be aiming for Hartpury Premier League!!

Le Chateau

Somerford was also great as a warm up for the International in Compiegne, France which we did at the end of May beginning of June. The facilities at Somerford were lovely in the gorgeous sunshine, Mike rode Half Moon Delphi in the Grand Prix and I contested my first Intermediare 2 with U Rockstar who coped extremely well, it was the new test which was quite challenging for me to learn with lots of new lines, I felt that it was so good for him to do a new test, he knows the Small Tour tests so well and it really made him concentrate and listen to me! Great preparation for the Small Tour in France which was next on the agenda!! France was lovely, I had the luxury of taking my little beetle while Mike and Mum drove the truck (Dad had to be collected from the airport was my excuse ;-)) The showground was beautiful, it was lovely and spacious boasting natural sand and although it was in the centre of a large town felt like it was in the middle of the countryside. The town itself was beautiful, very cosy with lots of history, there was a river running through middle which in the hot sunshine made it feel like I was on holiday! Mike took Half Moon Delphi for the Big Tour and Woodlander Dornroeschen for the Small Tour, I took Woodlander Rockstar and U Rockstar for the Small Tour as they are not quite established at Grand Prix yet, their show names do get very confusing as they are so similar! Half Moon Delphi continued to strutt her stuff, she was in a slightly more amicable mood than Woodlander Dornroeschen who looked amazing but had her own agenda and was not to be influenced so easily!! My boys were good, Woodlander Rockstar was consistent as usual (so good seeing as he had been away at Stud doing his duties not long before) and felt nicely established in the atmosphere which was particularly eery for the Intermediare 1 Freestyle. U Rockstar was a little tense in the PSG, he was much more relaxed for the Intermediare 1 and came very close to having his first National Anthem played, he just had a slight lapse of concentration coming to the end of the two tempis which cost us the win but never the less I was pleased with him.



Rocco tucking into tea!



Both boys are feeling so strong and good in themselves, they are both working towards Grand Prix and I hope to get Woodlander Rockstar out to do an Intermediare 2 aswell before too long, the Small Tour feels well within their comfort zone now, not just the movements but also regarding their fitness, I remember what a challenge the Small Tour was for them when I started it in 2010, one test would easily take it out of them, working towards Grand Prix has really helped them to mature in strength and fitness, it has taken a while with it being such a big step on from Small Tour but I think we are getting there now!! Mum had her birthday as we were returning home from France which was a shame because we were in a rush again, her birthday treat was not having to drive the truck back bless her, no, not really, we are planning on a surprise when things are a little quieter. It wasn't long before Mum Mike and Dad were off to Rotterdam where Mike contested his first Nations Cup with Half Moon Delphi. Mike did a great job finishing 3rd in the Grand Prix Special with 71% which has put him nicely at the top of the shortlist re selection! Marakov also went well in the CDI Tour finishing with 69% in the Grand Prix Special. The Competition was hot hot hot as it was final selection for most Nations! I stayed at home to hold the fort, and was kept nicely busy with riding and teaching.

Woodlander Wavavoom has now arrived back home from his trip to Germany, he has been there since the beginning of this year. He is currently back at Stud and will be going to Hartpury PL/CDI for the Gala Evening so am very much looking forward to seeing him!! We have Hartpury Premier League and International and then Hickstead PL shortly after, we also have a few day shows lined up in preparation for the Regionals, also using the opportunity to take some youngsters out. Then it wont be long before the Nationals and the World Young Horse Championships are happening somewhere inbetween, it's go go go!!!

Ps I have managed to fit in a bit of social time as well, not easy with such a busy schedule but I have decided it is very necessary! I went to a local Point to Point which was a first, enjoyed placing some bets and met a few old friends! On returning from France I very much enjoyed travelling down South for Hannah Biggs Wedding, it was such a special occassion and she looked soo beautiful.

Team Eilberg step into spring with great results!

The Eilberg Team!



Sorry it has been so long since my last blog, time has flown by! The High Profile Show at Addington was the perfect set up for Vidauban getting the horses out to see where they were at, they were all very well behaved considering they hadn't really been exposed to the outdoors for a while and it was very cold! Vidauban was a little bit warmer :-) We had clear skies with it being fairly cold overnight but sunshine during the day, I remember getting very wet last year! The show had opened up a lot more this year as well which made a huge difference, we had access to the whole venue where as last year we were assigned our own area and the showjumping riders another. There were lunging and hacking facilities as well as spacious arenas to keep the horses entertained. The horses were all extremely fresh when we arrived, the journey hit them a little bit a few days later. Woodlander Rockstar is feeling very well at the moment with Spring in the air, he was a little on the keen side the first week and did his best test in the Int 1 Freestyle on the 2nd week, the final test of the show when most horses were feeling tired, needless to say he hasn't needed much of a break since we got home! He has recently been licensed with the Oldenburg Society which is very exciting!

I was very pleased with U Rockstar who coped with his nerves and produced some of his best ever tests, there is still more to come! He was a little nervous travelling as it was his first time abroad, going on the Ferry and having to do overnight stops is quite a big thing for them when they are not used to it.

Mike had a great show with his ladies, they were on flying form! Half Moon Delphi produced some stunning work at her first International at Big Tour. Although still quite green at the level she has exactly the same composure as Woodlander Farouche who gave everyone goosebumps as usual. Her development of strength and power since last year is quite phenominal and she coped with the 6yr old test well showing good flying changes. Woodlander Dornroeschen was not to be out done by her daughter, she too took top honours in the Small Tour showing correct and expressive work.
We have recently been to visit Woodlander at their new base in Sulby which was lovely, we were given a lovely tour of the yard and saw the yearlings, brood mares and stallions. The brood mares were under close watch as they were due to give birth! Everyone has done a great job in getting everything sorted with a lot of hard work! We have been getting a few of the youngsters out which has been rather eventful and Mike has been competing at Addington CDI this weekend, a very exciting show to watch with some new combinations. He rode Marco in the Grand Prix and did a very good job to finish in the top 10 qualifying for the Freestyle to which he rode his Transformers Music, quite a few horses were spooky with it being indoors and in the evening . . . We have the Winters coming up soon so all good practice as it will be a similar environment . . .

Team Eilberg plan for the year ahead!

Our holiday seems a long time ago now, but am looking forward to the competition season starting again :-) We have the high profile show at Addington next weekend which will be a good test to see where the horses are at after their Winters training. We are hoping to compete at Vidauban end Feb begin March. We will have the Winter Regionals before that and a few local shows to help prepare.

Woodlander Rockstar and U Rockstar are coming on with their Grand Prix work, they won't be established enough to start the season at Grand Prix, but perhaps towards the end of the season we can have a go at an INT 2 . . . Woodlander Wawavoom has come on a lot over the Winter, he will be going to Germany for a short moment for Stallion testing so won't be competing with the others initally. Mike has got Marakov and Half Moon Delphi who he will be bringing out at Grand Prix, Woodlander Dornroeschen is coming on well but again not quite established at Grand Prix yet. Not only do they have to learn the movements when going up a level, it also requires a new level of fitness and strength which takes time, that's why it is always wise to introduce the new things early so the horses not only have time for the new work to sink in but also have time to condition their bodies. Half Moon Dynasty will be doing the Winter Regionals and Woodlander Farouche will be aimed for the 6yr old classes.

 

We have quite a lot of youngsters in at the moment, it is quite a challenge to go from sitting on an advanced horse to then sitting on a youngster and vice versa. Although you are using the same scales of training both require quite a different approach! We hope to bring them out a bit during the season to acclimatize them to the show environment, we will have to sell a few as we cant keep all of them unfortunately :-(

Back to the UK from a safari adventure and full of cold!!

We have returned from our lovely 2 week holiday in South Africa, it has been a bit of a shock returning to the cold weather, needless to say we all have colds! It was rather a rush to get away, making sure everything had been done and covered, not much time to check in once we got to the airport! We joined some close friends who had been to South Africa before and knew the area well, they were very kind and took us on a fantastic tour! We started in the South visiting Cape Town, we did manage to see some whales while on the coast, they had been in the bay to breed! We gradually made our way further North where we spent time at the Game lodges observing the animals. It was a fairly long drive to get to the Game lodges, we had to drive through a variety of different places, some areas which were lovely and others which were in great poverty, quite an eye opener! We had to drive through the Game Reserve to get to the Game lodges and were regularly confronted with a variety of animals from a Wart Hog to an Elephant crossing the road! The Game Reserve is huge, approximately the size of Wales, and all of the animals are left free to roam within! We would go out on the Game drives around 5am and 7pm to avoid the heat of the day, it was also a good time to catch the animals from their night's hunting or just before they were to venture out. We were all a bit blurry eyed first thing in the morning but soon woke up! We were able to get fairly close to the animals, with some more than others depending on whether they would tolerate the truck, some would run away and others would attack! Towards the end of our trip we were extremely fortunate to experience a family of Elephants one on one, they were tame elephants who had been rescued. We were able to walk with them having hands on contact which was truely amazing, something which I will never forget!! For such big powerful animals they were extremely personable and sensitive.

All of the horses are feeling well for having had a short break, quite fresh and cheeky! The Christmas decorations are up, Dad surprised me with one special piece, he had made a display of our competition plaques and had used them to write 'ED' which was Two Sox's stable name, it has taken prime position on the yard! We will have a few quieter days over Christmas but otherwise the horses will stay in work, we will start with competitions again towards the end of January. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year! xx

An autumnal "spring" clean!

Hi guys, it has been a while since my last blog, time seems to have run away yet again. We have been taking things a little quieter on the competition front, we have done a few local qualifiers but on the whole are concentrating on the bringing the horses on in their training and getting stuck in to winter projects! From end Jan through to the end Sept competition is given priority and everything else gets put on a back burner so it is a good opportunity to do in essence what is a 'Spring Clean.' As well as having a clear out I have also had to do a major restock of the yard, Equestrianism definitely has to be the most expensive sport going! 

It has been tough this last month with having had Ed put down so suddenly, it still is a mystery how he managed to shatter his pastern, he seemed so quiet and content. Everyone has been so supportive, I would like to thank everyone once again for all of their kind messages, the courier did ask me who all the flowers were for and was a little surprised when I said it was for my horse who had passed away, only we know how personable horses really are! I do feel that I am only just about able to talk about it now, I can't believe that it has already been a month and a half. I think I have definitely been a bit in a daze, and am hopefully getting back to normal now. It has been good to have the projects to get stuck into! We are also going on holiday, today in fact, which I am really looking forward to. We are going on Safari in South Africa for a couple of weeks so will be sure to take some pics to show on my return :-)

The horses will continue to be exercised while we are away, working on their fitness. The timing has worked really well as the training has been fairly intense this last month, the horses will benefit from a short break now and then we can crack on for a bit again until Christmas, and then it will be 2012! We haven't quite decided on our plans for next year but will aim to start with competitions again in January, it is always really good to use the competitions to assess how much the training has progressed over the Winter, giving plenty of time for any adjustments before the season gets into full flow!

A tribute to Two Sox...

It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride over the past few weeks. We had an amazing National Championships, all of the horses were on good form, it was a huge team effort!

Sunday, in particular, was a very emotional day, it was the day I was to compete Two Sox for the final time. He did a great Grand Prix Freestyle, finishing at the top of his game. I had to put the occasion totally out of my mind for the test itself and bite onto my lip quite hard for his farewell lap of honour. I am so grateful to the organisers Kelvin Bywater and Caroline Griffith for the opportunity to celebrate his career and share this with everyone at the Championships. Also thanks to Winnie Murphy who helped with the commentary. It was a perfect moment, celebrating his 10 years of competing at the Championships themselves, 7 of which have been at Grand Prix level. The standing ovation was overwhelming and I'm sure that he was thinking he must have done a pretty awesome test as he stopped to admire the applause! The rain even held off- it was raining all around and then a rainbow appeared, it was very magical. 

Who could not have imagined what was to happen next, we had some lovely sunshine following the Champs so I wasted no time with introducing Two Sox to his much deserved turnout, he had always been hand grazed so was used to the grass. We have an ideal paddock which is next to the outdoor arena, level and secure. I cornered it off so it wasn't too big and stood with him while he grazed alone, having already hacked out beforehand he appeared very happy and settled. He enjoyed the following days in the same way, I always made sure he went out when we were there to keep an eye on him, we would often be riding on the arena and he would look up as if to say "good job, keep going." Then only a few days later when going to bring him in it became apparent that he was in acute pain and not wanting to take any weight on the left front leg. We immediately called the vet and had an x ray taken, his pastern bone showed three distinct fractures. There was no real explanation, he was quiet, he had protective leg wear on, no marks anywhere - the bone just seemed to give way. With no realistic chance of a full recovery we had to make that awful decision within minutes to say goodbye to him.  I was just coming to terms with his retirement with no idea that just two weeks later I was going to have to say goodbye to him for good.

People have been so kind, I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for their kind messages and support, it means a lot. The great horse that he was with a wonderful attitude and big heart seems to have touched so many. Perhaps he wasn't meant to retire and thinking back to the rainbow at the National Championships during his farewell lap of honour, perhaps he was chosen to go early. I know it would have happened at some time, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon xxx