Eeek HOY is only a couple of short weeks away! The season has cruised on down to the big finale very quickly. We are only taking three down this year, Weiti Eros the fattest 5yr old on the curcuit by a few hundred hamburgers (He’s on a diet for the big occasion), Ruby Tuesday my nutty redheaded sprat and Agastache the hilariously grumpy bushpig (He keeps asking me when we are going pig hunting.. I say ‘No Aggie, you are going to be a famous Showjumper!… He doesn’t believe me

We had the most marvellous time at the Chris Chugg clinic at St Peters in Cambridge, He’s fantastic! Very scary but fantastic. I have never trained with someone who can completely fix all your problems in three hour long lessons, mind you i have never trained with an Australian… Who gave him a megaphone!

But seriously he is a sensational trainer and if you can take a bit of abuse (other wise known as constructive criticism) I highly recommend training with him next time he is over. I am four times as effective and balanced as i was going into the clinic. AWESOME!

So we have a nice home game at woodhill next weekend, the kids can have a blow out before the week long marathon that is HOY the following Monday. Yehaa!

Gisborne.. The beautiful world cup show reknowned for it’s scorching weather and competition, only came to the party in one respect this year.

And it wasnt the weather! Along with a vast convoy of other showjumpers we set out on the windy, 8 hour journey to glorious Gisborne on Thursday morning. The sun was shining!

Friday treated us pretty well. Agastache jumped lovely in the welcome stakes, Little Ruby very much enjoyed herself in the 1.15m, her first class back from a horrendous neck wound she sustained on a seemingly innocent gate gudgeon at home in her box in early December.

And then the rain came… with all the force Gizzys parched stations so desperately needed, them… but not us. Weiti Eros managed a beautiful win in the 5yr old on Saturday morning, despite the weather and Archie had a 4 fault 1.25 champ, which i was happy with considering he is a huge drama queen about mud and rain.

And that was it! Severe weather warnings chased us away on Saturday night, we arrived home at 2 in the morning with alot of soggy covers, wraps, horses and grooms. The Sunday (and the world cup final) had to be cancelled, this saw the ridiculously talented pair of Katie Mcvean and Dunstan Dephi take out the N.Z world cup series.

Bit of a bummer, but i’m sure the Gizzy sunshine will be back on form next season!

Waitemata worldcup show at Woodhill 2 weekends ago were blessed with considerably more tasteful weather. The horses jumped very well indeed, Eros had a lovely win in the 5yr old over probably the most testing track this seaon. I managed to get dropped in an oxer by a certain bush pig! who luckily redeemed himself by winning the novice young rider class the following day.

2009 huh, i think i can speak for a few people in saying we will be welcoming a brand new decade with arms wide open!

The horses are up to their bellies in grass (mind you it doesnt take much to reach most of our bellies at the mo) and feeling lovely and bouncy rolling into the buisiness end of the season after Christmas.

We have had a few weekends off the last month or so which has been pretty nice, we had a great show at woodhill, the team and some babies jumping up really well.

We arrived back from the classic at Taupo yesterday, what a marvellous show that is! Such a cool atmosphere, heaps of fun and awesome jumping.

The ponies were lovely, but we didnt really hit the money this time. Eros had a very unfortunate rail in the 5yr old jump off, but had a very fun and…energetic show! Archie was just missing out with cruizy jump offs in 1.25m and Rookie rider. Quilt jumped down a bit at 1.10’s to settle her and she was a sweetie. Yesterday, after seeing how cool the 1.20m Derby track was on saturday night i late entered archie in it and it was so much fun! He loved it, flew all the banks and ditches and all the cross country stuff, but just touched a vertical, still finishing on a pretty sweet time!

So our team rolled home empty handed with lot’s of sunburn and big grins.

Anyway… Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!