'Who' - Pha Mai Blue
The newest addition to the Headstrong team - 'Who' is a 7 year old ex-racehorse who had a very successful flat racing career with Jim Boyle. I bought him in February 2013 having seen him advertised on Source an ex-racehorse, after a long search to find a horse to compete with throughout the 2013 season and beyond following Ruby's diagnosis. It's early days, but when I tried him he was a standout favourite. He was straight moving, quick to learn, and as soon as I popped a jump on him I was grinning from ear to ear! Kellie who we bought him from had done some great retraining, and consequently they had achieved some very pleasing results in limited showjumping and eventing outings, having recently completed a BE80 with a double clear.
We will take things slowly getting to know each other before we set our sights upon a BE debut in the summer, but we've already achieved some solid results at unaffiliated level - completing a ODE, and being placed out showjumping with double clears. I'm really excited about our future together and hope that we will have a long and happy partnership.
We will take things slowly getting to know each other before we set our sights upon a BE debut in the summer, but we've already achieved some solid results at unaffiliated level - completing a ODE, and being placed out showjumping with double clears. I'm really excited about our future together and hope that we will have a long and happy partnership.
'Ruby' - Lady Ruby
This is Ruby, my little 15.1 mare who we bought as a 2 year old, and is now 5 being brought on slowly. I first met Ruby among some other youngsters in 2009 at a friend of a friends yard, and instantly loved her! I joked that she would be mine one day. When we moved to a yard that had a school and enough room, and Ruby was up for sale, the idea was that I would buy her, back her, and sell her on. Needless to say 3 years on, she's still here; who was I kidding?! She is such a lovable girl, we just couldn't part with her. I'd describe Ruby as one of those precocious, talented types. masses of talent and equally not lacking in attitude! I'm afraid that is right up my street.
Ruby has a very endearing nature and a tendency to take everything in her stride. She was a dream to back, with a bold and brave nature coupled with a natural talent for jumping both SJ and XC. She is an Opposition horse (by Utopian Opposition), and she has certainly inherited that famous Opposition stubborn streak which emerges every now and then! Definitely a Headstrong Horse when she wants to be, but she is such a trier and really wants to please. Her Dam is by Catherston Liberator, so on both sides she has some super breeding, which I hope will stand her in good stead for eventing later in life. Her progress had been sadly stunted by a sacroilliac injury which has now been treated, and following a period of rehabilitation we hope that in 2013 she will embark upon the start of a long and successful competitive career. Interestingly, Ruby's happens to share some blood with my favourite event horse Opposition Buzz, who I was privileged to see complete a fantastic round at Badminton 2011. If she is even half the horse he is I'll be one lucky lady!
Ruby has a very endearing nature and a tendency to take everything in her stride. She was a dream to back, with a bold and brave nature coupled with a natural talent for jumping both SJ and XC. She is an Opposition horse (by Utopian Opposition), and she has certainly inherited that famous Opposition stubborn streak which emerges every now and then! Definitely a Headstrong Horse when she wants to be, but she is such a trier and really wants to please. Her Dam is by Catherston Liberator, so on both sides she has some super breeding, which I hope will stand her in good stead for eventing later in life. Her progress had been sadly stunted by a sacroilliac injury which has now been treated, and following a period of rehabilitation we hope that in 2013 she will embark upon the start of a long and successful competitive career. Interestingly, Ruby's happens to share some blood with my favourite event horse Opposition Buzz, who I was privileged to see complete a fantastic round at Badminton 2011. If she is even half the horse he is I'll be one lucky lady!
'Monty' - Kings Mountain
This is Monty, a 17h ex racer. He is 12 years old, and I bought him when he was 7. I bought him on the merit of his jumping ability - this horse would jump any height you put in front of him, his scope is enormous! He is extremely sharp, but completely harmless and so much fun to ride. You can't help but smile at him - this horse is the most handsome boy, loves cuddles, and has the biggest personality in a horse I've ever come across!
He was very green through lack of schooling and flatwork, but has been doing great things with my instructor who had him on long term loan, including ribbons at Prelim & Novice level dressage in his first outings, before she sadly was told she was no longer able to ride due to medical reasons. Happily though, he is now with another instructor on loan, who is planning to bring him on to event in 2013, having already started with some pleasing efforts at the tail end of 2012. He is a yard favourite wherever he goes, but for starting out in Eventing as I wanted to, he was just too green. I am delighted to see that he is finally making use of his potential though, with his lovely new mum!
He was very green through lack of schooling and flatwork, but has been doing great things with my instructor who had him on long term loan, including ribbons at Prelim & Novice level dressage in his first outings, before she sadly was told she was no longer able to ride due to medical reasons. Happily though, he is now with another instructor on loan, who is planning to bring him on to event in 2013, having already started with some pleasing efforts at the tail end of 2012. He is a yard favourite wherever he goes, but for starting out in Eventing as I wanted to, he was just too green. I am delighted to see that he is finally making use of his potential though, with his lovely new mum!
'Willo' - Caherpuca Star
Willo is a 16.2 ISH by the famous showjumper Quick Star, and has shown that he has certainly inherited some of that ability with plenty of winnings from British Showjumping. I bought him mid 2011, after he had spent his recent months being reschooled with a view to going eventing. He seemed to take very well to it, and came 16th at his 1st ever BE90 with his previous owners. He has continued to show a love for XC since I've bought him, and jumped clear a number of times locally at places such as Dene Farm, and Larkhill on the BE course, coming 6th and 1st, and 1 time unplaced because we were simply too quick!
After a year of ups and downs, we eventually came to the decision that Willo was not the right horse for me. He was lovely to handle on the ground, and capable of some incredible work, but was also very opinionated! I had some excellent support from professionals, but essentially it was a case of just not being the right partnership. We did indeed have some excellent results, but some tricky times too; he always felt like hard work, but I strongly believe with the right horse it just comes naturally. Having a difficult or hot horse is something I'm quite comfortable with, but Willo was just a different kettle of fish. For a horse bought as a schoolmaster, he was far from easy!
Having said that he is a lovely horse and it was very hard to say goodbye to him, especially knowing how good he is on his day. I was sorry to see him go, but hope that he is successful in his new showing career.
After a year of ups and downs, we eventually came to the decision that Willo was not the right horse for me. He was lovely to handle on the ground, and capable of some incredible work, but was also very opinionated! I had some excellent support from professionals, but essentially it was a case of just not being the right partnership. We did indeed have some excellent results, but some tricky times too; he always felt like hard work, but I strongly believe with the right horse it just comes naturally. Having a difficult or hot horse is something I'm quite comfortable with, but Willo was just a different kettle of fish. For a horse bought as a schoolmaster, he was far from easy!
Having said that he is a lovely horse and it was very hard to say goodbye to him, especially knowing how good he is on his day. I was sorry to see him go, but hope that he is successful in his new showing career.
