Horses
MY BOY PIPER
Piper is now 22, a noble chestnut Irish Draught of unknown bloodlines. He was brought as a 9 year old experienced hunter for my husband and spent 12 months showing him the ropes - catching Kieron dutifully on the far side of the Meynell Hunt’s substantial fences!
Sadly he developed mild ringbone at 10 years old, and after a couple of years just hacking lightly, I decided to do the riding club dressage with him. He won, and aged 13 years I began to train him as a dressage horse. He competed in Regional Finals at Novice Level two years later and has had many wins at Elementary and Medium Level. He won on his 4th attempt at Advanced Level and retired from competition work in the summer of 2008. He is still working at home at above PSG Level and has mastered piaffe, passage and tempi changes (although counting can be a problem when he gets excited!).
In 2007 I had my proudest moment when he competed with my South African pupil Cathy Llyod at the Para Dressage World Championships. He has given numerous people their confidence back, taught countless people lateral work, and put the fun back into riding for many of my pupils and friends. He is a real character and gets very grumpy if the lorry leaves the yard without him - he will always be my No 1 Boy.
DRAGONFLY IV (Taf)
If Piper is the master, Taf is the apprentice! He is by the Welsh Stallion Caefncoch Flying Express out of a TB x mare. I brought him in May 2008 as a ‘low mileage’ 9 year old from a friend and pupil at which point, he had done mostly hacking, some schooling and a handful of riding club competitions. He has started his affiliated career now, scoring 65% in his first outing despite spooking at everything!
We are currently training with Maria Eilberg along with my continuing input from Mary Wanless and twice yearly clinics with U.S. rider Heather Blitz. I hope he will become an advanced horse also - certainly Maria is pleased with our progress so far. I will keep you updated!
CHEM’S LEGACY (Chem)
8 year old ex racehorse by Bold Venture. This lovely
gentle horse really belongs to my husband but gets borrowed by me from time
to time! Kieron is having lessons on him and learning the dressage secret for
himself - hopefully in time to do some one day events in 2009.