WOOROLOO WESTERN RIDING CLUB SHOW Nov 16th:

An enthusiastic group of riders gathered for the club’s final mounted event of their year: the club’s Silver Buckle Show. With a Silver Buckle & trophies up for grabs, everyone was very keen and did their best in all the classes. A full program was offered, so riders had the opportunity to participate in halter, showmanship, hunter under saddle, western pleasure & trail classes. The groups were split into beginner (walk/jog) and novice and some lovely horses were shown on the day.

It has been a total pleasure to be involved with the club during 2008 and a joy to see the progress everyone has made. Thanks so much to everyone for coming along and “having a go” at everything; there has been some challenging exercises this year! Special thanks to Lisa Draper for her amazing organisational skills! I would really encourage any rider who are interested in Western to contact Lisa and get involved in 2009 – it is a terrific group with some wonderful people! Thanks everyone and have a wonderful Christmas – see you all in 2009!

LADIES DAY Nov 12th Brookleigh Estate:

A large group of ladies gathered for the final ladies day of 2008. A couple of new faces joined along with the ladies who have enjoyed coming along each month. The social aspect of the lunch after the riding is certainly a big bonus!!

Everyone was surprised when they were shown a lsit of the exercises they had learnt during the year – over twenty in total. After being split into groups, each group was then asked to pick an exercise from the list and (after some practice of course!) rode through the exercise; demonstrating it to the rest of the riders and explaining any problems they had encountered and how they had overcome them.

Then all groups swapped so that everyone had the opportunity to ride the selected exercises. The exercises included the figure eight “snake”, the “runway & barricade” rollback and the hip/shoulder in on the rail. Although the exercises were challenging, everyone enjoyed themselves and found their horses lighter and much more responsive as a result.

Another delicious lunch at Stewarts followed – a fantastic end to our last day!

Thank you so much to all the ladies who have come to our days through 2008 – it has been a joy to get to know everyone & to share in their journey as they work towards a greater understanding of their horses. Thanks also to Nicki, Lee & Brookleigh and Stewarts for providing such a wonderful venue and looking after us so well!

2009 promises to be just as exciting – I am looking forward to seeing all my old friends again and perhaps making some new ones! So once again girls – thank you all so much – have the most wonderful Christmas … xo!


WAQHA "AA" Bonanza Show 25th Oct 2008:

Congratulations to:
Jasslyn Robinson & Roc Me Kid
1st Amateur 4 yrs & over
Reserve Champion Gelding

Jasslyn Robinson & Coliban Three Extremes
1st Amateur Halter Gelding 1 yr
5th WA Bred

Vanessa Hancox & Roc Me Kid
1st Q/H Gelding 4 yrs over
Reserve Champion Gelding

American Quarter Horse Halter
1st AmQHA Aged Geldings
Reserve Champion Gelding

3rd Eastern States Bred Q/H

Vanessa Hancox & Coliban Three Extremes
1st Q/H Gelding 1 year

Wooroloo Western Club - October 19th 2008:

A large and enthusiastic group of ladies gathered on a beautiful warm day to learn a little about reining. The rules and basic maneuvers of the event were discussed and then riders rode a challenging pattern of small & large circles having to keep their horse's up and on a circle at walk & trot, then some of the more experienced horses and riders tried it at canter. Everyone commented on how the exercise 'forced' them to look up and ahead in order to plan and control their direction effectively. A simple Hip & shoulder exercise followed, then some work on the rein back & rollback. To finish, some riders rode a reining pattern which incorporated the exercises they had just done. Although the sudden burst of hot weather was a bit of a suprise and claimed a couple of victims, it was a very casual and non-demanding day & everyone seemed to enjoy the simple exercises.

Thanks girls for your attention and enthusiasm - it really makes for a fabulous (& fun!) club. Next month (Nov 16th) the day will focus on show preparation and will run through a 'mock' show program to prepare everyone for the Club Show ...
enquiries to Lisa Draper: 9573 1006.

Congratulations to: Jordan McAlpine at the Interschool National Championships @ Toowoomba 3rd, 4th & 5th October:

Jordan placed 4th in the secondary 4 Phase 45cm Showman Class. She was one of the youngest in the class as it went all the way to Year 12. Jordan is in Year 8.

Congratulations to: Sharon Currie & SOQ Deliberate Concent (Perth Hack Day):

2nd smartest on parade 18 +
2nd rider over 25
2nd hack 15-16 hh

2nd medium heavy weight hack
1st ladies hack
Reserve Champ Hack

QH
2nd Best Presented
1st QH 4-9yrs
Reserve Champ

Other Reg Breed
2nd Best Presented
1st Geld 4-9yrs
Reserve Champ

Walk/ Trot
1st Hunter
1st Equitation
1st Western Pleasure
1st Western Horsemanship
2nd Showmanship
Hi-Point Walk/Trot Rider

Congratulations to: Sharon Welsh and The Sundance Kid (Dilute Show - Muchea):

Dilute Ring:
1st Best Presented
2nd Dilute Class
1st Geld 4-9yrs
Champ Geld


Congratulations to Sharon Currie, Shannon Crosby, Nicole Henning and Ricky Moss on very successful Royal Show Results:

Sharon Currie and SOQ Deliberate Concent
1st QH Gelding 4yrs & Over
Reserve Champ QH Gelding
1st Open Showmanship

Nicole Henning & Precious Priority
1st Appaloosa Mare 4yrs & Over
Reserve Champ Appaloosa Mare

Ricky Moss & Cayuse Jessie McMighty
1st Dun Factor
1st Open Ridden Dun/Buckskin Stallion/Colt

Vanessa Hancox & Cayuse Jessie McMighty
2nd Open Showmanship
1st Senior Horse Hunter Under Saddle
1st Open Hunt Seat Equitation
1st Senior Horse Western Pleasure

Perth Regional Appaloosa Club Versatility Show 31st August 2008

Congratulations to:

Robyn Merritt & Willway Docs Catalena:
1st Appaloosa Mare 4yrs & over
Champion Appaloosa mare

Elise Young & Jett Lee:
1st QH Mare 4yrs & over
Champion QH Mare

Elise Young & Milli:
3rd Junior Horse Hunter Under Saddle
3rd Open Versatility

Jasslyn Robinson & Coliban Three Extremes:
1st QH Geld 1yr & under

Ricky Moss & Cayuse Jessie McMighty:
1st Appaloosa Stallion 4yrs & over
Supreme Champion Appaloosa
1st Open Walk /Jog Western Pleasure

Glenda Dillon & Zippsational:
3rd 4yr & over QH Geld
2nd East States Bred QH
2nd Novice Hunter Under Saddle
2nd Open Hunter Hack

Nicole Henning and Precious Priority
2nd Appaloosa Mare 4yrs & Over
3rd Beginner Walk/Jog Hunter Under Saddle
2nd Beginner Walk/Jog Western Pleasure

PRAC Silver Buckle Show Sept 7th 2008

Sharon Currie and SOQ Deliberate Concent
2nd Gelding Any Age
3rd Beginner Showmanship

LADIES DAY: BROOKLEIGH AUGUST 13TH 2008

A big group of riders gathered at Brookleigh for August’s Ladies Day.  The weather was perfect, the arena surface was fantastic, the horses were all very well behaved and everyone had a wonderful day!   The usual format was followed with riders first undertaking a range of bending, suppling and lateral exercises in preparation for the pattern work to follow.  Riders had a choice of riding either a horsemanship or equitation pattern, with emphasis placed on the need for preparation and forward planning.  As the show season is almost upon us, and with some horses feeling a little insecure out on the rail, some rail work was also incorporated into the end of the session.

It was lovely to see so many regular faces; Elsie & Millie, Jane & Zak, Kelli & Spanner, Kerry & Rhythm, Jasslyn & Rocky, Anna & Jinx and a couple of new ones too – welcome to Glenda and Joxa, and to Michelle and Flicka, and welcome back to Berit who has been away…

Looking forward to seeing you all again at the next Ladies day @ Brookleigh on Wednesday Sept 10th.

WOOROLOO WESTERN RIDING CLUB JULY 20TH 2008

Although it was freezing cold and threatening rain, a good group of enthusiastic riders turned out to tackle the versatility event.  Riders were asked to complete a horsemanship pattern and a difficult trail pattern: each rider was given two go-rounds, each go-round was scored and all scores totaled at the end of the day to decide the winner.  Ribbons and prizes were handed out to the lucky winner and runner-up.

As the trail pattern comprised of walk and trot poles, rein-back, sidepass, and pivot, all riders found it quite challenging, but still lots of fun!   The horsemanship pattern was designed to draw the rider’s focus to the more technical aspects of pattern work such as transitions, correct manoeuvres at the markers and use of the arena space.

Despite the less than fabulous weather and the judge being on crutches … a great day was had by all!

Enquiries about Wooroloo Western Club can be directed to Lisa Draper: 9573 1006

Ladies Day: Brookleigh July 9th


The rainy weather did not deter a small but faithful group of riders who gathered at Brookleigh for Ladies Day this month where the clinic focused on Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation events. 

The clinic commenced with some quiet warm-up exercises, asking the horses to bend and soften around the rider’s leg and into the hand.  This was then taken up into some serpentine work with upward and downward transitions; the focus being on the appropriate flexion and bend while maintaining rhythm and forward.

Some rail work followed with several of the younger and greener horses really starting to settle and work nicely with the other horses around them.  Riders were all encouraged to lengthen the rein as much as possible to allow the horses to stretch and the results were fantastic!  Lastly the riders worked on the Hunt Seat Equitation pattern; a technically difficult pattern which everyone conquered – of course!

Well done to Nicole who got some beautiful work from Dolly and also to Sharon who had a great day with Diesel; especially the lope at the end!  HUGE congrats to Liz and Ruski who had their first ride in an indoor arena with other horses and had a marvelous time – although I don’t think Liz’s legs will ever be the same!  Elise and Milli did some wonderful pattern and rail work – this beautiful, soft moving little mare is a credit to Elise’s training.  Kerry and her lovely big Rhythm also did some fantastic, flowing work on the rail and a very neat, precise pattern to finish.

Lunch at Stewarts followed where the noise level rose considerably over the next few hours…!  

Thankyou very much to the girls who braved the weather to come: I hope to see you at the next Ladies Day – Brookleigh Wed Aug 13th 10.30am -12.30pm


Greenough Western Riding Club Clinic June 28th & 29th

Although the rain came down almost constantly for two days, the spirits of the riders who attended the clinic were hard to dampen!  Over the weekend the riders worked on fourteen different exercises designed to decrease reaction and increase response by asking the horse to flex, bend and soften while maintaining forward and rhythm. 

Riders also worked over obstacles such as “The Beartrap” and “Diagonal Jog Poles” which encouraged both horses and riders to concentrate on the job ahead and really focus on their approach and departure from the obstacles.  Lateral work was heavily emphasized with the riders asking for sidepass, leg yield, half-pass, forehand and hindquarter turns.

Thankfully the weather cleared for the third day and we were blessed with a glorious sunny day for our last day of work!  Riders worked one-on-one concentrating on specific areas such as rein skills and control, leg aids, transitions and flexion. 

At the end of a long and wet three days, there were some tired and wet horses and riders but a wonderful time was had by all!  I saw some terrific ‘lightbulb’ moments when some of the riders really ‘felt’ their horses and realized what softness and self-carriage actually feels like!

I would like to thank everyone involved for the warm, friendly, welcoming atmosphere which is always provided – particularly to Anne and Len Forbes for their tolerance and hospitality and to Judy and Clare Cream for their organizational skills!  Thanks also to all the riders who always make me feel so very welcome on my trips ‘to Gero’:  Anne, Lesley, Judy, Clare, Merran, Lloyd and Louise … thanks guys and I look forward to next time – and better weather!


NATURAL HORSES SOCIAL CLUB: BROOKLEIGH JUNE 17TH 2008

The Natural Horses Social Club are a group of horse owners and lovers who meet each month to explore different aspects of the equine world.  I was fortunate enough to be the guest speaker in June and delivered a talk on the use of horses in psychotherapy.  Although it is a very new area, most of those present embraced the principles and were eager to learn more.  At the end of the night, those present were set a task to develop an exercise revolving around the key word: communication.  The two groups of six people were allowed one horse and three metres of string to demonstrate ways of communicating to the horse that it was needed to move from one place to another.  What they weren’t allowed to do was … to talk!  This helped them to think of other ways to communicate and to get the group’s thoughts/wishes/needs across without words – very challenging.  However, both groups did really well and everyone enjoyed the night immensely!

More information about the Natural Horses Social Club may be obtained from Michelle Halliday: 0419 046 582

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