The Journey begins... OOOOERRRR

Well as most of you know I finished the project at the University of Leeds at Christmas and started work full time  in my physical therapy business KB Equine Therapy . Well after some nifty business planning I hope to be very busy towards the end of the year. What to do with Darcie? Now you see Darcie loves to work but I work evenings and weekends so what am I to do? Should I just try to fit her in as best I can whilst feeling guilty.. Hang on.. always wanted to try breeding.. now there's an opportunity so the idea began to form..

Now you need to understand that whilst I have a great deal of knowledge on horse care, lameness and back conditions, mud fever, nutrition, horse and rider biomechanics, etc , etc breeding is something I know nothing about. Where to start?? I roped in two of my good friends Kate Fallaize (who has done it but by AI (artificial insemination for those of you that didn't know) and Amanda Donkin (who has gone down the natural route).  Amanda immediately sent me home armed with a pile of books. Well there you go thats the support network set up!!!

Next talk to the Vet.. Now my vet Richard Sutcliffe from Bishopton vets, Ripon has known team Darcie since the beginning. He has even picked said rider up when team Darc decided to behave like an idiot at the Bogs Hall Stables adult Gymkhana. Much to the amusement of Becky (equine receptionist) I booked a cup of tea appointment to pick his brains and to see if he thought I was a total idiot.

"What are your reasons?" he asked over his tea

"Well I just want to have a go and its this year or never as Darcie has just gone 14. If it doesn't happen its fine, or if something goes wrong then it was not meant to be. If we get a horse thats got no potential once its weaned it will have a home with me.If we get a horse with potential we all know I am not the rider to bring it on to its full potential so we will find said rider, maybe at that point we might need to sell for the best for the horse. Who know's? The foal (if we get that far) will be what it will be."

"Well you're doing it for the right reasons" said he "The only thing I worry about is her temperament" Well there he is right. She has been known to flip her lid and eject her rider and if you don't keep a watchful eye on her when she is in a particular bit of her cycle you can have a great look at her teeth usually leaving their mark on your buttocks! Not funny if you are on the receiving end! "Well" said I if I were to analyse her personality then she only (No really) does have a 5% quirk. Lets swab her then..

Darcie was an absolute angel and never bothered. She then stood between us licking my hand whilst we discussed stallions.. Never had I been so glad that my mare showed her 95% loving and affectionate side of her personality.

Richard suggested Arcie (Away with the Faeries), NES Sports Horses and that we get her covered in March/April so that the foal would be born at a better warmer time of the year and Darcie could go up and be covered and then come home again less stress for her.. and so the wait began...

To Jump or not to Jump - hormonal mares rule!!

Well we have had an interesting couple of months with my mare.

After checking with our vet Richard Sutcliffe, who performed flexion tests, that Darcie's arthritis in her hocks is still only mild and that she is fine to jump. We started her training.. Well I didn't you understand, I DON"T jump. I enlisted Amanda Donkin too be the jockey..

Darcie loves to jump.. she isn't exactly what you would call brave (that figures cos neither am I as I said) but when she is confident she has a nice bascule, she doesn't however attack the jumps.. oh well



We took her to the Brimham Riding Club Show Jumping points series in Feb.. Clear round twice.. No Problem.. Lets enter her for the 60cms says Amanda... I have to say that I am not sure they were at 60, the club had lost the measuring stick.. Well much to my surprise she jumped clear and only knocked a pole which fell in the jump off with a great time of 23 secs. Well done Darcie.

Ok lets put her into the last one in March and see how she does.....

Well it was just the wrong week. Anyone who has a hormonal mare will know exactly what that means!

Before she left the yard she had bitten Amanda in a place I wouldn't like to mention suffice it to say perhaps Amanda needed my seat saver (say no more) because.. wait for it Amanda dared to speak to someone else when she was grooming Darcie.

Anyway all was going well at YRC Darcie was given a go at clear round and duly entered for 60 cms she approached the first jump a small spread, she came into it nicely and at the last minute tried to send Amanda over her head with a stop, that girl has got a magnetic bum! Up they came for a second go (I have to say my soft mare had knocked her knees the first time) No she said... Can't do a spread as the first one...

Withdraw her I shouted from the gallery.. The Judge said would you like to put her over a different one before you leave in unison the jockey Amanda and I shouted a resound "NO, PMT"....

Ho hum will have to avoid that week if we are competing again!!