BOING BOING BOING!!!

My horse takes after me lol lol!

Amy wanted a horse fix last weekend so I took the opportunity of taking some video!! Amy hasnt rode for several months so I think she did well considering Antsje is bouncy and bionic lol!

***PING***

A couple of lightbulb moments!!

On thursday I did some schooling in the outdoor school and in general had a good session. Antsje was good today, I was slightly off form :-( Just one of those things, i was on an 'off' day and just couldnt get the strength of connection needed in my core to be as effective as I wanted. But that was me just being picky lol! Despite this, Antsje did her best to listen to me and work off my seat although it wasnt as consistent as Id have liked. But I was pleased that Antsje seemes to have settled to this new way of going as she could have easily have 'taken over' this session if she's have wanted to. So for that Im pleased and just a little bit grateful hahahah!!

So the lesson learned from today is that to be effective I really have to get this 'core connection' established because as soon as I start relying on the reins for speed control it just make her faster and tenser and therefore makes my position even weaker. I f I loose it, I am best to come to a walk and start again rather than over use the reins and get the 'tramming' that I know and HATE! I also have to accept that **I** will have off days and so will Antsje - and I have to work with this positively rather than get in a funk about it!

Yesterday I did a 5K Fun Run in the morning and felt a little bit tired by the time I had poo picked the paddock! So we went for a short hack - which we both enjoyed :-D It gave me plenty of time for me to think about my position and I have realised that although I have been keeping my lower leg in a much better position from Janes lesson, my thighs were not quite right. I didnt realise it until I had a little wriggle around and felt much better when my thigh rolled 'in' a little more than it was, I definately 'felt' the difference and as we did a nice steady trot home, I could actually feel my thigh deepen a little more each time with the rise! The position felt much more secure and because we were just going in a straight line and up a slight incline in kept Antsje's rhythm steady which made it easier for me to really concentrate on the 'feel' so I can try and re-create it again next ride!

I also took a few piccies of her this afternoon just because she is looking so gorgeous! I was bringing her dinner down to the field so Imnot quite sure she appreciated the impromptu camera shoot lol!!!


Hmmmmm!!! DINNER!

MUUUM!!! Hurry UP!!!




I'm WAITING!!!!







YUM!

Theres no place like (a new) home......

So a couple of weeks ago we moved to HIGHCROSS EQUESTRIAN CENTRE which is a livery yard / riding school / unaffilliated competition centre. We have settled in really well and I cant tell you how much I am enjoying having facilities again!! YAY!!!!!

The horses on their first time 'out'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNUbycY9bTo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VA15g8P0Ww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlWC8BiHjM

Antsje the STAR!!

Always a memorable day for me was the fantastic UK Inspections in 2006 where Antsje strutted her stuff to 'STER' status!! This grade is judged on movement and conformation and is awarded to approx 20% of friesian horses, so it is a good indicator of a superb example of the friesian breed. :-D

I was so confident that Antsje would get the Star Grading but had a fit of the eeeby jeebies the night before and hoped that I wasnt being a typical 'doting mother' and not being objective enough!! Still I neednt have worried as Antsje was set to prove to the world that she was an absoloute star in no uncertain terms lol! This is so typical of her character and she is a born show off! So it was no suprise to me when she shook off her runner in irritation and then proceeded to take herself around the arena snorting and passaging until she got the applause she so rightly deserved **rolls eyes**

I knew she had performed to the best of her ability and it was just down to the judges. But luckily they also agreed and she was awarded Ster 2nd premie :-)

Just a few bits of video of her moment lol!
Super Trot!

Lap of Honour

Going it alone!

All friesians who are bred by an approved breeding stallion and a studbook mare are entered into the foalbook (veulenboek) at birth and can be given a 'premie' of 1, 2 or 3 if they are very good examples of the breed. At age 3 or over the friesian can then be graded to be entered into the studbook (stamboek). Again, if good enough the horse can be awarded a premie of 1, 2 or 3. If the horse is of a high standard of conformation and movement they can be awarded the STER status. Only horses in the studbook are eligble to breed foals that can be registered with the FPS (friesian Society) and ony foals of a good quality will make it into the studbook themselves. Friesian breeding is quite a complicated subject but for most people, buying a studbook horse gives you a certain level of confidence of the quality and movement expected by the FPS.

All about Antsje

Antsje ut 'e Mieden was born in 2000 and is by Rypke 321 and damsire Olaf 315. I think she seems to look a lot like her damsire in build? At home she is called Antsje (pronouced 'aunt-sya') She is a big moving mare and our biggest challenge with her is keeping her in balance. She is very forward thinking and sometimes a little to forward for her own good lol!! It has been wonderful to see how much more body awareness and control she is getting over the last few years though :-)

In September 2006 we took her to the friesian gradings in yorkshire where she was given the status of 'ster' (pronounced star) which is a very high achievment in the friesian world. We were thrilled but she was and always will be my star mare :-)

She is a very good example of the more modern stamp of friesian, being a bit lighter in build than the very baroque type. She has the most wonderful temperament and work ethic and luckily for me she is very forward and not at all lazy!

She was imported from the Netherlands in 2005 from her breeder and the owner of her father Rypke, R Annema in Zwaagwesteinde. This is a very interesting article about the stud and the Stam Line 27 to which Antsje belongs.

While in the Netherlands Antsje Bred a foal on 05.12.2004 called Murk ut 'e Mieden (200403821). The sire was approved stallion Rintse 386. I would love to find out more information about him, particularly how he graded when registered. I tracked him down to a breeder in the Netherlands, Frysk Andaluz, but he had already been sold on and sadly there are no piccies :-( They said he was a very nice horse though!

After 3 years of friesian ownership I would not hesitate to recommend the breed, and although I have really had to up my game in repsects of riding and training such a horse I am enjoying every minute! Well, nearly lol!!!

Introduction!!

Owning a Friesian horse has been a long life dream of mine and three years ago on 24th November 2005 my drean came true!! In the shape of Antsje, a 5 and a half year old very green mare :-)

During our three years together we have achieved a lot!! Antsje got graded 'STER' at the UK gradings in September 2006 which was a brilliant achievement :-) We have also done a little unafilliated dressage and even some jousting! Mostly we have been laying the foundations of correct schooling in line with classical principles. It is a fascinating journey for me personally and Im learning so much but know there is a heap still to learn. I am looking forwards to 2009 and all that it brings.