Where to even start!?

Well I haven't blogged in what feels like forever! I did write a little update blog a few weeks ago but apparently that didn't feel like publishing so hey ho, let's try again shall we? So, so, sooo much has happened in the last week I don't really know where to start! 
 The Team Ginger ponies finally met each other (well, Sparkie, Sunny & John anyhow!) which was super fun. John and Sunny seemed to love each other, Sparkie seemed to think he could take John on; poor John just wanted to be friends but being the grumpy sod he is Sparkie was not interested in the slightest! It was the first time me and Sparkie had been in a stubble field (how we have managed to go six years before achieving this I do not know!?) and he was very excited by this but was a good boy :) 

sliding into your dms like... 

love this pony! 

A few various other outings have happened but I really do not have the time or patience to remember every single one and write about each one... one of these was a trip to Ashwood XC with the twins. It was their first time out together but they were both very chilled with each other and behaved like good boys :) Sunny jumped the best I've seen him jump xc, he looked much more confident as did Emma which was very nice to see! His canter in between fences and into fences was a lot more consistent and he started to string more than one fence together, little hunter trial pony. Jack was just perfect, I don't really know how else to sum him up! He was just having so, so much fun and jumped every single fence on the course like and old pro. Some jumps from an sj clinic had been left up in the one field ranging from 85cm-1m and just for a test I decided to try and pop him over some just to see what he'd make of them. I wasn't expecting anything special because there was super bright fillers, a skinny, a wall, planks, a water tray, doubles and spreads, all things he's never seen before. Well didn't he prove me wrong! He took everything in his stride with no hesitation, he was super duper. He also went into the water and jumped out for the first time which was a big deal because A) He HATES water and b) SUNNY led him into the water!!! As in Sundance who also hates water and usually throws his dummy out the pram. He was a very grown up boy and gave Jack the confidence to go into the water so well done Sunny! To finish off I took Jack round the whole course by himself and wow, what a bloody good ride he gave him, he kept a lovely, forward gallop covering the ground the whole way round and he was just fantastic; even did the water by himself! 

He's so scrumptious. 

Sunny leading Jack through the water!

On Tuesday we had a Chase Me Charlie day with Sparkie, Sunny & Jack. Well. I don't think anyone expected it to go as well as it did! First was Sunny's turn... well he just had the best time ever and was tanking himself into fences; got to give it to him he has confidence to spare! He is not the most natural jumper, but we have done a lot of work to improve his technique over the summer and I think it's really paid off because 80% of the time he looked SO much better over a fence on Tuesday! Finished off at 90cm which is only 5cm off his all time record. He still looked very nice over it which is a big deal for Sunny as he usually starts to flatten through his shoulder at anything over 75cm, so I was really nice to see him go so well.

Then it was Sparkie's turn.. he was awesome, but then I guess when is he not? He really is my little hero and I love him to absolute pieces. I think that pretty much sums up every single ride on him, I honestly cannot fault him; he is one in a million. I am so, so, soooooo excited for next season on him, can't wait to get cracking with him eventing wise! 

look at those knees!

gaaah pony is so cute

Emma jumping 1m; her life goal! Hats off to Sparkie for being a

fabulous teacher! 

Lottie & Sparkie looking perfecto!

Finally it was Jack's turn. Now I would most definitely be lying if I said I hadn't shed a few happy tears over this horse lately because he is just an absolute pleasure to own and ride and he is just exceeded both mine and other people's expectations by a huge, huge amount. He is just the best horse I have ever had the privilege to sit on. I have always said that I was excited to see what this horse can do in the future and if this is how he feels now then I can't even imagine what he will achieve 2 years down the line. Clearly I am very bias as he is my pride and joy, but for me, he is the horse I've always wanted and that will do me just fine. I can't say I am the most confident rider over bigger fences but he looked after me so well and was such a gentleman (apart from when he put Lottie on the floor but he was very, very sad and ashamed of himself about that so we shall forgive him.) Ended up finishing on 1m20 which he made feel a little bit too easy for my liking and is the biggest I've ever jumped him under the saddle and only the second time I've ever jumped that big. 

notice he is sporting a new hair do!

If my horses behave anything like they do these last few weeks out competing this weekend then all I can say is bring it on! x