We here we are, half way through 2008 and life has been very full on. Finally, we have gotten to the website again, Go the Technical Team, OK, Go Richard, my computer geek extraordinaire. So much has happened, I won’t have the energy to tell all. First off, please admire our new look website. Richard has worked very hard to bring this back up, practically rebuilding it from the start. We have added new content, and we hope you appreciate the changes.

First off, we now have a page telling you of our Monkey family. Each horse we take on, gets given a “Monkey” name. For some of them, the names are just so appropriate, it is spooky. We invite you to google the Monkey names, and enjoy the choices we have made. Spider and Night just had to be.

We have held our first clinic. And it was a great success. We had the most beautiful weather to enjoy our horses. With a mixture of groundwork classes, fun and games, some serious work and trail riding I think everyone went home with a feeling of tired enjoyment and having learnt more things to take home. For those student who braved staying with us, we had DVD’d and laughter at night. We have decided we are brave enough to do it again, so look out at the end of September for another one. Numbers are limited, so book in early.

PMB recently attended the dressage day at the Bathurst show grounds with 3 horses and one of our clients Brenda with Wandering Jack. Many thanks to Chrissy Schmidtt for your very hard work on the day. Chrissy did a superb job preparing the horses and having them in the right place at the right time and giving them the TLC throughout the day they needed. Many thanks!

Powder Monkey has finally competed in his first advanced class at Bathurst CWDG. With a score of 52% I am rapted he did so well in his first try. We hadn’t practiced some of the moves, such as flying changes every 4th stride, but we having been concentrating on improving forward energy and suppleness. The improvement overall was seen in the comments and in the scores. Monkey’s canter still requires much more jump and energy, but with some 6’s and 7’s for the trot work, I feel Monkey is really starting to come under himself and gain some real impulsion. His overall flow from movement to movement is also improved, and I really enjoyed the challenge of riding the advanced.

Also on the same day, 2 client horses had their debut. Brave Bootys Charge and his younger full brother Proud Bootys Charge both competed in the preliminary test. Brave scored 54% and Proud 48%. Both of these young stallions have only come in from the station 2 months prior for starting, so this was a very pleasing indeed. Brave had the advantage of one prior outing to Lithgow Australia Day show where he won his led class, and an overnight stay to become used to the surrounds. Proud had to jump in the deep end with only a few hours lead up, but still did very well. Given the amount of work these horses had received prior to the competition, they behaved impeccably. This is an excellent reflection of how well they have received and accepted training. The temperament of these horses is outstanding. Although they are being sold registered for colour breeding, they are from an excellent line of cutting Quarter Horses. Brave in particular is stunning horse and has the ability to shine in the future. Both horses are now on the market and Brave is available for stud. Please see the ads in the horse’s for sale section. We are hoping to get the video performances from this day linked to the website for you look at.

PMB would also like to congratulate Brenda Constable and Wandering Jack on their first competition. Brenda started riding only 18 months ago and purchased Jack with PMB’s assistance for trail riding. Since then, Brenda has succumb to the lure and attraction of dressage and is gradually changing the way Jack is going. This has been a big challenge from many aspects, but Brenda has been making wonderful changes in Jack. The benefits of dressage are truly to be seen in this horse both physically and mentally. He has become a much more trusting horse, and vastly more comfortable as he is suppling up. Jack is changing physically and his top line is developing. He is showing what a truly elegant horse he will be in the future. We have made some changes as he is progressing, mainly to the bit he is wearing. Initially, Jack carried his head extremely high from fear of the bit. We chose a very thick, extremely gentle bit for him to start with, as he tended to panic when the bit was applied and throw his head very high to avoid any contact at all. This meant he hollowed very badly in his back and did not use his back muscles at all, making for a very uncomfortable ride. Since then Jack has become a lot more trusting and is responding to the bit in a much more relaxed manner. He will now take the bit contact, albeit too strongly now when he doesn’t feel like using his back.. He has been changed into a more normal thickness eggbutt snaffle for the next stage of his training. He is a much nicer horse to ride, with softer paces and better “suspension”.

PMB would also like to congratulate Olivia and Trixie. Trixie became Olivia’s first horse in November 2006. They attended their first show at the Pony Club day of the Bathurst show. Olivia won several events, including her sporting events of barrels, keyhole and bending. Congratulations to Olivia and Trixie and may you have many more successful days ahead.