Trevor's progress as at 01/02/09

Trevor is proving to be FANTASTIC! John Cottle (NZ's show jumping Olympian) was very complimentary of him during his lesson last week and thinks that he should be up to doing the 6 Year old series next year in show jumping, but more importantly the 7 Year old series the following year which is Grand Prix level should be our aim. We downloaded a few pictures off the video camera and here is one of his jumping style this week end. His first jumping competition. I feel like a new mum, with the first picture of the kid's first steps!

Trevor has been registered in almost all disciplines: show jumping, show hunter and eventing. His show name is "Gliddon". We started him off doing show hunter in his first jumping competition. We liked the idea that the jumps are not big and that style and striding are more important. The jumps are a natural brown colour and are inviting. Jenika did a couple of practice rounds before the competition started at Woodhill Sands today, and that was really enough for him but we had already booked him in for three rounds!

When the real competition started they went in the ring and all he wanted to do was buck. Very out of character, so we got him out and immediately loosened the over tightened girth. Went back in the ring where the judge said that he could go around but wouldn't judge him as he had already been presented. He did a good round. He did one more round of jumps afterwards but we decided that he had had enough for the day. He stood nicely by the float and munched hay till we left. I don't even need to hold a whip with loading him on the float now, but we tie his head to stop the window from being popped out.

John wants us to feed him well to get condition and muscle on him and work on developing a good canter: 20 minutes of work per day. It's all being implemented.

Cheski says "I do think you'll find that when something exciting happens, - if you give young Trevor a moment and then tell him to be "A Man" he'll stand up and show you that he really is very tolerant and brave", and I think she's RIGHT.

Tammy