After a busy few weeks with the run up to and including the Winter National Championships, I had promised myself a bit more family time and I also had to catch up on ‘proper’ work in my full time job as a Quality Manager.
I enjoyed a good lesson on Bodyguard and Felix, who now the Nationals are over can really start to progress with his changes and lateral work. I was over the moon to hear Rhett say I would have a serious big tour horse in Bodyguard and small tour horse in Felix next year! No pressure but it’s time to get cracking with the training.
My last plan before baby Edwards arrives was to ride at the Stallion AI open day as Bodyguard was standing there straight after the open day and then going to Rhett’s for a few weeks before returning to stud in June.
I knew this would be my last ride on him for a couple of months so I really wanted to be able to do it. How many people at 33 weeks pregnant would ride a breeding stallion, at an open day with such a big atmosphere? This just shows what an amazing temperament he has.
It was also the last time Anna would get to ride Amigo too as she has finished her course at university so is heading home to Germany to ride and compete her own horses for the summer, and hopefully get selected for the German young rider team, and wow did she do it with some style!
He looked amazing; I could not believe the difference in him, after seven months of training with Anna and his change in muscle allowing him to hold the movement he has to offer. They both danced their socks off.
I am still riding ‘lightly’ at home, with a horse like Felix to ride you can’t just stop riding. He puts a smile on my face every time I sit on him because he is such a trier.
I have to remember he’s only been in full work for 16 months so cantering down the long side doing tempi changes and pirouettes like he’s done them all his life and half passing across the arena and back should still be quite tricky for him, but no not Felix!
He will be having up to a six week holiday in the field soon but not quite yet, although trotting at 35 weeks pregnant is a little uncomfortable, walk and canter are fine.
I am very pleased to announce the arrival of our first foal of 2016, a gorgeous filly by Bodyguard out of a DiMaggio mare, Prada. She is stunning with four white stockings and with breeding like this she is bound to be an impressive horse in the future.
Watch this space, our next foal, Bodyguard X De Niro X Gribaldi X Negro, is due around my due date so I will hopefully have lots to report next month!