I'm a very keen horse-person and as such am involved in horse-related activities quite heavily.  The horses have taken a bit of a back seat now that I am at university, 4 hours from my animals, but I maintain my involvement (I'd go insane without them).  I am a regular member of the Victorian Junior Dressage Squad (actually one of only two founding members still remaining,) which is enough to do with the horses at this time.

I cannot possibly train with my regular trainer every week or fortnight as I used to, because I'm simply not at home during the week, and she's usually away at competitions on weekends.  I've only competed twice last year, once hors concours, and once in an unofficial comp, both at Preliminary level.

I would dearly love to be out competing, but I cannot manage that while I'm at university.
Like most Aussie horse-riders, I did my stint at pony club.  I went along to Charlton PC for eight years until I kinda grew out of it and discovered the far more exciting and challenging world of EFA Dressage and Junior Squad.
 

I own five horses now, one having recently multiplied.  Here is a brief introduction to each:
 

Jeanie is a grand old dame.  She is the horse that I have done most of my competing on, most of my learning, most of my lessons, and she has been the most wonderful friend anyone could ever wish to have.  She has a very aristocratic nature, and hence quite an opinion of herself.  She's very independent and can look after herself very well.  She's quite partial to being pampered and spoilt though, and thinks herself very photogenic.

Jeanie is a veteran of just about everything.  She can jump beautifully, can play games if required (although she thinks that's a bit below her,) works sheep, trail rides, events, showjumps, hacks and so on, but her best thing is dressage.  That is the direction I ended up taking her when my good jumping horse died and I lost interest in tearing about all over the countryside risking my neck.  Winning the State Championship on Jeanie was the biggest thrill I've ever had.

 

Jeanie was actually bought for my brother to ride, but I got along with her better, and just took over.  I never looked back.

Jeanie is a grey Australian Riding Pony mare, 14 hands and foaled in 1980.  She was bred by Robyn van Rennan, of Avoca Forest (St Arnaud) out of a palomino stock horse mare, and by Marie Gahan's beautiful pony stallion, Yarrayong Aladann.

I have always wanted the opportunity to breed a foal from her, it would be shame if that never happened, and so when I was going to be away at uni for a year I decided to take the chance.  She was 16, and a maiden, so we had our fingers crossed that all would be ok.  I took her to a lovely Stock Horse stallion that is not too far away called My Bobby Dazzler.  All went well and on the 11th of November 1997 she gave birth to a beautiful colt that I named Sammy.
 
 

Sammy's got one hell of an attitude, just like his mother, and has the most beautiful face!  He's quite a spunky little bloke and I'm very pleased with his progress.

He's currently a horrible dun colour, which is changing to grey, and that is what his true colour will be when he is mature.

I would like to get Jeanie back into work over the next year, and eventually take her back to competitions.  There is the possibility of her having another foal or two before she gets too old, but at this stage that's not practical and I have made no plans.
 

Teaka is my crazy thoroughbred mare.  She is an ex-racehorse, which really is a big problem because she tends to go right off her nut from time to time.  She gets way too attached to other horses, and she can behave absolutely atrociously if other horses are stirring her up, or if she wants to get back to be with them.  It is a pity, because she is a delight to ride when she's happy, and is a very quick learner.  I think it's just the Manahi blood really...

Teaka's doing prelim/novice work at the moment, and I like to just plug away with her.  I cannot work her enough to really get anywhere with her, but she never goes backwards in her training so whatever I achieve won't be lost.  She's a nice easy to care for plain brown, with no white markings, is 8 years old and is 16 hands tall.

She's a very lightly built mare, and I have trouble getting her to look nice and round, but she is not too strong for me that way.  I would like to teach her to do a bit of jumping soon, because she's got quite a snappy jump, has a nicely balanced canter, and I think it would be good for her mentally.
 

Alex is a real gentleman.  He is always my horse of choice when I want to have a casual ride and just have fun.  He's also the horse I use whenever I help to move sheep around the farm.  I bought Alex from a friend when she offered him to me to borrow after I lost my thoroughbred horse, Wally.  Alex is very dear to me because of this,

and he is such a delight to handle and ride.  He's never been anything special.  He'd never win a hack class, clean up in dressage or jump very high, but he's a jack of all trades and is extremely valuable to me just for his handiness.

He was perfect as a friend to look after my yearling until he was gelded at 2 1/2, and is great to use as company in teaching horses to float.  Aleck, as we often call him, is 15.3 and 1/2, chestnut with white markings and a mature 16 years old.
 

Not a very glamorous photo, but it's all I've got that's recent! Allie is my first venture into young horses.  I bought him on a whim from the renowned Northern Warmblood stud. I've had a childish desire to own a Northern horse for years, fuelled by a friend who owned one who is currently very successful.  Anyway, I knew that they were dispersing a great deal of their horses because they wished to condense the enterprise, so I rang up and made an inquiry.  Jan was very helpful and suggested a yearling colt that she had.  So I went and had a look at him.  While I was there I looked at a lot of other yearlings, but I knew that the one I wanted was the one she had suggested in the first place and my mind was made up then and there.  He was little, smaller than the others, but he was incredibly quiet and nicely conformed.  The size factor really didn't bother me too much though, because being my first young horse I wanted to be able to push him around, instead of struggling with an animal that was just way too big and strong for me.
I paid quite a bargain price for him, and now that he has just turned three I am delighted that I bought him.  He is the sweetest little fellow I've ever come across, and is currently 3/4 broken in.  Allie's black but turning grey slowly, and currently 15.2 hands.  He should mature to 15.3, which is small, I'd prefer 16 hands... but it will be adequate.

Castle.