Gwinnett Equestrian

A brilliant morning at MRC dressage after a last second entry with four tests (go hard or go home, right?! 😅)

A very special debut for Jester between the white boards 🤩 and George’s first time out since October. Swapping horses after each test, both boys were superstars and took it all in their stride. Especially Jester, that boy has been on this planet before. Despite my pilot as I didn’t have a Scooby-Doo where I was going 🙈 we somehow still came away with four decent high-60s percentages and some frillies! 🤩 I really need to learn the tests and not look at them 2 minutes before going in… we might actually get somewhere if I didn’t let the team down 😅 it’s given me a huge kick up the bum to do more with my own!

A huge thank you to our amazing support crew 🫶🏻 and to Annie for also calling for me, dumbing it down when I got lost and shouting loudly enough for my deaf ears! I need to buy you a megaphone 📣🤣

I’ve been awfully quiet on here over the last couple of months! Partly due to the summer holidays and spending some quality time with the mini humans 🥰, lots of back-to-back visitors from back home, and the fact it’s also been absolutely non-stop with the horses in between all that!! (Sorry if you’ve tried to get hold of me 🙈 best to phone!)

I’ve actually struggled to keep up with posting because there’s SO much to say and show that I get completely overwhelmed with where to even start 😅 I have soooo many updates to share (which I know I said I’d get around to weeks ago 🙈), but the kids go back in two days, so I’m planning a proper admin day and hopefully I can finally catch up!

So I’ll start with the latest thing on my camera roll… show jumping yesterday put on by MRC! 🙌🏻

Jester went to his first ever competition and was just amazing 🥹 A total gent away from home and popped around the course without a moment’s hesitation. He even bagged himself a couple of frillies for 3rd place 🥉 I totally adore him. He’s such a wonderful horse and I’m so excited about his future!

Ebony also came out for a spin. She hasn’t been out anywhere in over a YEAR 😳😅 (purely due to lack of time!) and I’ve maybe popped her over a jump oncebut she went out and popped around like the absolute legend she is and even bagged herself a little 1st 🥇 despite my martingale deciding to detach itself after the first jump! 🙈😅
Bloody love her. My cosy pair of slippers who never lets me down. 🖤

Anyway… consider this the beginning of my attempt to tackle the ridiculous backlog on my camera roll 😂🙈

Feeling incredibly lucky to have Gammack's saddlery come out to us every couple of months or so. Anne usually spends the whole day here checking client horses that I’ve got in at the time, as well as my own.
After having a few issues with Jester, I sent Anne an SOS last week, and she very kindly rearranged her diary and came out on Friday to have a look at his saddle! 🫶🏻
Like many of us, I’d already started working through the checklist at the first sign of discomfort. We played around with saddles, checked his teeth, then I had his eyes checked, physio, experimented with different bridles and bits, and eventually circled back to the saddle again. It turned out it was just a touch too long for him, possibly not enough to cause an issue, but a good enough reason for me to still change it.
Unfortunately nothing I had available fitted him and all the saddles that would fit, were in use, so… a brand new saddle it was! 💸💸💸😭🤣 We opted for one with an adjustable gullet, meaning it can be altered as Jester changes shape. (He’s only 5 and is still growing, developing and maturing, so it made sense to choose something that can adapt with him rather than needing replacing again in the near future.)
I can honestly say he’s been like a completely different horse since and is back to himself again 🥰 He has such a kind and genuine nature, I knew something was bothering him rather than him just being a bit silly. It could have been really easy to say he’s young, green and just trying it on. It just goes to show that our horses really do tell us when something isn’t right… we just need to listen! Sometimes it’s a process of ruling everything out until you find the answer, even if it means circling back again!

Thanks Anne, you’re a bloomin’ gem! 💎🙌🏻

This made me smile! 🥰🥰🥰

I have about 20 odd horses to update on 🙈 finding the time to trawl through hundreds of videos everyday has been impossible (especially when I have two little ones to deal with after work! 😅) but I have a couple of quiet weeks now the summer holidays have started, so once the kids are in bed, I’ll start working through everything and post a lot of updates. I apologise now for the spam! 🙈

When you wake up with a really annoying spot on your forehead 😂

5 horses home over the last few days meant we had enough time to get creative and build this! 😁

Not just colourful and fun, obstacles like this are brilliant for building confidence, encouraging curiosity and helping horses learn to think their way through new situations. Walking through the “rainbow tunnel” teaches them to relax around movement and unusual objects, creating braver, more trusting horses both at home and out in the world.

Quality control was carried out by a few of our own ponies and we’re pleased to announce it passed inspection!
Predictably, George’s first thought was, “Can I eat it?” 🤔😂
Ebony tackled it with all the confidence and professionalism of a police horse, while Asbo pony treated the whole thing as his moment to shine. He spotted the rainbow tunnel, puffed himself up, and practically announced, “Stand back everyone, this is what I was born for!” before marching through like the main character. He really does have Small Man Syndrome! 😅

Very much looking forward to introducing this to the work horses!! 😁

Asbo 1 - Fuggler 0 😈

He may look cute and innocent, but don’t be fooled. Timmy Tiny Toes was kicked out of Hell for behavioural issues, with a handwritten note from Satan himself that simply read: “NO RETURNS!!!” Apparently even the devil has limits! Even the Grim Reaper crosses the road when he sees him coming. 😂

It’s probably a good thing he’s not any bigger… although I’m also stuck because nobody can ride him. If anyone has a naughty child they want brought into line, send them my way. Timmy offers character development free of charge. 😅🤣

Behind my own pony’s ears today and feeling extra grateful to have such a wonderful horse. 🥰There aren’t many like Ebony, she is definitely a one in a million. 🖤