Elle Ifill Equestrian Services

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📸 Corina Belliss Photography

Dressage Wairarapa Autumn Series Day 1 🍂🍁

Proud of miss Fernie stepping up to her very first time competing at Elementary (Level 3) - she really did try her best and even managed to take home a couple of ribbons! 🤍🦄

Thanks to sponsor Classic Equestrian and all the team at Dressage Wairarapa that made it all happen! To the judges, stewards, volunteers and everyone inbetween - your hard work is very much appreciated 🥰

📸 Photo credit to Stirrup and Stone and Jenny’s photos

Beautiful backdrop at the Wairarapa Pony Club Hickstead Derby day! 🏔❄️

Fern and I had a blast! Loved catching up with all our riding buddies smashing their goals too 🔥🤩

Huge thanks to the organising committee, judges, stewards, course designers, volunteers and everyone in between.

Such a spectacular day out and feeling very blessed to have this on our doorstep 🥰

📸 Stirrup and Stone

Danté is now wearing his mother's 5'3 rugs! At not quite 2.5 years old, I'm pretty sure he's going to end up being a big boy! 😅

From show pony to cattle musterer - good girl miss Fernie! 🤍🦄 We had a different kind of fun out on the farm today - these little escape artists needing rounding up and shifting up the hill - so Fern and I put our work boots on and had lots of fun whilst doing it!

Fernie girl - what can I say - our first 'proper' season having a go at this showie thing! Lots of learnings, lots of laughs, lots of lovely people! Our goal this year was to qualify for HOY (which we did!), but with HOY being cancelled, RAS stepped up and ran their own equivalent show - the RAS New Zealand Showing Championships.

A huge thanks to all the amazing show organisers, committee, judges, stewards, volunteers and every one in between, Rachel Stringfellow - Pet Photography for the beautiful photos capturing the moment.. and of course to my beautiful mare who always tries so hard - Fern you are always making me forever proud! 🤍🦄

Final results:
🥈2nd Newcomer Saddle Hunter over 148cm
🥉3rd Best Newcomer Saddle Hunter Horse Over 148cm
🏅4th Open Saddle Hunter Horse Over 148cm

Wow! Blown away by Danté's results after my very first attempt at breeding! 🥰 🏆🥇

He's turning out to be a very special boy 🤩🧡 - especially as I've threatened to sell him so many times 😅🤣... maybe he is a keeper?!?!

A big shout out to Lucy Russell of Equus Veterinary Reproduction and Consultancy (breeding), Mandy Illston (birthing & gelding) and Gráinne Cunningham (keeping him alive in his mother's womb after the most horrific paddock injury) of EquiVets, and David & Karyn Morris (stabling & supporting his poor mum's recovery, grazing out on their fabulous hills, and supplier of much wine and gin to keep us all sane!) who have all played their role in getting us this far! It certainly takes a village! 🥰