It started well at Melbourne and we were very happy with Pluto's dressage ..............
Wow what a roller coaster month it's been for us.
First let's start with Melbourne International Horse Trials which Stuart and Pluto came close to winning - we still can't believe the chain of events that lead Pluto to being withdrawn on the last trot up after running second in the dressage, just a whisker behind the leader Sonja Johnson. The scores from the International judges (181 and 178) were truly spot on, however our Australian judge did not quite agree giving a score of 161- a spread from 72% to 64%. After a fabulous cross country run Stuart and Pluto went into the lead.
Looking great at the last fence on cross country, but .......................
It is policy so close to a WEG selection that all the horses that are in the running for the Championships face a series of trot ups before our team vets. Pluto trotted up fabulously in two presentations prior to the late evening one (some 7 hours after Pluto's run). Poor Pluto became very lame, we all were baffled and, apart from a small mark near his knee, we could not find what was bothering him.
Unfortunately Pluto did not recover from his acute lameness, X-rays were taken followed by an ultrasound of his knee, which was very hot and swollen by now, only to find a possible foreign body embedded. This had caused an infection, causing the lameness- thought to be a thorn from a brush fence- TALK about bad luck!! So off the vet, making a full recovery within days.
But here is where our sport can sometimes take a turn with Pluto gaining a nomination for the Australian team for the World Equestrian Games (only 9 riders/11 horses from Australia - 4 out of Australia, the others reside in the UK). Yesterday the 6 riders were named in alphabetical order for WEG, Chris Burton & TS Jamaimo, Sonja Johnson & Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison , Shane Rose & CP Qualified, Sam Griffiths & Paulank Brockagh, Bill Levett & Shannondale Titan and Paul Tapner on Kilronan. Levett & Shannondale Titan, Paul Tapner & Kilronan,
We congratulate them all and wish them all the very best. The next step for us is to see if Pluto is a named reserve. This will be after Sydney One Day Event on the 23rd July. That being said we are very realistic and have been in the sport too long time to dwell on it.
With some great support from our owners we have a bunch of lovely relatively new horses, all of which we hope will have a bright future and may represent Australia at some time in their career. The Rio Olympics being our future goal with them right now.
Jaymee took our new imported German Sport Horse Medusa, now part owned by Tim Game, to her first competition at 1.10m to place 6th
We would like to welcome Tim Game back into our fold of competition horses. Recently Karen bought a lovely mare from a German Stud, 'Medusa' (yes I know the name may mean ‘Lady with Snakes coming out of her Head’, but we assure you she has no snakes and we do not turn to stone when we look at her!!!!) We invited Tim to have a ride on her and he decided at that time to become a part owner.
Gemma competing in the 1.20m class on King at the NSW Interschool Champs 2014
With the NSW Interschool Championships completing a few weekends ago, Gemma took both King and Carlchen with Carlchen coming 2nd in the combined training and 10th in the 1.10m. King did a stellar two rounds in the 1.20m but it was too competitive that day for Gemma and King. There were certainly some amazing combinations in all of the disciplines and, with over 500 riders, the organizing committee did an amazing job this year. Congratulations to all the winners and place getters. CopRice was a major sponsor of the Interschools and they provided some great prizes.
Our July Calendar:
12th/13th - Quirindi CCI** War Hawk, Susie Clapton's Wyandah Rolly EV105, Dalinea Intro.
15/16th Sydney Mid Week- Pluto 3 star Combined Training, Carlchen CNC*, EV105 My Thai, Queen Mary and Medusa.
19/20th Sydney Weekend- Pluto 3 star, CNC* Queen Mary EV105, Gemma on Medusa, Wyandah Rolly and Dalinea Intro
All the best
Tinney Eventing
