Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 4, 2018 19:42:30 GMT
PHOENIX HILL FARM
hearts & horses
phoenix hill album
4th april 2018,
Windstar (Windstar HW) is a handful and he always has been but we had a special liberty session together where we connected more closely than ever. We started off with him bolting around the arena at 100 miles an hour and there was no chance of getting him to listen so instead I chased him around and kept him going. Eventually he showed signs of slowing down and wanting to connect me and I allowed him to come into my space. I sat with him whilst he nudged and nuzzled me which was a very memorable moment because Windstar can be quite boisterous.
He's such a sweet little guy under that spunky attitude. |
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 9, 2018 15:35:22 GMT
9th april 2018,
"She is a complete witch," Callum grunted after dodging a cow kick from the little bay pony. I have to admit Elessandra, our smallest and sassiest pony, did have a temper and always had other ideas. She wasn't obedient, she didn't have much patience and she was fast with her back legs. However, she was a completely different pony to ride. Currently the mare doesn't have an official rider but I'm short enough to be able to ride her but I'm unable to compete her and Callum doesn't like keeping ponies that don't compete unless they're retired or injured. To ride, the mare is foot perfect and I'd go as far to say she is a joy to ride.
Today I hit the trails with her and rode for around 3 hours before heading back. The forests are peaceful and I never see a soul when I'm riding even though it's a public footpath. Maxwell owns the land but there's a footpath which cuts directly through the forest but we never have any trouble fortunately. Once we were back she was still restless so I decided to turn her out into the outdoor school whilst I mucked out her stable. I heard the sound of hooves thundering and a horse squealing which instantly panicked me. I thought one of the horses had escaped or was injured so I quickly dashed out to see Elessandra bolting up and down the school squealing at the top of her lungs out of excitement. She's one hyper mare.
After mucking out her stall I led her back inside and tied her up before turning the hot horse shower on. I decided to give her a bath since she's spent the whole winter out naked meaning she's mucky and mud stained. I selected a tea tree shampoo and massaged it along her spine especially since this is where the water collects when it rains. She had a few scabs but she was fine and enjoyed it. I'm going to start schooling her over some fences again because she had a break over winter and was left unclipped.
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Mia Lyng
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Trail Dust Taster
Posts: 37
Likes: 24
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Thyone Farm
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Post by Mia Lyng on Apr 10, 2018 17:18:40 GMT
The first pic is so cute!
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Annie S.
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 178
Likes: 465
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Gestüt Walbeck
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Post by Annie S. on Apr 11, 2018 1:39:33 GMT
She's Satan's pony, I love it. It'll be fun to watch her develop from here.
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 12, 2018 14:50:11 GMT
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 12, 2018 15:01:26 GMT
12th April 2018,
This is the wonderful Parabola HW, a Danish Warmblood 6 year old mare. Parabola used to be pretty mareish, a little aggressive and tetchy in her "baby years" - from ages 3-4 she went through a really rough stage where she resented everything and everyone. With age though she has mellowed and is now very sweet and loving. She loves nothing more than a cuddle and scratch under her chin. This was probably my 4th time riding her and just as impressed as I am the 1st time I rode her. She's giving, soft and very supple and Callum reminds me that she didn't judge arrive like that, he put a lot of effort into her. I can definitely see and feel that when I ride her and she always gives you an accomplished feeling after riding her. There's no doubt this mare loves to please and Callum tells me she is unrecognisable from when she was a 'baby' but I struggle to see that.
Today we worked on travers and half-passes just to touch up on them because this mare can go a little rusty when not ridden often and practising movements. She's not stiff as such but just kind of becomes a little lazy and clumsy since she had the winter off work. I schooled her over a couple of fences too and she was good. She has a nice tuck that's very neat and careful, we usually use ground poles in front of jumps because she can get a little ahead of herself at times but today it seemed she didn't really need them, she wasn't rushing or pulling against me at all.
Parabola will be competing again very soon which is an exciting prospect because I'll be riding her as well as Callum. Callum promised he'd let me taking her into a jumping class because the mare usually competes in dressage. I think it'll be nice to change things up a little. |
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 12, 2018 15:14:39 GMT
12th April 2018, Part Two
I couldn't resist I just had to introduce you to my pride and joy. This is CRS Suburban Chex and he's definitely got a special place in my heart. I think I could go as far to say he's my heart horse. Chex arrived at Phoenix Hill roughly the same time I started my job here. He was a 3 year old trained in Western but green still. Callum wanted an APH because he loves the breed a lot and Chex happened to be for sale. I liked the breed but they were never really my favourite but this guy changed my mind. He has a perfect temperament and it didn't take long for us to transition because he's a quick learner and extremely laid-back. I spend most my time with Chex because he's in my regular riding schedule and I look after him the most aside from Radisson who is yet to be introduced. Chex has competed in both dressage and halter and placed well each time.
Today Callum was off site so what happens? I get to do what I want so I slipped a neck rope onto Chex and hopped on him and took him for a ride. He's a saint he really is and he listened when I asked him to make upwards and downwards transitions and when I wanted to turn. It's almost as though you can think what you'd like him to do and he'll instantly do it. Without fail. It's pretty impressive. I've always thought I was a mare-person but this gelding is such a superstar. hex has never really show-jumped before but I want to give it a shot this show season. We need to get practising so watch this space- there will be photos!
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Nikki
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 214
Likes: 473
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Hiraeth Stables
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Post by Nikki on Apr 12, 2018 19:31:41 GMT
Beautiful updates !! I especially love Windstar *O*
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 18, 2018 7:40:28 GMT
Nikki thank you, he sure is a beauty!
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Post by Ann Rose Kalkenburg on Apr 18, 2018 7:42:59 GMT
I love the feeling & atmosphare in the last pic
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on Apr 18, 2018 7:53:42 GMT
18th April 2018,
Finally I'm introducing my main superstar. This is RHZ Radisson a Hanoverian stallion from Germany. I've owned Radisson for over a year now since he was previously Callum's main competition horse. I fell in love with the stallion as soon as I saw him and Callum undeniably noticed the way I'd spend that extra hour at the end of the day with him, the way I'd sneak him that chocolate chip cookie and the way I chatted away to him whilst mucking out his stall. Callum gave me Radisson's papers within 6 month of me being at Phoenix Hill, but before that he's competed in dressage and show-jumping and done well in these areas and especially dressage. Callum is our trainer and we have lessons six times a week in between competitions but it's more training me than Radisson because Radisson is a pro and knows what he's doing more than I do.
Underneath his mane is a cute little heart shaped white marking. It's one of my favourite things about him so I'll have to catch a picture of it sometime! It suits his personality so much because he has such a big loving heart and is the softest stallion I've ever met. Today was Radisson's and my day off today so I took my camera along and did a mini 'photoshoot' with him and I've got to give it to him he sure knows how to pose. He's currently paddocked alone but we're hoping to move another horse in with him soon to see if he enjoys the company. He's generally a very independent horse so it may not work but we will see.  |
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constantine
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Consistently Upright Rider
Posts: 428
Likes: 496
Main Stable: Monarch Equestrian
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Post by constantine on Apr 18, 2018 9:26:28 GMT
He looks like a star already  |
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on May 9, 2018 5:57:05 GMT
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Effie Phoenix
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Saddle Polisher
Posts: 145
Likes: 113
Gender: Female
Main Stable: Phoenix Hill Farm
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Post by Effie Phoenix on May 9, 2018 6:13:10 GMT
9th may 2018,
Meet Crunchie and Buttons our Welsh Section D ponies. Crunchie (left) is a thirteen year old gelding and Buttons (right) is a five year old mare. These two were bought together from an old lady who could no longer care for them. It's hard to tell them apart in this picture but Crunchie has a thin stripe down his nose whereas Buttons has no facial markings. They're extremely closely bound and it's difficult to separate them to work with either one of them but we're currently working on that. Buttons is more robust and independent than Crunchie, who is nervous and a little hot-headed. The pair have been together since Buttons was almost a year old and they're full brother and sister out of the same dam and sire.
Buttons is currently being broken to ride since the woman who previously owned her wasn't in the position to break her. She's taken to it like a duck to water though she can pull a few faces when you ask something more challenging of her. Buttons is a forward-thinking mare, she's on the ball and waiting for your every command and is enjoyable to ride and she has the sassiest tail swish when she's unhappy with something. This mare has impressive paces and a nice jump on her which is leading us to believe she'd be a great flashy show-jumping pony since she can turn tightly and she's speedy too. Callum absolutely adores her which surprises me because he doesn't normally like ponies.
Crunchie is a little more shy than Buttons. He's broken to ride but only very lightly and he can be quite jumpy and tense. Crunchie enjoys more of a quiet life but we still have hopes for him to become an in-hand showing pony or he could even possibly dip into dressage. He too has pretty paces but he just needs to be able to put his trust into his rider. He can be a little barn sour when being worked and won't leave Buttons' side which can be quite a nuisance but it's understandable since they've been together for over four years and the two were together in an isolated run-down field. They're all both of them has right now until they can begin to build up relationships with us.   |
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Dimitri Dane
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Mane Quality Supervisor
Posts: 67
Likes: 189
Gender: Male
Main Stable: Wrenegade Stables
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Post by Dimitri Dane on May 9, 2018 6:35:23 GMT
I do love me some welsh D's; Buttons and Crunchie are some exceptionally cute names for them, too! Can't wait to see how they improve with training.
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