Blood-tests and blacksmith-games

I am 12 weeks pregnant now and have stopped feeling sick all the time (as predicted in my last blog!). Nita, Tess and Belle had their C.E.M swabs done this week and Tess and Belle also had an E.V.A blood test (Nita didn't need one as she was vaccinated against E.V.A in Sweden). A friend of mine has suggested that i breed from a mare she has. She is a 15hh coloured ex polo pony, I am probably going to put her in foal to a 15hh warmblood that I like the look of.

I took Nita showjumping last night and won the 85cm and 95cm classes, we had 7 faults in the 105cm class - one pole down when we took off a stride out and a refusal at the last jump because I didn't put enough leg on, both were my fault and not Nita's.

Dee amd I hacked Finn and Ellie this week, Finn was great in the lead and behind and we went past very heavy traffic and along the bridleway (where he had never been before). I jumped him over a combination of 4 different jumps in the field out of trot and he was such a good boy.

I gave the girls a lesson today on Micky and Monty, they did some lovely trotting around the field and both the girls seemed in better control of their ponies today! Micky is an ex-riding school pony and will run off and eat grass whenever he gets the chance, Monty is just green and has never been taught manners with a rider on board. Since they are being ridden regularly they are both coming along nicely.

I bought Rose her first show jacket yesterday, she looks very smart in it. Both the girls (my Rosie and Rosie who owns Micky) are getting very excited about doing some showing classes and lead-rein jumping over the summer. They have even decided where they are going to pin up their rosettes!

I caught Rosie and Daisy playing blacksmiths the other day - Dais was on all fours whilst Rosie hammered imaginery shoes onto her hands and feet using a wooden mallet. I liked this and thought It was a far more interesting game than playing Barbie.