Well, I knew already before Kiuruvesi training camp and Ypäjä competition that it will be tuffer for Paulette, who has only competed in breed show performance classes and has not travelled so long distances so far, than for Ivanhoe. I think she did very well in Ypäjä and was not tired of the competition itself but the 8 hour drive back home at Sunday made her muscles stiff. So she, as well as Ivanhoe, has had a vacation week 24/7 in their flock/herd and only a few short drives driven. I also massaged Paulette which she enjoyed very much and which she really needed. The she was pampered with the warmth of Back On Track backwarmerer. So summa summarum, it would definitely be too soon to again drive the same 8 hours to Loimaa training camp and competition for Paulette next week, and so we decided to skip the competition with pair. Of course I could have taken Ivanhoe and compete single - but then again, he has done the same trips and competitons and trainings as Paulette though he, as a former trotting pony, is more experienced of travelling. So the ponies stay at home and now we plan a family vacation instead as my friend anyway could stay at our home and take care of the ponies :) Always keep your ponies first, and not the need of participating in competitions at any price. There will be new competitions to take part in. I just wish all the combine driving competitions would not be at least 450 km from us :(
I got two photos from the photographer Leena Kahisaari of our pair at marathon at the Ypäjä competition and these makes me very happy! My combine driving ponies :D
Ivanhoe at right hand viewed from the whip and Paulette on the left
Inspired of the competition we have now started to build our own marathon course. We already have a good place for one obsticle around trees in one of the ponies inclosures/paddocks. We also got old tires which we can use. I was brave enough to write two companies with suitable materials for donations but lets see if it works :P Our riding club would also need a donation of ca 500 euros to be able to buy precision cones, hopefully I'll find a sponsor for them, too.
We also have a breeding stallion, chestnut dun Verano Lee v.d. Zandkamp, and this year we also take a few mares to him. The first customer arrived at Monday, a big beautiful grey mare, so now the breeding season started. We broke him to drive but he has mostly been used to breeding. Here an winterphoto of him, isn't he wonderful <3 Verano has very good action so can't wait to get his foals broken to drive. Thorin Ax, our first homebred Shetland who is now 3 yrs is now driven a few times and does it very well, he will hopefully be a perfect pair for Ivanhoe in pair as his gaits will suit better with Ivanhoe than his dam's Paulettes gaits does. We then have a 2 yr old filly Eowyn by Verano and Paulette and two yearling colts Gwaihir (dam Skattens Sissy) and Mithrim (dam Haganäs Marilyn Monroe), both of course also by Verano. This summer we expect two foals by Verano and by the mares Skattens Sissy and Jenniefer. Jenniefer has had three foals so she will not be covered now, Skattens Sissy will probably be covered, Paulette I have not decided of yet, she is going to the International Shetland Pony show in Ypäjä and the rules did not accept covered mares participating (normally in Finland one is allowed to compete in any sport with a covered mare until 4 month "pregnant").
Verano Lee v.d. Zandkamp, our breeding stallion
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