Pryde's Wandin EFA Horse Trials

ESB Irish Glory

When Vanessa asked me to be on Team ESB I didn't think I would have the opportunity to get a Team horse as early as I am. When i found out that Sophie was going overseas I jumped at the opportunity to take Gloria on as I had riden her a Vanessa's once before and liked her quite a bit. All this week Sophie and I have been trying to work out ways to get Gloria up to Shepparton. Nothing seemed to be going right for either of us, so it was starting to get a bit hard. Untill we thought up the idea of getting her transported down. After ringing many transport companies I finally got onto Parsons and they were great. They said they could bring her up on the next days truck. So Sophie and I had to make a plan to suit both of us and it worked. Gloria will be arriving tomorrow Saturday the 30th of October ready to start her journey with me. This will be a great test for me as Gloria is quiet strong willed but at the same time and beautiful girl and if she's anything like her Dam Shanghai Lily or her Sire ESB Irish Decent she will make a great eventer.

Shepparton Springtime Show

On the 9th & 10th of October we packed our float and headed of to our Northern Victorian Showjumping Club grounds to compete in our Annual Shepparton Springtime Show. Every year we go and compete and support our club. On Saturday I was entered in the 1.05m class and the 1.10m class on Bennie. We warmed up for our first event and made our way into the ring. We finished with a clear round and no time faults so we were through to the jump off. That was a huge confidence builder for me and I felt like we could do well in the jump off. Whilst I was waiting for the jump off Sam and I went and met James Harvey who competed Bennie and Wish as six years olds. He told us all about them and how they went when he had them. I found out James had jumped Bennie 1.30m so I was confident we could do the 1.10m if I rode him right. It was then our turn in the jump off. On the first jump I fiddled to much and we took a rail down and then finished the rest of the course clear. But I wasn't worried at all. We warmed up for our 1.10m really shakey but Sam was there reasuring me that Bennie and I could do it. With everyone watching and Sam looking at me nodding that I was okay. We started the course, we were clear all the way, then we came up to the jump I was worried about. (The one in the photo) Bennie didnt like the dazzleboard when we trotted past before the bell went and I was worried things would go wrong, but I wasnt about to take my legs of. I gave him a kick and we made it over clear. I was through to the jump off but Bennie wasn't looking to energetic so we pulled him out of the jump of and headed home. On Sunday we headed back into Shepp to compete yet another day of jumping. Bennie and I were entered in the D Grade Juniors. But unfortunatly we got eliminated at the dazzleboard that he jumped yesterday. I decided maybe he was tired as he wasn't jumping real well in the warm up. But I did get a third on my other horse so I was happy. I had a great weekend with Bennie and I want to thank James heaps for giving me tips on how to ride him into the fences and giving me and insight of his past.

Werribee Pony Club Horse Trials

On the 24th of September we loaded up our float with ESB Irish Wish (Wishy) & ESB Irish Benediction (Bennie) and all our gear and headed back down to Werribee for the second time this month. After the two hour trip and compulsary McDonalds stop we arrived and went to find our stables. Only to be dissapointed and have our horses very unhappy, getting concrete floored stables with a wall through the middle just didnt work for our two. Not being able to see each other ment banging, crashing, slipping over and was going to end in an injured horse. We decided to move and got a yard, we finally settled in by dark and decided to plat up. With a torch we got to work, clipping and plating to only end up with Laryngitis. We woke up the next morning feeling pretty sorry for ourselves. We both walked our Cross Country course and went for a short ride. I finished plating Bennie up, finished clipping him, blacking his legs and making him shine we headed out to our Dressage. We warmed up well and did quite a nice test. I was really happy with him and came out with a huge smile. We watched Wish and Sam do there Dressage and Cross Country and it was ready for Bennie and I to strut our stuff again. We warmed up for our Showjumping in the small Indoor Arena. Everything was going perfect untill someone decided to put the warm up fence up just as i was about to jump, so i had to pull Bennie up. Only to come around again and take the top rail down. We warmed up some more and went in. It was show time, Bennie jumped amazingly. He didnt drop his guard once. We finished with a clear round. We put Wish and Bennie to bed and headed to bed ourselves. I woke up Sunday morning, i couldn't move. The Laryngitis had hit me big time. I managed to get up to help Sam & Wish warm up to find myself back in bed before I new it. I decided not to go Cross Country with Bennie, as much as i would have loved to I had no energy and with me unwell, it wasn't right to take Benj out. He was so good and we ended on a great note.

Friends of Werribee Horse Trials

On the 3rd of September Mum, Sam & I headed of to Werribee with ESB Irish Benediction on board. This was Bennie's and my second outing. I was quite confident that we would end up with a good result as Bennie & I have been working hard lately. We got to Werribee and decided it was best that Bennie had a look around, so we took him out for a ride. He was being so good, and was so calm. When we finished i  met Katie Classon for the first time and she made me believe that we would be ok. Friday night was a bit scary for me, as i was very sick and a storm had just hit, thoughts were running through my head. Saturday came and Bennie and I made our way out to the dressage. He was beautiful and clean untill we warmed up were we became covered in sand and water. We greeted the judge and began our test. All was going good untill Bennie spotted the dressage cones, well wasnt that an experience. We would trot past six, they he would jump up in the air and side ways like the cones were going to bite him. Putting it behind me knowing he is green we went into our Showjumping at six that night. Bennie warmed up quite naughty but settled down when he got in the ring, knowing it was show time. We finished with a clear round. We put him to bed in his stable and gave him a huge feed, he was quite impressed. Sunday came with the cross country running late, nerves were running like crazy. We warmed up for our cross country with no confidence what so ever but went our with the adrenaline pumping. All was going good untill we experienced three stops, I retired him knowing he hasnt done a lot and not wanting him to loose his confidence i called it a day. Bennie put his all in that weekend but the cross country got the better of us. Next time (:

Working at Equine Sports Breeding

ESB Irish Benediction

ESB Irish Benediction (Bennie) is a 16.1hh grey gelding by ESB Irish Edition who is by ESB Irish Enough the sire of Kirby Park Irish Jester and out of Rose of Sellicks. Bennie has competed with James Harvey alongside ESB Irish Wish, his half sister and completed the showjumping circuit. He recently furthered his training with Stephen Rogers from USA. Bennie completed Wandin Horse Trials earlier this year in the Preliminary and had continued his training with me after i purchased him in April this year. I hope to represent Australia at an International Level and if i could ride Bennie that would make it so much more special.