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Eddie went to the Futurity at Solihull – Scored 8.29 with a 9.25 vet – Thrilled with that!

Cherryhills Bellinski (Eddie) at Solihull Futurity Young Horse Evaluation

Callie went to the SPSS Young Event Pony Championships, and came 3rd in the 4 year old class, with a 27.5 dressage score, and a clear round. She also won the Best Turned Out 4 year old award, and the highest placed SPSS pony award, so she brought home a few rossies and a saddlecloth!

Cherryhills Arctic Kiss (Callie) at the SPSS Young Event Pony Championship

Callie then went hunting for the first time, and had a whale of a time! She was good as gold at the meet, steady and sensible all day.

Cherryhills Arctic Kiss (Callie) hunting with the Quorn

Moving on to Holly, she has hunted a few times this year. On one occasion we parted company in style, with Holly flying beautifully over a large Leicestershire hedge, and me, ungracefully going splat!

Paler Shade of Grey (Holly) hunting on Boxing Day

Paler Shade of Grey (Holly) at Opening Meet

Then we were onto Christmas, and a little bit of time off from work, a sense of humor and four ponies all came together to produce this…

Cherryhills Bellinski (Eddie) in the Christmas spirit!

A few pictures from the last few weeks. We haven’t done anything of note recently because of the weather, and Callie recovering from being poorly.

Finding the different gears today

My attempt at artistic – This is Callie’s attempt at a star!

Having snuffles and scratches!

Usually Holly looks white grey, but this shows how dotty she really is.

Callie went cross country

Then Callie went show jumping

Then Callie went to dressage

Then unfortunatly Callie got very poorly, and has had 2 weeks off so far with a nasty respiratory infection, but she is on the mend now, with a gentle recovery work plan.

Holly went jumping too…

And behaved like a naughty 4 year old, while Callie at 4, behaved like she’d been and done it all before!

Now the exciting news….Ellie foaled on the 18th May – 8 days after my Grandfather passed away suddenly, so the arrival of a very smart colt certainly cheered us all up!

Meet Cherryhills Bellinski, by Bernwode Brokat out of Irco’s Mysteree Elhee (Ellie) aka Eddie!

Super smart little chap who is up for sale

Ellie is MEGA hairy, so hairy that she was itching like mad. To the point I had to get her in and check she didn’t have lice! No visitors were to be found, thankfully!

She has had a bath, and loads of hair came out. I was going to take a picture but she went super curly and looked embarassing! Instead I turned out out without a rug on, and she rolled yet more hair out.

She is due to foal on or around the 14th May, so thats getting sooner and exciting!

The weather here has got much warmer, so Ellie is now wearing her fly rug underneath her thin turnout rug, as she was too hot and itchy in her thick rug.

Today has been lovely so far, and have taken Callie out onto the Quarry, where she was perfectly behaved, and trotted her little socks off in her new saddle. All that is left to do is a spot of jump schooling with Holly. Will try to get some pictures.

Popped the girls (Holly & Callie) out this morning, but brought them back in at lunchtime, which they were very grateful for. Think I’ll be riding in the indoor later – I much prefer riding outdoors.

Holly did another session of canter work yesterday – used the stopwatch, and did 1 min walk/2 min canter/1 min walk/2 min canter pattern. She is much fitter than I thought, as that was no effort at all.

Two hunter trials coming up – one at Prestwold Hall, a lovely local venue, that hosts several hunt meets, is a wedding and conference venue, and has a racetrack where you can go for sessions to drive supercars! The other is at Osberton Estate, which is again lovely – it is the venue for the Lycetts 6/7 yr old finals. Last time we went there it was axle deep mud!

A friend of mine, Chantal, has set up an online tack shop, and has spent an awful lot of time discovering good quality pony sized items, so we will be enlarging our wardrobes with some fantastic new cross country boots from her shortly. Take a look at EquiChoice

Also on the countdown to Ellie foaling with around 12 weeks left to go – very exciting!

Unfortunatly my hand seems to be getting worse, so its time for a human vet appointment – fingers crossed its not too serious.

Had a very busy few weeks, both at work and cramming things in with the ponies now the weather is nice.

Bought a new breastplate from Evison Equine which is lovely soft leather, with elastic inserts.

Also busy preparing for this years show – I help organise Market Bosworth Show

Ponies have also been busy – Callie jumped under saddle for the first time, a couple of stills from the video, and the video below

First little pop under saddle – she’s really got the hang of it now!

Video

Next Holly went cross country schooling, and at 20, had an absolute whale of a time!

Then, it was time for up to date tummy shots of Ellie – She’s growing outwards well, and has just started moulting, so it will be bath time soon, if the weather continues to be just as lovely

Not posed fantastically, but much rounder in the tum!

A spot of posing….!

Went to see a fat, happy, blissed out Ellie pony – she is certainly at the stage of enjoying her pregnancy, but I think she’s getting the odd kick now! Must feel bizzarre for her as she has no idea, what with being AI-ed!!!

Photos to follow!!