Today was a sad day as when it was time for the horses to be put in at night, Merlin was found dead in the field. This was very unexpected and a big shock to everyone as he showed no signs of illness earlier in the day. He appeared to have laid down on his side and made no attempt to get up again. He had no signs of any accident or illness and appeared to have died peacefully. The other horses were very quiet and upset to have lost him, particularly the ones who were in his paddock at the time as he was a popular and friendly horse. He will be sadly missed by a lot of people as although an older horse was only just developing his talents and still had a lot of potential and a lot to give.

Tonight we went to the Tuesday night jumping at Solihull riding club. We took Bess and Merlin. Unfortunately it was a late night as the event was very crowded but the horses were generally well behaved. Merlin jumped clear both times with Kezzia and Alice. Kezzia jumping 2'0'' Alice jumping 2'3''. Bess was jumping well with Lauren and was going clear until they were coming past the exit on one of their turns. Lauren turned right but Bess decided to jump left! Lauren came off onto the floor of the indoor school which is very hard and as her foot continued to hurt it was decided it would be a good idea to get it checked out. Whilst some of the group stayed with Ros and Nina jumped bess in the 2'3'' and got only one refusal Kezzia Lauren and George went to Selly Oak A & E for a check up. The X- ray didn't show anything and at the check up at the children's hospital the next day day it was decided that it was soft tissue damage. This is painful but heals much more quickly and they hope lauren will be ok in two weeks. Until then they decided that a plaster cast would help her to rest it!

This show was at Houndsfield Lane Wythall. Amelia,Jasmine, Alice, Kezzia, Jemma, Nina, Billie and Heidi took Maisy, Bobby, Bess, Merlin, Indy and Freddie. It was a very windy day and even the jump wings were blowing over so the horses were very unsettled so almost every one fell off at least once. They still did well as Freddie won second in the Mountain and Moorland and second in the youngstock, Maisy came first in the pony with filmstar quality and also got a clear round, Merlin came first in the L-plates Jumping, Bess got three clear rounds, Bobby came fifth in the family pony and Indy won the prettiest mare, came second in the best riding club pony and got a clear round. Well done all for coping with difficult conditions and especially for getting back on after falling off. Special thanks go to Leanne and Lauren for helping and for Ros for driving the trailer.

On the 8th of june was the ponyclub show which was held at the kings heath showground. We took Merlin, Bess, Belle and Bobby. (Results to follow)
(Sorry I havent Written for ages but I have been busy doing uni Stuff)

Today was the Alvechurch show. We took Merlin, Bobby, Ted and Freddie. Merlin came second in the novice warm up but unfortunately knocked a jump down in the 2'3" jumping both with jade. He also did a clear round with Alice, Kezzia and Lauren. Bobby had one refusal and one run out in the 2'3" jumping with Jasmine but finished the course and also jumped in the clear round jumping with Lauren, Billie and Kezzia. Ted Jumped a clear round with Jasmine and they also went in the ridden mountain and moorland and came 5th. Freddie was 5th in the best turned out, 6th in the Young stock and  3rd in the Mountain and Moorland. Many thanks to Ros and Heidi's Dad for transporting the Horses and Nina and Amelia for Helping.

This was the day of the first proper show of the year at Alvechurch riding Club. Unfortunately the landrover had to go in for its mot so we were unable to take all the horses. As Heidi's Dad was able to tow one trailer with his van we were able to take two horses. Heidi took Freddie and Jemma took Merlin. Although the weather was awful they still did well, Merlin came 4th in his jumping class and got two clear rounds and Freddie won the Mountain and Moorland in hand class and came 3rd in the best youngster and 6th in th best turned out. Well done all!

Today was the tuesday evening clear round showjumping. Unfortunately there was not time to ride Buster today but Indy and Apollo were worked at Solihull.  In the afternoon the horses tails were washed as well as their legs and we took Ted, Bobby, Bess And Merlin to the jumping. Bess was much more confident about traveling as she loaded straight away and had not sweated up when she got there. Ted and Lauren jumped well and although they did not jump clear they were much better than last time as this is now Ted's second time at a show so he understood what to expect. Bess was a little excited as she had been jmping much bigger last time she was in the ring so jade found it hard to steady her and to turn so although she jumped clear she turned over her own track so she did not get a rosette. Lauren also rode Bobby who was much improved on last time as he did not throw her off and he completed his round confidently. Jemma and Merlin jumped clear over the  1'6''  so did the next round which was 2' and that was almost clear but with one run out. As the people handing out rosettes were not concenrating Jemma got the rosette anyway as they gave it to her before she had chance to say that she hadn't jumped clear. All in all the horses did very well and Kezzia also rode Merlin over the practise fences as well as Jasmine warming up Ted and Alice warming up Bess. Nina also rode Bobby as he managed to unseat Lauren when practising the higher fences but Nina also came off as she is rather tall for Bobby so finds it hard to stay on when he refused and then did a cat leap. It was a very funny looking leap that he did so it mostly made people laugh and no one was hurt. The horses traveled back safely and were happy to come home to their stables although none of them had got very sweaty as they had only been worked steadily. Well done all and many thanks to Ros for driving.

As it was still wet on the field all the horses had to be ridden out on Sunday. Nina and George rode out early from the Solihull field on Indy and Apollo. They rode up to the club but the grounds were closed and the members field was very wet and boggy so they went down Conker lane and into Knowle village. The horse were both very good but Mona was upset at being left behind and han managed to escape from her paddock and had been galloping round the whole field as she had left lots of hoof marks in the grass. She was settled and grazing when the other horses got back so they were left together in her paddock and after a quick canter round they settled to graze. At the home field Jemma, jade, Alice, Lauren, Kezzia and Jasmine rode out on Merlin, bess, Belle , Ted, Bobby and Maisey. They went on a long ride out and ended up at the back of Swanshurst Park. There they praciced jumping ditches. Some of the horses were quite confident at this but Maisey and Merlin were just led over as they seemed unsure. All went well and the horses enjoyed the work as the field has been very wet so they have not had much turnout.