Its rainy, and cold, and its my day off, so, I'm doing an indoor day, gotta do laundry but tht'll hv to wait til tonight when I go down to the office to post this. I slept til nine thirty, had breakfast, bravely attempted to sort my room out (and it does look a bit better) and then actually sat down with my mp3 while reading "Picture of Dorian Gray" (I hear the movie is coming out, but everyone should do themselves a favour and read the book, Wilde's use of language seriously gives me thrills, a true artist, and while your at it read "De Profundis" as well), and that kept me busy to lunch.
Oh, random but need to mention it; the battery on my new Mp3 is AMAZING, havent charged it since wales and its been turned on and off loads of times plus used for what im assuming is far over 24 hrs in total, and there's still more left, so if you want an mp3 that doesn't die and has averagely large memory (8 gb is enough for me atm), go for the Creative Zen Mosaique one lol!
Anyway, was going to get on an old pony called JD today cause he needs excersice (believe me; over 30 years old but serioulsy overfed and had me actually jump off and lead him half a trek the other day cause he just wanted to take off) and I should try and keep busy or I go lasy, but, the rain put me off bigtime, so here I am, blogging in the middle of the day..
I realize my blogging has been a bit off, sorry bout that, there is a lot going on I just have trouble writing it down, its been a long week and things are about to get really busy, kids camp starts on sunday, so I will be moving down into the client accommodation building to babysit 24 hrs lol, should definately be interesting, we are having 20 kids spread between four campleaders plus my boss...
Anyways, three weeks sunday, and still loving it, it can be pretty hard work, and its definately a different lifestyle to my usual one, but its good fun almost all the time, and there is enough variety to keep me happy. I've led a few treks out on my own now, and my few customers have been very pleased so far :) despite me having some issues with the horses I've been leading on; like old JD who had a little buck and canter where we were supposed to be walking (customers were total beginners and only wanted to walk), its good fun to try different horses though, and with over thirty trekhorses its not like I'm gonna get bored with them!
And happy six months babe, love uuuuuuu xxx
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Horse-yard drama
Showjumper Peckles is devastated, to say the very least. Supposedly he has only himself to blame, after all, had he not flirted with Minka (one of the trekking horses who happens to be pregnant and due to deliver very soon) perhaps his girlfriend Quiz (showjumper) wouldn't have decided that she has had enough of him.
And perhaps she wouldn't have fallen in love with the chestnut mare in the field next to hers and Peckles'; yes, not only did she brake things of with him, she gave up on male horses entirely and fell in love with a mare (sucks to be Peckles)...
Meanwhile Minka is totally ignoring him, she's got better things to do (like brake down the gate leading into the neighbors haypaddock where the grass is oh so green) and its not like she has any need of a cool showjumper who isn't likely to take liking to her foal.
So Peckles is having a hard time, and its affecting his mood considerably, he comes running up to the gate to say hi and hopes to be brought in, he spends his nights desperately trying to convince Quiz to take him back (she still has the stable next to him) but she keeps pushing him away. And the oh so gorgeous (but total nutcase of a breaking horse) lady Skye in the next stable doesn't want him either.
Tinuvíel (the lovely dunn breaking horse I got to name) has spent the last six days closed in in a large field with another mare (she used to drift around the yard freely) and, after eating loads of grass and not being excersised or close enough to talk to any other horse than her new mare friend (and the bitch of a horse in the next field), made sure to make life interesting today...
She was brought in to go for a hack with another green horse and a more experienced one, bit skittish while being tacked up but was taken out anyway, halfway out of the gate though she did a proper bronco buck and sent her rider (who is a total pro) flying. And then apparently again when they were trying to canter during the hack.
As if that wasn't enough she took full advantage of being released in the yard again afterwards, wandering about she had a gelding brake a fence (she's in season like about half of the mares) and they had a run around in his field, when separated from him she behaved for a while, but got bored and tried to jump the fence, crashing through and totally breaking the upper fence board (its some bloody thick and strong wood tht the bloody horse broke of without getting as much as a splint in her leg lol). Then she amused herself with trying to steal the other horses food as the quad went by.
Appi (older appaloosa gentleman who belongs with the trekkers) was to stay in over night until today as he was needed for a lesson, hence was put in a large pen with loads and loads of nice grass, and looked very pleased. But upon realizing that the other horses where going out without him he picked up canter ( he can't have fitted more than two strides into that pen) and jumped out. Got caught and was put with the yards very own escape-artist, Scooby (little pony used for lessons and treks), in the field that has noo option for gettin out except having the gate opened.
Seemed to calm down a bit while the others disapeared down the hill, but oh no, jumped out of that field as well and had to be ridden back bareback from out the back by yours truely this morning after she was given a lift out on the quad...
And perhaps she wouldn't have fallen in love with the chestnut mare in the field next to hers and Peckles'; yes, not only did she brake things of with him, she gave up on male horses entirely and fell in love with a mare (sucks to be Peckles)...
Meanwhile Minka is totally ignoring him, she's got better things to do (like brake down the gate leading into the neighbors haypaddock where the grass is oh so green) and its not like she has any need of a cool showjumper who isn't likely to take liking to her foal.
So Peckles is having a hard time, and its affecting his mood considerably, he comes running up to the gate to say hi and hopes to be brought in, he spends his nights desperately trying to convince Quiz to take him back (she still has the stable next to him) but she keeps pushing him away. And the oh so gorgeous (but total nutcase of a breaking horse) lady Skye in the next stable doesn't want him either.
Tinuvíel (the lovely dunn breaking horse I got to name) has spent the last six days closed in in a large field with another mare (she used to drift around the yard freely) and, after eating loads of grass and not being excersised or close enough to talk to any other horse than her new mare friend (and the bitch of a horse in the next field), made sure to make life interesting today...
She was brought in to go for a hack with another green horse and a more experienced one, bit skittish while being tacked up but was taken out anyway, halfway out of the gate though she did a proper bronco buck and sent her rider (who is a total pro) flying. And then apparently again when they were trying to canter during the hack.
As if that wasn't enough she took full advantage of being released in the yard again afterwards, wandering about she had a gelding brake a fence (she's in season like about half of the mares) and they had a run around in his field, when separated from him she behaved for a while, but got bored and tried to jump the fence, crashing through and totally breaking the upper fence board (its some bloody thick and strong wood tht the bloody horse broke of without getting as much as a splint in her leg lol). Then she amused herself with trying to steal the other horses food as the quad went by.
Appi (older appaloosa gentleman who belongs with the trekkers) was to stay in over night until today as he was needed for a lesson, hence was put in a large pen with loads and loads of nice grass, and looked very pleased. But upon realizing that the other horses where going out without him he picked up canter ( he can't have fitted more than two strides into that pen) and jumped out. Got caught and was put with the yards very own escape-artist, Scooby (little pony used for lessons and treks), in the field that has noo option for gettin out except having the gate opened.
Seemed to calm down a bit while the others disapeared down the hill, but oh no, jumped out of that field as well and had to be ridden back bareback from out the back by yours truely this morning after she was given a lift out on the quad...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Nalah the house cat (ancient thing and shares my breakfast)
Hitting the flats on the 1.5 hr track
Floppy eared Caz and me off on adventure :D
Climbing uphill
On the top 
View's not bad
Back down at safer heights 
Down by the river
Caz and me splashin through the river :DTuesday, September 15, 2009
14 september 2009
14th September 2009
It's waaay too easy to get used to not working, slept so well this morning the alarm took my totally by suprise and I dragged myself downstairs to have breakfast, about 20 seconds into making breakfast the guys came rumbling in (they usually come by the time me and D are out in the yard), how anyone can be that awake and cheerful in the morning is beyond me, I can be a morning person but today was not one of my good days; anyhow chatting to them woke me up a bit lol...
So the biggest thing today was a trek with some older teenage girls who are doing some kind of equine course, several of them had plenty of experience but for a few it looked like it was the first time on horseback. Since there were like twelve of them there were three of us with them and I placed myself in the middle of the line with a little bay called Caz, who turned out to be quite a character..
Anyways it was the hr and a half trek (rather than the one hr treck i've been on before) so I got to have a look around another part of the farm, the view from the little mountain top was amazing (I swear I will remember the camera at some point) and in all fairness yes, the hills did scare me a bit, but Caz got me up and down safely (apart from running like a lunatic to catch up with the others and thereby crashing into the hindquaters of Buddy, a slow and fat palomino)---
Heading back we took the river track which, in some places, goes extremely close to the ledge and is ridiculously thin, not a problem while you stay in single file but if something goes wrong well, it gets a bit tricky.
Now by now me and Caz had one horse between ourselves and Buddy whos rider was very unexperienced and for some reason she managed to drop her right rein (the ledge is on the left) so basically we were on the skinniest part of the track, one horse between me and Buddy who's rider was trying to stop him with only the left rein meaning he was turning in the worst possible direction, and she couldnt reach the other rein..
Buddy being the fabulous trekkig horse he is, did stop, but there we were, her gettin off was not an option, I was the only guide clse enough to get to them, hence, slid off Caz very carefully (had about 20cm of ground to stand on) and managed to squeeze her and me past the horse in front and (god knows how cause Buddy is one big horse) Buddy to get his rein. Lol we all survived, I got back on and onwards we went..
Then down in the river Caz decided she wanted to have a splash, and every time we stopped she did her very best to soak me, it was good fun though :D
(And oh, Tinuviel is getting so brave you can actually get close enough to stroke her in the field and she chased the quad to get the feedbuckets lol)
It's waaay too easy to get used to not working, slept so well this morning the alarm took my totally by suprise and I dragged myself downstairs to have breakfast, about 20 seconds into making breakfast the guys came rumbling in (they usually come by the time me and D are out in the yard), how anyone can be that awake and cheerful in the morning is beyond me, I can be a morning person but today was not one of my good days; anyhow chatting to them woke me up a bit lol...
So the biggest thing today was a trek with some older teenage girls who are doing some kind of equine course, several of them had plenty of experience but for a few it looked like it was the first time on horseback. Since there were like twelve of them there were three of us with them and I placed myself in the middle of the line with a little bay called Caz, who turned out to be quite a character..
Anyways it was the hr and a half trek (rather than the one hr treck i've been on before) so I got to have a look around another part of the farm, the view from the little mountain top was amazing (I swear I will remember the camera at some point) and in all fairness yes, the hills did scare me a bit, but Caz got me up and down safely (apart from running like a lunatic to catch up with the others and thereby crashing into the hindquaters of Buddy, a slow and fat palomino)---
Heading back we took the river track which, in some places, goes extremely close to the ledge and is ridiculously thin, not a problem while you stay in single file but if something goes wrong well, it gets a bit tricky.
Now by now me and Caz had one horse between ourselves and Buddy whos rider was very unexperienced and for some reason she managed to drop her right rein (the ledge is on the left) so basically we were on the skinniest part of the track, one horse between me and Buddy who's rider was trying to stop him with only the left rein meaning he was turning in the worst possible direction, and she couldnt reach the other rein..
Buddy being the fabulous trekkig horse he is, did stop, but there we were, her gettin off was not an option, I was the only guide clse enough to get to them, hence, slid off Caz very carefully (had about 20cm of ground to stand on) and managed to squeeze her and me past the horse in front and (god knows how cause Buddy is one big horse) Buddy to get his rein. Lol we all survived, I got back on and onwards we went..
Then down in the river Caz decided she wanted to have a splash, and every time we stopped she did her very best to soak me, it was good fun though :D
(And oh, Tinuviel is getting so brave you can actually get close enough to stroke her in the field and she chased the quad to get the feedbuckets lol)
Monday, September 14, 2009
12-13th sept 2009
12th September 2009
Had the morning off, meaning I could have a chat with my dear bf when it was actually evening back home, it did mean i got up at the same time as usual (quater past seven) but i probably would have anyway, i keep waking up before the alarm (yes thats sad :P )... Also got a lot of important stuff done (like transfering tuition money to uni so i can actually come back) and i am sorry to all of u guys i had to turn down, thing is i get stressed if i got more thn 2 people on the chat while im doing other stuff (yeahyeah i'm slow laugh all u want ;) ), but if u wanna chatt im mostly online early morning (ur time)!
After lunch i helped out tacking up trekhorses for a family trek (6 kids under age of ten and two grownups) and got to come along on the trek itself, rode a cute little bay pony called Irish and led one of the little girls ponnies, a chatty 7 (?) year-old who was a bit nervous and had no attention span to speak of lol but she was a sweet girl and the trek was good fun :D I've stopped (almost ;) ) freaking out when the track goes right over the extremely steep edge of the valley, and going through the river is something that i might never get sick of, its such an amazing location. So far I've only been on slow treks, which I really don't mind, I've been so lazy with riding this summer that I'm just totally out of shape and need all the time i can get to get used to it again lol :P
Back from the trek horses where put back in the field and I finished the stables (poor D had more than twice the work to do in the morning cause two of the people with livery horses werent there and they usually help out a LOT in the mornings), by the time I was almost done the guys brought in one of the breakinghorses to her stable (this is a horse they have transformed from totally wild to ridable in the short time I've been here), and I was ordered to name her something cool cause apparently she's a brilliant horse. LOL, uhm ok...
13th September 2009
So basically I've been debating back and forwards, the mare is a dunn (black/bork för er som talar svenska) and she's really sweet but a bit shy and thats about all I know, hence it wasn't easy; but this morning her name went up on the feed board after mentioning it to one of the guys who laughed and had to try three times to pronounce it but approved lol; so her name is Tinuvíel. (Yes I'm a geek, I don't care its a fab name :P )
Spent all morning mucking out stables cause we were replacing the bedding entirely (sawdust is heavy when wet) and it was hard work but I now have all afternoon and evening off so I don't really care :D
After lunch I walked into town to pick up some absolute essentials (like chocolate ;) ) its about a half-hr walk and the town is tiny, but it has a really good supermarket with good opening hours so it still scores high, I'm not intending to spend a lot of money down here...
I've survived the first week, 39 (273 days) to go (sounds awfully long when I put it like that doesnt it?) But hey I'll be ok, I don't think I could have found a better job and nicer employers, even though its far away... :D
Love u all take care
xxx
(And oh, as for pics I hvnt taken cam out yet and wanna check tht its ok with my boss first so u hv to b patient)
Had the morning off, meaning I could have a chat with my dear bf when it was actually evening back home, it did mean i got up at the same time as usual (quater past seven) but i probably would have anyway, i keep waking up before the alarm (yes thats sad :P )... Also got a lot of important stuff done (like transfering tuition money to uni so i can actually come back) and i am sorry to all of u guys i had to turn down, thing is i get stressed if i got more thn 2 people on the chat while im doing other stuff (yeahyeah i'm slow laugh all u want ;) ), but if u wanna chatt im mostly online early morning (ur time)!
After lunch i helped out tacking up trekhorses for a family trek (6 kids under age of ten and two grownups) and got to come along on the trek itself, rode a cute little bay pony called Irish and led one of the little girls ponnies, a chatty 7 (?) year-old who was a bit nervous and had no attention span to speak of lol but she was a sweet girl and the trek was good fun :D I've stopped (almost ;) ) freaking out when the track goes right over the extremely steep edge of the valley, and going through the river is something that i might never get sick of, its such an amazing location. So far I've only been on slow treks, which I really don't mind, I've been so lazy with riding this summer that I'm just totally out of shape and need all the time i can get to get used to it again lol :P
Back from the trek horses where put back in the field and I finished the stables (poor D had more than twice the work to do in the morning cause two of the people with livery horses werent there and they usually help out a LOT in the mornings), by the time I was almost done the guys brought in one of the breakinghorses to her stable (this is a horse they have transformed from totally wild to ridable in the short time I've been here), and I was ordered to name her something cool cause apparently she's a brilliant horse. LOL, uhm ok...
13th September 2009
So basically I've been debating back and forwards, the mare is a dunn (black/bork för er som talar svenska) and she's really sweet but a bit shy and thats about all I know, hence it wasn't easy; but this morning her name went up on the feed board after mentioning it to one of the guys who laughed and had to try three times to pronounce it but approved lol; so her name is Tinuvíel. (Yes I'm a geek, I don't care its a fab name :P )
Spent all morning mucking out stables cause we were replacing the bedding entirely (sawdust is heavy when wet) and it was hard work but I now have all afternoon and evening off so I don't really care :D
After lunch I walked into town to pick up some absolute essentials (like chocolate ;) ) its about a half-hr walk and the town is tiny, but it has a really good supermarket with good opening hours so it still scores high, I'm not intending to spend a lot of money down here...
I've survived the first week, 39 (273 days) to go (sounds awfully long when I put it like that doesnt it?) But hey I'll be ok, I don't think I could have found a better job and nicer employers, even though its far away... :D
Love u all take care
xxx
(And oh, as for pics I hvnt taken cam out yet and wanna check tht its ok with my boss first so u hv to b patient)
Friday, September 11, 2009
Its been a looong day and u'd think a girl would be aloud to enjoy a quick look around online before bed but no, Jack (stable cat) disagree's and does all he can to get cuddles and get in the way of my typing, he's lucky hes cute :P
Jack wants attention...
Cookie doesnt mind waitin
But yeah I'm settling in alright, Dee had the day off today so I've been all on my own, in charge of feeding etc :S bit scary and I got close to screwing it up but managed not to in the end :D
So today I mucked out a few stables, did a bit of cleaning in the accomodation block for customers, had lunch, tacked up and moved around showjumpers etc, did the feeding,
omg im so not in the mood for blogging
b bck soon i promise
luv yah all
xxx
So today I mucked out a few stables, did a bit of cleaning in the accomodation block for customers, had lunch, tacked up and moved around showjumpers etc, did the feeding,
omg im so not in the mood for blogging
b bck soon i promise
luv yah all
xxx
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
9th of the 9th Month 2009
Wednesday 9th September 2009
Soo short breif on where I am and what I've been up to...
I started working on the Monday, most of the time I'm working with another young girl, Dee, who's been working here a few months. There are 50 something horses on the farm, 4 dogs that run around permanently and a few others that show up now and then, Sazu is the house dog, crazy little jackrussel cross and cutest thing ever :D. There's 4 (?) cats, two goats, two rabbits and some calves.
The yard only has a few stables to muck out as almost all the horses are out in fields permanently, (nice change from a certain other yard (no names mentioned)) There are a few livery horses and some show jumpers but the biggest group of horses is the trekking horses and I'm guessing there are 30 odd of them (all of which we had to de-worm today, lol tht ws a lot of work) and they all go out together. Nice mix of small horses and big ponnies, a couple of little ponnies as well.. So far I've been on three different ponnies Tori, Norwinger and Destiny, all three proper little sweethearts.
The tracks I've seen so far are amazing, there is a river that runs through the farms land and it has cut out a deep valley and its all totally gorgeous :P lol
Anyway, cant be asked to write more now, but as you can here, all is good; please come visit though, miss u all! xxx
Soo short breif on where I am and what I've been up to...
I started working on the Monday, most of the time I'm working with another young girl, Dee, who's been working here a few months. There are 50 something horses on the farm, 4 dogs that run around permanently and a few others that show up now and then, Sazu is the house dog, crazy little jackrussel cross and cutest thing ever :D. There's 4 (?) cats, two goats, two rabbits and some calves.
The yard only has a few stables to muck out as almost all the horses are out in fields permanently, (nice change from a certain other yard (no names mentioned)) There are a few livery horses and some show jumpers but the biggest group of horses is the trekking horses and I'm guessing there are 30 odd of them (all of which we had to de-worm today, lol tht ws a lot of work) and they all go out together. Nice mix of small horses and big ponnies, a couple of little ponnies as well.. So far I've been on three different ponnies Tori, Norwinger and Destiny, all three proper little sweethearts.
The tracks I've seen so far are amazing, there is a river that runs through the farms land and it has cut out a deep valley and its all totally gorgeous :P lol
Anyway, cant be asked to write more now, but as you can here, all is good; please come visit though, miss u all! xxx
Sunday 6th September 2009
Sunday 6th September 2009
And there I was, some 30 hrs after take-off from Heathrow, going out through the gate at Auckland airport to board my domestic flight, (which was to take me to Rotorua), and at seeing the plane I went “oh no....”. I've been in small planes before, but this is by far the smallest one in what, over ten years? Ever?
Anyway, did climb the pathetic stairs and ducked to get through the pathetic door and made my way through the pathetic aisle to my seat, (there was one chair on each side of the aisle and all together some 12 seats), I was so not impressed and more worried than usual to be honest (no I don't like flying much). Did magane to not freak out during take-off and after a couple of minutes I was actually ok.
And then it hit me. Anyone who's seen me this summer can tell you that I have been dreading leaving, and I will admit that the final weeks up until taking off were filled with terror and total anguish. But as that tiny little plane left the ground and I finally realized that that beautiful landscape below me was New Zealand, I finally did remember why I am doing this.
I love it, I love travelling, and I don't mean the boring 30 something hrs of flying from Heathrow to Hong Kong to Auckland, I mean those moments when you are arriving somewhere completely new, the excitement of having no idea where you are going (yes you might know the name of the destination but you dont know what to expect of it). And the view from that plane (despite partially being blocket by the planes left engine) was amazing, and so different.
Rotorua Airport actually reminded me a lot of the tiny airports I have frequently flew to in north Sweden, managed to find a taxi to get me to the town centre (awsome driver who gave me a quick tour on the way in), and then there I was. I had a couple of hours to kill before my bus was to leave and spent most of that time down by the lakeside where, (yes I am pathetic) I got to see black swans and suddenly felt at home. We left Australia like 10 years ago, but even so the little parts of Australia that you find here in New Zealand do make me feel right at home.
The bus ride was short and I was picked up at the station by my boss; Pauline, (who is absolutely amazing by the way) and we went to the farm, and I was home.
And there I was, some 30 hrs after take-off from Heathrow, going out through the gate at Auckland airport to board my domestic flight, (which was to take me to Rotorua), and at seeing the plane I went “oh no....”. I've been in small planes before, but this is by far the smallest one in what, over ten years? Ever?
Anyway, did climb the pathetic stairs and ducked to get through the pathetic door and made my way through the pathetic aisle to my seat, (there was one chair on each side of the aisle and all together some 12 seats), I was so not impressed and more worried than usual to be honest (no I don't like flying much). Did magane to not freak out during take-off and after a couple of minutes I was actually ok.
And then it hit me. Anyone who's seen me this summer can tell you that I have been dreading leaving, and I will admit that the final weeks up until taking off were filled with terror and total anguish. But as that tiny little plane left the ground and I finally realized that that beautiful landscape below me was New Zealand, I finally did remember why I am doing this.
I love it, I love travelling, and I don't mean the boring 30 something hrs of flying from Heathrow to Hong Kong to Auckland, I mean those moments when you are arriving somewhere completely new, the excitement of having no idea where you are going (yes you might know the name of the destination but you dont know what to expect of it). And the view from that plane (despite partially being blocket by the planes left engine) was amazing, and so different.
Rotorua Airport actually reminded me a lot of the tiny airports I have frequently flew to in north Sweden, managed to find a taxi to get me to the town centre (awsome driver who gave me a quick tour on the way in), and then there I was. I had a couple of hours to kill before my bus was to leave and spent most of that time down by the lakeside where, (yes I am pathetic) I got to see black swans and suddenly felt at home. We left Australia like 10 years ago, but even so the little parts of Australia that you find here in New Zealand do make me feel right at home.
The bus ride was short and I was picked up at the station by my boss; Pauline, (who is absolutely amazing by the way) and we went to the farm, and I was home.
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