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New Yard & New Adventures

New Yard & New Adventures

So last month (October 2018) we finally moved into our new yard closer to our home and with much better facilities plus the bonus of being far cheaper lol! Spike and Ruby very sadly left us for new homes too with Spike going to Taunton 

A New Arrival – Filli

A New Arrival – Filli

So back in September we had a new addition young Team Graney! Filli lost her field brother and was struggling by herself. She belonged to friends of ours and Liz briefly knew her as a yearling when she coached their owner on her other horse. 

Wobbleberries Challenge! All Systems Are Go!

Wobbleberries Challenge! All Systems Are Go!

Some of you may already know but for the rest of you let me officially announce that Team Graney are taking part in the Wobbleberries Challenge in aid of the late Hannah Francis’s Willberry Wonder Pony Cancer Charity! So what does that mean it means I have to find my big girl pants and kick on to do something I havent done in many years – I have until Autumn 2017 to complete a British Eventing affiliated BE80T event.

For those of you not familar with eventing it consists of a rider and their horse competing in this case of the period of one day but as you get more advanced over three days in dressage, cross country and show jumping basically! Its no mean feat and starting off as a middle aged mum with young horses that are also complete loons it will prove interesting lol. Yes I used to be an eventing groom and yes I used to ride professionally myself and yes I have managed international yards in several equestrian sports however most of that was very many years ago so there will be blood, sweat and tears over the coming year no doubt.

As if that wasnt enough I am also one of the South West reps and the Wiltshire co-ordinator for the challenge so responsible for supporting and helping over 30 riders of all levels to also do the same challenge (with a lot of help from a great team of coaches, supporters, family and friends as well as the HQ Team for the challenge).

In many ways I am extremely lucky as we have our own yard, a private arena just around the corner, a team of coaches I already work with and of course seven horses/ponies of which I can personally ride and compete four of them 🙂 Who am i competing –

Spike A Saurus, 17.2hh ISH

Predicament, 16.3hh Exracer TB

Glorious Protector, 16.2hh Exracer TB

Elle’s Boy, 13.2hh New Forest

We do of course also have Diva our retired Section A and Pearl and Ruby our two American Miniature Shetlands as well as cheer leaders lol!

I will be asking for sponsorship, I will be begging for sponsorship and even hounding some people for sponsorship but before I go any further I must thank my amazing hubby Colin Graney and his business Garden Elf for sponsoring me so generously. In addition to my hubby my bosses at Severn Sales Laboratory Equipment & Furniture (in particular Mr Geoff Biggs) have and are also sponsoring me!

You can of course also get involved and help me towards my sponsorship total goal by just jumping onto my Just Giving Page and donating – it all helps so any donation is most gratefully received! In addition to my normal blog posts on Team Graney I will be sharing our journey and stories along the way so check back soon and come along for the ride 😉

The Things We Do For Our Sport!

Ouch! Well that sums up today really! I am really enjoying my schooling work in our arena again but I must say that my back isnt in total agreement with me currently so its extra painkillers, heat pads and pain gel in addition to the 

The Little Ladies!

So I have shared a lot of stories about Griffin and Marmite but let me introduce some of the other herd members gradually shall I! Pearl and Ruby came to us last summer as rescues with a very sad story. Pearl was so nervous only 

To Horse Board or Not lol

Well the Graney family went to the Wiltshire Game Fair last sunday and as always it was great fun. We had a fabulous day out with food, drinkies, treats, and lots more. Izzy had a go at .22 rifle shooting again and archery which if course she loved!

Last year when we went we saw horseboarding for the first time. This is a new sport where riders tow someone on a mountain board! At the shows its around a course a little like a carriage driving course or they also do drag racing too. Well this year we both had a play on the boards themselves too.

Marmite the Bucking Bronco!

On Saturday Izzy and Marmite went over to The Talland at Cirencester for a 1-2-1 lesson to improve their transitions. Izzy was understandably a little nervous and the big digger didnt help as we had to pass it to get to the arena! Marmite certainly 

Griffin’s First Jumping Lesson!

Well what can I say we had our first jumping lesson together, ok poles actually, but we all have to start somewhere! The fabulous Greg Hill International Show Jumper used to train me when I had Preddy in work and did wonders with him so 

Griffin’s First Canter!

Yippee! What can I say after what feels like months of walk and trot work we finally had our first blast around a stumble field this afternoon and oh boy was it worth it. Mr G was such a good boy and really enjoyed it as did his mum, but even better we actually had breaks and steering too lol.

Griffin our exracer
Griffin being a very gorgeous boy!

So happy with the performance (in secret I must admit) that upon returning to the yard we gave a demonstration to Izzy and Colin too in one of our own field. The grin hasn’t yet disappeared from Elizabeth’s face and the plan is now to go on the Newcomers Weekend with RAH.

 

Glorious Protector – Griffin, most definitely a Mummy’s boy!

Well what can I say lol. Griffin has only joined us this summer after we sadly had to retire Preddy and I felt ready to take on another exracer. I wasnt really looking when I saw his advert but there was something just simply attracted