SYDNEY TRIP!!
After the NZ Horse of the Year Show, Dunstan Daffodil & Dunstan Zimorena boarded a plane for Sydney, AUSTRALIA!!
Our tour included 3 shows…..
Daffodil was supposed to be the experienced one of the two but she got to Sydney Royal which has miniature ponies, carthorses and pretty much anything you can imagine…….she freaked out!
Zimorena who is the crazy redhead surprised us all and jumping in a division bigger than she was used to was super and picked up a good placing!
We were very lucky to be based at Jamie Winnings beautiful Stables while we were there!
The next show was weekend of World Cups, this was indoors, and again Daffodil didn’t like it! But all was ok Zimorena jumped super again and picked up a 2nd.
Our Last show was at the Polo Grounds, Daffodil tried to redeem herself in the GOLD Grand Prix, but just tipped the last fence L
Zimorena really stepped up and jumped a super double clear to win the SILVER Grand Prix, which was huge for her!
So at the end of our trip to Australia, Daffodil was a disappointment but I think she was flat at the end of a hard season and had used up everything she had at the Horse of the Year Show.
Zimorena stepped up and showed us a lot of potential and I am very excited to see how she continues this season!
WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES KENTUCKY!
Wow what an experience, Kentucky is beautiful and we had an amazing time!
Delphi jumped super, first day which was the speed class I was 106th to go, I knew I couldn’t go as fast as the real experienced horses as Delphi is not used to going against the clock around serious 1.50m track!
I finished up around 17th which when the convert your placing to faults to continue the competition I was on 3.25 faults.
The next day was first round of the Nations Cup, there was a huge crowd, I think my main mistake this day was I warmed her up in the warm up ring right behind the main grand stand and there was quite a big crowd watching, she got a bit hyped up and in the class had 3 down, the rails were silly mistakes.
We were still allowed to jump the next day in the 2nd round of the Nations Cup, which was over the same course but the spreads got wider and the verticals went up, verticals over 1.60m and oxers so wide I couldn’t reach between them with my arms spread out!!
I warmed Delphi up in the back warm up, and I kept her slow and gave her time to jump, she went in the ring and jumped fantastic! I had 2 time faults but on a 9yo horse at her first World Games I couldn’t have been happier, she had jumped 2 clears out of 3 rounds and came out on a very good note!
The final 4 was amazing to watch, for Diana Dobson’s reports on the whole of WEG check out www.nzequestrian.org.nz her WEG watches everyday were great to read!
WHITTAKER MVNZ – SOLD
Whittaker MVNZ who was sent over to me by Mount View Sport horses has just been sold to the reserve rider for the USA team at WEG Candice King.
She loved him and bought him to be her next Grand Prix mount. I will miss him greatly, Ike and Kylie did a great job on him and I was lucky enough to ride him here for the few months, he was very careful and had a great amount of scope and the best character!
WHITTAKER MVNZ Placed 5th North Coast Jumper Classic GRAND PRIX!
Whittaker MVNZ jumped fantastic in his first Grand Prix over here
finishing in 5th place, he has stepped up to the bigger heights easily
and is loving it!
Whittaker MVNZ
Delphi also jumped in the Grand Prix and has 4 faults, she placed 3rd
in the Welcome class the first day.
Dunstan Delphi
This week coming we have the AMERICAN GOLD CUP, both Delphi and
Whittaker will jump in the $30,000 Welcome and the $75,000 World Cup
Qualifier.
Not long until Kentucky World Games, very excited to be heading there
next week and meeting up with all the other Kiwis!
Delphi has been jumping very well all summer here being placed in most
of her Grand Prixs.
Lucy Akers is here now helping me and will be heading to the World
Games with me.
NEW ZEALAND WORLD GAMES TEAM NAMED - 1st September
Very excited to be selected with Dunstan Delphi for the World
Equestrian Games in Kentucky along with
Samantha McIntosh - Loxley
Guy Thomas - Peterbuilt
Maurice Beatson - Apollo van evendal
OTTAWA Horse Show 18 - 22nd August
DELPHI finished in 8th place in the Grand Prix at Ottawa, she jumped
Super but had the triple bar down....bugger!!
Whittaker MVNZ was 2nd in 1.35m and did his first 1.50m for just 4
faults!
PALGRAVE WORLD CUP SHOW 4th - 8th August
Delphi was 3rd in the $90,000 World Cup Qualifier at Palgrave,
Whittaker won the 1.35m and was the leading 1.35m horse for the show!
News 21st July.
Well it’s been a very busy last few weeks!!
Spruce ended, Delphi got tired!!! Still pretty happy though 8 faults in the last 5 star Grand Prix! She placed 3rd in a 1.50m class the week before and I’m very proud of how well she handled everything!
Whittaker MVNZ (Tim) was also great, he arrived during the weekend off just before the final 2 weeks, he had to have another Flu Vac once he arrived then pretty much straight to Spruce, long trip for a baby! He jumped in the 1.30ms – 1.40ms and placed 7th in one.
I love riding him, and he’s such a nice horse to have around!
Tim and Delphi have had a nice easy week and are now preparing for the trip to Toronto with Palgrave CSI** 4th – 8th August
They travel there next week – 35hours!
I had a very quick trip to Europe on the weekend, it was great, saw some very nice horses and have 2 coming home this year a 6yr Cantos and 4yr Cantos….very exciting!
Eric Lamaze and Hickstead showed again how amazing they are, flying directly from winning the Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows to Aachen in Germany and winning the Grand Prix there the weekend after!
Very sad news also that one of the Worlds best showjumpers Oki Doki just died L
That’s all from me for now!
23rd June 2010
We have just finished our 2nd week at Spruce Meadows, Delphi jumped super again!! It was the Continental tournament CSI****
I started her in the 1.50m on Wednesday night, it was once again torrential rain so they ended up changing the class last minute to a speed, she jumped a very nice clear round but I was slow… finished 7th.
Sunday was the CN World Cup round. I was 41st to go out of 45, by the time I went in the ring there were no clears, the time allowed was a big factor with only about 6 actually getting under the time allowed.
Delphi was awesome, she jumped a fantastic clear round!! Straight after me was Will Simpson (Team Olympic Gold Medalist) he also jumped clear, Hickstead and Eric Lamaze had a time fault which was very surprising!!
Will Simpson beat me in the Jump off so we ended up 2nd but I was still so happy with Delphi, she has now jumped for 2 weeks here and been in the money every time!
I then had to go to a press conference, was pretty stoked to be sitting between 2 Gold Medalists Will Simpson and Eric Lamaze!
Delphi has now gone back to her stables down the road as she has a week off then back to Spruce Meadows next Monday for another 2 weeks of showing!
Whittaker MVNZ has arrived safely over here from Mount View in NZ, Ike Unsworth accompanied him and stayed to watch for the weekend before flying home with Dad. He looks great and has settled into Canadian life very well, he will compete in the last 2 weeks at Spruce Meadows.
Press Conference after the World Cup………I did feel a little silly sat up there!!!
Dad and Delphi heading to the ring, notice the Carrot on his bag…..it was gone by the time he got there…..Delphi had spotted it!!
Whittaker MVNZ – first day in work in Canada!
Anna Trent, Me and Ike Unsworth at Spruce Meadows
14th June 2010
DELPHI – 4th CSI***** CN GRAND PRIX 1.60m!!!!
Delphi & I and Guy Thomas on Carino
We have finished the first week of showing at Spruce!!
Delphi was fantastic, we got here and ended up putting her in the top division right from the start which was a pretty brave move but she was looking and feeling so well and I had complete faith in her!
She had 4 faults in the 1.60m classes on the Wednesday and Thursday, just little green mistakes, it’s pretty scary the International Ring here! She finished in the money both days!
Saturday was the $200,000 CSI***** CN Grand Prix
There was 37 starters and Guy Thomas and I both jumped clear rounds, its huge to have 2 kiwis in the Jump off! There was only 5 clear rounds in the class.
Guy was first out he had 8 faults, I was 3rd out Delphi was going great then the 2nd to last fence she just seem to look into the crowd for a moment and had 4 faults!!! Bugger!! Ended up 4th, Eric Lamaze and Hickstead (gold medal winners from the Olympics!) won! And Guy was 5th.
I was so proud of Delphi, she was the only 8 year old horse in the class, and she tried her heart out!
I have posted the Video on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-FqFAzPfQA
This week is the World Cup show, she jumps in the 1.50m on Wednesday then World Cup on Sunday.
Anna Trent Dad and I walking the course…….Pretty big jumps!!
3rd June 2010
Not long now until the first of the Spruce Meadows Summer Series starts!
Delphi is feeling great, getting very fit, and rearing to go.
We take the horses to Spruce on Sunday, trot up is Tuesday and Im jumping in the 1.50m class in the International Ring on Wednesday!
The first week is called The National for all information and Schedules you can go to www.sprucemeadows.com
There have been pretty good results from Kiwis lately, Guy Thomas has won 2 of the Triple Crown Grand Prixs so fingers crossed for the 3rd….if he wins this hes in for a nice big bonus in prizemoney!!
Also Sam McIntosh was 2nd on Lindberg des Hayettes in the Grand Prix at Aach on the weekend.
Mum and Dad fly over on Sunday, cant wait to see them!
The weather in Calgary has been pretty interesting!! Have gone from sunny days in t-shirts to a couple of days of extreme snow, and now back to Sunny and warm!!!
I had my birthday on Saturday…now 24 years old and I got given this awesome icecream cake!! Thanks so much to Jasmine and Stefania!
A Great start!!!! - Delphi wins $25,000 Grand Prix!
Bow Valley Classic held at John Andersons Rocky Mountain Showjumping, Calgary, Canada.
Delphi was super, so proud of her!
I started her in the 1.40m $10,000 Open on the Thursday, this was her first class since NZ Horse of the Year in March so she was very fresh!
She jumped a lovely clear round, but I was a bit slow….so 1 timefault! Only 3 clears so finished up 4th.
Saturday afternoon was the $25,000 1.40m Grand Prix, Delphi jumped clear and 6 went through to the jump off. I was 2nd to go so I thought I may as well give it a go! She jumped awesome, and loved being able to go fast! Luckily no body could catch her!! So she took out the $25,000 Grand Prix……couldn’t have asked for a better start to her Canadian Adventure!!
We have a couple of weeks now until Spruce Meadows starts, Mum flys over to help me there on the 7th June, then Dad will come over for the last 2 shows of the 5 weeks there.
First week in Calgary
The first week has been pretty un eventful, looking forward to our first show next weekend at Rocky Mountain Showjumping www.rmshowjumping.com
Delphi looks and feels great and we have jumped a little bit just schooling, she will start in the $10,000 1.40m on Thursday 20th May then the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday 22nd May.
Delphi having her daily graze and walk.....in her stylish bug hat!
Will keep you updated on how we go!!
I have posted a couple of photos on my Photo page of the place and the annoying geese and deer that roam around the farm! Delphi nearly had a heart attack when she first saw them!
We have Arrived!!
In the pallat with her coming off the plane in LA
Its been a week to get here but Delphi and I have finally made it to Calgary!
She has amazed me at how well she has coped with all the travelling, when she arrived in LA I had to leave her there for 3 days and she was in a tiny stable, I wasn’t allowed in to see her at all.
She was very happy to get out of there!
Having a pick in LA once she was out of Quarentine
She was the only horse on the flight to Calgary, and she never was worried at all, shes a bit of a nigel no mates !!
The stable she is at is right behind Spruce Meadows and the apartment im in is 5 mins away so its all great!
Ive ridden her lightly today, she was rearing to go!!
The plan is to jump at a show just down the road in 2 weeks then Spruce from the 9th June……not long now!!
I have been writing a diary of my trip – there has been some very interesting days / stories already!!
In her stable in Calgary!
