A purpose.

I don't know where I would be without horses, but I do know one thing, it wouldn't be anywhere good.

Horses give a person a reason to get up and out of the house (they aren't going to look after themselves),  they give us goals and dreams, they become family, they become our best friends. And let's face it, there's nothing like spending time with horses to make you feel better, have more confidence in yourself and just in general lift your mood.

Without getting to sentimental, I just know that if it wasn't for my horses I wouldn't be in a good place or even here at all.

My horses are literally my life. They're my work, my hobby, my lil family, my focus, my dreams and goals. 

Spud on Loan, Dentist for Goldrush.

So Spud has gone over to the otherside of the country for a week. I have loaned him to a member of the Australian team competing at NZHOY (horse of the year).
She seems like such a nice girl and has been sending me photos and updates since he got there.
Its good to know he's being taken care of :)

Meanwhile on this side of the country, Goldrush had his teeth done by the dentist, who did him when she came to do the work horses. 

He was really good, it would have been his first time in his life since he was completely wild before I got him. 

He was actually really well behaved!!

So proud of my lil man. 

What are jumpouts?

We have another jumpout day coming up at work soon, and on my last post a few of you commented asked what exactly a jumpout is and where they sit in relating to races etc.
So I decided to write a post on it.
A jumpout is basically like a mini race.
After a racing event, the barriers/gates are left at the track for people to use in jumpouts the following day or Monday.

It's not really about winning or losing but of course you always aim for the win!!
In a jumpout there will be 4-8 horses, although averagely most of them have 6 in.
The gates are moved to different distances on the track, the same as a regular race day depending on the distance that particular heat is running.
Jumpouts are a prep for racing.

Up and coming young ones do jumpouts to teach them how to jump from the gates and to get them used to the racing environment with other horses and all that.

They are for trainers, owners and riders to see the horses potential, running times, mindsets and favoured conditions.

They are also to assess a horse coming back in after a spell to gage their fitness levels and to see how close they are to be ready for the real thing.

Of course the aim isn't to win but the riders are always competitive and it shows the drive and heart of the horse.

The will to win has to be there, otherwise the horse probably won't make a top racehorse no matter how fast it is.