Pony racing

Last weekend was spent in Rättvik, Dalarna...a small city in the north, a neat 4 hours drive from Stockholm. 6 Shetland ponies, jockeys and parents spent the whole weekend at an event called "Hästliv Siljan" (Horselife Siljan). As a part of the event, the kids where asked to perform a steeple chase show. The race was a success, the audience where thrilled as well as the jockeys.

Eventing

A weekend full of equestrian activities. Sunday August 1st was spent at Flyinge for an eventing competition. The stable was half empty when we left for the competition. Louise with Gina and Nibelungen Star (ponies), Olivia with Fortissimo and Kajza, Linda with her own horse, Malin with Minör, Gogo and Furir and finally Anna with Blue on Track, Blue Loop and Taste of Money. In total 11 horses, we certainly had a busy day ahead of us :) The competition was a mix of good results...and somewhat less good results. Anyhow, Anna was rewarded with price ribbons for Taste of Money and Blue on Track. Very good cross-country results for Gogo, Minör, Fortissimo, Kajzsa. Turned back for Stockholm, a 700 km drive through the night, not the best way to prepare for the office on Monday...but why not?!?

Louise and Gina

Louise and Nibelungen Star

Malin and Furir

Malin and GoGo

Malin and Minör

Olivia and Kajza

Olivia and Tissmo

Anna and Taste of Money

Anna and Blue Loop

Anna and Blue on Track

Dressage

July 31 was spent in Sallerup, south of Sweden. The scope of the day was a dressage contest for Malin and Anna. Malin competed with It's Flying and Aragon. Flying entered the LA:6 and the MsvB:2 classes, Aragon only the LA:6. Anna on Sir Alex in MsvB:2 and Caramba in MsvB:4.

The result? Well, the sun was shining and everybody was happy. Flying was placed 5th in the LA:6 and was awarded with a green price ribbon. A great job in the MsvB:2, but he is not really prepared for this at the moment. Aragon made a stylish appearance in LA:6, but was not rewarded by the judge (dressage in a nutshell if you ask me). Sir Alex made a good effort in MsvB:2 and Caramba (first appearance since spring) needed the competition for future events. A solid job, but not obedient enough. Dressage competitions take soooo long time, this was really a full day's event...

Malin and It's Flying xx

Anna and Caramba

Malin and Aragon

Barbeque...

Back in the office with an outdoor temperature exceeding +30 centigrades...What to do? Let's fire up the grill and make burgers! Lamb burgers filled with sambal oelek, aioli, salsa and salad...We (me and 9 colleauges) really enjoyed the spontaneous barbecue party just outside of the office...

Next stop Enköping

Eventing competition in Enköping July 10. The CNC* competition was a mess in all aspects. No more eventing in Enköping for us...I managed to get some decent shots anyhow...The most positive thing to say about the trip was that the weather was excellent :)

Falsterbo

A short vacation trip to Falsterbo to check out the annual equestrian events. The event is scheduled for more than a week, but we chosed to watch the hunting and some other events during Wednesday. Just one day at the event, and the rest of the time at the beach and down by the pool. Even though equestrian sports are fun to watch and practice, the weather conditions made it more interesting to practice water sports instead :) Anyhow, the Falsterbo show was great fun to watch, as always.

The best of seasons...

I really enjoy the present season...not too hot...but still warm enough to skip the sweaters and the jackets...and besides...all the flowers and the fruits in the garden. I just love it...had some strawberries yesterday, from our own garden...and now the cherries are ready for harvest.

Pony jumping

Last Saturday was spent at Järfälla Ridsällskap...pony jumping for Maja and Jojje. This was the debut for Maja in a "real" competition. They performed very well in the clear round class, which resulted in a price ribbon and a very happy rider.

Finally...

...some time to update the blog. The midsummer weekend was spent in Trossnäs, Värmland. A combination of eventing and midsummer party :) Nice weather (almost too nice) and great eventing competitions. As always, I took too many photos...something I regret everytime I sit in front of the PC to edit the pictures. At midsummer's eve an informal barbeque party was arranged...To sum it up, we had a great time...although the results from the competition could have been better.

Denmark...

Arlanda Airport early this morning, heading for Billund (Denmark). Businesstrip, but still time to explore parts of Jylland. Went for a visit to the race track in Århus as well as Skårup Overgård where Malin will participate in the eventing competition. Denmark is a nice country :) Love the beer, the food and the surroundings.

The race track in Århus

Updating...

...is not a problem. The challenge is to find the time to do it.. :)

Well...Sunday was spent watching and photographing horses (surprised?)

At first..some hurdle practice for Johanna (and Virengue R) and for Christopher (Irish Poet) at Angarn Training camp...had a good time in the sun taking some photos as well....

After a quick lunch...down to Foderby Stable to watch some novice jumping...Dinner at one of the hotels nearby...and then finally back home to watch Brazil play Ivory Coast in the World Championships...Tomorrow a new destination..not including horse related activities (for a change)..some work in Denmark. I will be back on Thursday. Hopefully I will be able to update the blog from there...

Saturday June 19th 2010

Saturday...always a problem to get up on Saturdays for riding. This time was no exception. Had a good time jumping the horse "Liszt". Then some pony riding, Maja and Jojje did some dressage and some jumping as well.

Riding...

Another day of riding...today me and Maja explored the surroundings of Angarn. A nice one hour tour partly through the forest. Nice weather...but too many mosquitos.. :( On my way to the car I just had to stop for some shots of the Rhododendrons in my garden...they are so nice at this time of year...Tomorrow a business trip to Karlstad. Lt's see if I can get some shots from there. At least I will bring the camera.

Top level riding...:)

I enjoy playing with words, did I mention that? The title is a bit twisted...but why not? The weather yesterday was quite unstable...between the showers we decided to go riding...by we I mean Maja and her best friend. We where lucky with the weather...no rain, and in fact quite sunny :) After passing a forest invaded by mosquitos we ended up on top of one of the highest hills in Vallentuna...the climb really was an effort...but well worth it..once we reached the top we where rewarded by a stunning view...A strange feeling...to ride above the tree-tops on a flat (well almost) grass field...watching the Kaknäs tower and Stockholm Globe Arena (two of the most famous buildings in Stockholm) at a distance. This was a really nice tour...despite the mosquitos. The girls where happy...I was happy...since I managed to get some really nice photos :)

Gröna Lund or Strömsholm....?!?

The plan today was to go to Strömsholm for the annual Grand National Day. I really looked forward to this, but the weather gods obviously had other plans....Pouring rain in the morning :(. A visit to the Grand National is an all day event including picnic, but this demands decent weather conditions. So me and Maja (and her friend Frida) decided to go to Gröna Lund instead. Gröna Lund is a famous (at least in Sweden) funfair located almost in the middle of Stockholm. The weather was still not good, but occasional showers could be avoided by using umbrellas...or just by going indoors...Soo despite the disappointment of not going to Strömsholm (and get all the stunning :) photos of the horses jumping the hurdles) we had a good time. The kids where excited...trying most of the attractions at the funfair...I will save the photos for the next equestrian event...most probably the evening games in Trossnäs during the mid-summer weekend.

Yet another evening....

...with Maja and the pony :) Great to see the improvement from day to day...although there where some questions and discussions about how tired a rider should be before she is entitled to a break :)

Dressage...pleasure or pain?!?

Spent the evening at Angarn, dressage practice for Maja and the pony (Joyride). I think the rider was more tired than the pony afterwards :) Nice to do the practice on the turf instead of the sand. Both me and Maja where happy with the evening...things are starting to fall into place now..