Team Joyce ventured off with our stallion Oaks Volta for some much needed showjumping competition training of a different kind. It has been 8 years since we trekked inter-state. Boy did it feel good to drive away , relax and enjoy new views and meet new people and catch up with our old ones to. First stop was Mt Gambier over Easter to compete on the well known Showjumping Festival. We used to go every year with our adorable girls, we missed them greatly. As soon as we hit the highway Wes put in the same old cd in and the first song brought back all the laughs we would have as a family. We turned it off and listened to the radio.
8 years since we trekked interstate
We arrived at Mt Gambier late Thursday afternoon , to read more
Wes and I drove from Mt Gambier to stay with a long time friend Anthony Thomas in Harndorf until the South Australian State Jumping Championships held at the Adelaide Showgrounds. Volta settled extremely well in Anthony’s stable block. Anthony really went out of his way to make us feel so very welcome. What a property he has’ it is spectacular. Riding was so easy ‘ his riding sand arena is the size of a footy oval !
We left at 9.30am the Thursday morning wanting to give Volta plenty of time to settle into his new surroundings in the stables at the showgrounds. James Lang was so very kind to us caring about which horse he placed beside our young stallion. Thank you James 🙂
Competition started first thing Friday morning
Volta jumped superb in the Thomas Food International Open 1.25m placing 4th. Saturday was the Open 1.30m we had 1 rail in this speed class. Sunday was the special class, Thomas Food International Stars if the Future starting at 1.25m-1.30m. This was run under an Article meaning 25% of horses would come back for the second round. There was 6 clear rounds and 10 4 faulters. Wes had 4 faults in the first round. He blamed himself terribly for the rail. It purely rider error. We were busting to hear which horses they would take back for the second round, only 10 would be called back.
Lucky Wes, they made the second round
When Wes heard them call the 9th horse being Oaks Volta back for the jump off he rose ten feet high with happiness. ” We are going to go fast”, he said. We were the second combination to jump off and from the very beginning they took off at a cracking pace. Not once did Wes pull the rein with Volta enjoying every bit. The time was astounding, they had the fastest time of all the jumpers. Placing a wonderful 4th.
Driving away reflecting on Volta’s performance
Team Joyce drove out Sunday after lunch stopping before dark getting a good sleep only to rise at 4.15am Monday morning to arrive home just after lunch. Wes & I decided the trip really did bring many wonderful results. Not the placings but the experience for our young stallion. Volta seemed to conquer his fear of the tent beside the arena & solid coluored jumps are not as bad as he once thought. This is really the only way to help young horses get over some obstacles that they are not so sure of. Take them out – a lot – to many different places and help them gain the confidence and enjoy what we ask of them.
Team Joyce are home developing more paddocks while getting ready to drive up to Elysian Fields for 10 days of wonderful showjumping. Sure to be another huge eye opener for Oaks Volta. Stay tuned to see how we fair up there.
Photo’s taken by John Baseley
