First weekend at Aquis Champions Tour

3 May 2018/Comments Off/Homepage feature, Show results

Team Joyce left on Monday 23rd April with two horses Oaks Volta and four year old LH Clarissa for a three day drive to sunny QLD. We have always wanted to experience Elysian Fields and this blog is about our first weekend at Aquis Champions Tour. This experience is a first time expedition for horses and riders even the Beast (our horse truck). Volta left home jumping up excitedly into his bay but Clarissa needed a little coaxing. Wes made sure she had one and half bays giving her plenty of space to move. She is a very large mare standing at 16.2hh.

Our first weekend at Aquis Champions Tour was full of ups and downs

We drove to Tarcutta arriving around 6pm, it was a very quick easy off load putting both horses into stables for the night. Highly recommend this facility if ever you need a place to stay with your equine friend. The next stop was the Taree Showgrounds arriving by 4pm in plenty of daylight. Again a very nice friendly place with plenty of room. By the third day the horses were looking a bit unsure, they were wondering why the loading and off loading. That afternoon by 1pm we arrived at Elysian Fields near Canungra QLD.

The horses were so happy to hop off the truck

My goodness what a massive property it went for kilometres. Elysian Fields is a huge Thoroughbred Stud. All the horses in paddocks had matching rugs. Team Joyce were greeted with a wonderful set up. The committee had kindly constructed a separate yard for Oaks Volta and right opposite is LH Clarissa’s Southern Cross stable block. Our truck camping spot had also been allocated right beside Volta’s yard. We could not have asked for anymore.

We are very grateful for the extra efforts made

Clarissa came off the truck looking quite tucked up but Volta jumped off full of beans. Wes reassured Sarah that in a day or two she should be a lot better. Thursday was a rest day for everyone the competition starts on Friday. Volta jumped super in the Open 1.25m-1.30m A3 class in Arena 1 late morning with the grass being nice and dry. He did not look at anything giving Wes a really nice ride. Volta was loose supple and relaxed from start to finish. Sarah was very happy with Clarissa jumping two clean rounds in the Open 80cm & 90cm Power & Speed.

Volta was loose supple & relaxed

Saturday was a different result, Wes was only very early with a very wet dewy surface. Do we put front studs in Volta’s front feet was a lengthy conversation. We had not put them in before , so we left them out. Not the right call becasue Wes thought Volta could feel his feet slipping a little and was not so relaxed starting right from number 1. He stopped at fence 4A, Wes re approached encouraging Volta to pick up pace and from barely a trot they made it through A B & C with ease. No jump off for Team Joyce, having a talk back at the truck front studs will be tried here at the show the next class. We do not like to try new things at events but on this instance we feel next week will probably bring another class in the same wet slippery conditions.

Volta could feel his feet slipping

Sarah moved Clarissa up to jump in the Open 90cm & 1m. Resulting in 1 rail in the 1m. On the Sunday she only started her in the 1m sailing easily over every jump. It did not matter what sort of colour or fill appeared before them Clarissa willingly flew over. Volta attempted the 1.30m Accumulator in Ring 2 late this afternoon. It has been a very long time since he jumped in this sort of class. Was a bit of fresh air actually instead of the usual AM5 or A2. Wes was pleased and decided he felt better with front studs in. We shall put them in for the Bronze class next Thursday 3rd May. Monday is a rest day for everyone. Then Sarah jumps again on Tuesday 1st May in the 4yo Young Horse class.