Congratulations to Sharron & Stormy!!

Well the Level 1 Grads are coming thick and fast!! 

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Sharron Lowther and her beautiful boy Stormy for completing their Level 1 Assignments!!  WOOHOOO!!

Sharron you are going to LOVE Level 2!!  Well done!

Congratulations to Leanne and Corky!!

I am very excited to Congratulate Leanne Peacock from Natte Yallock Victoria and her wonderful horse Corky for passing their Level 1 Assignments!!

Well done Leanne and welcome to Level 2!!

Sue does it again!!

A Super Duper CONGRATULATIONS!!!! to Sue Wright from Warrnambool Victoria and her wonderful and very cheeky Bailey for passing your Level 1 assignments!!
This is Sue's second horse through Level 1 - Super effort Sue!

Abbey completed Level 3!

I am very proud to announce that Abbey has completed her Level 3 in the Foundation Programme  Wooohooo!!!  Yay Yay Yay!!!!

I am so proud of Abbey she is such a lovely girl and she really puts in 100% effort of everything I ask her. 

Ballarat QW June 2012

Where:  Unicorn Park, Ballarat Victoria

When:  8th - 11th June 2012

Daily Programme: 
Morning 8.30am—12.00pm.
Level 1 Secondary – Learn safe and practical saddling & riding techniques to have your horse going forward confidently & easily. Discover how to steer & stop you horse with just your body energy and one rein.
Covers Lessons 3 & 4 of the Foundation Program.

Afternoon 1.30pm—5.00pm
Level 2 Primary -  Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes and work on longer lines.  Go looking for the truth at Liberty and gain an independent seat with Bareback Riding
Covers Lessons 5 & 6 of the Foundation Program.

Our new venue at the Ballarat Quantum Weekend was a huge success and not only did we get to keep nice and dry, there were many BFO's and Ah-ha moments throughout the 4 days.  Our morning group were discovering lots about how to read their horses to determine if they were safe to hop on..or not..and if not, how to help their horses get to where they are safe enough to hop on.  I also saw everyone become much lighter with their rein positions and anyone who came to watch on the first and last days would have seen a huge leap in the confidence of everyone riding their horses.

The afternoon group discovered much about feeling for their horse and seeing their lead ropes not just as a piece of rope anymore, but as a line of connection to their horses which leads to creating that same connection when taking the ropes away and working with them at liberty.

It was wonderful to see so many auditors come along to watch - thank you all for taking the time to squeeze a little horsemanship learning in to your busy schedule and I look forward to seeing you next time.  We had a few people pop in to say hi also and it was fabulous to see Leah and her

new baby (even though she was attached to her!!)  A HUGE thank you to Maree for welcoming us into her home and offering us a hot shower and a lovely hot meal at the end of the day - it was the icing on the cake (or was it sticky date pudding! YUM!) to a fabulous weekend.



Student Ta-Dahs's:
Look up & focus & your pony goes in the direction you want!!
When my body position is open, I can project my energy with effect
I rode my pony in the arena by ourselves.
I did a trail walk with Indy
When you keep walking they go better.
Lightness and steering is easier to one side need to work on the other side.
Loading & traveling well
Focus makes everything easier.
Realising that I can move away when everybody bunches up.
Canter Transitions
Good try at sideways
Good focus = good direction
Stood still for saddling
Persistence instead of giving up.

Dr Deb does it again!

Congratulations to Dr Deb Abbenhuys for completing Level 2 with her second horse Psalm!!
Dr Deb has done a wonderful job with Psalm, taking him through Level 2, he has come a long way and is all set to embark on his Level 3 journey.  Well done Deb!

Congratulations Sally & Dream!

Congratulations to Sally Keens and her lovely horse Dream.  


Sally has done an awesome job with Dream who was quite a green horse when she started with her and Sally only gets to ride her once a week!

Sunraysia Group Lessons April/May 2012

Where: Riverbend Vet Clinic, Buronga NSW

When:  April 28th & 29th  May 5th & 6th

Daily Programme:

28th & 29th April
Morning 8.30am - 12.00pm
   Level 1 Safe Riding Techniques
Learn safe saddling and mounting techniques and discover how to steer & stop with your body energy & 1 Rein.

Afternoon 1.30pm - 5pm
Level 2 Impulsion
Discover the secrets to achieving good impulsion and developing emotional fitness for your horse

5th & 6th May
Morning 8.30am - 12.00pm
   Level 2 Positive Reflexes On Line
Advance on our Basic Skills with Positive Reflexes and start working on longer lines

Afternoon 1.30pm - 5pm
Level 2 Assignment Overview
Review the elements of the Level 2 Riding Assignments.


April/May saw two weekends full of learning, ta-dah's and fun for the students in Sunraysia.  We had student of all levels from Level 1 riding to working on impulsion and galloping in Level 2!

Student Ta-Dah's:
Diago's first ride with a Group in a Lesson - he did fabulously!
My first ride without a bridle on Ozzie
Cantered Cruz!
First bareback & Bridle less trot passenger lesson with Psalm - No Bareback Pad!
Skills check @ Liberty with nearly no kicking from Demaris!
Demaris and I passed my Spirals assignment!
Diago's frist gallop pattern and the fastest we have gone so far!
Gallop pattern in a Bridle
First ever flying lead change on purpose
Soft feel backwards and sideways
Passed 2 assignments in 2 Days!
Gallop Pattern in the open area on Clancy!
Soft Feel forwards, backwards, sideways Fore 1/4 & Hind1/4
Soft Feel forwards in trot
Improved canter transitions from trot without bucking.
Cheyanne is back on track for her transitions assignment thanks to a great lesson with Mel and I have my Level 3 brain back.

A family effort!

A HUGE Congratulations to Karen O'Brein & her horse Tigger PLUS Karens daughter, Samara Johnson with her second horse Indy for completing their Level 1 Assignments

Karen and Samara have both put in a huge effort with progressing with their horsemanship and have both done a lovely job with their horses. Well done and enjoy your trip to QLD for the Level 1 & 2 camps!

Sunraysia's Worlds Biggest Play Day

There was much excitement in Sunraysia as we all gathered at 'Bonnie Doon', on the day before the Worlds Biggest Play Day. Bonnie Doon was the fabulous venue for our special weekend and we kicked off the event by exploring the play ground full of interesting jumps and obstacles, and some took a leisurely trail ride. Just enough to work up an appetite for an Olympic feast at our Toga Party on Saturday night!

Next morning was abustle with activity as everyone prepared for the Olympic Fancy Dress Parade. It was tough to pick out a winner as everyone had done such a great job and if it was up to me I would have given a prize to everyone. Well done to Sally Keens who picked up the senior award for her Hawaiian costume and the horsemanship she needed to tie a grass skirt around Dream's flank!!
Ashlee Wakefield took home the Junior award with her fantastic swimming costume, matching beautifully with her horse - who wasn't too shy to be wearing a bikini!!

After the Parade, we ventured out to the games area, and as we got prepared, you could cut the air with a knife as the competition was fierce
As the Official Judge, I was very proud of the competitors as they all gave everything a go and I think some personal bests were achieved out there - everyone took home not only a medal or two, but I think they also brought home lots of pride in theirselves and their horses. The official results were:

Water Race: Gold - Stacey Metcalfe, Silver - Tammy Hargrave Bronze - Sally Keens

Short Range Dressage: Gold - Debbie Nemtsas Silver - Sally Keens Bronze - Chris Evans

1 Rein Dressage: Gold - Dr Deb Abbenhuys Silver - Stacey Metcalfe Bronze - Amanda Bernaldo

Pony Twist: Gold - Stacey Metcalfe Silver - Amanda Bernaldo Bronze - Tammy Hargrave

Broom Ball: Gold - Bronwyn Wakefield Silver - Chris Evans Bronze Stacey Metcalfe

With 15 people attending the Play Day, and a few extra for Saturday Nights party, the event was a huge success. There was fun, laughter, achievements, horsemanship and of course great company. A huge thankyou to Helen & Anthony Dakis for hosting Sunraysia's Worlds Biggest Play Day for 2012 and of course to Dr Deb, Amanda and Jennifer for your efforts in organising the event. Of course it would not have been the day it was if not for all the wonderful competitors and their steeds to take part in the day's activities. Well done everyone, already I am looking forward to next years WBPD!

Album: Sunraysia WBPD 2012

Congrats to my youngest Level 1 Grad!

I am super excited and VERY Proud to congratulate Samara Johnston and her wonderful horse Grace for completing their Level 1 Assignments!!

At 11YO Samara is my youngest level 1 Grad and she did it with the perfect school master Grace who is nearly 30years old!! When I first met Grace, she was a very shut off and braced up little pony, just getting 1 step forward was an achievement and to see them now, you would never have known!

Well done Samara you have learn't so much from Grace and in return you have made her world a much better place.

Congrats to Ruth from Warwick!

A huge Congratualtions to Ruth McGill and Moselle for completing thier Level 1 Assignments. Moselle is Ruths second horse to Level 1!