METALLICA!!!

Oh ok I know this is meant to be my animal blog but cant resist putting going to the Metallica concert on here. Went to the thursday concert at Vector Arena in Auckland and it was FANTASTIC!! So much for seating concert - dont think anyone at all was seated during the whole show. Enter Sandman just totally rocked!! Pretty sure we drowned out James Hetfield with all of us singing along. Sorry about the crappy photos but they were taken from my basic little phone. The place was a sell out for both nights as you can see by the last photo.

One of Star's party tricks

All horses have their funny little ways and this is one of the things Star finds fun to do when he's bored. Most horses would freak out and pull back if they got their lead rope over their heads - nah not Star - he actually does it on purpose and will have fun playing 'lead rope over head, lead rope normal, lead rope over head, lead rope normal ..........

He also likes playing lets see if we can undo our halter. If he cant succeed doing his own halter the nearest victim will do.

Franklin A&P Show

Sorry didnt get any photos as dopey me forgot not only Stars show bridle but also forgot the camera.

He was such a good boy this time around, relaxed quite quickly and only had a short period of 'oooohhh look' and that was when having sheep races on. He settled down really well and unlike Clevedon we could leave him at the float afterwards while we buggered off and got something to drink and look around. Got back to the float and I'm sure we woke him up from a nap.

Learnt one thing though - dont be in 2 different breed classes that overlap - makes for major juggling and running between rings. We did both Standardbred and Sport Horse. Came home with 2 ribbons (and prize money - love A&P's for that 'grin'). He got 3rd for Gelding 4yrs and over in both Standardbred and Sport Horse. Very pleased with the Sport Horse one!

Thought the judge in the SB ring was never going to finish each class as she took AGES!!! Fun when you are in one ring and looking at the ring beside you and knowing that the next class is yours and judge is slowly making their way half way though the one you are in.

On a whole was very pleased with how he behaved. Definately one of the better ones there. All four legs stayed where they should have been and no dragging me off in all directions like some poor people had.

Clevedon A&P Show

Phew thank goodness thats over. Like our nice big classes? There was 16 in the Standardbred rings at Clevedon so the challenge was on. Star was a good little boy. Very well behaved in the ring (ok we wont mention outside the ring - it was all too exciting - and what are those little tiny horse things over there?). We got 2 2nds. First one was for Best Presented and the other was for Walk/Trot/Halt.

The Judge seemed to have liked the big boofy type of horses and the ones with the more roman nose which we all know Star isnt. The ones that won the 'Best Head' which surely Star should have done well in had the a-typical roman noses and big jug heads. Its all up to what the judge likes on the day isnt it. Even though 8 horses could have been called in for Champion & Reserve only 4 were and Star was one of those so we got pretty close. Hopefully Franklin & Kumeu the judge likes a finer looking horse.

Would also like to thank Candice for doing a lovely job and making his tail look all pretty too

Still no sign of Cricket

Its now been 4 weeks and 1 day and still no sign of Cricket. Really hope she is alive and just lost somewhere. Hope she comes home soon.

Cricket come home

My poor little Cricket has been missing since Wednesday 22nd April. Hopefully I'll find her soon before its too late. Cricket please come home - me and your sister miss you.

OMG we got an extended trot

Had an OMG moment last night with Star. We did our first ever extended trot and it was quite nice too. OK it was only out hacking but still its progress! Now lets see if he can repeat the task and do it again in the future.

Next week he's getting shoes put on so will be interesting to see how much of a difference that will make. Poor little boy is finding the ground quite hard at the moment and thinks the stones are quite ouchy.

Also tonight will be the first time I've got him tube drenched as well. Dont know if he's been done before I got him so will be interesting to see how he behaves. Shouldnt be an issue but I'll reserve that until the deed is done.