Sunburst Equestrian Newsletter - June 2010

Newsletter June 2010

June began as May ended - a sense of excitement & a little trepidation for the undertaking of flying my Jump mare, Koyuna Sun Set to Europe to campaign towards the WEG Jumping selection trials in Germany in August & September. This was combined with a slight “loss of identity” feeling, by choosing not to do the final Eventing selection trial at the Melbourne International 3DE. As it eventuated, I could not have done both as I flew out to Holland on Monday June 14, the final show jumping day of the Melbourne CCI.

I did however enjoy a few days at Melbourne 3DE, in the VIP area as an invited Olympian, and was quite busy with book signings and some other promotional opportunities for the release of “An Eventful Life,” a book detailing the triumphs and dramas of six current elite level Event riders, 5 of us Olympic Gold or Silver Medallists!

Arriving into a warm Dutch summer was a great welcome as were my hosts, the Feenstra and Lozeman families. Ellis Feenstra, a 21yo equestrian industry student had emailed me to arrange a 10 week work experience placement with me in Australia last August - October. We got on really well and after she coped with both the weather and being my sole groom on a 3 week trip to Canberra & Goulburn with 7 horses, I knew she was the real thing. When she offered to groom for Sun Set if we came to Europe, I jumped at the chance to involve her in my WEG campaign plans! Ellis arranged for me to keep Sun Set at Stal Lozeman; an event/polo/agistment yard with lovely open stables and lots of land (for Holland!) with great turn-out and riding areas. After a steady initial week to get orientated (I’m sure more for my benefit than my horse’s!), we recommenced training in earnest & were excited to be leaving for Spangenberg, Germany on June 30.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leah looks out onto the house and older stables from her ‘new’ corner box	Ellis and Koyuna Sun Set (‘Leah’) in the center of the gallop track at Stal Lozeman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving at Spangenberg for the CSI2* Show - my first on European soil!	A really nice view of the canal from the Pizzeria in the closest village of Nijkerk!