After that easy start in life Kelsie had an easy foalhood too - out on lovely grass all summer with her little friend Lanson and his mum. By September she was looking stunning
and gave us some idea of what she would achieve when she was placed first in the Hunter Breeding class at the Orsett Show, (despite breaking my nose in the ring!!)
As a yearling, 2 year old and 3 year old she went on to win and be placed all over the country in Hunter and Riding Horse youngstock classes, some of her best placings being 2nd Herts County,
3rd South of England, several 2nds at Essex County. The one that meant the most though was when she came in 3rd at the Royal Norfolk Show as a 2 year old in a really strong class of Hunter Youngstock
At the end of her 3rd year it was time to get her ridden. I had lunged her since she was two and she was used to bridles, rugs etc from the shows. So I enlisted the help of my friend and teacher Christina Ross
and backed her at home. I was very proud to be the first person to sit on the horse I had bred! I then took all 3 horses up to Chris' home near Wisbech, Lincolnshire, for 3 weeks intense schooling. Chris' daughter, Tracey was home from
the dressage yard she had been working in Europe and rode Kelsie almost everyday producing a very nice little horse at the end of the 3 weeks.
We carried on working at home and then had our first hack out, accompanied by Rosa and Adrian. Kelsie didnt put a foot wrong. One thing I've always been grateful for is that she has never been spooky or traffic shy - I'm sure that's
because she saw so much as a young foal!
She went on to learn to jump and to compete at showing and dressage, being placed many times.
Kelsie is 14 this year and enjoys living with her mum in Hampshire. She just hacks now, as I've lost the interest in competing, but we may well have a couple of local outings this year if
I can keep her thin enough!
Enjoy these pictures of Kelsie's life!
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