Liz Taylor

Karaanza Back on Fine Form

As 2009 seems to be whizzing past already I thought I would grasp the opportunity of a quiet evening (thanks to an awful lot of snow that has arrived and momentarily halted my riding plans) to write another update.

After having Karaanza's shoes put back on at the beginning of January I am feeling quietly confident about 2009 already. Although she has quite a large belly despite only having Hi-Fi Lite, grass and hay (this horse is a seriously good doer) she has really been enjoying her work and has been bouncing out of the yard and been really forward going on our rides. Karaanza is also schooling well and her enthusiasm has really returned so hopefully that nasty virus is well and truly behind us. Last year she was such a different horse to the previous year and she struggled with the most basic of tasks. A gentle hack would be hard work and due to a lack of symptoms, until she was put under stress, diagnosing the virus took longer than was ideal. Hence Karaanza's quiet year last year as we needed to make sure she was fully recovered before commencing work again. However, she really is back on fine form and so her plan of completing a 160km (100 mile) Endurance Ride this year is back at the forefront of my mind. Thanks to the advice of Dengie's nutritionists we seem to have cracked Karaanza's diet. When she is competing we are giving a mix of Alfa-A and Naked Oats which provides her with the energy required to cope with training and competition.

I am spending the dark evenings trawling the events book and planning our campaign. We have a couple of training rides booked in for February and we are set to kick off with our first competitive ride of the year at the Forest Of Dean on March 8th. I am looking forward to it already as the second half of our season last year was so quiet I think we are all chomping at the bit and ready to go - including Karaanza!

Falaina is also desperate to get going again and she is extremely vocal and grumpy when Karaanza gets ridden and she doesn't; for a horse that has done nine 160km rides she has certainly not lost her enthusiasm for the game! We are planning on putting her in foal this year. I have decided on a French, Arab Endurance Stallion who has a proven performance record and has produced offspring which are also competing at very high levels. With a mare like Falaina I am quite excited about the prospect of competing one of her offspring. Please keep fingers and toes crossed that we are able to get her in foal!

SG Enigmatika, our 5 year old mare and mum of 2008 foal Miyaz ,has now got a slot booked to be broken in at the beginning of April with a very experienced couple - Mr and Mrs Hooley. I considered breaking her myself but with a full time job and getting Karaanza race fit I wouldn't be able to do her justice. Also I have a very high opinion of this horse and believe she has the attitude and conformation to be a fantastic endurance horse so I need the breaking to be done properly!! I would like 'Ennie' to start competing in a few pleasure rides/ non competitive training rides towards the end of the year. Then she will be ready as a 6-year-old to step up to competitive rides and progress to some slower race rides. I struggled a little bit when taking the foal off her as her weight seemed to drop off her, however we upped her Alfa-A and she is looking much better now and even as a nice shine to her winter coat.

The two babies, Haldana & EST Miyaz Baha (30 months and 8 months old), are enjoying growing up and charging around the fields at every available opportunity. These two also come in overnight and have rugs changed, feet picked out etc. I think it teaches them manners from an early age and sorts out bad habits before they start. Miyaz, the little colt is starting to get a bit nippy. I think the vet needs to come for a visit in the spring when the foal's man bits will be removed!!! They found the snow extremely exciting and I can't wait until it thaws so that I can get out riding again!

Liz

Feb 09