Big update...

Four Seasons

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14 September 2011
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Hi everyone,

A bit update from me... most of it good, but got a big one to drop too...

A year and six months ago, I lost Four Seasons... due to botulism. A one-in-a-million chance... I was devastated. He died together with 8 other horses from the stable, only 3 survived (all older horses, the younger ones, aged 3 to 8 didn't survive). Apparently, there had been a mouse wrapped in with the haylage, which by chance carried the bacteria and with the temperatures rising to 28 degrees for multiple weeks in June... it was the perfect atmosphere for the bacteria to develop. He was diagnosed with botulism on Monday afternoon, just like the other horses... he died Tuesday morning at 7... the others followed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I'll never forget my amazing, loving, showstopper of a horse... As he was homebred and his mother died two years ago, he was my whole life. So when he died, I fell into a depression. Took me over a year to get over and till this day, it still hurts a lot. I would do anything to get him back... he suffered a horrible death and that's something I will never be able to forgive myself..

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Onto happier news....

When scrolling through Facebook of July 2015 (just after Four had died), I saw Elena for sale, a 6-year-old black mare, very green, only been broken in a month. Didn't think much of her then, other than "pretty mare". Later that day, she popped up again on an ad... So decided to check her out. I was pretty curious and ended up ringing the stable to go and look at her. Who knew 5 days later, when I went to look... that she would be mine that same day and even back at my stables the day after... :D

Trying her out
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The day after, mine!
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Together with my other mare Breitlingh
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Just recently I started competing her at novice level, as she has 0 experience and is still pretty green. She's also pretty special to ride, good and bad. She's very talented, but I need to hand in a letter of approval to her about 2 months before I actually ask the thing I want her to do on that day. Mares.... :D
First comp we came 2nd and 4th, surprisingly, as she had outbursts in both tests which meant she would all of a sudden spit her dummy out and stamp her front legs... whoops! Second and third went much better, we got firsts and seconds, with whopping percentages. Starting to train towards a higher level now, need her to gain more strength and more consistency.
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Vid of her extented trot (work in progress)
https://www.facebook.com/philippa.waterstreet/posts/1356143404428059

And not to forget my other mare, Breitlingh. We'll be competing sometime in March for the first time in a couple of years, very excited to get her out and about again!
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The past two years I was working for Stal Tops, a big international showjumping stable, as a groom/rider. Gained so much experience there, really enjoyed my job. I got the opportunity to work as a showgroom for a big international dressage stable, which I have taken and I'm going to work for them from the 14th of February. Very excited! :D

Cause I can, here are two shots of my previous stable, Stal Tops, that I took. Very much eye candy! This is one of the geldings, Unreachable.
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On Breitlingh
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Will seriously try to keep updating more this time!
 

JennBags

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Very sorry to hear about your sadness, I think I remember you posting when he became ill, he looked gorgeous. Your new mare is also lovely though, sounds like you'll be having lots of fun with her, and the stables are stunning, I hope your new job is in just as beautiful a setting.
 

asterope

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I'm so sorry to hear about your boy. He looks absolutely stunning in that first photo - I keep scrolling up just to gaze at it! Your mares are gorgeous too.
 

ester

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So sorry about four, he was such a dude. Very nice to hear from you again though and that yard :eek3:. lovely to see lady b again and then new girl, another one who knows her own mind it would seem ;)
 

j1ffy

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I'm so sorry to read about Four, he was one of my favourite forum horses :(. Your new mare is stunning though, do keep us updated on her progress!
 

HashRouge

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So sorry to hear about Four Seasons, I always used to look out for your posts about him. He was such a stunner. Your new mare Elena looks gorgeous though, I really hope you continue to have an amazing time with her.
 

Orangehorse

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All are lovely, but what a heartbreaking story about your gorgeous horse. Best of luck with your new horse, certainly sees to be going on the right way.
 

Bernster

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Stunning horse, and great pics. So sorry to hear about your boy, that sounds awful. Nothing you could do about it, but must have been horrid to watch. Your new girl is gorgeous. Look forward to hearing how you get on.
 

hippocobamus

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So sorry for your loss. But what beautiful horses you have ... not to mention the yard. Sounds like you've got some fabulous opportunities!
 
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