California dream! Update from Ginger Jae and I :)

[Festive_Felicitations]

Jae is looking fantastic! The move has obviously agreed with him Looks like you have lovely facilities at the yard.

Really interesting to read about the competition scene there and the different riding styles. Please keep the updates coming!

 

[jellybaby2]

All sounding great!!! God I miss the sunny weather. This winter has dragged....roll on spring/summer...
JB x

 

[FlaxenPony05]

I was looking forward to an update from you....and am definitely not disappointed! It looks lovely and am very, very jealous

I think the fashion over there atm is high waisted breeches, big brown belt and polo top ...ooh and not forgetting a Charles Owen YR8

 

[Caol Ila]

Eh? Do people in the UK learn to hold a horse with a restrictive hand and NOT ask them to be naturally round from behind, into a very light contact? Is the former what is normally taught?

I'm feeling as if I understand some things now.

 

[Firewell]

What a strange response Caol....
The hunter riders here ride very differently to european dressage trained riders.. do you not agree?! They have no to very little contact, ride in a light seat and the horse goes in a totally different way. Not a bad way! Just different. It's like comparing Western to Dressage. In UK I was taught ride from behind certainly but into an elastic contact. Not no contact.

 

[Firewell]

Urgh. I've never been so jealous in my life! Jae looks fantastic & is obviously enjoying his new life across the pond Glad you are too!

Thanks, he loves it! I am happy I came, it's amazing how much easier life is when the sun is shining and it is warm.

Jae looks fabulous & very settled with his new life in the sun!
Can't wait to hear how you get on when you have a crack at competing As far as I can tell - get yourself a GPA helmet, some beige breeches and a black coat and you and Jae will fit right in the hunter/jumper scene

Am so jealous of the pool!!

I haven't been in the pool yet lol, the waters a bit cold *wimp* but it's a novelty to lie by! I'm going to pluck up the courage and go out when they hold the first little show around March. Fingers crossed!

Aah I remember sunlight. I think.

Great pictures - Jae looks fabulous.

Thank you, not long now for you guys and it will be spring!

 

[Firewell]

He looks great and very settled. Another here jealous of the weather, pool, big sand school etc.

I'm assuming the beige beeches and black jacket comment is in jest (even at a schooling show that would raise eyebrows) but if you do decide to venture into the world of h/j attire, set aside a good portion of your horsey budget as that really is an ever changing fashion show!

Have you been to Indio? Not quite WEF (now THAT is worth a visit) but a fairly big deal nonetheless.

Oh god you have me really scared now as I have NO idea what to wear! I stick out like a sore thumb as it is ha ha, they'll be a few raised eyebrows then when I turn up in my ratcatcher gear .

Jae looks in amazing condition and so relaxed.

The scenery is stunning - sunshine, no floods ..... I am very envious.

Enjoy.

The lifestyle suits him so much, warm weather, lots of lovely green grass hay, living outside. It is lovely, but we do have a drout so as much as I love no rain it isn't all good. You are nearly over the worst of the winter and then England will be beautiful .

Great update and pics, thanks! You must be having a super time and I am looking fwd to hearing about your first foray out to a comp. Interesting to hear about the different approach over there. Baby ok?

Yep the baby is fine! Growing so much, I am getting man arms lugging him around he's so heavy . I hope he will be a good boy like your baby when I do go out .

Wow, sat here in cold wet miserable weather, with a sand school that looks like the tide is just coming in, so might just be a little bit jealous

Great report, it looks fantastic out there

Thanks. If someone offered me a chance to go back to England tomorrow I'm ashamed to say I doubt very much I would take it. I love my homeland but it is bloody lovely here ha ha.

Ugh, I need to stop opening your update posts!

Jae looks fab, and I'm glad we have no pics of you I'm sure you look far too happy!!

Looking forward to your first show report, are you opening a b&b for your hho buddies?!

Everyones welcome! Sunshine, pool and ponies who could want more .

Living the dream. Glad you're all enjoying yourselves out there. Jae certainly seems very happy in his new surroundings

Happy like a pig in poo

Jae looks amazing And I am SO jealous of your beautiful sunshine!!

Thank you

It looks amazing! Your reports are fab and a real insight to the US horsey world, Jae is looking fab too Tell Mr FW we need pics

I know I will have to drag him up there! Still lot's to learn!

Great to here your report, it's interesting to hear how different it is over seas. Very jealous of the weather and scenery!!

The scenery is breathtaking. I was so worried leaving England as I'm used to being surrounded by beautiful countryside but it is just as nice. I do have to get used to the landscape being a different colour here though! Not emerald green like at home but golden brown!

*walks in, goes green, stomps foot because i want to live in So Cal but cant and walks back out again*

Seriously glald everything is going well, as a show jumper i would love to be in LA or the surrounding areas as it looks fab.

You would LOVE it! Find an American husband then you can live here! . At least at home you can rock up to BS every weekend after only a half hour journey, wear what ever you like within reason and no one bats an eye. Tarrsteps has me worried now that i'm not going to wearing the right belt or something ha ha.

 

[Firewell]

Lovely update, it's great you have both settled in so well.

Thank you

ah wow, this makes me unbelievably jealous! looks like the perfect set up, good luck!

Yeah it's good apart from the lack of local shows! Lots of clinics. I'm sure I will get into the swing of things soon

I am so green with envy right now! Enjoy the sun for me

The sun is amazing!

I love your 'letters from America' so keep them coming . Jae looks lovely and you sound very happy - perfect!

Thank you! We are happy! Miss family and friends but we are happy .

He looks amazing, love hearing about how different it is over there.

It is so different! Thank you

Also a three page thread in half an hour? Kudos!

Goodness I know! I should move abroad more often tee hee!

Looks very nice!

It is .

our arena gets watered all the time!!! from the skies

happy to hear all is well after you big move. he certainly looks happy!

Ha ha!! You can send some rain lover here so that I can have a green field to work in!

Jae looks fantastic and the scenery is spectacular! It's interesting to hear about the differences over there, particularly with the hunter jumping stuff. It sounds like the horses feel quite different to how they look, and certainly goes to show that there is more than one road to Rome.

As for the eventing scene, it's a good job that I haven't got the bottle for it as there's only one event a year here in HK

Definitely, I think one poster thinks we haul the horses heads in over in England. Not what I meant at all Lol. Ha well that makes me feel better about only having 2 events locally! People are much more used to travelling here. It is so huge, takes a bit of gettinug used to.

wow FW your chap is looking fab, not jealous at all of the lovely weather you have ..LOL
great to hear all is good and you have both settled in to your new life so well
look forward to more lovely sunny photos and some comp reports !

Thank you very much Monte, I hope your horse is good!

 

[TarrSteps]

Just think of the endless shopping opportunities!

For eventing and dressage you will be absolutely fine with what you've got - the basics are pretty much the same the world over. (Just no tweed!!) Ditto jumpers and, of course, it doesn't matter in jumpers anyway.

It's only hunters where the fashions are different. Some of it is pretty eye rolling - jacket colours go in and out, as do SHADES of khaki for breeches, believe it or not! Lining colours, different shirt styles, and yes, belts! But like showing here, you can always go classic and ride out the fashion waves - judges aren't bothered. (On the other hand, a grey jacket with pink lining is very pretty!)

At least they've outlawed blinging helmets now.

 

[LeannePip]

I Love reading your California threads! i don't suppose you want a live in Nanny/Groom!?

Jae looks so happy and i bet you are so glad you made the decision to take him with you!

Look forward to another state side instalment when you get out and about!

 

[Tiffany]

Lovely update and photos, I'm so envious of the sunshine and having to water the arena. Complete opposite here, no sunshine although we do have a permanent water sprinkler from the sky

 

[louiselowe]

I will come riding with you just need to get me n the ponies on a plane haha, think i would be S***ing myself atvthe thought of mountain lions arghhhh. It really does look lovely you lucky mare xx

 

[Carefreegirl]

It was all going so well until the last picture :wink3:

Your very brave making such a move. Obviously working out though. Fab pictures and Jae looks very content.

 

[[59668]]

I've just been in Newark for a week for work and fell in love with it there. I found myself looking at livery in the area and could see myself living there. I'm very jealous. Was my first visit to cal.

 

[noodle_]

oh wow.


that just makes me want to move to the states even more!!!

would love to live in america one day!!!

 

[BBP]

I somehow missed the bit where you crossed the pond! Bonkers black pony would be great out there, sunny weather makes him into almost normal black pony! You should pay a visit to Indio, the winter circuit should be up and running now. I spent three months living there as a groom for hunter jumpers (and I agree, very different style, they worship horses who can lob around a 4ft hunter course with an amateur without so much as a false step, my boss paid £250,000 for a horse to do this! They were wonderful to ride for a less advanced rider like me). I loved it out there (especially when moving down from sub zero Vancouvee in January!). Look forwards to more sunny updates.

 

[TarrSteps]

I somehow missed the bit where you crossed the pond! Bonkers black pony would be great out there, sunny weather makes him into almost normal black pony! You should pay a visit to Indio, the winter circuit should be up and running now. I spent three months living there as a groom for hunter jumpers (and I agree, very different style, they worship horses who can lob around a 4ft hunter course with an amateur without so much as a false step, my boss paid £250,000 for a horse to do this! They were wonderful to ride for a less advanced rider like me). I loved it out there (especially when moving down from sub zero Vancouvee in January!). Look forwards to more sunny updates.

How did I not know you were from the West Coast??

 

[BBP]

Ha, well I'm not really, I just have itchy feet! Spent 3 yrs in Illinois as a kid doing hunter jumpers from St. Louis to Germantown, then at 18 I moved from U.K. To Vancouver and spent a year grooming for hunter jumpers from thunderbird to bend and down for 3 months in Indio. Then at 21 I moved to NZ and spent 3 months with trekking horses in glenorchy and then 9 months working for a member of the NZ event team, then a few months for mark Todd with his racers. The rest of the time I'm in wet and muddy Cambridgeshire!

 

[TarrSteps]

Itchy feet, indeed! I grew up in B.C. and went to school on the Island. Not much drier than Cambridgeshire though!

 

[Orangehorse]

Wow, lovely report. Horse looks very happy in permanent sunshine. Think of us squelching around in the mud and cold rain.

It is very interesting to hear about the differences between UK and USA, in style and attitude.

The local riding sounds really great too. But having ridden in a forest in the USA (a long way from where you are) I know EXACTLY what you mean about not wanting to go by yourself in case you come across something frightening. I was "stalked" by a coyote which my horse didn't much like. We think he had a den and cubs some where near, so he was keeping an eye on us, but hearing a rustling in the undergrowth and then looking back to see him trotting along behind us was a bit disconcerting!

 

[california dreaming]

I am sooo soooo jealous of you. you are living my dream. Happy for you really. Oh how I wish i was in your shoes.