Hi All,
October was an amazing month, spent traveling and coaching in Queensland and New Zealand, in vastly different conditions for horses.
QUEENSLAND
In Queensland, the drought on the east coast has left people paying $44-$50 a bag for lucerne chaff, $16 a bale for barley hay and $26 a bale for teff hay with few other options available as there is no grazing available. Despite the high cost and scarcity of feed, owners are managing to keep their horses in remarkably good condition.
While I was in Brisbane it poured with rain and although the rain was very welcome, its timing could have been better. To be on the safe side, it was decided to hire an indoor arena and a big thank you to Mark and Kathy for being onto it so quickly and finding a dry place for us to work in.
Onward from there to Mackay and because of the heat, we changed our clinics to the early mornings and the evenings, working under lights as the sun went down.
You may have seen some of the wonderful changes made to Julie on my FB page. I am always talking about the wonderful people I meet on my trips away and this amazing, happy lady makes a person so humble. I had the pleasure of working with Julie in Mackay Queensland. Julie is an inspirational lady.
She has rheumatoid arthritis, has had both knees replaced, has survived throat cancer and has now nerve damage from her treatment which is affecting her tongue and face on one side. She works daily on rebuilding her speech and her swallowing reflex. Last year Julie lost her partner of 27 yrs, and yet through all her hardship she still smiles, laughs, enjoys and loves her animals. She looks for the beautiful things in life and keeps a determined attitude to her ability to riding better for the sake of her horse.
Thank you Julie for coming to the RWYM clinic in Mackay and producing such great results.The change to Julie’s position in trot.
NEW ZEALAND
Over the ditch from Queensland to New Zealand, where Sue Pennington was waiting to meet me. This is where Jen & I work together on our Body Mastery clinics. Young 13-year-old Becky Cox blew us away with her maturity and the changes we saw in her, definitely an old soul who is embracing the changes she’s making in her riding.
Our next Body Mastery clinic was in South Auckland at a new venue with a lot of new riders making some massive shifts in their bodies and minds. Jen and I love the new blood coming through and watching the growth as the days and years progress.
Hawke’s Bay was our last stop and it’s always so rewarding to see the returning riders and their comradeship after all these clinics. I like to think that it’s a worthy celebration of what they have all achieved.
This year was the seventh year I’ve been going to New Zealand and it’s been a wonderful journey of growth not only for the riders but also for myself. I feel soooooo lucky that Suze Kensington contacted me all those years ago and started this.
TIME OFF
So this year I’ve actually taken time off for myself, and I flew to the South Island where I visited the breathtaking Queenstown and hiked for 3 days down the isolation of the Hollyford Track. I met some super people and loved hearing about the history of the area. I pushed my boundaries by overcoming a fear of hanging swinging bridges, went jet boating and finally on a helicopter ride back though Milford Sound. From there I flew back to Christchurch to visit a friend, old student and almost family member for a few days before flying home to get straight back to work.
We’re into the final stretch of 2018 and our last lot of clinics for the year.
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES
NOVEMBER
1st – 6th Nov – Booked Out
7th Nov – Harvey RWYM™ Clinic
10th & 11th Nov – Oakford RWYM™ Clinic
16th-19th Nov – Albany RWYM™ Clinic
24th & 25th Nov – Margaret River RWYM™ Clinic
DECEMBER
5th Dec – Harvey RWYM™ Clinic
7th-9th Dec – Oakford RWYM™ Clinic
If you’d prefer one-on-one lessons during the week, I’m often available for private lessons at my property in Keysbrook or if there are enough people interested, at your own property.
If you’d like more information on any of these events, go to my booking calendar at http://annmontgomery.com.au/calendar/ or contact me on info@annmontgomery.com.au.
Best wishes and happy riding,
Ann