Happy Fourth Birthday Jazz!

[Cochise]

I thought I'd celebrate her fourth birthday with a thread showing all her accomplishments so far in her short life.

I brought her home aged 10 months in July 2009. She was mostly lovely and quiet to be around.

Cheeky was fascinated by her.

I took her to a western club show in November 2009 and she won her filly class:

And won Champion Mare:

Eventually, our move to Auckland went well and she settled easily.

Spiggly came to the 2010 National Appaloosa Show, which was VERY wet!

She won her filly class and was Reserve Champion Junior Filly. She also came second in a large futurity class.

 

[Cochise]

She wintered well as she turned two.

Then we moved to our current place and the terrible twos started!

But she did have some mellow moments too.

And in April 2011, when she was 2 1/2, she was backed over a weekend.

By the end of the weekend, with Cheeky's help, I had my first sit on Jazz. And my Mum was still alive to see the photos!

She was turned away for a few more months until June and the trainer spent another weekend with her.

 

[Cochise]

Then throughout 2011, she became my angel helping me to deal with losing my Mum to cancer, being such a sweetheart every time I was with her.

Then in October, the trainer spent one more day with her.

Then it was all up to me to bring her along from there.

 

[Cochise]

I took her to a county show in November and did the in hand sporthorse classes. She won her mare class and was third in the suitability for showing class.

I had my first trot with her under saddle in November and first canter on Christmas Eve.

And with a bundle of nerves, took her to a pony club show in January 2012 for her first ridden show.

She was so, so quiet and people didn't believe me when I said she was only three!

 

[Cochise]

Then the big county shows rolled around in February!
Franklin County - 3 Novice Class third placings.

A week later - Helensville County with a second and third in the Novice classes:

And finally, the next week Morrinsville County where we won both the novice classes, third in open classes and Champion Novice Horse.

 

[Cochise]

We have competed in a dressage test which was less than brilliant. She needs more time to balance up in a smaller arena. Showing is good for us as we have more room to balance, to work around better and we both enjoy it.

Our next show is on the 22nd October - a pony club show then two County shows before Christmas.

To finish... a photo of all her winnings so far and apparently when the AGM comes around soon, we're apparently up for some Northland/Auckland Appaloosa Area trophies.

 

[Dannii5691]

What a lovely mare!! She has come on lovely! A real credit To you!

 

[Lauzy]

That is quite a write up for a 4 year old. I wonder what it will be like on her 8th Birthday!

She is a real credit to you.x

 

[newforest]

She is doing really well.

Photo questions-what's the noseband she has on when training, not seen that type before.

I love the photo where the riders are at the big county show, do they have different hats for a reason? I like the green outfit.

 

[domane]

She's an absolute credit to you Debs!

Where has the time gone???? Happy birthday Jazz!!!

 

[Vicki100]

Wow what a brilliant little mare!! :biggrin:

You've done a fab job with her, you should be darn proud!! :angel:

 

[whirlybird]

Wow, some lovely photos and Jazz is a gorgeous young girl - happy birthday from Scotland Jazz! You've done a great job with her, she looks very relaxed for one so young:smile:

 

[Cochise]

Thanks. She has been a pleasure to be with most of the time. She is now getting stronger and throwing a few questions at me under saddle, but I've ridden some real ratbags in my time, and she's definitely not one of them!

I think she's going to be a bold horse when it comes to jumping and I'd like to do show hunter with her eventually.

I've been so incredibly blessed with both my appaloosas and when Cheeky turns SEVENTEEN in October, he'll have a MAMMOTH thread!

And yes, my little Jazz is off to such an amazing start, I do wonder what she'll be like when she gets to eight or ten!

The noseband is kind of like a harness racing bridle, basically encourages the horse to lighten UP and not down. He does NOT support "long and low" as he feels it encourages the horse to get heavy on the hand.

 

[bitsnpieces]

Happy birthday Jazz!!!

What a lovely little mare she is, you should be very proud of her :biggrin:

 

[Cochise]

She is a darling.