Julia’s Cobs & Legendary Pony Hoofprints

02/09/2026

1 Sept 🌱; let’s go CJ! Spring Goals buddy. We’ve had a wee setback this month in upward momentum, but I feel so much more capable of handling the speed he wants to try on. There’s no rule that says we can’t press pause and fill in gaps. I love that Charlotte is happy to problem solve with him and there’s zero expectation of where we should be. He’s certainly been making me work this past month and I have homework this week!

01/09/2026

Two years ago, I printed and framed anti-bullying (be kind) posters for the club. Given that neither Amélie or myself would return I made the decision to take them down.

31/08/2026

Happily having a morning rest until Benji passed him. Noooo! What if Benji gets the first scratch or pocket treat?! Quick get up.
Making for an awkward photo instead of the sweet resting one. My early morning surprise visit because the truck was going in for maintenance this morning. I do love catching them lying down and normally Cooper lets me give him lots of sleepy cuddles.

30/08/2026

Just like that 🫰, truck loading has been rescued. Self loading in the paddock, then on the road (with a lead rope), and after a little drive around he unloaded and went straight back on from the road. Very nice!

30/08/2026

This is gorgeous!

I think this was some of the best water I have ever painted. It took some doing....had to be brave and push the values and allow the paint to drift and bend. I dunno....I think it is ok to celebrate our wins sometimes....there are enough humbling experiences out there to keep the ol' ego in check...so maybe it's ok to just say "this is cool" and leave it there ❤☺️

30/08/2026

All boxed up; she’s not quite ready to donate them 🤎🧡.

29/08/2026

Rainy day bush bashing / tiki tour. Just tracked myself to see how close I might be to linking up with the lake track from our property and if was worth the effort of trail blazing. It’s not 😅🤪.

The red is our property line, it’s 11.5 acres apparently, but more than half is bush.
The yellow is the track I’ve spent years cutting, maintaining, and improving 💚💪.
The green is my rainy day adventure because I couldn’t tell from the map.

28/08/2026

Short lived luck, my saddle savings is going straight to the vet. I’ve booked a scope for him Friday as he’s become increasingly snappy when I reach for his cover straps. In an otherwise perfectly sweet and smoochy guy this is totally ouch communication.
Thanks to Pedro I’m a bit of an armchair expert on stress ulcers. And 3 months into a new environment is pretty classic no matter how lovely we try to be. Travel, home change, herd change, an abscess, losing Tango, losing the ponies, travel training, and maybe a bit of sore splashing in the truck hasn’t helped. They’re sensitive systems and I don’t believe in guess work. Plus if I do the scope I can get the tablets which are far easier for my busy schedule.
🤞🤞 For an easy outcome and early detection. We’ve got this Benji! XX

27/08/2026

Saddle fit this morning for both boys! I have no idea how I finally got this lucky, but both of Mexx’s saddles fit Benji! I opted for his older one that was originally for me and a better fit for my adult bum (not Amélie’s).

Cooper could not keep his nose out of her van either! Such an attention seeking puppy.

Tonight’s evening buzz around the track was a nice surprise because at some stage we lost Benji, I think he didn’t cross the bridge. But Cooper carried on beautifully and then I saw Benji across the way running back up the lower track to meet us at the top, also looking very relaxed. I didn’t even know he wasn’t with us. 🥳 for not having herd bound dramas!

💜 Auckland Saddle Fit - Tailored Saddle Fitting with Christine Peart

26/08/2026

Home at 7 exhausted from going nowhere !! I passed on my lesson between rain in Kumeu, unsure of Cooper’s saddle fit, and Benji running from the truck. Truck training reboot was needed because he’s so hot and cold with it. He’ll put himself in an open truck, but runs off if I’m parked on the road leading him in, so truck training had some holes in it! I did baby steps of Paddock loading, drive 5 metres and unload and load again! So many breakaways and running down the track! But we got there and in the end had a few loads on the road then took him off without driving anywhere. My driveway is too steep to take them up or down on the truck so everything has to happen on the road/footpath. Too unsafe with breakaway runs!!
Cooper 🧡, such a patient boy! He also had to go on and off, get tied, wait, go on again. I have the opposite problem with him in that he loves going out and will follow the truck out the gate and up the driveway!

Anyways! We got there in the end. Happily popping in the truck and going nowhere!