Bella Equestrian- Eventing, Dressage, horse bits, horse boots

5th July, 2010

Dear Anita and the Bella Equestrian team,

So sorry about the late update, I’ve been locked inside every since Melbourne 3DE due to Uni exams, but now that they are over (yippy) I have plenty of time to sit down and type away.
On the topic of Melbourne 3DE… it was awesome! Jeorge was amazing and I loved every minute.
Our dressage test was fairly solid, I was happy with Jeorge; he had more hock action than any other test and had a really good frame. In terms of scoring he got canned, but that’s cool its hard to be competitive with so many professionals in the class, nevertheless we will get there eventually and are taking the right steps towards the high 70%’s.
Cross country was amazing. Very wet and poor Jeorge was the 50th horse to run in the class (for some reason they did the draw in alphabetical order) so we went very slow, even with huge studs in Jeorge was slipping all over the place, and it was so much more important to keep his confidence up over the bigger fences then make time. Porgie jumped so well for me, and yes we survived the water…which may I say was BIGGER than last year, the apex and all the tricky stuff in between. I came off course just wishing I has another ride because it was so much fun (Oliver watch out, your turn next year!)
Finally (and by this stage I was very over the cold, wet and lovely red Werribee mud) Jeorge showjumped like he had wings! Sadly we had 3 rails down, it was a combination of Jeorge getting a little strong and my half halts not strong enough and him spooking more at the fill than the rail on top of the fence! Silly boy! I still think we did such a great job, out of 50ish horses, there were only 9 clear rounds, and some unlucky people had 6 rails down!
At the end of the weekend it was an amazing feeling to finish a 3DE with a sound, not swollen and happy pony, he arrived back in SA so fresh it was amazing, god I am so thankful for his little strong legs!
I would like to the opportunity to thank Bella Equestrian for keeping Jeorge warm all weekend in his Thermatex rug, and his legs flying through the mud in his Prolite Boots, they served me very well and look very sharp in the photos taken.
Looking ahead Jeorge will have a few cruzzie 1* runs until the end of the year, we have had a slight change of plans due to the World Equestrian Games, and am aiming towards 2* at Lakes and Craters in December. And Oliver is ticking along nicely, I am staying on him and he will have into run in late August.
Unitl next time, happy riding
Xo bec+porg+oliver

25th May, 2010

Dear Anita and the Bella Equestrian team,

Firstly again I would like to apologise about my serious lack of photos, my dad had come to the last two events with me…..and let just say…not the best photographer in the world!

My last event was in Naracoorte; 3.5hours from home, so it's a nice close one. Jeorge was super, 7th after the dressage, clear xc (on a course with not one but TWO apex…may I also mention they were both in combinations) and 6 time. He showjumped like a champ, had two down, but was the 3rd clearest round, it was very tough and ended up 5th! Yay go Jeorge. It seems Megan and I have figured out (finally) just the right combination of bit/bridal mix and he is travelling very sweetly now, its amazing what you can do when the pony underneath you listens! Just a wee bit of a pity it took us this long, but that's life and I have gained so much experience from the whole journey, I think its made me a tougher competitor on a whole, which is good.

Oliver had his first start at Naracoorte, he did a sweet little dressage test, 62% and was placed mid field. It was a great first effort from him… I thought I would not get him past the judge's car, so things were looking positive. Until showjumping. It seems that all the atmosphere with all the other little into horses running around was a bit to much for my young dumb-blood and he bucked me off in the showjumping! Not only did I get my white jodz very dirty, but Oliver then decided to run around the warm up area and car park for a good 15min, not letting anyone catch him, and creating quite the chaotic scene. Needless to say (the special horse that I brought here all the way from NZ and just been buck off of in the 80cm showjumping) I was mortified! Oh well. I did the xc on him later in the day, warmed him up away from all the other horses ad just trotted and popped around the course and he was great! Enough said, lesson learnt!
So Jeorge and I are very much looking forward to making it past the 6th fence (please god) at Melbourne 3DE this year, and clearly Oliver and I have a little bit more work to do, but he will be back out in July@sydney.

Until then I cant tell you how much I am enjoying all the amazing Bella Equestrian products. As you know the Pro Lites are great and getting a serious work out. My Champion helmet is so comfortable and looks great out on course. Jeorge's Thermatex rug and boots are keeping him very snug and my Jefferies whip is keeping sure that both the horse are very bold out xc…ha ha ha.

Until next time, happy riding xo Bec, Jeorge and the bucking monster! xo

31st March, 2010

Hey Anita, yes I know I have been terribly slack over the last couple of months… however if I can use the age old excuse of being so busy I have not had time to wipe (Jeorge's) butt, then I will.

Aside from my horse life I have gone back to uni (wow was that a shock to the system) my parents moved house (first time in 18 years) and I'm still on the hunt for a new horse.

Unfortunately Jeorge had taken a little bit of a back seat during this time. While we are on the topic of little porgie, he has been going well.

We have had a few shitty runs of late, bad luck, being flooded out at Tonimbuk and running into a fence (don't ask) at our last event, however on a whole things are getting betting.
His dressage is great at the moment, really getting much more and stronger being up hill; we have said goodbye to the polo gag for XC and hello to an American rising gag…. It's softer…just.

We had a lesson with Wayne last week, which went well.. And even tried our hand at pure showjumping at the SA state champs.

Looking to the future, we make the trip interstate again in two weeks for Camperdown and then it's not long to Melbourne 3day.

I'm very sorry about my lack of photos this month, both mum and dad have been busy and my boyfriend has been away with work, so most of the time its been just me and porg. However if we did have photos they would show that we are both loving our new Prolite boots, simply the best and easiest product to use, look after and they don't hold and feral xc dirt or water. Wicked. The more I look they are popping up everywhere!

Till then, happy Easter xo be.

9th February, 2010
Just a quick update. Since i blogged last i have had a show jump clinic with megan - which was very cool - it was a twilight lesson down near adelaide airport, as you jump the planes fly over head, extremely low! and my first ever true dressage lesson with Thomas.

Surprisingly it went very well. Maybe Jeorge was inspired by the amazing indoor we were lucky enough to ride in! Thomas started off by explaining to me the "principals" of dressage and how you can not achieve a high level without working through the steps. The first was rhythm, second relaxation, third implosion and forth connection (i think, there are like 9 or so but thats as much as i remember for now) anyway Jeorge got the steps well, and we moved on to heaps on shoulder-in to half pass, shoulder fore to renver, that kinda stuff, we even took our first steps towards collection. wowwee!!!! i have a new respect for core muscles! by the next time thomas sees Jeorge he wants double the top line, for him to shut his mouth more and for me to have "quite" legs, no more eventing flapping ankles...so if anyone reading this sees me@a comp, please feel free to point and laugh at my flapping legs, may just be the torment i need!

so... As i sit here in my jodz and write this im looking forward to a jamie lesson tonight and tomorrow. last chance cross country training on sat, local dressage comp on sun and 18 hours in the car with my amazing and extremely patient mother on monday as we make our way towards sydney!

stay posted... fun times ahead!

cheers bec+porg. - check out the photo of us getting the low down from the boss!!!

2nd February 2010
Dear Anita and the Bella Equestrian Team,
January 2010 is off to a flying start. Before I knew it my calendar went from holiday fun times to packed full of clinics, lessons and up and coming events.

In the lead up to Sydney mid week and weekend events - which I leave home on the 15th of feb for- I have a Jamie Coman clinic, a Thomas Muehlenbeck clinic (yes yes we are going to attempt the dressage thing) and a heap of lessons with Megan in the hope of whipping our butts into shape before Sydney.

In terms of looking ahead I don't think things are really going to slow down. Hopefully it will be 2* for Jeorge in the middle of the season, and i'm also looking to add another pony to the team. I will defiantly have my hands full with two competitive eventers.

There will be plenty of updates coming your way soon and I am pretty excited to give my new Pro Lite cross country boots a run at Sydney. YAY!!!!

January 2010
so exciting....

"Dear Becky Zamel,
The Australian Eventing Talent Search squad has been reviewed, along with your submitted performances in
2009. On behalf of the National Eventing Coach and the Eventing High Performance Panel, I am pleased to
inform you that you and your horse, Kirby Park Irish Jeorge, have retained your position on the Australian Talent Search Squad. This selection recognises the ongoing potential of yourself and this horse..."

Congratulations Bec and Jeorge! Good Luck for the 2010 Season, from Bella Equestrian!