Moving!

I have recently just moved to a property in Gundaroo which Paris is loving!
She is like a pig in mud at the moment and is loving life of not needing feed, rugs or excersise! Glad to see the end of this non-eventful season.. I am definently looking forward to getting back into the swing of things for next year!

I am hoping to get down to some Victorian events next year if time permits, so hopefully I will get a chance to spend some time with all the other team riders!

I attached some photo's just because they're cute! Paris has been trying her hand at western! She just loves chasing cows! And nothing feels better than a big lazy lope around the paddocks!!

My First and current ESB Horse

My first and current ESB horse is ESB Irish Moment or Paris as she is known around the stables. She is a chestnut mare by ESB Irish Decent, out of ESB Golden Girl. She is quite stricking to look at as she has a white blonde mane, flaxen tail, a big white face and two back socks!

My parents purchased Paris for me in 2007 straight from the ESB stud. She was very inexperienced when we bought her and was not long broken in. From the minute I got on her I loved her! I spent two weeks at the stud with her before bringing her home to Canberra in July of 2007.

Since then, it has been a long road of learning and heartbreak. She was very hard work enitally to get her going as she was very lazy and resistant. After lots of lessons and instruction, out came this AMAZING animal that really has a passion for competition. She has this attitude, that she only turns on when we are out competing and she really is a head turner!

She is a real character and has many little quirks about her that I have come to love. Things like climbing/ crawling in and out of stables are the "norm" for her, but she is beginning to grow out of her baby behaviour.

Recently she has just returned from a 9 month spell as she chipped her knee whilst out playing in the paddock. Whilst the injury wasnt too extensive, it was enough to make her uncomfortable and the vets orders were to spell her for 9 months. This was in November last year!  It has been great to finally be able to ride her again! It is amazing how much she has matured in this time! her whole attitude toward work and life in general is VERY different! Its great!

Watch this space for more Paris updates!!

Competition History

My competiton history ranges from Pony Club events, to Hack shows, to Jump club,dressage days and of course, my One Day Events.

I have to many accomplishments to list, but here are my highlights.

- 2005 National Capital Horse Show, Reserve Champion Rider 14-16 yrs
- 2006 ACT Schools Equestrian Association One Day Event- 2nd Place in Preliminary
- 2008 Dilutes Association Show Champion Hack and Reserve Champion Open Rider
- 2008 Dilutes Association Dressage- 1st Prelim 1.3
- 2008 Harden ODE- 3rd in Newcomers
- 2009 Harden Agricultural Show- Champion Open Hack over 16hh
- 2008 Wagga ODE- 3rd in Intro
- 2009 Zone 16 Pony Club ODE- 2nd in Cgrade

These are just a few of my better results. Unfortunatly I havent had the bliss of winning an open ODE, but I get better results at each and every competition I attend. Hopefully we will get there one day!

I will pop some photo's up at a later date.

Other Interests

My other interests include travelling, motobike riding and spending time with my friends. I do enjoy attending BnS balls with my friends and my partner and also like going to new places. My horses dont really allow for me to have other sporting commitments, but I wish I could.

Career path so far

Currently I work for the goverment in a busy Dental Clinic. I am both a Dental Assistant and a Dental Receptionist. The pay is great and the hours are very horse-owner friendly.

I try to do as much volunteer work as possible. I have travelled to Syndey in order to help out at the Sydney International 3DE, I have stewarded for local hack shows and I have also helped with our local jump club, dressage club and my pony club, Canberra Lakes.

Further Education

When I finished school, I wanted to become a hairdresser. Due to the lack of pay and long hours, I was unable to continue this. It made owning my horse nearly impossible and it was difficult to get time off to compete. I still do haircuts and colours from home as a I do enjoy it.

Im am still young and dont have any qualifications so far.

My Schooling

I attended a number of different schools when I was younger. The last school I went to was St Francis Xavier College. This school took me from Year 7 to Year 12. I completed both my Year 10 and Year 12 certificates, but finished school early in order to complete my Hairdressing apprenticeship.

I would like to go back to TAFE or CIT at some stage so that I can obtain my Bachelor Degree in Forensic Crime Scene Investigation.

My Childhood

I didn't start riding horse's until I was about 11 years old as I am allergic to them. My aunty had a horse when I was young and I used to get on him occasionally.

My first horse's name was Sheba and she was a 15hh Stock horse mare. Unfortunatly we lost her to a snake bite after about 2 months of owning her. I then trialled a little bay Brumby called Toby. We ended up giving him back as he was a little crazy. My next horse was a 13.2hh (at the time) Jet black Arabian filly. She was about 2 when we got her and I did most of her training myself. We went ahead to win a lot of sporting and show events, but her real passion was jumping. Thats why I enjoy Eventing so much. Whilst I didnt get to compete her much, due to having no transport, we would consistently jump around 1.20m. Often bareback too..
She eventually grew to a small 14.1hh and I had to lease her out due to me being to big for her. But I still own her. Here is a piccy of her with my Aunty's Clydie Bob.

Then I got my schoolmaster Moo in 2005. He was a 15 yr old, 16.3 TB gelding who had previously campained at 2** with his previous owner. She retired him prior to selling him so we purchased him to teach me everything I needed to know. Unfortunatly, 3 weeks after purchasing him, he became ill with Patterson's curse poisoning and we nearly lost him. He had to be confined to a stall for 13 weeks and I am now very good at giving injections and organising a diet for sick ponies! We ended up getting up to Pre-Novice before his arthritis kicked in and unfortunatly he passed away in September last year.

I will upload photo's of him when I find some.

My Family

My name is Alicia and I am currently 19 years old. I live in Canberra, ACT in a family of 5 with my Mum, Dad and two brothers.

My mum, Carmel, also rides horses and has done so on and off for the last 20 years. My dad, Michael, doesnt really like horses that much but is very supportive (financially) of me and my horses wherever we go.

My two brothers Mitchell-18, and BJ-14, both have their own sporting intrests which range from hockey and tennis to BMX bike riding and Skateboarding.

This is the most recent photo of myself and my brothers together.. It was my brothers 18th birthday.

I also have a number of pets which I consider to be a part of the family. We have 2 dogs, 5 cats, a turtle, 2 lizards and lots of fishies =)