Sunburst Wendy Schaeffer

Smoking' Sun was 10th in the CCI** at Tattersalls in May 2015 with opposition who were World Champions, Olympic Gold Medallists and Badminton winners!

Devastatingly, I have had to euthanise my exciting 2* Eventer Smoking' Sun today who deteriorated quickly with a recent onset of kidney failure. Such a gentle giant standing at 17.2hh, he was an exciting prospect - impressive in the dressage ring and an amazing galloper & jumper XC.

Many thanks to Emiliano Espinar from McGonall & Gillet Vets for all his support and Andy Durham at Liphook Equine Hospital for the intensive treatment to give him a fighting chance.

RIP Bertie

Home from a fantastic event . Super facilities, excellent going and a challenging, educational XC course built by Ian Stark. Competition tough in the CCI** with WFP winning with a master class performance on 42.2, Harry Meade also fininshing on his excellent dressage score of 43.4, Daisy Berkely up to 3rd with a clear SJ to finish on 48.1, Oli Townend down to 4th with two down SJ for a 48.5, Aoife Clark also had one down to finish on 49.6 & 7th letting in NZ's Dan Jocelyn & Blyth Tait into 5th & 6th. Young British rider, Kate Carrs, based in Ireland with Sam Watson was the only non 4*/Championship rider to finish in the top 10 in 8th. Sam Griffiths braved it out to stay on & ride on Sunday after the devastating loss of his beautiful CCI*** dressage leader, Favourit Z who broke his leg on landing over a fence during Saturday's XC. My young Aussie horse, Smokin' Sun finished 10th on a 52.5 with an unlucky back rail of the last fence down when I was a little away to it. A pity as he had jumped his best round yet having not touched a fence until then - at this stage I would rather have an unlucky rail for 10th than a lucky clear for 5th! His dressage & XC had been top class making him an exciting prospect for the future. 3* in our sights August - October!

Off to walk the Intermediate course at this morning for tomorrow's event where Sun Lover & Smokin' Sun are having their final hit out before the Tattersalls CCI** in Ireland May 27-31.

Fantastic lessons last night with super NZ International dressage rider & trainer, Lisa White at Smokin' Sun & Sun Lover showing some much improvement !

All set to head to Dressage Day 1 at Badminton CCI**** today. My South African girlfriend, Kate Winter & I are having an early start to watch David Doel - a top young British event rider who rode my old 4* horse Koyuna Sun Magic in Senior Nations Cup Teams last year - do the dummy test at 9am. The first quarter of the draw is filled with hot favourites including our 3 top Aussies - Paul Tapner & Kilronan, last year's winner Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh & Chris Burton aboard TS Jamiamo his Adelaide CCI**** winner in 2013. Mark Todd on Leonadis II, Andrew Nicholson on Nereo (individual bronze at the 2010 Kentucky WEG and individually 4th at the 2012 London Olympics) & Jonelle Price on Classic Moet who were 4th individually at last year's WEG in France.

Then a walk of the XC course. Not surprisingly it doesn't look as tough as last year's track on the virtual course walk (check it out on the Badminton website) though it is alway easier when you don't have to ride it!

Had a great event at Belton where both Sun Lover & Smokin' Sun really stepped up XC to achieve the optimum time easily (by 14 & 7 secs respectively) - only 18 out of 260 horses around the CIC** /Intermediate track! Horses did great dressage too but rider had errors of course affecting scores! Now qualified for the Tattersalls CCI** in Ireland May 27-31. Bring it on!

Timeline photos

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Back in Australia at Sunburst Equestrian for 5 days & getting some early Summer weather - 37 degrees today!

Sun Showers started her Adelaide International campaign well with a win in the CNC*** at Reynella Horse Trials last weekend. Will see how she trains & competes over the next few weeks as to whether she starts 2* or 4*.

Happy to teach while I'm in Adelaide until November 19 before insterstate for clinics.

Wendy :-)

at Hickstead Derby meeting - a privilege to ride here! It's even better when ponies are on fire. Koyuna Sun Set was awesome in today's Derby trial, clear up until the last when I kicked on too much up the hill arriving a bit fast & flat. Gave me great belief that she CAN do the job on Sunday - I just need to keep pout of her way! Finished 17th out of 63 to be well inside top 35 who qualify. Koyuna Sun Dancer also jumped super this morning for a double clear over a tough 1.25m track for 5th place. Rebecca Charlton's little mare Royal Charter II also ran 5th (out of 159 starters!) in the 1.10m.

Many thanks to Bernice Cuthbert for allowing me to school her Derby fences last Friday & her advice "Don't look down yourself & don't put brakes on too hard after the fence on top causing the horse to look down." Here's hoping Koyuna Sun Set can do the Hickstead bank as successfully next Sunday!

Summer is here - Koyuna Sun Dancer out enjoying the sun!

Spartacus & Taliah at Cedars Farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1lxB_TEmjA

My student, Taliah jumping Spartacus. Great job through a tough line!

Spartacus & Taliah at Cedars Farm

FOR SALE - An outstanding son of Utah van Erpekom, Utah Saint is a 4yo blessed with the ability and attitude of his sire. Ready to start official competition, Spartacus has been a pleasure to train and has also been jumped by my student (pic 1). He will be out at Snowball farm on June 4 and Addington Manor on June 9. PM me for further details.

Wendy Schaeffer Badminton 2014 sj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocXrmUS6OE0

My friend and Business partner, Kate Winter took this footage of the SJ on Sunday. Can we hear her at the end?!

Wendy Schaeffer Badminton 2014 sj

The 2nd part of the Vicarage Vee for real!

Koyuna Sun Dancer - jumping my imitation Vicarage V

Thought we best set up something approximating the intimidating Vicarage Vee which we are due to meet soon at the upcoming Badminton horse trials...no substitute for being prepared! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycS83pIQnC4

Koyuna Sun Dancer - jumping my imitation Vicarage V

Carantos has strengthened up well since my return to the UK in December & is now ready to compete in some higher classes. He is for sale for £25K to fund my fledgling UK business! PM me for more info.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxssty9Y-0&feature=youtu.be

Before a mistake at the 3rd last fence put paid to fnishing in the money! Let's hope this was the tune up we needed before Badminton...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lut0ZS70hmI

Koyuna Sun Dancer XC Burnham Market CIC3*

XC started great - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lut0ZS70hmI

Koyuna Sun Dancer XC Burnham Market CIC3*

Koyuna Sun Dancer SJ Burnham Market CIC3*

A clear Jumping round kept him on his dressage score of 46.7 going into the XC - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpCJXqrwwH0

Koyuna Sun Dancer SJ Burnham Market CIC3*

Koyuna Sun Dancer - Burnham Market CIC*** Dressage

Koyuna Sun Dancer in his Dressage at Burnham Market International Horse Trials CIC3* - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us0zK11gD4o

Koyuna Sun Dancer - Burnham Market CIC*** Dressage

Untitled album

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Sweet 4 year old Sparticus (son of Utah van Erpekom) here with us for schooling at Sunburst Wendy Schaeffer enjoying some spring grass