This means that I should

a: continue college

or

b: drop out of college

And that’s pretty much an all or nothing kind of choice! Therefore I’ve been in doubt… not really, but just that one second of “ohh is this really a good idea?” that makes one completely confused.

This is when I remember the (clever!) quote “if you’re in doubt – you’re not in doubt”, and actually – it’s true.

I know that deep inside (or maybe not that deep after all?) I’m not in doubt at all: I’ve been complaining about how little I learn in college, and how unprofessional I feel when I spend my time there “studying” instead of riding. I’ve felt like every minute I’ve spent on that school has been a waste. Also, when I think of what’s going to happen in Germany – I’m not doubting a sec that I want to go there. Therefore….. I’m pretty sure I’ll drop out of college.

Nothing’s sure yet though, buuuuuut when thinking rationally for a minute or two – that is probably my obvious choice to drop out.

The entire weekend will be used for packing, as the transport is picking up Ziggy in Ireland Monday!! This meansssss that I’m moving to Germany Tuesday or Wednesday!!!!! Most likely Wednesday …

Later this week Karina and I will know whether if we can have the big apartment/house or the smaller one (two rooms, bathroom, kitchen). Hoping for the big one of course! Also, Karina’s wonderful dog, Bongo, is going with us, but not untill two weeks later or something due to his passport. It isn’t done before, so he has to wait in Denmark.

Someone asked we if I’ve never met Ziggy – and no. No, I’ve never met Ziggy.

I believe that when you – no matter if you’re 17 like me, 27 like Karina, or any other age – get offered a horse like Ziggy from a breeder like Tom … you just say YES in a hurry and wow, how you better be thankful for the rest of your days for an opportunity like that!

Ziggy has been ridden by one of the best riders in Ireland (Irish team rider Katie O’Sullivan), and he has been called a world prospect by some of the very best riders and breeders. ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY SAY NO TO SUCH A HORSE, and one does not simply ask to see it first.

Ziggy in my heart.

New horse

• Binding agreement signed with Thomas Reed/Morningside Stud: I am the new rider and co-owner of the 8-year old eventer Ziggy Marley m2s.
• Ziggy gets picked up in Ireland probably Friday or Monday (top!)
• Planning to go all the way with this horse!

Ajour on vacation

• Has in 2 months and a bit sat all records of awesomeness.
• No refusals, only a couple of runouts.
• Has been on XC obstacles already.
• Got shod today! Just front legs though.
• Gets his vaccines and teeth done tomorrow.

New job

• At OakleyHorses
• Moving location 20 minutes closer to Bremen
• Discussing the last terms with Stephan, owner of OakleyHorses.
• My work will include:

1. Riding
2. Making sales videos
3. Getting sponsors
4. Advertising
5. Keeping things tidy
6. Lunging now and then

• All three horses go
• No time limit

Finally skipping school?

• Going to discuss my future educational plan with college leader, college supervisor, and contact teacher later this wee.
• If we can’t work things out: dropping out
• If we can work things out: distance study

The day he was born (March 14, 2008) I was at the big Danish Warmblood stallion show in Herning, and I got an MMS from the breeder’s son showing a black foal with two shiny white socks and a moon-shaped irregular star. One month later he was officially mine – signed by paper.

We visited him quite a lot, and he was simply just amazing – always happy, like he was smiling – and he loved being around humans. Especially me of course

He grew older in quite a hurry, and once we visited him around age 2 and a half (still a stallion), I went out in the field where he and 4 or 5 other horses lived, called him in, put on a halter and a rope, pulled him in – and that’s it. So easy to handle already back then. We tied him up, brushed him, cut his mane, cleaned his hooves and boom. Profit.

Ajour 30 months old

He got on stable in October 2011, and shortly before that a farrier treated him real bad. Hit him or something – he is known as quite a violent blacksmith, and afterwards Ajour wasn’t really himself. He avoided any contact when we came out to him in the field, and when he got home on stable, he was completely out of his mind. He was frustrated, stressed, and ran around reckless making circles in his box. He wouldn’t get anywhere near a pad, and he was real annoying to walk with.

Due to the stressing around in the box he wounded his hind leg, and we had to clean it in the wash box. He walked straight into my mother so she fell, he got scared and boom – kick. He kicked my mother in her head and she had to get sewed with 30 sting. That’s when we decided to send him to Shane Mosele – an Australian horse whisperer guy. Two months at Shane’s place, and Ajour was as transformed.

As you know we didn’t put him to work as early as others – actually around a year later than the “normal/standard”, but I’m glad we did. I started riding and demanding a little bit more from him at January 7 – and well we all know how fast he has been developing.

No, I don’t think I/we have pushed him at any time. He has been walked with those extra-reins once or twice, and he is still learning how to walk properly around a lunge.

I rode him with a long whip the first couple of weeks until he understood what my legs were meant for – going forward also I had it with me the first three-four times of jumping until he found out what those fences really were. At the indoor cross country training I rode with nothing but my tiny-tiny spurs. I had as lose reins as I could, and if he wanted to refuse – he could. He wasn’t forced at all.

Ajour is simply just the perfect eventer - and he is so because he has the right mindset. He has this “over the fence”-mentality, and if he refuses, it’s simply because he doesn’t understand what he is supposed to do. We can e.g. use the video from the 2nd day of indoor XC-training, where we had a runout on the narrow barrel. As soon as three people stood wings on the fence – he just popped over. Fast learner.

The only problem with having such a willing horse is, that you risk going too far too fast, and that’s why we – as I wrote earlier – just put Ajour on holidays. He gets some time to relax, grow, and enjoy life before starting up again.

He has been ridden about a year less than the rest of his generation – though he will probably be ahead of all of them at Lion d’Angers 2014. Let’s see what the future will bring! I’m really excited about this horse, and I think he has all the right qualities of being a superb eventer.

Photos by www.fotokristerlindh.se

Photos by www.fotokristerlindh.se

Mr. Thomas Reed, owner of Morningside Stud in Ireland, called and asked whether if I wanted a horse from him or no? I thought he meant buying a horse from him, which has been one of our plans for a while if we someday should happen to become millionaires! But I was wrong; I train the horse and pay the daily run etc., and for that I get 50% of the ownership. Alrightie! Most surreal time of my life I think – hallo! Tom has made some of the greatest horses ever; Fernhill m2s (Lion d’Angers 2010 and 2011 for young horses), Wang Chung m2s (50/50 owned by Tom and Eric Lamaze – Olympic Champion 2008), a ton of other grand prix and top horses – aaaand he bought and breeded with the stallion Ekstein; grandsire of the almighty Hickstead.

So, guys… today we signed the agreement: I am now officially the new rider of the 2004-born gelding, Ziggy Marley m2s (Roven xx/Burggraaf/Nooitgedacht). He is being/has been ridden by Irish team rider, Katie O’Sullivan, which makes him a horse hundred percent ready for the season.He is getting a new rider as Katie unfortunately can’t find the time to train him properly, and she thinks it’s too good of a horse to just stand and do nothing. Therefore, Tom and Katie agreed in finding a new rider for Ziggy – and that happened to be me!

Ziggy will be on stable within three weeks, and it’s him in the featured image.

Carisma: