I decided that Whisper needs a break from competing - nothing left to prove and no oportunties to further himself in New Zealand at this stage. So I decided to drag the wonderful twenty year old Rheinlander stallion Donnerwind out of retirement to see how he would fare back in the competition ring.

After an injury back in October of 2009 I decided that Donnerwind's career was over and he deserved an easy retirement - but now I'm seriously rethinking those plans! I dropped him down a level from Grand Prix to Prix St Georges / Intermediare I level ( a rule I help instigate the changing of a few year's back) and pitted him against the best horses in the the country at the North Island Dressage Champs. And he didn't disappoint.

I only have time to ride Donnerwind lightly a couple of times a week - and he had been turned away completely for over a year. With no lessons or training and not much effort at all we managed to finish Reserve North Island Champion in a class of 25 or so horses.

The final day was a bit of a rush - I asked to be first to go (never a good position to win from) at 8.30 in the morning so I could head a couple of hours north to Karaka to lead yearling thoroughbreds at the NZ Bloodstock Auction. I rushed thru a warm-up, did the Intermediare I test I'd revised the night before, and jumped in the van - Auckland bound via Raglan to drop off Donnerwind. Imagine my surprise and delight when the office ladies at the show told me we finished second in that class and were Reserve Champion overall. Not bad for an old horse dragged in from the field!

I got to Karaka in the nick of time to lead the five yearlings I had been assigned thru the parade ring - the one pictured below is by the son of Storm Cat - China Cat.