Horses & Ponies
Ardis horses and ponies are loved as individuals and treated as such. We are not and never will become a large and 'typical' commercial riding school.
Our school horses currently comprise:
Tom
10yo 16hh Clydie x quarter horse. Tom joined the Ardis team in May 08. He is exceptionally kind and loves cuddles! He is easy to handle and is proving himself a capable all-rounder, having attended local show jumping and dressage days as well as local trail rides. He successfully completed his first ODE in Mar 09 and has been out at dressage and show jumping competitions many times since.
Nat is back and we can't show you how big the smile is on his face! Earlier this year they made their show jumping debut and also participated in the cross country clinic at Silver Hills. Loved by many, Tom is an integral member of the Ardis team.
Solly
17yo 15.1hh ASH (stock horse), after initially being loaned to Ardis by a friend, we were delighted when Solly become one of us! She is a kind horse who settled into her work at Ardis with ease and who quickly became popular. She's another fabulous all rounder and is now taking riders out to dressage and show jumping competitions.
Abbey jumped at the opportunity to part lease Solly and has also joined the Ardis Saturday helping crew! We look forward to watching this new combination develop over the next few months.
Scandal - available for part lease (more)
15.3hh 5yo shire x ASH x QH mare, Scandal is a very sweet young horse who is the latest recruit in the lease/school horse herd. She is currently enjoying all essential ground work, trail rides, some arena schooling and a little jumping. She is progressing very well with her training, demonstrating what a sensible girl she is. In fact, so sensible that when used for a float & truck loading training session she presented absolutely no issues whatsoever, walking calmly onto both!! Scandal has experienced show jumping and dressage competitions as well as attended cross country clinics.
Buccaneer
21yo 15hh ASH (stock horse). Bucc spent his time before Ardis as a Riding for the Disabled horse as well as being used for vaulting. He is educated up to and including elementary dressage and enjoys a bit of everything. His intelligence and tolerance make him an amazing school horse.
Bucc is currently leased by Sarah. We look forward to seeing them out Bucc on the competition scene again before too long!
Cherish
22yo 14hh ASH x (stock horse cross). Cherish was privately owned before joining the team at Ardis. She is soft, gentle and has the most beautiful, kind temperament. She gives her riders huge confidence and LOVES teaching the 'littlies'.
Abbey will be working with Cherish while Solly is off injured
Midnight
17yo 13hh Aust Riding Pony. Midnight was Tamsin’s first pony and together they were successful in dressage, show jumping and eventing. Very dear to our hearts, Midnight now encourages other kids to ride. Her passion is cross country!
Part leased by Jess (pictured left)(who she adores!), Midnight & Jess get out & about regularly. The pair's most recent adventures have included the 80cm class at Northside's monthly show jumping and a cross country clinic at Northside Riding Club. You go girls!
Nipper
12yo 12.3hh Aust Riding Pony. Nipper is another fantastic little allrounder. His intelligent, cheeky personality attracts attention and he loves cuddles and carrots.
Nipper is part leased by Katie (pictured left). Nipper loves Katie and the one-on-one time he gets to spend with her. The pair have been out & about this year at local competitions, their most recent being the 65cm class at Northside's monthly show jumping. They've also demonstrated their ability at cross country clinics. Keep up the great work Katie!
Other Ardis horses in training (some are currently competing, others are youngsters learning the ropes):
Dom
An honour & privilege to own! 12yo Dom has and continues to teach Soo more than any other horse probably will. Currently trained & competed by Soo at Advanced/Medium dressage (WDA 2009 Medium Reserve Champion) & 1.15m show jumping. Prior to EI the pair qualified for 2* eventing but changed disciplines because he loved the cross country too much!
PJ
PJ is a kind, loving, cheeky and amusing 8yo TB gelding. Bought off the track in 06 he is currently trained & successfully competed by Soo at Medium/Elementary dressage (WDA 2009 Elementary Champion), Prelim eventing & 1.05m show jumping.
Pops
Trained & ridden by Tamsin, 9yo Pops has now recovered from a serious accident in April 09 that took him out of the work force for many months. Back with a vengeance, the pair won their first elementary test at Warringah Dressage in November 09 and enjoyed over 60% in both elementary tests at the Copabella dressage in April 2010.
Lena
Lena will stop at nothing to pose for the camera! A 4yo clydie x percheron filly she made very successful dressage & show jumping debuts in 09 (WDA 2009 Prep Reserve Champion). Started and then campaigned by Soo, plans were to begin the search for a suitable person to part lease her, when she unfortunately had to undergo colic surgery. She has recently started the slow road back into work - we are looking forward to having her out & about before long.
Galen
Mr Personality Plus! Galen is a very smart 6yo TB gelding who has now started his competition career with runs in both show jumping and dressage. Following a very tough couple of years, Galen is now settling into his work and we have high hopes for him on the eventing circuit. His training in 2010 is progressing well and he's been out to a couple of cross country training days (pictured right at Berrima Horse Trials in April).
"The Babies" - Dobbs, Mozart & Amigo
The time has come to bring 3yo Dobbs & Mozart back into work. Both were started lightly under saddle about a year ago and have been enjoying 'grow & rest' time in the paddock. Amigo, 2yo (who had Tamsin on his back Christmas Day 09 for the first time) is keeping them company.