Drift
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Drift is a 1999 dun (or buckskin if you prefer) coloured mare by Drífandi from Oakwood out of
Molda frá Svínhólum, I'd list her full pedigree
here but it would take me forever to type all those fancy Icelandic
characters.
Drift came our way back in May 2003 when I was informed by Fiona that I had just bought a horse from Mic and that we were picking her up the following week. Once again, solely in the interest of matrimonial harmony (of course), I hitched the trailer up to the trusty Range Ruster and set off for Pembrokeshire.
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Drift
was lightly backed in August 2003 after a little bit of hand horsing,
a little bit of groundwork and then saddle up and see what happens (the
do or die method). It appears to have worked and she has moved onto some more serious work in 2004.
We attended a course with Andrea Addison in March and she helped me with the tölt. Drift is a naturally tölting horse so all I really need to do is just sit there trying to look pretty and not impede her - the latter is tricky whilst the former is near impossible. In May we went along to the Spring Show at Oakfield where we played on the oval track in the beginner's classes and we both gained some valuable experience.
May 2004 saw us at the IHSGB Breeding Assessments - we should have had a few dry runs at standing for a judge but, the resulting equine acrobatics aside, Drift got good marks for conformation - 7.5 in all departments and an 8.0 for her head - total of 7.54 - also got her measured properly and she stood at a massive 134cms.
The 2004 IHSGB British Championships were held on 31st July - 1st August, I had entered on Gæla but, at the last minute, decided to take Drift instead - I forgot to mention that they have elementary level classes at the Championships so that everybody can have a go - not just the experts. Drift was a bit of a slug on the Saturday but, on Sunday she woke up and we did strut a bit of half decent stuff (for us that is!).
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In October 2004 we went to a course with Uncle Magnus which, to be honest, I did not feel was a great success - Drift and I were lacking a little 'something' between us but we were unable to put our collective fingers and hooves on it. By January 2005 it was quite plain that the two of us were starting to simply wind each other up rather than achieving any progress and I was wont to puzzle aloud 'Hmmm, I wonder if anybody would like to ride Drift?' Given that the only human in earshot was SWMBO then you can guess who volunteered.
So 2005 saw Drift under new management and, even after only a few rides she was already starting to respond to the delicate handling of my child bride - this continued throughout the year and, by Easter 2006 Drift had matured into a sensible mare with a clockwork tölt . She was then put in foal to Dropi but, at Easter 2007, sadly lost the foal at around 2 days old - so it's shoes on and back to work for Drift.