It's been so long since my last post, but as usual, I have a great excuse.

Since I last posted:

• School holidays
• Several riding lessons
• Lovely trail ride
• Back to school
• Started instructing at TDTC
• Two snow trips
• Three days of work experience at Mowbray Veterinary Clinic
• Started my new job at Mowbray Veterinary Clinic!
• Made plans for next years studies

Exciting huh?!

Horses

I've had some lovely lessons with Nan Catmur out at Longford, although this has been difficult due to the amount of rainfall lately.  I had been waiting to post about my riding experiences until I had a decent photo of me riding, but it seems that every photo of me atop a horse is accompanied by an idiotic grin because I'm having so much fun!  So here it is anyway.

I've also been lucky enough to do some work with with Merry and her lovely herd, including going on a breathtaking trail ride with her mares Eclipse and Kissaya.

Also been looking after my friend Lara's lovely horse Onyx when they have been away, and exercising him as often as I can get out there to help build his muscle tone back up.  He is a handsome and patient boy, but very cheeky!

Work & School

I started out doing just one day a week work experience for my Animal Studies Certificate II course at Mowbray Veterinary Clinic, where my family's animals have been patients for the last twenty-odd years.  Luckily for me, they were hoping to put on a new staff member, and I was asked to start!  My first day of paid work as a Vet Nurse was on the 10th of June, and I have enjoyed (almost) every moment of it.  When working with animals and people, you have to deal with some hard times, and support clients as best you can with some pretty difficult decisions.  The work is exciting, sad, happy, eye-opening and fulfilling all at once, and I finally feel like I have come home - this is what I am meant to do.

So much so that next year I plan on beginning Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, with the view to going on to a Diploma of Veterinary Nursing once the Cert IV is completed.  Several of the units in my course this year will count towards my Level 4 Certification, as will many of the units I plan on taking at Polytechnic next year in either Animal Studies or Animal Management (once they decide which they are running!!).  I am ridiculously excited, and finally truly optimistic about the future.

I also have another job prospect, as a Demonstrator for a national pet food company, but more on that at a later date!

Gone to the dogs...

I have also recently started instructing with my Dog Obedience club, and am looking forward to taking my own obedience class next weekend!  As you all know, I am quite passionate about animals, behaviour and training are two of my favourite areas.

Snow Everywhere!

We've had some big, early dumps of snow in Tasmania this year, and we wasted no time in getting out amongst it!  On the 9th of June, we bundled the dogs into the car, and took to the roads in search of snow.  We didn't have to go far, and couldn't have gone further if we had tried, but managed to get to the picnic area on Mount Barrow and play in about a foot of snow and slush!  Also took a drive along the Sideling to see the snow there - absolutely mind blowing!!  We followed that up with another snow trip - to the Central Highlands this time, on Sunday the 12th June.  We took along extra's - Buffy and Naomi - for Buff's first snow trip!

Unfortunately, I forgot to take any photos the first trip, and the video camera was flat for the second one!  Although with that promising start, I'm sure there will be plenty more snow trips this year!

All the best for now, and thanks for reading!