Well this morning I was a bit shocked when I arrived at the farm, for two reasons. First of all Edmond was there before me. He had a friend with him and they were working on the roof of Cool's stables. Now it is waterproof:)

The second reason was that Cool and Baron had blankets on!!! Poor Baron was soaking wet under his blanket. Obviously the chief and Ed had thought it was cool for the horses, hmmm now, when the horses starts to enjoy the temperature. Especially Baron that really suffered when it was too hot. Well today there were no blankets, way to early to put them on...

I was up quite late to the farm but no problem. I got free lights from the football ground today:) Jason did Baron and then he was off to shoe the mare at the other farm. I took my time with cleaning and filling up beddings and the water. Then when it was time to leave my car died again:( Two friends were passing by and tried to help but I ended up calling Jason. Hmm think he begins to hate my car as much as I do hahaha. By the way, anyone who wants to buy it?;)

Now we were supposed to go to Marsa tomorrow but late tonight the plans were changed. We will now take all three on sunday instead cause Cool will be behind the car:) Better cause then I can feel if any changes has to be done...Big will be in a testrace and Baron will go for a workout...

So now I am gonna arrange the saddle and maybe try it on a horse tomorrow. Better do it now or I will be up till midnight again:)/Jane

The morning went as usual with the feedings and stuff and we were just checking and confirming if we could take Big to the sea today cause of the winds. I checked with a friend of mine, Isabelle and she said the sea was fine.

Well we took Biggles down and it was just fine. He made a few minutes fuzz but then he swam like h**l :) He was all sweaty when he came up.

What made me and Etienne a bit confused though was that Ian swam close to the beach. Ian always takes the horses way out. Hmm it turned out that Ian was looking for the shark that made the attact and that has been spotted in Valletta:)

Anyway when we came back I fixed all the horses and actually let them out (4 is early now huh:) but with the wind and the clouds I thought it was cool enough..and it was:) Lemon is a bit sad having to be inside but he stays calm.

I let the guys do the last feeding since all the rest was fixed and I spent some extra time at the other farm, giving the horses there some cleaning and cuddling. Jason got a job to do there tomorrow cause the mare lost a backshoe:)

As usual I am up way to late, so many things I want to do and now I think I have to visit my bed...it always calls for me but I never have time to get in it:) Jane

This morning Lemon was checked and he big lump on the hook was emptied. Now he is in box-rest for three days and then back for walking again. I am now gonna do a build-up programme and a training-programme for him. I hope we can make him work on it, if we don't we have a B-plan:)

In the afternoon we took Cool and Baron down for a workout and I didn't think that I was gonna ride but at the farm we decided that I would take him on his first job ever on the track, riding that is. And wow did he behave. He trotted good and felt straight and nice in his pace. What I noticed though was that he needed the check and be heavier in the front, cause when I speeded him a bit he wanted to gallop:)

What I was happy about though was that even if we haven't done any fast workouts now, riding is (well the boss never does it hahahaha), my strenght and breathing was there. 8000 meters no problem :) I even had time to check Baron how he was working and it looked pretty good if I can say so :D

Well I am sitting here late and thinking alot of what have been said tonight. We were a bunch of girls wanting to meet up and discuss the monté, but ended up discussing more of course:) I know from Sweden that this will take time and so many people will see the negative things about it, but Rome wasn't built in one day but people wanted to build it, right and it is there today!!! And if you aim for the stars you might reach the tree tops and wow that is good enough for now. But it takes open minded people, ideas, positive thinking and lots of belief and most of all hard work...and having a goal to work for!!!!

Which made me mad today. I was sitting here late last night translating for the club then someone did it by computer and printed out for them but why on earth didn't anyone call me and tell me I didn't have to do it...so from now on I am not gonna waste my sleep. Ask someone else to do it....but hmmm mine was reduced to what was needed hahahahh

Time to clean up the dishes and get some sleep...and this late I won't take the chance of posting a picture, if the net connection stops I am not writing anything else:D/Jane

I will keep it very short today cause it is way past midnight and I have been sitting here translating rules and regulations for the monté to send to the club.

The horses are fine and feeling good in this cool weather. That was actually clearly shown when Edmond and I took Cool and Big out. Big was sounding the whole way and freaking out about everything. He even jumped over a bar in the road:) Too bad he is not gonna race cause he seems in great condition....

The chief wanted me to take Baron out too and time I had but not the light. Now when it is getting darker sooner it is tough getting more than two horses out at night. Ok these last couple of days we could have gone out earlier but hmm, I think we haven't felt the heat for the last time....yet:)

So with this brief report from us I will turn off the computer and head straight for the bed. It will be a busy day with workouts, lemon being checked, hay delivery and much more so see you tomorrow and then we will know how Baron and Cool did in their workout:)/Jane

That is how my net is now and that is why I had to ask Etienne to write yesterday and maybe lucky he did cause I wasn't so happy with the guys in the morning. As he said they were supposed to be there 7 but weren't there until 7.30, leaving me waiting for an hour. Well now we have some important stuff this weekend and they better be on time or none will work.

Cool is going for a workout on saturday, 7 in the morning and Big is going for a testrace on sunday so if they are late the preparations for the horses will not be good. Well well I hope they won't let me down!!!

We made some more plans today for the horses so the week looks like it will be filled with training. Yes so much fun:) Cool and Baron will go down for a workout on wednesday. Tomorrow Cool will go in the protrainer and I will ride Big. Then Big will swim on thursday again. With Lemon we are waiting to plan his training since he will have a check up on wednesday

The horses had taken the swimming good and now when it is a bit cooler they seem very happy, no sweating, no flies (windy:) and being able to relax more. I am happy to see that they are looking good and shiny. The wounds are almost healed on Baron and Lemon just has his scar left.

I was down at Tan-Niger today to get some stuff that I needed to both farms and for myself. A friend of mine came along and lucky me cause then I didn't have to be alone in the disaster. When we were leaving the car wouldn't start again. Grrrrrr!!!! Well we got pulled and I said they had to pull fast or the car would not start (the chief and I had tried it before:) Hmmm you should have seen the speed the guy pulled me in hahahaha but the car started.)

Now I have to check some rules about the monté and I hope that this will be posted without any stops./Jane

Hi Everybody,
The day at the farm started at around 7 in the morning. Me Jason, Jane and Edmond all met to take the horses swimming.
We arrived around 8.00 we and found Ian waiting for us.
To our surprise the sea was very rough. The horses do not like it when it is with high waves but we still had to finish the workout.
Ian took Big while I went down with Lemon. We managed to complete 15 minutes each horse even if the waves made it hard for us and even harder for the horses.
When we where ready with the first two, Ian tried to take down Baronello. Since Baron is quite afraid and does not like swimming he stayed close to the shore. He managed to give him a good workout while I was out for 15 minutes with Cool.
Back to the farm, we gave all the horses a shower and left.
Jane took lunch while I was back this evening to feed and clean. Jane was up later to finish the rest of the works.
Well today was quite hard for the horses since the sea was rough and this evening they looked a bit tired. Will see tomorrow how they react after a hard day's work.

Good night Everyone
Etienne

Yes yes yes now we are talking. They are now working hard at the club to arrange montéraces and in a serious way. And I am happy to hear that!!! I think it might be met by suspision in the beginning but there are so many horses down here that actually are better in monté than in sulky, especially the french ones. I am really looking forward to this...hmmm better bring the bike out again and get in shape cause I want to ride :)

Sorry for not writing yesterday but I can't do anything when the net is fuzzing. My laptop almost went out thrue the window yesterday when I had written everything and were not able to post it....no net!!!! Well it is bleeping now so hopefully.

The horses took the workout well and have had plenty of energy left. All but Biggles were out for a walk today. I stick to my training methods to give the horse a couple of days rest after the training or race:)

There will be no Marsa this weekend. Instead we are taking them all to the sea on sunday which I think is good. Hmmm maybe we can get Baron to swim now:)

Well after another late night at work I will now leave you to see if I can celebrate my birthday a little bit. Wasn't really fun to work to 10 a day like this but that's life:) See you/Jane

What a day!!! We went down to Marsa today with all 4 horses but I almost didn't make it. My "dear" car wouldn't start when I was leaving from home and what a mess it was. Well I have problems all the time as you know. I was supposed to have gone down to Nigers stables two weeks ago to buy some stuff but who dares going with this "ferrari":) I have to stay within walking distance...

But thanks to an old man I managed and off we went. We took them all on the same time. A slow jogg for a few laps and then Big and Cool had a slightly faster one while Baron and Lemon continued their jog. But it could have ended badly today cause Cool did not behave good to Edmond. He left the track a couple of times and the last time he went down by the club. Well he is tricky this fellow. You have to have him up in the helmut of the driver infront of you or he will take his chance to turn.

They changed drivers on the horse and Joshua drove him. I had told Jason that I would let Big run a little bit as he wanted if he was up to it and gosh was he. He had so much power and was
so willing to run that I let him go a bit faster than I what I had planned, but better that than to keep pulling him. Cool followed nicely and did a good job. Edmond asked if I let them go the last 500 meters and ermm...no:) I had to hold Big back...

After the workout I asked how Lemon and Baron had felt cause they seemed fine from the side and Both Jason and Etienne was satisfied with them. Now the pace was really slow but at least they weren't lame where they have had their cuts.

I think we are taking Baron, Cool and Lemon down on saturday again. I will let Biggles swim instead in a few days and bring him down later on. He is not a horse who shall burn his energy or happiness for running in workouts on the track, that I want to save for the races:) Now I will enjoy a cup of swedish coffee that the chief brought from Sweden. Like Christmas:)/Jane

Well writing early cause I am off to Marsa soon and don't know when I will be back. One of the other horses I train will do his first fast workout since he came to Malta.

We had a horrible morning me and Edmond. We went down with Cool early to get him shoed, too early in my opinon, and we had to wait for hours. I have figured out that most people come early and therefore it is better to go around 8 and get in directly. Hmmm but I was voted down and we left early...well to be honest next time I will take the horse myself and not waste so many hours just waiting and loose good working hours:)

But as if the waiting wasn't enough we had a puncture on a wheel on the trailer when we were going back to the farm and better be safe then sorry so we stopped to fix it...time my dear fellows time...

Why I have the night off? Well guess Edmond wanted me to be able to catch up with my extra works and there is not much to do when the horses won't train. They are all going down to Marsa tomorrow night and today will be an easy day. Just fixing them up, feeding them and out in the paddock...

So I better get going cause time again is running to fast and I don't want to be late. Or maybe I should just adjust to the maltese way that tomorrow means tomorrow or the next day or the next day or....:)/Jane

I know I shouldn't comment it but since they are always saying to me to keep in shape...hmmm guys isn't it time for some excersize soon :D

Will post another one tomorrow if this works :)

At the races at Rättvik today there was another bad accident. Örjan Kihlström's horse tumble and fell and the two horses after him had no chance to avoid the crash. Per Lennartsson and Hans R Strömberg went down too. All drivers were on the ground and stayed there. Per Lennartsson managed to get up and had pain in a leg and a foot but didn't need to go to hospital. Kihlström and Strömberg had to wait 20 minutes for the ambulance and were taken to the hospital. Both complained about back-and neckpains

Strömberg had a couple of broken ribs and it seems like his lungs and kiddneys have taken a hit. No news yet about Örjan Kihlström!

Malta and Sundbyholm has during the years developed a nice relationship and yearly some maltese drivers go there for a friendly race. Best maltese was Karl Debono with Victory Pearl with a 2nd place. Here are a picture of this years participants.

I would really take the opportunity to thank Mikael Bergquist for letting us use his pictures and also thank him for the pictures he took of the horses that we have on our front page. Thanks Micke:)

Some news direct from Sweden,today we had a small party to celebrat the wonderfull win that Jhonny have made yesterday with Iceland at a stable of a friend at Mantorp after the races i can tell you he is a very nice guy.

I can tell you that he promised me that he will come to Malta later this year.

Grattis Jhonny = )

I have been checking the daily news from Sweden and an article really took hold of me. One of Jim Frick, the driver that got injured 2 months ago. The writer tells us the story how it was and how it, so far, has turned out. Jim is still in bad condition, his wife is working with him and sometimes it is positive and sometimes it goes back again. And this writer tells us the story when Jim's wife Åsa brought a deck of cards to play with him. He got 2 kings and some shitty cards. With a shaking hand he threw the shitty cards aways...no use for them !!!! He is still there the driver with the whiskey-voice. Please send him a thought or a prayer, this outstanding driver that just before the accident celebrated 5000 victories!

In the big race Klosterskogens Grand Prix the danish horse Navy Seal U.S. fell and both Björn Goop and Lutfi Kolgini were thrown out of their sulkies. Check the bad incident on the following link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEdxPfWkoZg

Updates on Stig H Johansson's Bobtail that showed prohibiten substances in a doping-test- Since the B-test has taken too long to arrive a C-test was taken and was negative, showing nothing. Johansson is now allowed to sign his mare up again. Good news!

Stig H Johansson's horse Bobtail was caught in a doping test, showing positive result for Prokain (antibiotics) when he raced on Axevalla the 27 of februari this year. And as even STC says, it must be a mistake, sloppiness or something. Stig H has been tested over 2000 times and never shown a positive result. Now they are waiting for the B-test from France. But as the maestro and gentleman he is, Stig H, he said that it must be a mistake or sloppiness but as the trainer he is responsible. No yelling and screaming there, but willing to take his punishment!

I bet everyone that follow swedish trotting races knows that Jim Frick was badly injured last wednesday in a race and hit the ground face down in 50 km/h. He is still kept asleep and was to be woken up on sunday, but he did not respond well. Now the latest news were that he was to wake up today but I have not yet seen any news about that. We can just wait and see and send a thought to him and his family.

The leading driver in Swedish trotting continues to rack up the wins. On Thursday night, Björn Goop won six races at Åby. "A strong night", was Goop's comment afterwards.





Björn Goop has launched 2010 in the best way possible. With Thursday's wins he has already passed 40 wins this year. His earnings are close to three million kronor (295,000 Euro) and he has a winning average of 28 percent. On Thursday, Goop won with Hazard Brodde, Miami, Flash Bounds, Promised Child, Mr Jef Fior and Propeller. Goop will be back at home track Åby on Saturday, hoping to claim the V75 champion title. He drives favourite 15 Spring Erom in V75-Mästaren (V75-3) .

The leading driver in Swedish trotting continues to rack up the wins. On Thursday night, Björn Goop won six races at Åby. "A strong night", was Goop's comment afterwards.




Björn Goop.
Björn Goop has launched 2010 in the best way possible. With Thursday's wins he has already passed 40 wins this year. His earnings are close to three million kronor (295,000 Euro) and he has a winning average of 28 percent. On Thursday, Goop won with Hazard Brodde, Miami, Flash Bounds, Promised Child, Mr Jef Fior and Propeller. Goop will be back at home track Åby on Saturday, hoping to claim the V75 champion title. He drives favourite 15 Spring Erom in V75-Mästaren (V75-3) .

Top 10 Drivers 2009-11-30
1. Björn Goop, 358 wins
2. Åke Svanstedt, 281
3. Erik Adielsson, 257
4. Ulf Ohlsson, 207
5. Örjan Kihlström, 201
6. Johnny Takter, 185
7. Robert Bergh, 148
8. Lutfi Kolgjini, 140
9. Daniel Olsson, 121
10. Jorma Kontio, 115