Maximus VII (Echo) We bourght Echo in November 2006 we were not really looking for a horse at the time but my Dads assistant at the time gave me a ring one Monday and said she knew of a really smart horse that was being kept where she had lessons that was going to Melton sales at the weekend if he was not sold as they couldn't sell him as he had niggling lameness issues, the deal was they didn't want much for him but we couldn't try him we just had to buy him out of the field, so Mum and I went over for a sneaky look at him in the field and he looked a nice enough type but the deciding factor was that no horses deserves to go to a sales like Melton, so luckily for Echo we agreed a price and went and fetched him on the Friday. When we got him home we trotted him up and he looked short all round so had the blacksmith out who suggested we took his shoes off and turned him away for a good month, so thats what we did and sure enough he began to move better and better,but then when we put shoes on him he went lame so after a lot of poking about from the farrier we found that he had an old infection festering away, we then discovered that he also could be very nappy when ridden but after a few heated discussions he began to do as he was told and really enjoy his work, he was placed 2nd in an intro autumn 2007 and then in the spring of 2008 went well being placed at Pre Novice level eventing and qualified for the Scope Festival show jumping. In 2009 Echo again went well at Pre Novice and jumped Clear round Belton and Brigstock Novice's but his feet were just beginning to give a few problems so we have decided he can have a bit of an easier lifestyle, Cherise has ridden him a few times at the end of the season and will play with him over the winter and hopefully aim to do some pre novice level events with him next year as this is the level he is happiest at.

Echo schooling at home winter 06/07 and at the Abrighton Pony Club event 07

Echo showjumping at his first event and on his way to coming 2nd at his last event of 07

Photos by kind permission of W Parrot photography and Photosynergy

Echo on his way to being 6th at Eland Lodge horse trials and 6th in the Scope Qualifier at Arena uk

Photos by kind permission of W parrrot photography & www.equipics.co.uk

Echo on his way to being 6th at Draycott House Horse Trials and second at the Arena Eventing at Vale View

Photos by kind permission of JTpix and photo-kinesis

Echo and Cherise at the QHPC huntertrials 2010

Photo by kind permission of Colbeck Photography