Name that puppy October 29, 2009

We have a new puppy!!!   Thanks to Jeri Fuller, we are thrilled to have a wonderful new member of our family!  He is about 8 weeks old, and a black lab.  The puppy is as friendly and sweet as they come, and spends all evening in the arena when I teach and all morning in the barn while we tack horses.  Heidi is already busy teaching him the ins and outs of being a farm dog, and they love each other so much!  (Heidi even tolerates it when he tries to nurse on her.)

If anyone else is looking for a puppy, Jeri has one more for sale!!!!

Anyone have any great name ideas for our adoreable little friend??

Octoberfest Horse Trials!! October 26, 2009

WOW, what a crazy weekend!!!  Dressage day was cold, wet, rainy, and windy—not exactly weather that lends itself to great dressage tests!!!  But that’s exactly what our ladies and gentlemen did on Saturday… Great dressage tests!!!  We had a TON of riders there, keeping Megan running from warmup to warmup the whole time.  Sunday was much prettier for the jumping phases.  And the potluck lunch on Sunday was AWESOME!!!!!!!  We have some amazing cooks!!!  Here’s the wrapup:

Jacquelyn Stobbs & Vaquero: This pair did the dressage show this weekend, and scored a terrific 66% in the dressage percentage class!!! WOW!!! I can’t wait to see them out eventing soon!!!

Kim & Trooper: They had a good dressage test, then finished 8th in the Open Training CT on the merits of a double clean show jumping round!!  Only four of the seventeen entries jumped double clean in show jumping!  There were many pros in this division, and Kim did a great job.   They had a great school for their final outing for the year…. With all they’ve accomplished this year, I can’t wait to see them come out next spring and take the world by storm!!!!  (And special kudos to Kim…. She rode at 2pm today, yet was out in the warmup at 8am to cheer on each and every one of our riders….  Thanks for the support!!!)

Hannah & Vaughn: This terrific pair did their very first Novice this weekend!!!!!!! They had an amazing XC round—their typical, pretty round that I’m so proud of. Unfortunately Hannah had the worst weather of the weekend, going first thing on sunday morning for XC, with the light just peeking over the hills and the frost still on the grass.  The zero visibility to one fence resulted in Hannah having a very honest stop, which sadly dropped her out of the ribbons.  But the biggest story of the weekend for Hannah was the improvement in the dressage…. They scored 33.0 for their best dressage score to date!!!!  Congrats Hannah!!!

Joe & Mouse: Mouse very kindly stepped in at the last minute for Pongo, who has an abscess.   Of course, we found this out very late in the week, and Joe was a star to essentially catch ride a different pony at the last minute. They had a really terrific dressage test… Who’da thought we’d have a major dressage breakthrough by explaining “Make your 20m circles pumpkins, not bananas!”   LOL, the explainations that work for 8yo kids.    They scored an outstanding 38 in dressage, and completed this weekend for Joe’s very first HT on anyone other than his darling Pongo.  Very brave!  (And they only added 4 faults all weekend to their great dressage score!)   In addition this adoreable pair (of an 8 year old rider and 25 year old horse—somehow I think it is usually the other way around!!!!) gathered tons of attention and compliments all weekend long…. And more than one threat that someone elsea would steal our darling pony before the weekend was out!    What a great pony Mouse is!

Quin & Riddle: This was the first KHP event for this pair!!  They ran the BN, and did a great job.  Riddle is still a little green on the flat, but they proved that their jumping is an absolute strength!   They had a great show jumping round double clean, and a gorgeous cross country round just a couple seconds over the time. (Literally!  I think they were two seconds over optimum, as they caught the rider ahead of them and were too polite to pass him. ) Quin ribboned 9th in their Beg Novice Senior division!!  I think that they are a really brilliantly matched pair, and what an exciting entrance into the world of eventing…  I suspect we have some very exciting results awaiting these two in 2010!

Meghan Towle & Ravioli: Also their very first ever horsepark horse trial, Megan and Ravioli were amazing this weekend.  Much like Riddle, they are still learning the dressage, but WOW the jumping!  They had an amazing, smooth, beautiful double clean show jumping round, including flying changes!  On XC, they were unstoppable, easily scoring a clean cross country  round and having an absolute blast.  Meghan told me later, “I want to do all XC, all the time!!!”, still glowing with a grin from her fabulous xc round.  I absolutely love atching these two together… Their personalilties are so similar—they are never in a bad mood, never have an unkind word, and are always giving 110% to every situation.  I loved watching their teamwork this weekend… They were absolutely adoreable!  They FODS, for a terrific 9th place in Senior Starter HT!

Gemma & Buddy: Ditto—Gemma was also doing her very first Starter HT at KHP!  They had a really stellar dressage test that I was absolutely thrilled with.  They earned a great score of 35.0, and I thought it was even better than that.  Gemma tackled the show jumping like a pro, showing it no mercy and earning a double clean round.  On cross country, she did a terrific job of energizing her darling but oh-so-nonchalant partner Buddy into a terrific, clean round!   They very successfully FODS of 35.0!!!!!  Their division was very, very competitive, and they earned a 10th place ribbon for their outstanding weekend.    More importantly than any ribbon, this weekend was clearly the BEST this pair have ever ridden…. I AM SO PROUD!

Marybeth & Otter: Otter and Marybeth arrived from California in August, with no prior eventing experience.  This was their first ever outing!!  They did the Senior Beginner Novice this weekend and absolutely starred.  Their dressage test was nothing short of spectacular, very accurage and obedient but also very flashy and fancy.  They earned a 33.0, which I was a little dissappointed with, but still a great score.  They continued on their terrific weekend with a double clean show jumping round and a double clean XC round!!!   I was so proud of Marybeth that she has worked so hard at conquering this talented but difficult mare’s little challenges.  I think we saw a whole new level of riding for her this weekend.  What a great accomplishment!  They finished 6th in Senior BN HT, finishing on their dressage score of 33.0!!!

Megan Jansen & Frosty: Megan and Frosty also did their first KHP horse trial this weekend. (Feel a theme?)  I was so proud of her that she really rode him in all three phases. They earned a great 36.0 in dressage, and continued climbing their way up all weekend when they were one of only TWO riders in their big division to finish on their dressage scores!! What an accomplishment!   Their cross country was particularly great, and all of the jumps were coming right out of stride…. They made it look really easy, and really gorgeous!!  Frosty is a quarter horse who was orinally purchased as a western prospect by Gemma’s dad (see above), but I think Frosty has definitely found his calling in eventing!  They finished 4th, FODS of 36.0!!

Holly & Trevor: They began their day by showing in the dressage show, with a terrific 66.3%, and the day just got better and better from there.  Later that morning, they showed in the dressage portion of the horse trial.    I’m SOOOOO proud of Holly…. She’s been working so hard on her flatwork, and I think it is really, really paying off.  Trevor is quite hot in the dressage, and Holly rode him BRILLIANTLY.  Their dressage test left both Howard and I absolutely floored…  Very impressive!  They scored an outstanding 31.1 in a very tough division against many professionals.  On cross country and show jumping, to no one’s surprise they earned yet another double clean round, to FODS.   Holly has an amazing clock in her head!!  Always double clean, yet never wears a watch.  Now that’s a skill to have!  They FODS of 31.1 for 4th place in a VERY impressive division!!!

Chelsea & Benny: Fresh off her great run in her very first CCI*, Chelsea piloted her 5yo OTTB Benny around the Novice HT this weekend.    Chelsea is such a talented rider that we’ve been blessed to have for 14 months now as a WS, and she’s become very strong on the flat (though she’d never allow herself to know it!).  She proved that by piloting her 5yo TB to an impressive 28.5 in dressage.    He galloped around a terrific clean XC, double clean.   Show jumping is the most challenging phase for this very talented horse, but we’ve been working hard at home… And hard work pays off!!!!!!!!  Chelsea rode him SOOOO well, to jump one of a very few double clean SJ!  She FODS of 28.5.   I thought she had the win down when the overnight leader hit a rail hard in the show jumping, knocking it completely out of the cup.  As the leader was just a point off, this would have given Chelsea the win!  Hilariously, the rail balanced completely out of the cup but didn’t fall…. It was so far out that the jump crew had to replace it before the next ride.  Oh well, sometimes luck swings one way, sometimes another!  (And we always wish the best for the other riders anyway!)  Such a funny moment though, lol!  I was THRILLED for Chelsea to finish in 2nd place (and the highest placed amateur) on 28.5!  WOW!

Bev & Taz: Bev is astounding.    Weeks ago, we entered her in the Novice HT on Indy, and it would be her first novice in 5 years.  But just a few days ago Indy came down with an eye infection, and couldn’t go this weekend.  Who would go?????    Taz, our superstar 4yo thoroughbred gelding, gladly stepped up to the plate.  (Hmmm, when doesn’t he step up to the plate like a champ?)   Bev only got to ride him 3 times before she had to compete him (she lives several hours away).    They had an AMAZING dressage test, for 34.5 in dressage, putting her in 3rd place after dressage against many very good riders and professionals.  It was absolutely gorgeous…  I’ll post it on You Tube later!!  They went out on XC, with frost on the grass and difficult lighting, and absolutely rocked the course, making the whole thing look easy.  But when in show jumping everyone was having a difficult time producing a double clean, they were even more up to the task.  Before Bev went in, I asked her if she could possibly gallop a little between fences to try to make the time…. In addition to the fact that she’s never shown him before, eek!  But she was a star and did exactly that, and he is such a careful, stylish jumper.  He jumped clean easily, and her smart riding brought him in as one of only a very few to also make the time…. They finished on their dressage score!!  But show jumping proved very tough, and Bev kept moving up and up and up…. And, no joke, they WON the division!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Bev, an adult amateur in her first novice in 5 years while catch riding one of my 4yo’s, beat all the pros and upper level riders to WIN the big, tough division!!!!!!!!!!!!!     Amazing… Congrats to both Bev and Taz on great work on both their parts!!   What an awesome moment!!!

SO HOW BOUT THIS???? We had 12 horses and riders this weekend….  It was the first time for SIX new horse and rider eventing pairs!!!!!!    Two additional riders were riding horses they’ve never competed before, and one was moving up to a brand new level.     So NINE horses and riders new to their level out competing this weekend!!!  We are so excited for all of these new partnerships to break into our exciting sport!!!  Congrats to all!!!!

Farewell to our friend Graham October 23, 2009

Today, we say goodbye to our good friend Graham.   We have had him for more years than I can count, and while we continue to have the next generation of Rottweilers on the farm to take care of the ponies and the girls, there will certainly never be another Graham.

I have so enjoyed Graham’s company over the years…. How he dutifully sits by whichever ring we are riding in, every single day, in every single ride, to watch out for us.  He has always been so understanding to all of our kids at pony camp, and he has been such a great friend.  He will be sorely missed.

Midsouth CCI* & T3D Final Updates! October 20, 2009

Chelsea Brant and Probable Cause:  11th place in the CCI* Long Format!!    Chelsea is 19yo, and Basil is only 6yo…. They jumped clean on XC with a beautiful round, for an 11th place in the CCI* Open!

Nikki Burgio and Master Oliver:  8th place in the T3D, out of 31 horses!!  Nikki scored a 38 in dressage and finished on her dressage score to earn this impressive finish!

Ali Zeitlin and Spring Loaded:   14th place in the T3D, out of 31 horses!  Ali scored 38.7 in dressage with a double clean XC and just one single rail!   Alex is just 6yo and Ali is just 16yo.

Jeri Fuller and Elijah:   17th place in the T3D, out of 31 horses!  Jeri scored a 40 in dressage and double clean XC!  And all of this as Elijah is now 20 years old!!!

Congratulations to all our riders, who ALL JUMPED CLEAN XC!!!  They were amazing.

Sunday wrapup: The final day of Fair Hill and Midsouth CCI’s!!! October 19, 2009

The boys were sound and well rested this morning, and both passed on first attempt.  (Despite a little prototypical spooking at the flowers at the end of the lane for Nemo. J  )

In my great levels of consistency, my boys were in 19^th and 20^th after XC…   GULP, since SJ is in reverse order, that might make changing horses difficult!!!   The office gave me permission to SJ Hopper as the first horse in the division to give me a little more room.   Most horses get a little tired at the end of a three day…. But Hopper just got hot and cocky!!!  I learned a lot about this horse this weekend… He is definitely an amazing horse for the future, but the future is still ahead of us.   He is a really difficult ride, despite the fact that I love him dearly.   I have showjumped him in the last couple outings without a martingale, and he’s been great…  He had the first clean sj round of the day at the CIC** at Maui Jim.  But this weekend, he thought he was invicible in the show jumping!  And being a bit of an old school event horse, he doesn’t mind show jumping by braile.  He stepped into the ring as the first to go, and became very strong.  He took the golden opportunity without the martingale to invert his head and throw all hopes of a bascule out the window.  I’ve been so happy that he has been show jumping really well this year, but this weekend it was not to be….  He felt obliged to rub several fences, while being fresher than a 4yo in april.    I’m happy that he’s fit and sound and full of himself, but geesh!!  So Hopper finished his first CCI** in 23^rd place (of 80 starters) and a clean, confident XC round, so I can’t be too mad about that.  But I know which of my horses will be doing jumper shows all winter!!

Nemo showjumped  later…  It is so difficult to switch between my two boys…. One is powerful and bold with a huge stride but not careful and needs a waiting ride, and the other is stylish and careful but very careful in sj and likes a gallop, hunter ride… Go figure!  It took me a few minutes to get my head into the game on the right horse in warmup, but once we stepped into the ring, it was great.   Nemo is really starting to grow up (at just 8yo this year) and he and I know each other SO very well…. Since I’ve been his only rider since he was a 3yo.  Because I knew him so well, I could really gallop him around the tough course and knew how he’d like to go to the fences.  He responded beautifully, jumping like a star (and costing me a small fortune in pictures from the photographer, because I LOVED all 70+ photos!!!!!) .   He only touched one fence in the entire round… The triple was a huge triple bar, two short strides, oxer, one stride, oxer.  In my entire career, I’ve never seen this before!  But he jumped in beautifully…. He had the world’s cheapest rail at the A element… I didn’t even hear him hit it.    He was SOOOO terrific though… I was thrilled with our round, for just a cheap  4 faults.   Nemo scored a 55.6 in dressage, 25 time on XC (took it slow and safe on XC in the mud—WAY more important to take care of my good friend than make time), and just 4 faults in SJ.  He finished in a terrific 16^th place…. Out of 80!!!!!   He beat some of the nation’s top riders, and placed so well in a field of amazing horses that I was honored to join.

I am so happy with our weekend!  I am the most conservative person ever about running in wet footing, but Nemo ran early in the division and Hopper is a warrior who didn’t even notice the mud.  I feel so honored to have two horses place in the top 25, and come out of their CCI** sound, confident, and on top of the world.   They both had SOOO much fun!   (Hopper maybe too much.)

Thank you so much to all of our support crew…. To our terrific folks in Kentucky who kept things running at home so I could run off and play with the big boys…. To our amazing farrier, John, who is the only person who touches Nemo & Hopper’s hooves— My boys were two of only a very few horses who didn’t lose shoes!! …… To our amazing world class vet Dr. Chris Newton, who helps teach us how to keep our horses super sound and fit….  To my amazing working students who worked super hard this weekend grooming two horses, despite pouring rain and much…. To the amazing volunteers at Fair Hill, who I tried to thank each and every one personally…. To my great husband, who puts up with me “missing” at home for weeks on end…. And finally, last but not least, to my amazing Dad, who is the neverending epitome of energy, enthusiasm, and understanding…. He is the best owner in the world, an amazing groom, and a super guy…. Between grooming for my two horses in the CCI D box, he spent his time in the rain helping random strangers carry their stuff into the box and giving strangers a hand.

And just on an off note, my two amazing homemade, off track TB,  non-imported non-warmbloods, to whom I paid a whopping $2000 total (between two of them) to purchase from the track, allowed me to be the ONLY rider in the CCI** who successfully finished two horses .

Congrats and thanks to all for an AMAZINGLY successful weekend!

Cross Country Updates! October 18, 2009

Here we go again…. Today was WET and COLD!!!!  It was about 41 degrees and pouring rain, especially rainy during Nemo’s cross country.  I debated all day long about whether or not the boys would be running… The grounds have received days of rain, and everything is supersaturated.    We have been so wet, cold, and miserable for so many days.  And after months of hard work and preparation, it is such a difficult decision to make.   I leaned towards withdrawl all day… Especially since there were a pair of corners on a perfect four and a half stride downhill without an option… Imagine that 80 horses were going to gallop down that line, just asking for trouble on a half stride… The footing would have been incredibly dangerous.   The ground jury removed the fence and a couple of others before the start of XC to try to keep the footing as safe as possible…. That made me feel much better. (I would love to have jumped the corners, but only if the horses could get enough purchase off the ground to actually JUMP them!!)  I took the approach all day of warm-up and decide.  Both boys ended up running.

My game plan for both horses was slow and safe, and if the footing wasn’t safe, just retire.   Nemo set off first, as the 16^th horse of the day.   He was AMAZING!!!  He had a beautiful round.  All the way round, I made sure to find him fresh turf.  We went slowly, but saved lots of time by angling fences and making good turns.  He just stepped over the giant snake trakehner, as well as the big panda ditch and wall.  He was soo good at big, tough turning tables in the arena, and jumped well down the downhill table to chevron on 5.5 strides.   His best fence of the round was probably the sunken road, which was extremely tough!!  You had one BIG rail, one stride, down bank, one stride, up bank, bounce over a HUGE skinny!  He was picture perfect there.   The first water was VERY tough…. A big goose in the water, four strides up a mound over a toothbrush balanced on the mound.  That fence was my biggest concern for both horses.  He was SOOOO good there!  He jumped the goose really well, and was so straight and honest over the toothbrush.   At the skinny mushrooms, he took a VERY tight inside line, allowing me to angle both skinnies… What a super star!   The final water was a skinny, tough turn, rolltop drop into water, and an angled skinny brush out.  He was so good all the way round!  He jumped clean with 25 time penalties…. I was so happy with him!  He jumped a super pretty round, and recovered really well.

Hopper had the worst of the conditions…  He was the 53^rd horse scheduled to go XC.  As I warmed up, I was more prepared mentally to scratch than ride, but Hopper is exceptionally good in mud.   He was all business in the warmup, and REALLY wanted to play!  He went out of the box like a tiger, and as I rode him around I worked hard to find him fresh footing everywhere.  He galloped incredibly well in the muck and mud.   Fence 8 was an incredibly tall, incredibly skinny vertical balanced on the edge of a huge steep cliff down onto the road, then a steep cliff back up the other side.  This fence and the duck-to-toothbrush question at #17 both caused lots of problems.    He was super honest here.  He was sooo good everywhere, and galloped strongly.  I was worried about the #17 toothbrush for him, but he jumped it HUGE and he was incredible.   He was so brave and scopey over the giant oxer at #15 that he jumped me out of my left stirrup (I was soaking wet!), but I kept my leg w/o the stirrup and it was fine.  What a big effort!  He was amazing all the way around.  I had a sticky jump into the water at fence #23, but Hopper is an exceptional boy and landed well.  The skinny out was numbered separately, and I momentarily thought of circling.  But we were well organized and landed well, so I kicked on to the skinny out and he was a star!  Brian O’Connor, the announcer, had to make a little fun of me, commenting on my super stickability…. LOL, I’d rather not have an opportunity to show that off!  But he was so good at every other fence, and came across the finish line easily ready to do another 2 minutes.   The most difficult part of the day with Hopper was leading him back!!  He was so fresh that he drug me most of the way back to the barn on the 1 mile long walk…. He wanted to go again!!

They were both so good!!  They came back without a mark on them, and both are happy and proud of themselves and mauling us for carrots.   Nemo is in 19^th, and Hopper is in 20^th. (WOW, I’m consistent! LOL)   I’m very happy with them, as they were great today, and there were 80 horses in the division as of Monday!!!  Only 28 horses and riders made it through XC, and if I count properly I’m the only rider in the CCI** to have two horses still in it after XC.  What amazing horses I’m blessed with!! I’m so proud of them!!!

Dressage Updates from Fair Hill and Team Challenge October 16, 2009

Hi all!   We’ll update everyone with dressage updates from Fair Hill and Team Challenge!!!!  Check back for updates from all the three day riders at the three different three days this weekend!!

(And to tide you over, here’s a pic of WS Emily holding our advanced horse Widespread Panic before the jog at Fair Hill.)

Our journey to Fair Hill Begins! October 12, 2009

Just a quick note for all the Team CEO-ers….    Tomorrow begins our busiest week of autumn!  Stay tuned for updates as Megan, Emily, Marybeth, Grasshopper, and Nemo head to the Fair Hill CCI in MD….    While Ali, Alex, Nikki, Oliver, Jeri, Elijah, Chelsea, and Basil stay in Lexington to run the Midsouth Team Challenge Three Day at the Training Three Day and CCI* levels.  It’s going to be a CRAZY week!!!!!!

Those of us going to Fair Hill leave 2am on Monday morning…. How fun is that????  We finished up the packing today, and went out to the horsepark to volunteer for the HT….  We spent the entire afternoon setting up the dressage arenas….  I’m now way more comfortable with spiders than ever before!!  We loved helping and hope everyone who rides in those arenas has a fabulous ride!  (And maybe, just maybe, one of them will notice how dang straight those arena walls are!             (Photo is of WS Molly carrying dressage arena pieces at the Kentucky Horse Park.)

I’ll keep updating from Fair Hill and our journeys… You guys be sure to keep updating me on the big gang at Team Challenge!!  I’ll be thinking of you every day.

Good luck and have fun!!  –Megan

Three Day Farm Jumper Show October 5, 2009

Congrats to all those Team CEO riders for their great day at the Three Day Farm Jumper Show today!   The courses were very challenging (skinnies, rolltops, bounces, corners, chevrons, liverpools, and some very crazy lines) and were great fun for all.  The competition was really impressive, with quite a few pros there and some very nice horses!

More info in the morning….  The horses won so many ribbons we had to write them all down…….  Time to go to sleep!  I’m exhausted!

Georgetown Parade of the Horse October 5, 2009

Hannah and Spud represented Team CEO Eventing brilliantly, riding in the Georgetown Parade of the Horse.  They were chosen to represent the Clydesdale breed.   Hannah is just 12 years old and Spud has been superbly trained by her dad, Mike.   They were terrific!  Photos coming soon!