TD - A Thankless Job

One thing we don't think about often enough is the difficult job the Technical Delegates have at the USEA Sanctioned Events. I was surprised to observe the TD today in action with multiple riders approaching her with disputes during the 30 minutes after initial posting of results. Not to say you shouldn't dispute something if you feel there is an error - you should. But some of these people were attacking the poor woman! We all take our sport very seriously and it is a very emotional, adrenalin filled weekend. We all should keep in mind that the TDs are there to help us. They are always more apt to listen if you are kind and appreciative rather than going in and immediately pointing a finger. As the old saying goes - you get more flies with honey than vinegar. So this team of eventers would like to THANK all the TDs that watch over our sport, to keep it safe for horse and rider, and for doing the best they can at keeping a fair playing field.

OK - so enough with the lecture ... on to the important stuff ... WE WON!!

The Game Plan (Hershey) and Susan took home a 1st place ribbon and award in the Open Preliminary Division. This is only Hershey's third preliminary event and he performed like a veteran. Right from the start of dressage warm-up, Susan felt it was going to be a good test. Sure enough, with a 32.1 they were at the top of the pack. A couple of rails in stadium didn't stop them from going clean and fast on cross country to bring home the blue ribbon.

See you at our season close event - UNH!

On The Road Again

Finally! The posse is back together and we are on our way to an event. It has been TOO LONG! We are on our way to the Fall King Oak Horse Trials with 2 riders and their horses, 1 show mom and 3 squatty dogs in tow. After Great Bay Farm's unscheduled break due to truck issues, weather issues, and family emergencies, we're looking for a great ride, even with tropical storm Hanna threatening to hit the coastline this weekend. With the price of gas going up, we are camping at the show. Emily and Debbie will try a tent while Sue will stay in the trailer. Watch for our blog on the way home to see how it all turns out.

Have a Great Ride at King Oak!

Busted Down & Still a Winner!

It was a rough journey getting to GMHA this weekend. The truck was "fixed" after a questionable trip home from Stuart Horse Trials 2 weeks ago, but 72 miles from home we were stranded on the side of the Maine Turnpike. Thank goodness for fellow rider Lauren Leavitt, who was behind us! Once a tow was arranged for Sue and Hershey (unfortunately they had to scratch), Lauren and Emily loaded Billy in the dark and continued on to Vermont.

Worried about not having a trainer on-site for Emily, we ran into Susan's friend Carol Kozlowski, told her of our situation, and she became the coach for the weekend. THANKS CAROL! Emily felt great after her dressage performance on Friday and was excited about XC, held on Saturday at GMHA. The course was challenging for every level. There were several falls and many jump penalties. But Emily and Billy were stars, being one of only 3 in the Jr. Training Group to finish the day with a double clear round ... good enough to push her from 10th to 3rd.

The show jumping round wasn't hard (so says Emily) and Billy was ready to go! They held strong to finish 3rd.

THIS WIN WAS FOR YOU, SUSAN! We missed you and hope we don't have to do too many shows without you.

Have a great ride until the next show!

The long trip to Stuart Horse Trials

Long and hot it has been after 7 hours in the car thus far, and 2 more hours to go due to a traffic jam on the Mass Turnpike. Our entourage consists of 2 sweaty horses, 2 restless kids, 2 great bay farm riders, the "show mom" and 3 jack russell terriers of various shapes, sizes, and ages. It was a full house this trip, for sure.

The horses and riders have been working very hard and have had a couple of awesome weeks of training. Emily just got her first BRAND NEW cross country saddle along with a used dressage saddle! (Lucky girl!)

A slight shoeing mishap put a question on whether The Game Plan (aka Hershey) would make the trip, but he is on the trailer, feeling good, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that he will compete in his second Preliminary event this weekend.

If we can beat the heat expected this weekend, we hope for a great time and a great ride!

Clinic Comments by Emily

The clinic we had this weekend with Debbie Place at Ben Loch Farm was AMAZING! I think the biggest piece I learned from this clinic was that keeping my hands down and at the withers while riding into them helped me balance my horse and prepare for a more powerful jump. I enjoyed watching the other riders and reconnecting with my young rider friend Paige Garson. Thank you Paige & Cindy!!

Mom and Dad also got something from this clinic ... the confirmation that I need a new jumping saddle. Looks like we'll be doing some horse shopping before the next horse show, which is the Stuart Horse Trials.

Time to go shopping!

First Preliminary for The Game Plan

Groton House Farm - always a wonderfully hosted event and a great meeting place for Area 1 Eventers. From the complimentary coffee and donuts in the morning, to the wine, cheese, and buffet competitors parties in the evening, it is one of Great Bay Farm's favorite events!

Groton House I is know to be a good early season move up course for a Preliminary horse and proved to be true for The Game Plan (aka Hershey) this year. Hershey preformed well with a dressage score of 36 - only 3 points out of the lead. A clean cross country round and a few time faults moved him into second place.

The pressure was on for show jumping ... it was a technical course with a couple of roll-back turns and big square oxers. Hershey was great, but we still have a few kinks to work out at this level. A couple rails cost us the 2nd place, but we still came home with a ribbon.

GREAT SHOW HERSHEY!

GMHA

Second event of the season and the horses and riders of Great Bay Farm seem like they've been together for years! This weekend's show at GMHA was more about seeing and supporting our fellow riders than the ribbons. We were stabled with many friends from Maine, as well as 5 dogs and 2 non-riding children. It was a full house! And it was a strange weekend, in that several riders experienced technical penalties. While these kept us from the ribbons, everyone learned something new about the sport, themselves, and their horses. The horses - they never knew anything was wrong and performed like stars with clean cross country rounds and within time. The riders were able to be support of their friends and share their own past stories. One said they had forgotten to salute the judge, several had missed stadium jumps at one time or another, and another recalled how they had started out with the wrong dressage test. Although none of these are devastating, they remind us that it's not about the ribbons - it's the love of the sport that keeps us coming back for more. HAVE A GREAT RIDE!