Some schooling photos and a couple of reminders

I'll start with the boring stuff - reminding people of things to put on the 'To Do List'!

First, as competitors, it is our job to know the rules of the Governing Body (USEF) and to make sure that our horses comply with them as well. There are changes in the Drugs and Medications Rules for 2012 and the new competition year begins in just a few weeks! So read up on a few of them HERE and go to the USEF for the entire rule book.

Second, the election may have come and gone but as citizens it is our responsibility to hold those elected officials accountable for their promises, pledges and commitments. Keep the pressure on with letters, emails and phone calls if you have time...there is no better way to get things done than to make sure your voice is heard!! If they are drawing a salary from the government - they owe us some fiscal responsibility and accountability!

As for the $12,000,000 Elephant on the Coffee Table at the bottom of our road - well, as far as I know - the project is still a go. So with that in mind, I'll shift over to the equine side of my brain...we have to prepare to lose the training facility and raising pastures here on the farm as it is all in close proximity to the bridge. With that in mind, we have numerous riding horses for sale, the prices are negotiable to competition homes and the broodmares and young horses will have to be either sold or relocated. We will be reduced to 1 large pasture (currently the retirees field), 1 stallion paddock, 2 small paddocks and a 3 acre pasture - essentially a third of the turnout space we have currently and a complete loss of the outdoor arena. All training will be done in the indoor arena year round (and you all can see me just smiling away at THAT idea on a hot airless August day), so we will have quite a shift in how business is conducted here on a daily basis. With the typical high humidity and temperatures, it is possible I will shift into night mode and do my training after dark when the construction workers are gone...but even the thought of that makes my mind rebel - nighttime is for sleeping! I'm no vampire!! I would love to say that the project is a non-issue and the business will be fine, but the liability of large construction, noise pollution, environmental damage and unpredictable nature of equines leaves us with no option at this time. So if you are considering an equine purchase - a riding horse, a youngster to bring along...please consider coming to the farm to see them in the flesh. The project is supposed to being in 2013, so we do have a bit of time but I would rather see the horses go into good situations and make people happy in their show homes. Some of the horses are very amateur suitable with their movement (very good), their minds (calm and reliable) and talent (well above average) and the workable mindset that if the rider is talented and dedicated - the upper levels are well within reach while some of the others are more suited to riders who lean more towards professional status (ride more than 2 horses per day 5 days each week and have experience bringing babies along). The horses that fall into either category are all very enjoyable to work with and have great potential...but as it says on the Sales Page we try to place our horses into appropriate situations that match their rider's skill level and ambition rather than just making a sale and pocketing the money. Ethics I suppose...

Speaking of horses - check out the photos of Wyatt (by Weltmeyer) and Wizard (by Waldaire). Also take note of the T-shirt from yesterday!!! It was gorgeous outside and an amazing day for November!

Wizard is coming along like gangbusters! I can't articulate how awesome this young stallion really is...but here's a quick attempt - flying changes are sooooo easy and just another gait in his mind. His half pass is coming along nicely. The trot is getting a lot more swing and suspension and his medium trot is starting to sparkle. Oh and he's only 5! Each ride he reminds me more of Waldaire - only better!! (ssssssh, don't tell Wally!!!) :)

So I think that's everything...weather, the elections, the rules changes for 2012, horses for sale, where some of the riding horses are in their training...

Happy riding!!

Snapshots from around the farm!

We've had some spectacular weather for a few days and been back out in the outdoor arena soaking up the sunlight!

Enjoy the photos -

The mornings are still cool but the spiders have made a few webs to capture the last of the flies and other insects.

The young mares have been getting a bit more attention and loving it -

And last but not least - OREO!

Election Day Approacheth!

Just a reminder that tomorrow (November 8th) is ELECTION DAY!

So get out the vote!!! Support your politician of choice! Support those who want to improve the local economy and spend our tax dollars wisely!

Oh and does anyone else think this looks like a waste of $12 million? I sure do!

Featured Horse ***As You Wish WF***

As You Wish WF, or Kitty as she is known around the barn, is a highly entertaining mare with loads of personality! She is a reserved and dignified mare who shows her sweet and demonstrative side after a nice cross country run.

Kitty was born here on a cool March day and was the only foal we ever had from our Volturno daughter Volante. Volante was rescued from an unfortunate situation - sadly her older full brother and dam were unable to be saved. In spite of her rough beginning, Volante was a fun horse and went on to have a super riding career. Emily competed her through Prix St. Georges and both Emily and I evented her through Preliminary. Volante's dam was owned by a customer of Denny Emerson and competed through Intermediate and with her illustrious sire, it was not a surprise that she had a super gallop, huge stride and loved to event. She was also a great horse to foxhunt with one exception - she was a lanky 17.2 and many of the forrest trails are trimmed to a height appropriate for a 15 hand horse - so those rides involved a lot of ducking and cobwebs!

In any case, we opted to breed Volante to Adamant late in life and that breeding produced Kitty!

Kitty was a vast improvement on her dam, mentally, conformationally and correctness of movement. We opted to breed her as a 4 year old in order to secure her genetics for another generation of horses to enjoy either here on the farm or in sport. Her filly by Waldaire was a bit of surprise when she arrived - she was black! Needless to say, it was a delight to have such a nice foal and Kitty began her undersaddle career after weaning.

Kitty was easy to start, fun to ride but didn't seem to relish life in the dressage arena. We sent her to Sally Cousins in Aiken in the winter of 2008. While there, Kitty learned all about eventing, scooters, dogs, ATV's, and all the other bits of excitement that are 'normal' to an event horse. She was reported as being steady in the open and blossomed into a cross country lovin' horse!

In the late summer, I began competing Kitty at Novice level and moved up to Training in the spring of 2010 after a 12 year hiatus from eventing. For a rusty Dressage Queen, she was (and still is) the ideal horse. She is bold and careful out cross country with a natural uphill gallop, quick reaction time and sensible good nature. Also from the DQ perspective, she is the ideal dressage horse - a bit of an internalizer who needs the rider's confidence and reassurance that it will be ok in the flat, fenced box. :)

For part of the winter of 2010, Kitty spent time at Phillip and Evie Dutton's barn in Aiken with Ryan Wood taking over the ride. That went well, I enjoyed getting a super tuned up Kitty back in April and we competed through June of that year at Training and were preparing to move up to Preliminary. Then the pesky Mid-Atlantic weather pattern kicked in - our cool temperatures disappeared, the good footing turned to concrete, so galloping long distance and jumping several days each week got shelved - with the idea of competing lightly in the fall season and then another winter down in Aiken for both Kitty and me! Sounds super exciting, right? Unfortunately, a car wreck totally changed that plan and Kitty has shifted to more of a school mistress roll here on the farm with my hope that someday I will be able to jump again.

Here are some shots of Kitty with our 2011 working students -

There is a mix of video footage of Kitty and her daughter Wilona HERE. She is fun to ride - like all the horses I've been lucky to ride for several years, our relationship has evolved into a well rehearsed bit of conversation. I have complete faith in her to take care of me in the area where I lack confidence (cross country where those jumps do not come down!) and we work together in show jumping and dressage! She has throughly enjoyed having younger riders as she is a bit of an Alpha...her cheeky side peeks out at me and I laugh at her for getting up to her old tricks. That being said, she was a marvelous tool for less experienced riders - if they were told to change their way of riding, Kitty would respond instantly to the correction. A true gift to a rider who is learning 'feel'. :)

So hopefully that gives everyone a bit of insight of what makes our Kitty tick. :)

Voting is just around the corner!!!

So it is almost time to hold our politicians accountable! Mark your calendars - either the hard copy ones or on your Smart Phones! Get out the VOTE!!

Let's get a hold of the wasteful spending and those who are rubber stamping projects like this one!!!!! After all, what is another $12,000,000??? Who cares what the water supply is like for the City of Chester?

Come on Upper Oxford Township - we need to support Joe Sexton (a write in candidate) for Township Supervisor. He is opposed to wasteful projects like this one! The recent purchase of a backhoe by the current township officials is inexcusable. The one that was owned & paid for the township residents was in need of a NEW BATTERY. There was nothing else wrong with it. But NO!!! Our Supervisors purchased a BRAND NEW $58,000.00 Backhoe instead of simply replacing an inexpensive part. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE!!!! And as a write in - you need to not vote a straight party ticket - fill in your circles, write in his name...let's put a stop to irresponsible government - local, regional and national!!!

Deep Frozen Discount Ends November 7th at Midnight! Plus a really cool article link!

That's right all you bargain hunters! Our 50% Off Sale on in stock Frozen Semen ends at Midnight EST November 7th!

We extended the sale for 1 week due to the catastrophic weather that hit New England over the weekend. On CNN this morning the powers that be are reporting 'hopefully Friday' when asked when the electricity will be restored. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are trying to care for their livestock in these conditions.

So now on to some cheerier news!

CHECK OUT Catherine's blog entry for The Chronicle of the Horse!!! Master Horseman George Morris has a ride on her Winyamaro!!!! Enjoy the video and her thoughts - such a treat to have insight into the mind of a top rider & trainer!

(and as an aside - Catherine is the coolest lady out there! She wiling shares her own saddles with students, teaches the most fantastic lessons, is a superstar of a competitor and is flat out GENEROUS in every way! What a class act!)