A Teachable Moment.
Wednesday, August 03 2011
Hello, everyone out there across the interwebs? Just simmer down for a moment, won’t you? You know who you are. On the Line knows that there are only two reasons for a vertical spike in traffic to this web address.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Rodrigo Pessoa Teaches First-Ever U.S. Clinic in Sonoma, California
Wednesday, August 03 2011
Rodrigo Pessoa taught his first-ever jumping clinic in the United States this week, at the Sonoma Horse Park in Northern California. It was a highly anticipated event that fell between two weeks of horse shows at the venue, which is just two years old and thriving. (If you’re a regular Sidelines reader you might remember my profile of show manager Ashley Herman , pub March 2011). The facility is impressive, the scenery gorgeous, and riders in Northern California continue to flock to it for its series of excellent shows held May – September. But back to the clinic. On the Line did spend the weekend in Sonoma, but had to jet back to Florida early, regrettably taking a pass on the clinic. I was curious to know if Rodrigo took an active interest in the riders, how he dealt with the different horses, and how the riders responded to him
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Isabelle Leibler of Region 8 Awarded Freestyle Dressage Gold After Storm Temporarily Suspends Competition
Sunday, July 31 2011
Lexington, KY - It was a stormy afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park for part of the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Rider Dressage Championship at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, but storms could not dampen the brilliance of the dressage being performed. Competition was suspended at approximately 3:30 p.m. when a thunder and lightning storm passed through the area, knocking out electricity at the Rolex Stadium. But thanks to the quick work of the Organizing Committee and Kentucky Horse Park staff, the show soon resumed. The Young Rider division was intensly competitive, punctuated by the last rider’s flawless freestyle. Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 representing Region 8 were rewarded for their brilliant test with a score of 74.00%, which earned the pair the Individual Gold medal
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Dreams of the Olympics
Sunday, July 31 2011
by Jan Westmark-Allen
Wellington High School senior Erica Brant is one determined young lady. Perhaps it’s the fact that Erica was born with Cerebral Palsy that makes her fight a little harder than others, or maybe Erica is just one … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Ducking a Downpour
Friday, July 29 2011
Ducking a torrential downpour, I decided to stay in the covered arena to watch a couple more classes. I had stopped in to the Morgan show this morning, to make sure the horse that I treated last night for a little stall accident went ok. You’ll be happy to know that the horse went great. I saved another one! Or something like that. I go to horse shows all the time, but this was the first time I had been to a gaited horse show since I went on a date to the Shelby County Fair nearly 15 years ago.
- Published in Injecting Perspective, Z-Blogs
Dog Days at the NAYRJC
Friday, July 29 2011
The big news coming out of Kentucky should be all about the rounds, the rails and the leaders after day one of the 2011 Adequan FEI/North American Junior and Young Riders Championships. But these are the dog days of summer, and in Lexington, Kentucky, those days are stifling. At 97 degrees and high humidity, the juniors competing this weekend are battling each other, and the heat. Hunt coats were excused yesterday during Round 1 of the show jumping, but the heat didn’t stop Kaitlin Campbell of Zone 3, who led the day in the YR division, or Sydney Schulman, leader of the Junior division. Thanks to MacMillan Photography for sweating it out onsite at NAYRJC this week. They caught the opening ceremonies, the golf cart parade on Wednesday, and they’ll be there until the bitter (and hopefully cooler) end on Sunday
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Wherin It’s Learnt Once More; The Horse is a Humbling Creature.
Tuesday, July 26 2011
I met Allison Springer over the winter, while she was spending a few weeks in Wellington to get some extra show jumping mileage with Arthur. Allison was down to earth, totally approachable, and serious about her horses and their programs. She’s worked hard to improve Arthur’s show jumping style, and held an impressive ten point lead going into Sunday’s show jumping phase for the CIC3* at Rebecca Farm
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Thanks to New Vocations, Thoroughbreds Shine in Their Second Careers
Monday, July 25 2011
During the month of July, New Vocations is hosting horse show events that spotlight Thoroughbreds competing off the track. The first event was held Sunday July 9th and 10th where nearly 40 Thoroughbreds gathered at the Kentucky Horse Park to compete in two Thoroughbred restricted Hunter/Jumper classes. This was the second consecutive year New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program partnered with the Robert Murphy Horse Show to put on a first class event that attracted Thoroughbreds from surrounding states. Sharp Dressed Guy won the $2500 Thoroughbred Hunter Classic sponsored by Homewrecker Racing. Owned by Bridget McNeese the Devil Is Due gelding was bred by Dr. John Cummins and trained at Keeneland as a two and three year old, but never showed much speed. McNeese took him on as a show horse at age four. “I’d kept my eye on him since he was a baby and even told Cummins that he would make a great hunter,” explained McNeese. “As soon as the decision was made to retire him I got him as a show project. He has excelled ever since.” Sharp Dressed Guy competing in the New Vocations Thoroughbred Hunter Classic Sweet William who raced as Bait n Switch won the $2500 New Vocations Thoroughbred Mini Prix sponsored by Castleton Lyons for the second year in a row. Now 17 years old, the Digression gelding raced 16 times primarily at Mountaineer and Pimlico. He retired and became a very successful Eventer. Currently owned and trained by Elaine Schott from River Mountain Farm and shown by Natassia Hovey, Sweet William has excelled as a Jumper. “He continues to amaze us by his huge heart. He has always been the barn favorite,” shared Schott
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Cross Country Day Shines Bright at Rebecca Farm
Sunday, July 24 2011
It’s been a beautiful weekend in Montana for the Event at Rebecca Farm, and as I write this post, 3* show jumping is finishing up. In an unfortunate turn of events for Allison Springer, Arthur spooked at an iron horse statue in the show jumping arena and dropped rails to finish far from the 1st place spot she was hoping for. Hawley Bennett-Awad won the CIC3*, with Buck Davidson finishing in 2nd. More details to come on the show jumping later.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Winners Circle Roundup from Horse Shows by the Bay
Sunday, July 24 2011
Brian Shook & Courage 68 winning the $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City @ Horse Shows by the Bay, Series I.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs