Direct Democracy
Tuesday, August 02 2011
Nation! The problem with Washington these days isn’t the sleazy louses we elect. Ok, they’re not helping
- Published in Injecting Perspective, 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
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
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
Cleanin’ Up Real Nice During the Dressage Phase at Rebecca Farm
Saturday, July 23 2011
As I write this, the cross country is well underway at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana. Yesterday was a full day for competitors, volunteers and stewards, who kept five levels of 1* through 3* dressage running smoothly.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
A Look Back at Aachen
Friday, July 22 2011
It was a mixed bag of results for the American riders who traveled far and wide in order to attend the famed World Equestrian Festival, held annually in Aachen, Germany. But the world’s most prestigious multi-discipline, annual equestrian competition did not disappoint in awe-inspiring competition from the world’s best. Photographer John Minoprio captured these lasting images from Aachen 2011, enjoy. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum had planned to retire her great mount Shutterfly this year, but after winning the Warsteiner Prize class in the Main Stadium on July 13, she decided to move his retirement up, so that he could go out on top. In front of a packed stadium on Sunday, Shutterfly was retired in a moving ceremony. Meredith couldn't hold back her tears as she gave a speech from the back of her horse, thanking him for his many years of incredible results in international show jumping
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Eventers Flock to Shangri-La in Kalispell, MT
Friday, July 22 2011
Welcome back to this corner of the internet! As the summertime heats up, I know I’m not the only one wishing for a little vacation time and a time when temperatures wait until at least 9:30am before cracking the 90 degree mark. If you’re an eventer, mid July is the perfect time to pack up for a little horse-cation to the heart stoppingly gorgeous state of Montana. Over the past 10 years, Rebecca Farm has become synonymous with the Big Sky state, and each year the event held in Kalispell, Montana takes on ever more importance. Last year, it was a critical pre-WEG stop, this year, an equally (if not more) important qualifier for the upcoming Pan American Games this October, which will lead to London in 2012. The competitor list is a whos-who of 4* eventing, and many upper level riders are they with their going and up and coming horses. Captain Mark Phillips has designed the cross country course for the 10th year in a row, and you know that many riders will be thinking about London throughout the weekend
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs