Upperville – Shady News – Sat p.m.
Sunday, June 10 2012
by Editor
Well, actually, it’s Sunday morning – we returned home from the 159th Upperville Colt & Horse Show by around 8:30, answered emails for an hour or so and then had to stretch out with a book: woke up around 12:30 and downloaded Saturday’s photos from two cards and answered more emails. Saturday started and finished as a gloriously bright day of sunshine. Upperville’s “shade” proved how smart everyone was in terms of preserving those old oak trees on the hunter side when they did the footing (green oases within the main hunter ring). The whole week has been a tribute to how well the show committee treats spectators and exhibitors with lots of tents to augment the trees that dot the open fields that comprise the jumper side. The gazillion details that make Upperville such a fabulous show depend in great part on the incredible generosity of the landowners of the farms on each side of Route 50/John Mosby Highway, which provide the uniquely beautiful settings for Upperville . Okay, we didn’t want to admit it, but we are tuckered out, trying to keep up with the action in all the rings, even with that United Metro golf cart !!! Too much going on all the time. We hardly got to the second hunter ring all week.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
adrotate, education, february-2011, higher education, in the irons, lauren-giannini, november-2010, september-2010, shady, the-barn-book, wordpress-org
Upperville – Shady News – Thurs* P.M.
Friday, June 08 2012
by Editor
Yipes: *originally Wed PM – sun-fuddled fatique! This is a verbal nightcap – no adult bevvies and too late for coffee! Lovely day, but long, and we’re weary. We’ll do a quickie recap of some of the action, but honestly, peeps, you would have such a great time if you head out to Upperville, an easy drive westward on Route 50 if you start somewhere in northern VA on the Route 66 side… if you decide to travel to Upperville on Rt.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
december-2010, december-2011, eventing-nation, in the irons, lauren-giannini, september-2010, shady, show world, the-barn-book, wordpress-org
Upperville – Shady News Wednesday A.M.
Wednesday, June 06 2012
by Editor
WE ♥♥♥♥ UPPERVILLE!!! Spent the afternoon there, took some photos, wandered around both sides of John Mosby Highway and enjoyed the afternoon, nice and cool most of the day, took a few pix, watched some horses – what’s not to enjoy at Upperville? Plus, it’s so friendly – exhibitors, spectators, families – it’s a great outing even if you just like watching all the pretty Dobbins. Wunderkind Tori Colvin is back, showing hunters and jumpers - shown here with Monsieur de Reverdy after winning the $25,000 Welcome Stakes last year. © Lauren R Giannini One thing we find really handy is the convenience of a golf cart. We still do a fair amount of walking, but the cart saves time – and energy – and gives our dog a shady spot while we take photos, gather quotes, and yak with people. LOVE THIS GOLF CART !!! Lee Smith of Metro Golf Cart Rentals sits behind the wheel of the '59 Chevrolet Belair Golf Cart. We were so hoping this was for rent, but alas - it's for sale
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
archives, december-2011, education, february-2012, lauren-giannini, olympic sidelines, september-2010, show world, the-barn-book
AHP Conference: Counting Down to Awards Dinner
Saturday, June 02 2012
by Editor
Okay, we’ll admit it. We don’t know how to relax. We think that we have been racing from deadline to deadline for so many years that we have totally forgotten how to relax and enjoy “leisure” – and that’s what this conference is, compared to our real life. This is leisure.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
archives, chasin', december-2010, february-2011, in the irons, lauren-giannini, november-2010, tails & trails, wordpress-org
ROLEX KENTUCKY – AM Cross-Country CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!!!
Saturday, April 28 2012
by Editor
Wowie zowie – what a morning – we’re still reeling from the changes in the leaderboard. Even before the XC began, there were three withdrawals: Buck Davidson pulled out with Absolute Liberty, who would have been first out of the start box this morning, & his Pan Titanium, Jolie Wentworth & Killian O’Connor. Then, only two completed the cross-country out of the first seven horses to start this morning! Two retired on course: Andrew Nicholson (NZL) took out a frangible pin at 9abc – Bridgestone Park Question (coffin combination), picking up 21 penalties, and James Alliston (GBR) and Jumbo’s Jake after they accumulated 20 penalties at 9abc – and 17abcde, the Sunken Road. Three were eliminated – Karen O’Connor had a splash crash at the HSBC Water Park (5abcd) – no injuries to horse or rider, just dampened spirits, but Karen has another chance with Mr. Medicott this afternoon. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet got to #22abc, the HSBC FEI Classic Series Normandy Bank, but parted company and Becky bought a cheap piece of real estate that cost dearly in terms of her goals with her wonderful ex-racehorse
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
action, chasin', education, eventing-nation, february-2011, february-2012, higher education, in the irons, lauren-giannini, november-2010, on the line, september-2010
Rolex Kentucky: Where The Action Is!
Saturday, April 28 2012
by Editor
Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik, exuding class at Manny's first ever four-star in spite of boogie moments during their waltz... © Lauren R Giannini Okay, so we’re only one person and we can’t be everywhere & do everything, but on Friday, we made a point of getting to the dressage arena to watch our friend Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik who was ready and eager for the cross-country, but a day early. Their score put them well down on the leaderboard standings, but ya wanna know something? That test might have been a disappointment to Sara and Brian Murphy and Lara, who’s grooming her first Rolex – understandable after all the years of preparation to get here, but we felt very proud of Manny for not leaping out of the ring and thundering off to the XC. It’s his first four-star and he’s a bit of a sensitive, complex creature under the best of circumstances and the horse gods know what an electric atmosphere Rolex tends to be
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Clinic in VA with Hollywood Movie Horse Trainer
Monday, March 19 2012
by Editor
Where did the last week go? Well, we spent eight days & nights horse/dog/cat/chicken/pig & farm sitting – the pig was a real pig, but her people love her and that’s what counts. It’s grand to be home and a few minutes away from our dearling Lord Peter and other lovely pony projects at Bryan and Brandy McDonald’s The Fine Equine Stables, the reason for this post. They will host a clinic with Rex Peterson on March 30, 8:30 am to 6 pm. Here’s the release we put together for Brandy who is the clinic organizer. RJ, star of Hidalgo with Viggo Mortensen, entertained spectators after the last clinic hosted by The Fine Equine Stables with a demonstration of his repertoire of movie tricks with acclaimed Hollywood horse trainer Rex Peterson.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
adrotate, archives, chasin', february-2011, february-2012, getting-excited, hollywood, lauren-giannini, november-2011, september-2010, wordpress-org
Countdown to Rolex CCI****: Cross-Country, Exile Concert, Kentucky Cup Reining – Oh My!!!
Saturday, March 10 2012
by Editor
What could be more fun during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone than the Saturday schedule – four-star cross-country all day, followed by a concert by county music group, Exile, then that evening the Kentucky Reining Cup Freestyle? That’s the news about April 28. Anyone holding a ticket for the cross-country or the Kentucky Cup Reining Freestyle can attend that Equestrian Events Inc (EEI) concert for free.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
adrotate, chasin', december-2010, february-2012, getting-excited, lauren-giannini, on the line, the-barn-book
FOR THE LOVE OF HORSES pt. 1
Thursday, December 01 2011
by Website Editor
The following is a story that I researched and wrote for Sidelines’ February 2011 issue. It was a very challenging story to write, because of the subject matter: unwanted horses in the United States. I love horses, but my work doesn’t have me laughing all the way to the bank. Neigh, I live on a tight budget and if I splurge on anything, it’s on having one pony and one dog. That’s it. They eat before I do.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Tagged under:
chasin', eventing-nation, happy-89th, lauren-giannini, love, me-8221, november-2011, on the line, onward, upward, the-barn-book, winter-fair, wordpress-org
CEqE Help: “Who, Me?”
Friday, August 05 2011
by Website Editor
Continuing Equestrian Education (CEqE) – chapter 5: When it’s time to CEqE help: Let’s face it, we’re DIY about lots of stuff related to writing and riding, but when we need help, sooner or later we ask for it. One of those moments took place his morning when Landgate Lord Peter, aka “you little s**t!” decided that it was all well and good to walk onto the two-horse ramp-load trailer, but when Bryan McDonald at The Fine Equine Stables (where our pony lives and where we spend a fair portion of our days, having changed from night person to morning person to accommodate said purebred Connemara to beat the heat and deerflies that prevail by 8 a.m…) decided to switch our trailer practice to the big (as in huge) trailer with the step-up, Mr. Minimal spoke up loud & clear: nuh uh, no way – fuhgeddit! There was hay on the floor, so never mind the treats (hay-extender pellets) in our pocket, and the little bucket of Connemara Crunch – a great low-sugar horse feed for easy keepers, whatever the breed, which he loves. We make the approach and jump up, but our darling pony stops, looks at us, looks at the hay on the floor in front of his nose and says essentially, in that word-less but eloquent non-verbal way in which animals, especially smart equine, communicate: who? me? nuh uh, no way – fuhgeddit! Just one of the many eloquent expressions by which Landgate Lord Peter communicates non-verbally.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs