May 12, 2015

As you may have noticed, I've made some changes to the website. There have also been quite a few changes around the farm.  For starters, we started by tearing down one of the old bank barns. For the 13 years that I've been here, it pretty much just served as storage for a lot of things we didn't need (and that the former owner had left!) We also tore the two stalls off the big bank barn and have leveled off the area to make a dressage arena. I'll need to add all my pictures of the process. It's been a pretty big ordeal but I'm so thankful to Ryan for taking on the task. We're almost to the point of adding footing and we'll have a nice area to practice dressage.
Marco has been working well this spring. He competed at Spring Bay in April in the BN division. It was our first event together and I really didn't know what to expect from him. He was quite fresh in the warm-ups but really knew how to perform when it was time. We ended the event on our dressage score of 27.6. Not too shabby! I moved him up to novice at Penny Oaks and wasn't as thrilled with our dressage test but he redeemed himself on the xc course. We've been working hard to improve on our Penny Oaks score for Maydaze next weekend.
I sold Piccolo and couldn't be more thrilled for her or her new owners. I realized towards the end of last season that I was just asking too much of her to think about going Prelim. She is such an honest mare with an incredible heart. She and her new, young rider just finished their first BN event on a score of 33 and are forming a terrific partnership.
When I sold Piccolo, I also acquired a 6yo OTTB mare named Ocean. She is still pretty green but I feel she has a lot of talent. She and Marco are polar opposites to ride but I'm excited to have two promising horses to compete. She'll be making her eventing debut at MayDaze.
I'll also be riding Connie West's horse, Fritz, at MayDaze. Fritz competed at Spring Bay and was doing quite well after dressage and stadium until he decided to jump out of the horse trailer while Marco was out on XC. Unfortunately, instead of running XC that day, he was getting sutured by the event vet! :( However, he has been back in work and has hopefully learned his lesson!
Tess, who just turned 3, has started learning to wear tack and be lunged. I hope to back her this summer when time permits! I'm not in a rush with her but she really seems to enjoy having a job and has learned everything very easily and drama-free! I hope things stay that way!
By far, this is the busiest things have been since before I had Claire .....thank goodness for the tireless help from both of my parents around here! Keep up to date with the Facebook page which is updated far more frequently than my blog! Until next time - kick on!

Marco didn't enjoy getting his face wet at Penny Oaks