Just what I needed...

I feel like a 10,000 lb weight has lifted from my shoulders.  The past year of competing has been rough.  Bug just wasn't completely himself, and I just wasn't trusting that.  Up until last year, we probably had a handful of XC penalties in his entire career, so when we started having runouts, I knew something was amiss.

After a lot of time and energy and changes, my horse is back, and I can not wipe the grin off my face.  This past weekend, we rocked around our first Advanced of the season.  Bug was looking for the flags and there wasn't one thought in his head of anything other than going.  Having that feeling back gave me so much confidence.  I rode the XC boldly and went for it.  We came home with a respectable dressage, double clear SJ, and a clean XC with some time.  We finished midpack in a huge division of big time horses.  I don't think that's too shabby for our first Advanced of the year.

Of course, none of this is to say that I can take anything for granted in the future.  There is always homework to be done, and one can never top striving to be a better rider and horseman.  However, without that little nagging voice that causes a bit of a lump in the back of my throat, it's a lot easier to step up in confidence.

I am so glad that I know my horse well enough to know when something was amiss.  It took a bit to fix it and get him back on point, but I am glad that I stuck with it and didn't just accept it.

Yes, I am biased, but I think I have one of the best event horses out there.  Not only is he amazingly athletic, but his heart is bigger than his jump.

Sending out a HUGE thank you to everyone who has kept believing in us and pushing me to believe in it.  Knowing I have an amazing team backing me is such a comfort!

Bug gets a little break from traveling, so we can really focus on training instead of running crazy.  He will be back out competing at the CIC*** at Poplar Place Farm in mid-March.

Until then... we will be working hard and striving to always be better.  Kick on!

The Ingredients for Success

Bug with his ribbons from Full Gallop in January.  All of the pieces are slowly coming together this year, but not without a lot of thought and listening to what he's been telling me!

As good horsemen, we are always looking for the keys to managing each horse's happiness and success.  Some seem to be pretty straightforward, while others are obviously more tricky.  Nutrition, fitness, tack, and how they like to be ridden are just a few things that go into the whole picture.  We spend hours riding and training, but we spend even more hours thinking and planning through the roadblocks we come across.

For years, I have been told that Bug is just a stiff horse, and I would just have to learn to accept that.  My gut told me that this horse of mine could be loose and cool and do quite well in the dressage, but my head couldn't seem to find the right answers.  Every time I thought I found it, I was wrong.  My head started to believe all of the things I was being told, even though my gut kept saying that I know him better than that.

After discovering that the start of our XC problems was coming from an ill fitting saddle (a professional saddle fitter told me it fit gloriously), I sat down with myself and decided that I wasn't going to ignore my gut anymore.  I know Bug inside and out, and I can tell when he is telling me there is something wrong.  It is my job to listen.

At this point, Hastilow Competition Saddles USA entered the picture as a sponsor.  I can not say enough good things about their tack.  We got together, and I rode Bug in every possible dressage and jump saddle.  We did pressure testing on all of the saddles to see which one fit him the best and caused the least amount of pressure points.  They spent hours with us planning the saddles that Bug liked most.  The difference in Bug on that first day was AMAZING.  Since then, Bug has only continued to improve in how he's using himself.  He is jumping even rounder and better with his front end.  His stride has suddenly grown and gotten more rhythmic.  He is just turning into the horse that I knew he could be.

On top of the new saddles, I also kept a running dialogue with my bodywork lady, Kathryn Scheiss of TPR Bodywork  on how Bug was going and the things that I was feeling.  Kathryn is very intuitive and not only does she make their bodies feel amazing, but she can recommend supplements and changes in shoeing, injections, etc that will help with body issues.  I was a bit skeptical at first, but the more I listened to her, the better and better Bug became.

Of course, none of this is helpful unless the rider is constantly improving.  I am very thankful for Bonnie Mosser  for all of her help with my horses.  She is constantly making me up the ante and do right by them.  Good coaching is imperative to good results and happy horses.

The riding and tack are only one part of the equation, of course.  One of my biggest changes has been my feeding regime.  Thanks to Strouse House Tackle and Outdoors, Blue Seal feeds have become my go to feed of choice.  All of my horses are on the Sentinel line of feed, and I can not tell you how impressed I am with the difference.  Bug looks amazing, and he is eating so much less feed than before.  The feed is highly digestible, and even those prone to ulcers are happier.  It's a truly awesome feeding program.

My point in all of this is that there is so much that goes into who a horse is and how they perform.  When horses are competing, it is imperative that we listen to what they're telling us.  Bug appears to be a relatively straight forward horse.  However, he is just very stoic.  His ways of talking to me are much quieter than a horse that is high strung and a wimp.  Bug loves his job and will try his best to keep plugging away, even if he's not feeling 100%.  I owe this horse so much, and it is my duty to constantly be on alert for small changes in how he's going.

To be a good horseman, we must analyze all aspects of our horses' lives.  Each tiny detail is important.

Be aware.  Be vigilant.  Be proactive.

The Ball is Rolling...

Win the War rocking the Open Intermediate at Full Gallop in January.

It's amazing to me just how fast time flies by!  I have officially become that old person that complains constantly about the speed of time and retells stories over and over because I've forgotten that I have already told them.  Life has a way of spinning me in circles some days, and I have been known to forget my own name.  

Though time keeps flying, I must say that there have been some amazing things going on.  

With prompting from some important people in my life, I have had to sit myself down and really study how I want the business to proceed.  I have had my hand in many things, trying to figure out where my niche is.  When I first started RSS, I had no idea where my competition I life would take me, as Bug and I were only going Novice.  I wanted to have many options in case things didn't go as I dreamed with competing.  However, as we all know, Bug turned out to be THAT horse for me.  He has taken me places that I only dreamed I would go, and I am praying and dreaming that we keep going further.  That alone has pushed me more toward the competition side of my life.  Anyone that competes can tell you, it's not a cheap life to live.

In light of that, I made the decision to really cut down on the amount of horses that I own myself.  I have also decided to cut way back on the breeding side of the business.  As many of you know, Fuerst Rendition, my Hanoverian stallion, is off with dressage rider, Leslie Bean, being a big time Dressage King.  He is happy having a job, and I am excited to watch them move up the levels together.  I adore Renn's babies and have a hard time selling them.  With this decision, I will only be breeding one, maybe two babies per year with the hopes of them being my pipeline for the future, rather than breeding on a scale that forces me to sell them on.  This makes it possible for me to keep them until they're going and decide what I want to do with them at that point.  

After the herd reduction is finished, I will be down to the main horses that I want to keep either to compete or to be my pipeline for the future.  I owned quite a few horses myself, so I am hoping that this drastic herd reduction will really help my expenses to go down in order to have more for competing.  This has definitely been a very difficult decision, as I love all of my ponies, but it was one that had to be made for the future of Rocky Start.

I am also excited to announce that Kelly Lawson has joined the RSS crew, hopefully, for as long as she will put up with us.  She is my official assistant and not only does she help with chores and working horses, but she's going to be assisting with a lot of the marketing stuff.  I am just so busy that it's difficult for me to get to everything and still have a day that isn't 20 hours of work.  Kelly is a kind person with a patient approach to the horses, and I am thrilled to have her on board.  

Some other pretty amazing people have stepped up to help support my dream.  Desiree Lerro, Patrick Forestall, and Bonita Biegalke have become members of the Win the War Syndicate.  We have also decided to add Pine Island Girl, aka Ellie Mae, on to the syndicate as the second up and coming horse.  I am thrilled to have these people on my team!!  There are still 7 shares left, so if anyone is interested in joining the team, please let me know!  jessica@rockystartstables.com

Another amazing person to step on the scene is Susan Massaro.  She is the owner of Donovan, an incredibly adorable and talented coming 5 year old Irish Sport Horse gelding.  Susan has entrusted me with Donovan's training and competition goals, and I am so excited to ride this guy.  He will make his eventing debut this spring, and I see a lot of big things in his future!  Susan and her daughter, Mia, have been a big asset to the team and some of my biggest cheerleaders.  

This sport just isn't possible without a good team.

I have had quite a few new students come on board to join those that have been tried and true.  I love teaching those that show up to learn, and I have quite a great group of riders right now.  I'm so proud of each and every one of them for working hard and pushing toward their goals.  No goal is ever too small as long as you aren't afraid to keep pushing!  

Sales were great in 2014, and I hope things continue down that path in 2015.  We sold 9 horses in 2014!  That's pretty impressive, I think.  

So far, this year has started off with a BANG on the competition scene.  Bug and I competed in the Open Intermediate at both Full Gallop Farm the last weekend in January and Pine Top Farm this past weekend.  We brought home 2nd place and highest placed OTTB at Full Gallop, and we brought home 7th place from a big division at Pine Top.  Bug put in a 35 in the dressage at both shows, so I am very excited about the progress we have made in the dressage and hope we can continue to take that number down!  I am very excited about this season with Bug, and I am hoping for big things.  I am also super excited for Ellie Mae and Donovan to really burst onto the Eventing scene.  I also have a 5 year old OTTB gelding, Better Terms aka Willis, that I think will be quite special.  We are taking things slowly with him, but I have a feeling he will come into his own this year as well.

If anyone is interested in becoming a new student, sending a horse for training or consignment, or scheduling a clinic, please, don't hesitate to contact me!!  jessica@rockystartstables.com

Heels down, eyes up, KICK ON!!

Thanksgiving Resolutions

Life seems to just keep flying by faster than I can keep up.  I always mean to sit down and write, but there just doesn't ever seem to be time.  As Thanksgiving has arrived, I find myself reflecting on all of the things for which I am thankful, and it leads me down roads that end with a giant reflection of myself.  I am not happy with everything that I see.

Horses have always been my passion, where there is passion, there is great emotion.  I have always been a competitive person who worked very hard to obtain my goals, where there is competitive drive, there is great emotion.  Passionate competitive drive can mean a blend of emotion that can drive a person to victory, and it can also mean driving a person to insanity.

2014 has been a year of almosts.  I spent most of the year tasting what big things Bug and I are capable of, and the full experience being just out of my grasp.  Competing at the Advanced/*** is no joke.  Reaction time has to be so quick.  There is no room for error.  Due to a lot of factors, I have been having some reaction time errors, and being the person that I am, I became very passionate about getting better.

Unfortunately, when a lot of emotion is involved in life, we can sometimes become our own worst enemy.  I started letting what everyone else is doing get into my head.  I kept striving to be everyone else.  I allowed these things to turn me into someone that I don't want to be.

After Fair Hill, I started to really analyze who I have become, as both a rider and as a person.  There have been a lot of things coming up in my life in the past few months that have really showed me that I want to get away from who I am becoming.

Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to reflect on what we have.  I used to participate in the Facebook frenzy of listing the things for which I am thankful.  However, this year, I realized that I was allowing all of the white noise in my life to distract me from what I need to be focusing on.

I AM SO BLESSED.

Why am I running my brain ragged focusing on what went wrong, when I need to focus on what went right and continue to strive to make that a constant?  Why am I allowing the white noise of what everyone else is doing and saying to block out all of the meaningful words and actions?  Why am I allowing all of the bad to outweigh the good?  I have allowed myself to get distracted from why I started doing all of this in the first place.

You can't please everyone all of the time.  I try.  I fail.  As I have found this year, no matter how much good you do for people, they will still stab you in the back.  It's human nature.  Finding a way to let that go is something that I find difficult.  However, it's something that is going to happen regularly, and I need to rise above it.  People will say nasty things about me.  I have to know and believe that they aren't true.  Rising above the noise is so difficult, but it's something that I have to learn.  God made me who I am, and it's my job to keep striving to be the better person.  I have allowed others to drag me down.

Where is all of this leading?  I'm glad you asked.  It's leading me to my Thanksgiving Resolution.  From now moving forward, I am going to stand up and be thankful.  I am going to focus on what is good and right in my life, and try my best to move on from the bad.  Instead of focusing on how to fix the bad, I will focus on how to make the good better.  This does not mean that I will work any less at being the best.  It means that I am changing the way I do it.

From this point on, I am going to make a stand for the positive and leave the negative behind.

What am I thankful for?

I have an amazing husband who, thank the Lord, is not into the horse scene.  He keeps me grounded and reminds me that this is supposed to be fun, and I am supposed to smile.  Without him, I never would have taken this hard look at myself, and I would have continued down the road of the negative focus.  When I am down in a hole, he reaches down with a smile and pulls me to my feet.  He isn't afraid to tell me when I'm out of bounds, and he brings me back to the real world.  He reminds me daily of what and who I want to be.

My parents have always supported me.  I haven't always been the best daughter, but they have kicked me in the butt when I needed it.  They support my crazy life and give me the emotional and mental pushes I need.  Without them, I would never have  made it this far with this crazy dream of mine.

Having a good coach makes all of the difference.  Bonnie Mosser has shown me what I am capable of, and no matter how much I mess up or drive her crazy, she is always there with an insightful word or the push that I need to keep moving forward.  She understands my amazing horse and is always quick to try something new if the old way isn't working.  Her strong competitive drive and amazing skill as a rider and teacher have taught me so much.  Her ability to see the root of a problem, no matter how minor, is amazing, and without her, I would not be where I am today.

Bug. Bug. Bug.  I would not be who I am as a rider without this amazing animal.  We are a team to be reckoned with, and our bond is so strong.  I KNOW this horse has what it takes to be a top horse, and we will prove it together in 2015.

My horses.  Besides Bug, I have a lot of really nice horses coming up.  Ellie Mae has made a little bit of an appearance this year, and I expect she will really be getting some of the spotlight next year.  There are quite a few others coming up, and I'm really excited about them all.  I am truly blessed with some lovely horses right now.

The RSS Team.  I have an incredible group of students, clients, and owners right now.  When I sit back and think about all of their smiling faces, my heart swells with pride.  They have all worked so hard and come so far.  Everyone supports me and gives me a word of encouragement when things aren't going as well as I hope.  They are truly amazing and I am grateful for their loyalty.

My farm.  There is nothing like owning your own place.  I know that it isn't fancy.  I know that we have a lot of work to do, but my horses love it here and are happy.

My sponsors.  Wow.  I have an incredible, supportive group of sponsors.  Hastilow Competition Saddles USA, Snider's Elevator, ThinLine, Omega Alpha Equine, KL Select with the USG Body Protector, From the Blindside Jewelry, Ultimate Side Reins, and Wilson College.  They all play a huge role in keeping myself and my horses looking and going great, and I'm so thrilled to have them all on board.

I could go on and on and on about everything in my life that I'm thankful for, but I will spare everyone.  The point of all of this is to remind myself that there is so much good in my life.  Focusing on the good is so much more beneficial to me than focusing on the bad.

There are many that would say that I shouldn't share too much of myself.  Well, anyone that knows me well, knows I struggle with that.  I tend to say what I'm thinking and try to be as tactful as I can be.  However, I am sharing this because:
1.  When I start to become negative, I want those surrounding me to remind me to ignore the white noise.
2.  I hope that this post will help others that may be struggling with the negative.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.  Be blessed.  Be happy.  Be positive.

AND KICK ON!

Where has the time gone??

Bug and I at the Fork this spring

Holy cow!  I can't believe we are halfway through June of 2014 already!  Time is flying by, and I'm having a hard time keeping up!!  I have been very remiss in my blogging duties.  It seems that the days are full and when I get in the house, all I want to do is eat dinner and go to bed.  Thus is the life of a horse person in the summer.

So many things have been going on here at RSS this year.  I'm not sure where to even begin!

Competition:

Bug and I have been plugging along this year with some very awesome ups and some disheartening downs.  Being so green at the upper levels, I am definitely learning just what it takes to be a contender in this sport.  Bonnie and I decided that I should forego a spring three day in order to keep plugging away at my training. I know that my boy and I have what it takes to be top competitors, but we have a long way to go to get things all together.  I'm just so thankful that I have Bonnie to guide me!

Here is our tentative schedule for summer/fall:
June: Surefire HT Intermediate
July: Chatt Hills HT Intermediate
August:  Millbrook Advanced, Richland Park CIC***
September:  Five Points Advanced, Plantation CIC***
October:  Morven Park Advanced, Fair Hill International CCI***

I have also made the difficult decision to sell Hotty.  I love this mare to death, so I want to do right by her.  I think she would do best with an adult ammie or young rider who wants to start at BN/N and take their time and  just have fun with her.  I also think she would be amazing in the jumper ring, as she's a powerful, scopey jumper.  I will keep riding and training her in the meantime so she will only be better for that lucky person that gets to snatch her up!

I had the privilege of competing Renn's son, Fuerst Love, a bit this spring while his amazing owner, Catherine Schumak, was studying abroad for school.  This 5 year old is AMAZING, and is learning the ropes of eventing quite quickly.  He and I have one more competition together this weekend at Surefire, and then I will be handing the reins back to Catherine.

I'm super excited about a new horse that I have acquired, Delta Emperator.  He's an 8 year old OTTB gelding.  He has some body issues that we are working through, so I am taking my time with him.  It will be awhile before he makes an appearance out and about, but I can't wait until he does!  He's gorgeous and athletic.  We are bonding pretty quickly, and I'm totally in love.

A not so new addition to my "string" is Pine Island Girl, aka Ellie Mae, Twiggy's mom.  Unfortunately, Twiggy was so large that she altered how Ellie's repro organs are sitting.  She now retains urine in her uterus which makes it very difficult to get her bred.  I'm very disappointed by this, as Twiggy is drop dead gorgeous, but that's horses for you.  In light of this, Ellie has gone to work to learn to be an event horse.  She is a blast to ride and is coming along nicely.  We shall see if she likes this new life.

Sales Horses:

This has been a good spring for sales horses here.  Talladega, Arthuron, Voo Doo Vicky, Mardi Gras Gold, Must Be Thunder, and Love Like Crazy have all found wonderful new homes!  I love finding horses perfect new homes.

Imma Rockstar Too made his eventing debut this spring and really seems to enjoy this new job.  He's quite lovely in the dressage and is a blast to take XC.  This guy will be an awesome low level eventer and all around kind of guy for someone.  He's such a dream to work with on the ground.  Not to mention, he's flashy and beautiful!!

We have quite a few new sales horses coming in, so stay tuned!

Breeding:

With Renn not competing anymore, I have decided to allow him to go back to nature and do some pasture breeding.  He loves it!!  His spring has been full of mares, and his summer appears like it will be as well.  He has also done a few collections to be shipped for outside mares.  If all goes well with every mare, there should be 10 new Renn babies on the ground next year!

I am so in love with the babies that Renn is putting on the ground, and I just know that when they hit the show circuit, no matter what discipline, they're going to be amazing.  In light of this, I have decided to increase my broodmare herd, so that I have some options for myself and to sell.

For next year, these are my mares that will be bred:

Miss Ten Oaks, aka Oakley.  2005 OTTB mare.  16.1 hands.  Beautiful mover.  Fappiano and Seattle Slew lines.  Dam to RSS Tenth Rendition.  This foal will be a full sibling.  (Foal will be for sale)

Abstract Encounter, aka Abbey.  Paint/TB mare.  15.2 hands.  Well built and a sweetheart.  Dam to Fuerst Encounter.  This foal will be a full sibling.  (Foal will be for sale)

Skedaddle Fast, aka Skid.  2001 OTTB mare.  16.1 hands.  Eventing background.  Buckpasser and Seattle Slew lines.  (Foal will be for sale)

Con Fuego, aka Fuego.  1996 Canadian Sporthorse mare.  16 hands.  Evented through CCI*.  Half sibling to 4* horse, The Alchemyst.

True Class, aka Kate.  2008 Oldenburg/TB mare.  16.2 hands.  Sire is Saltue the Truth, Advanced eventer.  Dam is half sibling to Slate River, 4* horse.

The babies from last year are growing like weeds!  RSS Island Rendition, aka Twiggy, is almost 15 hands at just barely a year old!  I must say, she's drop dead gorgeous right now.  Heaven knows, she'll probably hit another awkward stage soon.  RSS Tenth Rendition, aka Duet, has finally hit an awkward stage!  She was perfectly proportioned for so long, it's hard to even recognize her.  Her big sister makes her look little, but she's a good size for her age.  She won't be a year old until October.

Students:

I have a decent amount of students, and I am loving them all.  Everyone comes to their lessons receptive and ready to learn!  I have a few that have been competing and more that will start this summer!

Sponsorships:

I'm super excited to announce the addition of Hastilow Competition Saddles USA to my list of sponsors.  Bug and my other horses are thrilled to have these saddles on their backs.  They immensely improve the way my horses go.  Check out their site, as they carry used saddles as well, and they can probably find the perfect saddle in your price range!

I'm so blessed to have such amazing sponsors!

There's a lot more things in the works, and I will update as soon as I can go public!!  I will try very hard to keep up with my blog in a more timely fashion.  :)

Until then.....  Eye on the prize!

Great Way to Start the Year!

The 2014 show season is officially under way for RSS!  This past Sunday, Hotty and I took a trip to Full Gallop Farm in Aiken, SC to run the Novice.  With Bonnie's help, I have been working very hard to get Hotty more through and into the connection.  It showed in our dressage test.  Though our score wasn't as good as it needs to be, there was definitely improvement in the way that Hotty went and how relaxed she was.  In both SJ and XC, she started out a bit rusty, but she improved as the courses went on.  By the end of each course, I felt like I had the Hotty I am used to.  She is a lot like Bug in that she's a random mix of bold and careful, though I don't think she has nearly as much cockiness as Bug does!  She wants to do what's right and truly loves her job.  She ended up being 7th in a big division of 19.

In order to make sure she is 100% confident, I will do two more Novices at Sporting Days and Paradise Farm with her in the next few weeks before trying to move up to Training in March.  Of course, all is dependent on what she tells me.  

Bug is feeling great as well!  We have been working hard on the connection to improve both our dressage and jumping.  He is getting cheekier as time passes, so I know his fitness is definitely on the upswing.  His first outing will be Pine Top in the Open Intermediate in a week and a half!

The sales and training horses are all coming along nicely as well, and I hope to get some of them out and about as the season really starts to swing into action.

I am saying a lot of prayers that this year is a great one!

Moving and Shaking

I have been doing a lot of grinning lately.  I love that feeling.  

Lately, the horses have just been going really well.  There have been a few setbacks, but overall, they are all moving forward well.  Bug and Hotty are really changing the way they go, and I'm super happy about that.  I'm trying as hard as I can to improve my riding daily.  I am shooting to be world class! 

Due to the crummy winter weather, I have decided to move the two redhead superstars to Chesterfield Equestrian in Salisbury, NC.  It's a lovely farm owned by Bob and Katherine Thornton.  Bonnie teaches out of there, so it will make winter boot camp that much better.  We have started with a bang!  Besides working the redheads on great footing daily, I have started in on my own gym routine.  I am pretty excited about it all.

In other news, my 2010 TB mare, Voo Doo Vicky, just sold today to a lovely woman, KC Sc
ott.  KC and Vicky will be sweeping the lower level eventing world by storm soon.  Vicky is also going to be sporting a new name, "Stormin' in Style."

The first event of the season for us is coming up quickly.  Hotty will be competing in her first Training level event the last Sunday in January at Full Gallop Farm.  This will begin a very full season.  I am excited to be back at it again.

I just love when there are many things to grin about!!

Chin up and kick on!

Out with the Old, In with the New!

I can't believe today is the last day of 2013.  It feels like the year has flown by.  It was a year where nothing seemed to go quite right, but nothing seemed to go horribly wrong either.  It was a year of mediocre.  I am ready to kick mediocre to the curb and come out AMAZING in 2014.  

I was not the greatest at keeping up with my blog this year, and I am going to work hard to do better with that this year.  

There are a lot of great horses in my barn right now, and my business is growing slowly and steadily.  I am very excited for this new year and hopeful that it will be full of greatness.

Onward and upward in 2014!!

Check out my newest EN article in honor of this new year:
http://eventingnation.com/home/a-few-of-my-favorite-things-ready.html

Has Spring Sprung?

Bug and I in a jump lesson with Bonnie.  Photo by Alice VanBokkelen

Things have been moving along at a brisk pace since I last checked in.  It's nice to be busy, but I don't always know what day it is or which direction I'm going.

Bug's dressage test from Hillcrest!

Unfortunately, after Pine Top, Bug had a run in with an abscess which put him out of running the Advanced/Intermediate at Full Gallop.  Disappointing as it was, I am glad to report that he healed quickly and is back in work and ready to rock and roll in the Advanced at Southern Pines this coming weekend.  I took him to Hillcrest Farm this past Saturday to practice his Advanced test in front of a judge.  He felt amazing, and I really tried to put into practice everything Bonnie has been drilling me on.  We scored a 31 point something! (multiple 8's including his gaits and my rider!) This is the best score we have ever gotten in our entire career together...including schooling shows!  Having inspected everyone else's scores as well, I realized this judge wasn't giving away points.  I am still grinning when I think about how great our test felt.  Now, to remember how to do it this weekend!

Things with the other horses have been progressing as well:

Cole show jumping at TTC.  Photo by Alice VanBokkelen

1.  Cole has been making progress slowly but surely.  He did dressage for so long that this new job of jumping has been a bit overwhelming for him at times.  He's quite a good jumper if we can get his mind on the job.  I have decided to hold off from competing him for a few months, as I want him to really understand his job.  He seems to love the cross country, but I think the show jumping intimidates him a bit.  No worries, though, he's coming along great, and he sure can bring a smile to my face when he's on!

Hotty in a jump lesson with Bonnie.  Photo by Alice VanBokkelen

2.  Hotty, my fiesty redhead, has been making progress very quickly.  She is opinionated about life, for sure, but she is so athletic and smart.  Her dressage is coming along, and she's really learning to accept the contact.  We have work to do on getting her to push more, but she gets better every time I sit on her.  Again, I don't plan to do much competing with her until summer, as I want her to understand the game.  She did, however, get to make her eventing debut this past weekend at the Hillcrest Farm Horse Trials.  She did the 18" Green Bean division.  I am so thrilled with how well she behaved!  She got a 38 in her dressage (including two 7's in the test and a 7 on her gaits and my rider) and went on to jump double clear in both jump phases, even if they were a bit looky. :)  She finished in 3rd in a pretty decent sized division!  I am so proud of my sassy ginger girl.

Honey schooling at home.  Photo by Alice VanBokkelen

3.  Mardi Gras Gold, or Honey, has been fantastic.  This mare is so fancy and willing.  She is definitely going places.  I hope someone snatches her up soon before I am completely enamored.  She is gets better and better every time she goes out.  Her movement is so lovey and uphill.  She accepts the connection quite well in all three gaits, and she is starting to have correct bend most of the time.  She has started jumping little crossrail courses, and she seems to really enjoy it, though I think she's still figuring out her feet a bit.

Sonny getting ready for a hack.

4.  Sonny Crockett is a super sweet young gelding that has been a joy since he stepped on the farm.  He is just coming 5, and he has only been off the track for about 3 months.  He will hack alone or with friends all over the farm.  He is SOOOO FANCY.  Lucky for him, he will be going to Pennsylvania for a trial with my best friend.  I think they will make a great match, and I hope to see them out and about together in the future!

VooDoo Vicky.  So beautiful!

5.  Voo Doo Vicky is the coolest little baby TB.  She never raced, though she did train some at the track.  She did just enough to be well started, but not so much that she has any racehorse bad habits.  This girl has a "go get em" attitude that I just adore.  She is for sale, but I am not in any hurry for her to leave!  She turns 3 on April 1st, so we haven't been doing much with her besides hacking out a few times a week.  She is still growing, as she has changed butt to wither ratio at least 3 times since she arrived.

Cutie Renn

6.  Renn is being retired from eventing with me for the time being.  Due to his injury as a youngster, he is constantly battling an unevenness in his hips that just makes him uncomfortable.  He has always been sound, but as the questions get harder, he just doesn't seem as happy.  He is going to make a lot of babies, be an extra horse for me to ride at home, and be used in some lessons.  He is perfectly happy with his new life.  He makes such phenomenal babies, I know they will be in the upper levels of eventing soon.

As far as my students go, I am really quite pleased with how everyone is doing.  Life has been so much nicer since Alice Van Bokkelen arrived to be my working student.  She keeps things running when I'm off competing, teaching, and training.  She and her new horse, Classic Skyline, are quite a good match and are figuring each other out.  They will be going to FENCE in April to compete in the BN division.

Also, Amelia Lowe and her horse, Mingo, just won the Maiden division at Hillcrest, so I am quite thrilled with their progress.  Sometimes taking on a new ride can be frustrating, but when you stick with it and have patience, it can pay off!

In more exciting news, we now have 6 stalls in the barn.  My amazing husband finished building the stalls a few weeks ago, and it's so nice to have two more horses inside. :)  Next project is a double stall wash stall on the front of the barn.

I guess that's all for now.  Chin up and kick on!

Bigger and Better Things!

Bug showing off at Pine Top.  Advanced isn't big enough. :)

Life has been a whirlwind since I last posted.  My clinic in PA at Lemaliza Farm went really well.  I go up there monthly to pick up my feed and teach.  I have a lot of regulars, and I love seeing them improve from month to month.  I have been going up there for about a year now, and the changes in everyone is amazing.  I'm so pleased with all of my Northerners. :)
I came home that Sunday night after teaching, and with the help of my amazing working student, Alice, and my amazing husband, we unloaded over 2 tons of feed in the dark.  Alice had been working on packing everything for my big trip South, so there wasn't much left to do.
Monday morning at 5 am, Bug and I pulled out on our way to Ocala, FL.  It was my first time driving to Florida, and it was Bug's first time in the Sunshine State.  I was pretty stoked for the ICP Symposium, and I was hoping to get there before the great Yogi Breisner had finished for the day.  Lucky for me, I arrived just in time to get Bug settled in and to watch the last session with Yogi.  There is a reason that man is one of the best coaches in the world!  Wow.
The next morning, I spent hours watching the great Linda Zang in the dressage portion of the Symposium.  Again, there is a reason she is one of the best.  I absorbed a lot, and I was anxious to put it into practice.  Dressage is my weakest phase, but I am DETERMINED to get it right.
That afternoon was the big ride with David O'Connor.  Bonnie was down for the Symposium, so I was happy she would be there to watch and absorb what went on with me.  David was great.  He immediately changed the way I was galloping, my body in the air, and my approach to fly fences, and it made a HUGE difference.  I need to work on my discipline about where I'm taking off and landing and now allowing for a drift.  I was quite pleased with how much I was attacking each combination and finding the distances with my leg rather than my hand.  David did compliment me on my technique, which made me very happy.  Everything he told me was absorbed, and I did get to put a lot of it into use at Pine Top.  Here is my EN write up of the whole thing: http://eventingnation.com/home/icp-symposium-riding-cross-country-with-david-oconnor.html
The following morning, I got up bright and early for a 7:30 am private dressage lesson with the great Linda Zang.  Our dressage is our weakest phase, but it's not for Bug's lack of fancy.  I tend to let him get on the forehand and rushing, instead of pushing him uphill and showing off his gaits.  Linda was super nice and very efficient.  We mostly worked on the canter, as he warms up best in that gait, and I really needed to understand how to get his flying changes cleaner.  She adjusted my position a lot and really had me riding him  more forward and up in front of me.  He felt amazing!  I wish we had more time, but alas, we were off to the next thing.  After Florida, Bug and I traveled back up to Aiken to Jodi Hemry Eventing, where we would stay throughout the course of Pine Top.
Bonnie came down to coach me for Pine Top, and I am so glad that she did.  She has been such an amazing help to me.  Not only is she teaching me how to ride, but she's teaching me to analyze things and really understand the game.
Of course, it decided to rain buckets for Pine Top, but in true eventer form, we were all out there competing anyway.  Our dressage test was so much better!  There are still a lot of things to work on, but I was really happy with our progress.  We got a 44 in our test two weeks before and a 38.8 at Pine Top.  He was much more uphill and forward.  I just needed more angle in my lateral work at times, and I really need to figure out the trotwork.  He even got two 8's!
Cross country was a good course with a lot of big galloping fences and some very good technical questions. I was prepared to use my new galloping position, and I set off.  Bug felt AMAZING.  The new position had him jumping even better (as if that even seemed possible!) than before.  I only had one table where I felt that I allowed him to drift at all in the air. (which is my bad habit)  My biggest problem was not really being forward enough at some of the combinations.  I loose time when I don't attack.  I had some amazing rides through some things, and some rides that I would like to do over.  Bug does whatever I tell him to do, so it's my job to tell him!  I was still pleased with our first Adv XC of the year, but I know what I need to do to fix things.  We came in clean with about 40+/- seconds in time.
The footing for SJ on the second day was a bit slippery, but Bug seemed to handle it fine.  The course was really eating people up if you didn't stay going forward, so I was ready to attack where I hadn't the day before.  Bug and I put in probably our best round to date.  I felt like I really attacked everything and hit all of my distances really well.  We did have an unlucky rail at the third fence, which is really out of character for him.  I asked Bonnie if I should have done something differently, and she said no.  He just wasn't quite impressed enough and BARELY touched the pole.  With the flat cups, it just didn't stay.  However, she told me that she was super happy with how I rode SJ, and I needed to remember that on my next XC.  Of course, after he touched that rail, he was jumping extra big after that.  haha  Typical Bug.
We ended up finishing in 9th place, which is pretty darn respectable, I think.  (would have been 6th without that silly rail!)
I am going to keep working hard and doing what I need to do to keep improving.  I'm on a diet and exercise program to get myself in fighting condition again.  My plan is Fit and Feisty for 2013! :)
Bug got a nice few days off when we got home.  It was a long, stressful week for us both.  He had a nice 50 min trot today, and he's feeling happy and healthy.
Our next stop will be the Advanced/Intermediate at Full Gallop  next weekend.  I'm looking to improve on the dressage and really attack in the SJ and XC.  Southern Pines II is just around the corner!  Cole will also be going along to Full Gallop to run the Beginner Novice again. We have a schooling show this weekend, so that should be fun too!

Also, I have just started taking orders for the 2013 Spring Fundraiser for Bug's show season.  Our ultimate goal is the CCI*** at Jersey Fresh.  It's expensive trying to fund my own upper level horse, so since the shirts were such a hit last year, we are doing shirts and bumper stickers this year!  You can order on my website! http://www.rockystartstables.com/fundraiser.html

Bringing it home!

February 6th was a one day horse trial at Full Gallop Farm.  Trying to make things work for a midweek event can be a bit difficult, but it fit into my schedule best.  I went down to Aiken with Bug to run the Advanced/Intermediate and Cole to run his very first BN.  Also, my working student, Alice VanBokkelen, tagged along to do BN with her new horse, Classic Skyline.

The weather was quite lovely, so I was pretty excited to get going.  Bug was pretty frisky in his early morning dressage test.  I can get him so lovely at home, but I haven't quite mastered the correct warmup and then test riding skills that I need.  We are getting there slowly, but I would prefer if my brain would kick into gear in the dressage!

The show jumping for Bug was quite big and a very windy course with a lot of verticals on a downhill approach.  Of course, Bug rocked around it with ease.  We still have some work to do with staying together, but in all, I was happy with it.   It was our first Advanced height SJ course that we didn't have any time penalties.

The XC was a pretty decent Intermediate for this time in the season, but after walking it, I was sure Bug was ready to tackle it.  He was clear with some time, but he was being extra careful, and I wasn't always riding to quite the right balance, so we had time in front of the fences.  I wasn't thrilled with how I rode, but I was happy with Bug for answering all of the questions well.

We ended up winning our division and bringing home a lovely blue ribbon!  I am thrilled with that, but I am working hard to improve, improve, improve.

Cole was quite good for his dressage, though a bit tense.  He was a very good boy about going into the arena.  As he was a dressage horse, I was hoping that he would behave himself, and he did.  The jumping phases proved to be a bit of an exciting time with him, though.  He was pretty riled up in the warmup, and I ended up getting bucked off, much to my surprise.  haha  It wasn't really a bad buck, but I wasn't expecting it.  I got to fly through the air in front of everyone.  I got up, wiped the sand off, took my now inflated air vest off and tried again with a smile.

He actually went on to jump great in the warmup, but he was very looky in the ring.  I am surprised that he didn't have any rails, as he was backing up to things and jumping from nothing.  Luckily,  he has a lot of jumping ability.  He went on to jump around cross country with a lot of peeks and looks, but he really grew up as he went around.  I am quite pleased with him.  He will run another BN in March.

I have also been teaching a lot of clinics lately, which has been GREAT FUN.  I really enjoy helping people and seeing the results.  I taught a clinic in Franklin, VA hosted by Dark Horse Eventing owned by Kate Mason, and I also taught a clinic in Preston, MD hosted by Close Up Show Stables owned by Julia Jesu.  I think both clinics were a success, and I am excited to be teaching more.

This weekend I am off to PA to teach another clinic.  I will be coming home Sunday and turning around to leave bright and early for Ocala and the ICP Symposium.  The end of next week brings Bug's first Advanced of the season at Pine Top, and I am really excited!

Until later.....kick on!

Kicking off 2013 right!

On Saturday, Bugger and I set off to Aiken for the Full Gallop Horse Trials to run as a one day on Sunday.  I was stoked to get the season started and to practice what we have been working on all winter.  We were to compete in the Open Intermediate.

Unfortunately, Sunday morning in Aiken was a bit chilly.  Our dressage time was 7:51 and the grass was still covered with frost.  Bug was feeling a bit frisky due to the cold, but he warmed up pretty well.  Unfortunately, the dressage arenas are right next to a barn which happened to be housing a panicky screaming horse.  There was also a woman taking her horse for handwalk directly behind the judge's car.  All of these things combined with the cold and it being the first show of the season......Bug was a bit distracted.  We had some really nice moments, but we had some that were just not up to par.  I was pretty disappointed, as we have been working so hard and making so many improvements.  We ended up on a 40.

The show jumping course was a good test for the beginning of the season.  However, Bug felt great.  There were a few moments that I would like to have ridden a bit better, keeping him softer and rounder to the fences, but all in all, it was a pretty great round.  We were double clear and moved on to XC ready to tackle the course.

My goal for XC was to ride on a loopy rein and to use my body and legs to change his stride as needed rather than taking a pull.  Bug really doesn't need me to pull, he just needs me to change his balance.  I am determined to figure it all out so that we can start making time by jumping out of stride rather than up in the air.  Our round felt brilliant!  I didn't push him for speed, just a bigger stride.  The ground was quite hard, and I didn't want him to have to go too fast.  We finished clear and 20 seconds over time.  I was quite thrilled with my boy.

We ended up 2nd in the division and brought home a pretty red ribbon. :)  Great way to start off the season!! (Thanks to my student, Amelia Lowe, for the awesome action shots!)

A big thanks to my working student, Alice VanBokkelen, for holding down the fort while I was gone.  It's so nice to leave things in good hands when I have to go away.

This Saturday, Hotty and Cole are making their combined test debuts as TTC, and Bug will be going to do the Advanced Test A twice.  Gotta get those fancy pants in order!

Kick on!

Welcome 2013!!

I can't believe how badly I have done keeping my blog updated.  Life seemed to get away from me the past few months.  However, 2013 is a new year, and I have high hopes for it!  I'm back and ready to keep people updated on what's going on here at Rocky Start.

Bug has been amazing.  I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason, and I am thinking that missing Fairhill in the fall was a good thing.  It allowed me to get him started in work earlier than normal, and I feel like he is fitter than he has ever been to start out the spring.  He looks and feels amazing.  This Sunday is our first recognized event of the year, and I am really stoked.  He will be running the Open Intermediate at Full Gallop Farm in Aiken.  Wish us luck!!

Last fall, I was starting to get the feeling that Renn was just not quite right.  For those that don't know Renn's story, his mother stepped on him when he was a baby, and he had to have his hind fetlock completely reconstructed.  VA Tech gave him a 20% chance of being sound.  The reconstruction made the fetlock bigger, and thus, it has changed the angles in his stifle and hip.  Up until he moved up to Prelim, he was doing pretty well.  He had to have regular chiro visits, but we could maintain his happiness.  However, after making the move up, I feel like he is just not happy.  He is sound, and you can't feel anything under tack, but he has become unhappy in real work.  I don't feel that he owes me anything, so I decided to give him a long vacation.  He will hack out some this spring, but his main job is to stand in the field looking gorgeous and to make babies.  Renn's babies are gorgeous and seem to get all of his wonderful qualities.  For that reason, he will stay here, even if he never returns to real work.  I do think that he may enjoy foxhunting, so that may be on his list of activities for next fall/winter.

I have acquired quite a few new horses, and two, in particular, have made the step up to being on my show string:

Forever West, aka Cole, is a 10 year old Hanoverian gelding by West Coast.  He is a big boy, so he's a very different ride from anything I've had before.  He was a dressage horse up until recently, and he is now learning the ropes of eventing.  He's a fancy boy with a very cute jump, so I'm excited about getting him out and about.  He will do his first combined test at TTC on Feb 2nd doing BN, and then he will head to Aiken with Bug on Feb 6th to run his first recognized HT at Full Gallop.

PrettyHippHopHotty, aka Hotty, is a 6 year old OTTB mare.  She is a chestnut wonder with a lot of talent.  She's a big girl with a lot of talent, and she is coming along quite nicely.  I really love her work ethic and willingness to tackle new things.  She will also make her debut at TTC on the 2nd.  She is in the Walk/Trot, 2' division. :)

Sonny Crockett, aka Sonny, is a 5 year old OTTB gelding.  I just acquired Sonny this past weekend, so I don't know much about him yet.  I do know that he is a FANCY PANTS and super cute.  I am really excited about getting this one going after his downtime from the track.

Voo Doo Vicky, aka Vicky, is a not quite 3 year old unraced filly.  I just acquired Vicky this past weekend as well, so I don't know much about her.  Again, she is super sweet and very fancy.  I am going to take my time with her, as her 3 yo birthday isn't really until April.

Beyond the new horses of my own, I also have two horses on consignment right now.

Clare de Lune, aka Lilly, is an 11 yo 15.2 grey (with bloody shoulder) TB mare.  She is a very fancy mover and scopey jumper.  I believe that she is best suited to the jumper ring, and she will be going to Aiken for a few weeks for the jumper people to try.

Mardi Gras Gold, aka Honey, is a 7 yo 16.1 bay OTTB mare.  Honey came to me quite green, but she is coming along quickly. She accepts a contact and goes around in walk and trot like a champ.  She is a very cute mover, and I think she will excel at any lower level discipline.  Once the footing is decent, she will start over fences.

I guess that is most of the updates for now.  I will work very hard to keep everyone abreast this year!

Kick on, 2013!

Where has the time gone??

Yes, that's right.  I have been horrible about keeping up with my blog.  I have been writing for Eventing Nation regularly, and that has been keeping me so busy!!  I am including the links to my EN articles that deal with me, personally.  I will make a point of blogging again soon with all of the farm updates!

http://eventingnation.com/home/dealing-with-disappointment.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/every-day-im-shufflin.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/its-all-on-you.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/saying-goodbye-to-a-future-superstar.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/so-you-think-you-want-to-be-a-clinician.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/a-case-of-the-blues-no-not-the-ribbons.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/aecs-wrap-up.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/cooley-cross-borders-poplar-place-farm-recap.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/windridge-farm-ht.html

http://eventingnation.com/home/the-holding-area.html

Shame, Shame

I have been neglecting my duties to my personal blog!!   Life has been crazy, and I have been writing about Bug's journey for Eventing Nation.  Here are the links to his updates:
http://eventingnation.com/home/the-fork-in-the-road.html
http://eventingnation.com/home/jessica-bortner-harris-learning-to-laugh.html
http://eventingnation.com/home/way-down-yonder-on-the-chattahoochee.html
http://eventingnation.com/home/jessica-bortner-harris-redemption-is-sweet.html

They have also asked me to be a writer in the official capacity.  Here is my first article!
http://eventingnation.com/home/appreciating-the-journey-by-jessica-bortner-harris.html

Okay, that should catch everyone up on the goings on with Bug.  Now for some updates with the rest of the horses!

Renn takinga break from schooling the Prelim at The Fork

1.  Renn has been doing great!  He went to Fairhill in April to run the Training.  He proved to me that he was definitely ready to move up, as he was quite a good boy.  Unfortunately, he did put his left hip out of place after arriving home, so he had to miss the Heart of the Carolinas Training 3 Day in order to have a visit with the chiro.  I was very disappointed, as I was really looking forward to taking him!  However, the amazing chiro, Dr. Karla, put his hip back in place, and he got to go to the VAHT this past weekend and earn his big boy pants!  Renn was quite good for his first Prelim!  We are still sorting out saddle fit, thus his dressage wasn't great.  However, he was a great boy in both jumping phases, and I am proud to call him a Prelim horse!  He will get June off from competing and will hopefully be back out in July.

2.  Sales horse, Rosarita, has been sold to a dressage home!  I am sure that she will excel, as she was bred for that discipline and shows a lot of promise!  I hope we will see her in the show arena soon.

3.   Golden Altar (Zeus), was a semi-finalist in the Breeder's Bridge Contest with the Maddens.  He went home to be with his owner, Gina Woods.  Unfortunately, he was not chosen, but Gina is having a blast with him!!

Catoctin Moon competing at The Ark

4.  Sales horse, Catoctin Moon (Moe), has been getting better and better all spring.  He went to The Ark the beginning of April for the Novice and had a tense dressage, but he went on to have great sj and xc rounds.  Moe also went along to VAHT this past weekend to compete in the Novice.  We finally got it together for the dressage, and he scored a 33!  This horse is an amazing mover, and I knew he was capable of great scores, but I just had to figure out how to eliminate his tenseness at shows.  I was so proud of him!!  He was a bit distracted in the SJ, as it was in the coliseum, costing us two rails, but he went on to jump a great double clear XC.  He ended up 6th in a big Open Novice division.  This horse is going to give someone a lot of fun!

Une Grace showing off her moves at Full Gallop Farm

5.  Sales horse, Une Grace (Gracie), owned by Morning Glory Sporthorses, has been fabulous!  This mare is amazing!  She is going to make someone an amazing horse.  She is beautiful, a great mover, honest, and scopey.  What more can you ask for in a young horse?  Someone needs to snatch her up!

6.  Storm Boomer (Boomer), also owned by Morning Glory Sporthorses, is really coming along in his training.  He has an eccentric soul, but once I figured him out, he has come along so quickly.  This horse can JUMP!  He is going to be an amazing hunter/jumper. 

7.  Me Fuerst (Mia), my orphan filly by Renn, turned 3 the end of April and will be starting her life as a horse in training!  I am hoping that she loves to event, but I always try to listen to my horses.  If she wants to do something else, that is fine too!  I just love this filly.  She is well built, a lovely mover, and she has the best brain!  She has been lunging in the surcingle like she's been doing it all of her life. 

I think that covers most of the bases right now.  I will check in again after Bromont!

Kick on!

Go big or go home!

Well, Folks, here it is, my update from Southern Pines II.... Bug and I moved up to Advanced, and it was an amazing weekend!  I wrote about it for Eventing Nation, so check it out!
http://eventingnation.com/home/2012/03/southern-pines-ii-my-first-advanced-not-done-yet.html

Here are a few more pictures that I didn't have at the time of the EN publication.

March Update Part 1

Wow, so a lot has happened this month!  I have been horrible about blogging.  I'm going to split this month up into two posts, as I have so much to share!

In the beginning of March, Bug FINALLY got to make his 2012 debut!  We went to Sporting Days in Aiken to run the Intermediate/Prelim division.  That means, Intermediate dressage and show jumping and Preliminary XC.  I thought this was a good way to get him out to stretch his legs without putting too much pressure on him in the XC.  I wanted to be sure all of our systems were a go over smaller fences before we moved up to the big stuff. 
Bug put in a good test in the dressage and was very obedient.  Now that I have him listening to me better, we have to start tweaking the work to make it fancier and more correct.  He went on to jump a good sj round with one unlucky rail.  He did save my butt a few times, as I was still knocking off the rust a bit.  He also jumped around the XC like a champ with only a handful of time.  Not a bad way to knock off the rust, I think! 

The following weekend, I set off with my new working student, Naomi,  to Aiken again.  I was to compete FIVE horses at Full Gallop Farm.  This was the first time I'd competed over 2 horses at a recognized event.  I wasn't sure how I would hold up, but I was sure that I'd have a good idea of my fitness level afterward.  Luckily, along with Naomi, I had three other great helpers along to keep my horses clean and ready to compete.  Mary, Michael, Chris, and Naomi were an amazing help to me!  I really appreciate all of their efforts. 

Bug rocking it in the SJ

Bug was set to compete in his first full Intermediate event of the year.  How well this event went was the determining factor of when we were to move up to Advanced.  No pressure!  Bug put in a very obedient test.  Still missing a lot of fancy and swing.  We're working on it. :)  He went on to ROCK around the SJ and XC with stellar rounds to finish 5th!  I was THRILLED.  He felt amazing.  He's such a superstar!

Renn showing off his AMAZING gallop stride!

Renn was back and ready to take on another Training at Full Gallop.  The XC looked to be a great deal tougher than what he'd done the month before, so I was excited to see how he felt about it.  He put in one of the best dressage tests of his life!  Random people that didn't know us were coming up to me afterward and telling me how beautiful we were together.   Unfortunately, the judge didn't completely agree, as she said he wasn't in front of my leg enough.  However, I was thrilled with him.  He went on to ROCK around the XC.  No nappiness, no shying, just a phenomenal run.  Maybe my handsome studly is growing up!  He did have 2 rails in SJ, but they were my fault.   He was jumping great in the beginning of the course, but got a bit behind my leg to the in and out.  I had to get after him, and he started to panic a bit about doing something wrong.  Oh well, I will get him figured out yet! 

Catoctin Moon, Moe, the sales horse, was a bit tense at his first recognized event.  With over 400 entries, the warm up areas were quite crazy.  He was obedient in his Novice test, but he was definitely tense, which cost us.  I was still super pleased with how he held it together.  He went on to jump a good SJ round with one rail.  He was a bit spooky for the beginning of XC, but after a silly run-out, he got his mind in gear and was great the rest of the way around.  I was quite pleased with how he grew up as the weekend went along.  He will do Novice again at The Ark this coming weekend. 

Golden Altar, Zeus, another sales horse, did his first ever recognized event as well, only in the BN division.  He had a bit of the same issues as Moe.  The crowds caused him to be a bit overwhelmed, but he held it together.  He didn't do anything silly, but he was definitely tense.  His test was nothing like he is capable of doing.  He did, however, go on to ROCK around the XC.  His SJ was not normal for him, as he had a silly stop at the 2nd fence and a rail.  I think he was a bit distracted by his surroundings, but I felt like he really grew up as well during the weekend.  He will move up to Novice at The Ark this weekend. 

Gracie dominating the BN jumps. :)

Une Grace, Gracie, another sales horse owned by Morning Glory Sporthorses, was my little wonder pony.  She got a 34 in her VERY FIRST BN RECOGNIZED EVENT!  She was 4th after dressage.  I just LOVE that little mare.  The judge called her "well built" and "beautiful".  I already thought that, but I'm a little bit biased.  I've loved that little girl since I met her as a yearling.  She's such an amazing girl!  She had 2 rails in the in and out of SJ, but they were just greenie mistakes.  She also looked at a few things on XC, but I never had to represent.  She would just slow down, walk up to it, and then jump. haha  She's such a good girl.  Unfortunately, due to pilot error, we jumped up the Novice bank instead of the BN bank.  Oops!  Good girl for doing the big bank!  That was the only time that my crazy weekend really showed through in my riding, I think. 

Over all, it was a great weekend with the horses! 

Unfortunately, a mile up the road from the show, my brakes went out in my truck, and we had to stay in Aiken for 2 extra days.  I guess if you're going to get stranded with horses, that is the place to do it!  We enjoyed some nice weather and got to hack around on the good footing for an extra day. :)

That's all for this update!  Look for the next one soon!