Spring Season!!!
Shaw and his hilarious Irish humor. Photo credits to Kristen Lacy.
This season started off a little rough with my and Will's fall at Red Hills. Luckily no one was seriously injured. And we were back riding a week later. I added Pinetop to the schedule and bumped down to preliminary level for a confidence booster. Then it was off to the Fork. The day before we left for the Fork, I purchased Buckley. He's a 5 y.o., off the track T.B., gelding. Buckley might be the quietest 5 y.o. I've worked with. He's extremely good minded and is already taking to his next career. In Citrus Oaks Fashion, Buckley fits right in being a bay gelding.
We had a great show at the FL H.P. It was exciting to see Citrus Oaks Farm's sponsored jump being used on the x.c. course. The horses competed great. I had another double clear round x.c. and stadium with Shaw. I also competed Chant de Destin, Oakley, for the first time in a long while. I only got a couple of weeks to get use to him again because we've been traveling so much but his training at Jennie Jarnstrom's farm was definitely solid and we had a good first show together. Amelia also did fabulous, winning her Novice division with Whimsical.
Congratulations to Tiffany on your purchase of Kildalton's Pride. Shaw has been a very special horse to everyone at Citrus Oaks Farm. I've had a great partnership with him over the past 3 years and will definitely miss him. Thanks to his owner/mother Diane, Shaw has definitely flourished into a competitive athlete. Shaw has a great home in Nevada with a very special new owner. And as we move into summer, I'm definitely jealous of his new home and cooler weather!
Winter Season!!!
Photo credits to X-press Foto
I will always remember these past competitions since the beginning of January as the year of terrible weather. We started the season with a morning of sleet at the Florida Horse Park. I believe the low one morning was 18 degrees! Despite the frigid air, the horses all did well. Artisan's Mark won the Open Novice division from the dressage on with a score of 27.0. Kildalton's Pride also had a strong finish in the Open Training with a 4th place finish.
Rocking Horse followed closely behind with warm rainy days. Keeping the horses slow and steady on the x.c. courses cost us some time faults and ribbons. But the horses all went home happy and sound, which is most important. Chant de Destin had a very competitive finish with Jennie Jarnstrom riding, finishing 5th in the Open Preliminary division.
The second horse trials at the FL Horse park was had a very cold and rainy dressage day. The arenas blew over, the footing was mud and puddles up to the horses knees, and we ended the day with tornados in the area. Pamiro W. and I had a good finish in the Intermediate division in 5th place. And we stadium jumped our 14th clear stadium round in a row.
We also have HUGE farm news. January, we purchased 80 acres of hay in Dade City, FL. We plan to develop this property and move our operation to the new farm. Currently there is nothing but hay rolls on this property and most recently a x.c. ditch. We are very excited about the potential of this land and what it can mean to Florida.
Artisan's Mark has also found a new home in Savannah, GA. Congratulations Ann! We know he'll have a great home and life with you.
Year End Wrap Up!!!
Pictured on left - Amelia and Whimsical competing at Pinetop H.T. Pictured on right - Alex and Past Due competing at Pinetop H.T.
We had a great finish to 2009. Rocking Horse horse trials ended Kildalton's Pride and Pamiro W.'s competition year. Kildalton's Pride competed in the Training Level 3-day and had a competitive 4th place finish. Pamiro W. finished 5th in the Open Intermediate earning himself his final qualifying round for the CCI**.
I got to compete a new horse at both Rocking Horse and the Florida Horse park in November. Colleen Mitchell's, Artisan's Mark, proved to be very competitive. He won the dressage at both events with a 29.0 and 31.5. He's a fabulous horse combining a great mind and athletic ability.
The Florida Horse Park proved to be a successful weekend for Diana and her horse Trapper and my horse Chant de Destin, ridden and competed by Jennie Jarnstrom. Diana and Trapper completed all 3 phases of her first Beginner Novice event with Trapper. Jennie and Chant de Destin finished 13th in the Open Preliminary division with a double clean x.c. round.
Amelia and Alex ventured up to Pinetop Farms in Georgia Thanksgiving weekend. Amelia and Whimsical finished 4th in the Training Rider division at Pinetop H.T. Alex and Mick finished 10th in the Junior/Young Rider Open Preliminary division at Pinetop H.T. Both girls had a great show and survived the cold weather. Congratulations everyone on a successful 2009 year!