Aiken Cats!

Eventers may flock to Aiken for the horses, but 24 hours into our trip, and Aiken is all about cats!  My mom, Katchi, Schmoe (my cat!), and I made the 10 hour drive yesterday and we were all thrilled to arrive to 56 degrees (when we left Maryland it was a bitter 19 degrees!).  Phillip arranged for us to stay just down the road from his farm - but he failed to mention the horse farm is a cat farm!!!  The barn (which is beautiful!) must have more than 20 barn cats - and no detail has been overlooked for their comfort,  convenience, and care.  It's a barn cat dream come true!  

A short ladder lives next to the saddle rack - to let the kitties easily  arrive on the grooming rack divider rail.  Would hate for them to have to jump too high or risk falling trying to hop down!

What this fluffy orange cat has hidden behind his back, hanging from the ceiling,  is a mouse toy in a noose! 

After spending the morning getting Katchi adjusted to his vacation home, riding, cleaning tack, and playing with the kitties - my mom and I headed into historic Aiken.  Unfortunately, we forgot that Aiken sleeps on Sunday - except for one antique shop.  While they had some beautiful items, my favorite was the basket of "lucky horse shoes" for a mere $1.50 each.  I wonder what my farrier would say if I came home from Aiken with a "lucky horse shoe" for him as a gift?!?!

Digging through "antiques" I was relieved to discover this 5th place ribbon from Jumping Branch did not have a price tag.  Apparently it was store decoration.  Though the used nylon halter for $20... well, I didn't buy it.  

Though Aiken was sleeping, my mom and I had the best time checking out the Aiken Cats!  The Cats are all over the city, painted by artists, and to be sold to benefit the reconstruction of the Gaston Livery Stable.  We had so much fun walking along the closed store fronts, being surprised over and over again by a new cat!  Of all of them, my absolute favorite is the blue racing cat "9 Lives" - he's all decked out in a saddle and bridle!  If anyone would like buy this $5,000 little kitty for me, I promise to display him proudly as the chief barn cat in my new barn!!!  Check out the page of all the cats - they are awesome!

The Hunt Master

Katchi on Off-Track Thoroughbreds

Those who follow my blog may remember the wonderful article Susan Salk at Off-Track Thoroughbreds wrote about Katchi at the end of 2011, just after his big 2nd place finish at the Hagyard Training Level Three Day Event.  Today, Susan posted an update on Katchi, and her writing again brought tears to my eyes.  It's one thing to keep my own blog and say things in my own words, but to read the kind words of someone else talking about by beloved Katchi... there's something special about that.  Thank you Susan!

Chauvin targets 3rd level; patience rewarded

A day in Kabul leads to racehorse, joyous life

Off-Track Thoroughbreds

Hey little girl, you want a blue ribbon?

Several weeks ago, following the NYT article on the hunter pony's death after receiving a shot, Denny Emerson made several posts to Facebook about the corruption of "buying a child's ribbon" by paying for access to the perfect pony.  About the same time, my mom flew to Maryland from California for 2 days for the closing of the new farm -- she flew Southwest which generously offers two free checked luggage bags for each ticket.  As my mom will be moving here in a little over a year after she retires, we wanted to take full advantage of baggage space to bring something to the farm.  But what to bring that my mom wouldn't need, the airlines wouldn't break, and the new farm wanted?!?!  And then it hit me... ribbons!  My mom had several boxes in her garage full of my old horse show ribbons!  So, my mom packed 2 suitcases full of ribbons.  Before I could move them into the new house, I drove them around in the trunk of my car a few days.  Then they stayed in the horse trailer a few days.  Then into the truck.  Meanwhile, I'm reading Denny's posts about the price of a ribbon, and I'm thinking, forget buying the ride on the pony.... I've got a blue ribbon right here in the trunk of my car, little girl!  How much you give me for it?!?!  I felt like I had a fake-Rolex pawn shop in my car!  When I finally moved the ribbons into the house and opened the suitcase, I found a TSA inspection card.  CAN YOU IMAGINE what they must have thought?????  I'm sure they've seen some pretty strange stuff in people's luggage, but 2 suitcases full of old horse show ribbons?!?!?  That must have been a first.  It was so much fun to dig through them and remember so many wonderful times with such wonderful horses (thankfully I'm very good about writing the details of the show on the back of each ribbon).  I'm working on a little project to display them in the new house, so I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out (and for those concerned, no, I definitely will not be cutting up the ribbons - I can't bring myself to do that - I love each one too much!).

Christmas Wishes

Despite the recent neglect of my blog, it is not retired!  In fact, it is soon to be flooded with several exciting announcements and adventures, the first of which comes, finally, today!

Christmas wishes and lifelong dreams do come true!

Mom celebrating her birthday with Katchi -
who is apparently quite talented at unwrapping gifts!

On December 21, my mom and I celebrated her birthday by signing a pile of papers for the future home of Golightly Sport Horses.  We have purchased the most beautiful 10 acres in Anne Arundel County (Maryland), and while there is so much work to do, I am so very excited to make it happen!  Currently, the property has only a small house and barbed wire fencing!  As soon as I can get a suitable pair of gloves and complete the requisite negotiations with the cow owners next door, the barbed wire fence will go far far away.  And in its place will come horse "proof" fencing, and a barn, and cross country jumps, and an arena, and I am so excited, I can hardly stand it!  In the meantime, I've moved out of my city condo and onto the farm.  As if the view of my future horse pastures and arena didn't make me happy beyond belief, the move has also taken the DC beltway essentially out of my life!  It feels a bit like breaking up with someone who you've known was no good for you for years, but you just couldn't tear yourself away.  Good bye DC beltway.  We are never ever ever getting back together.  Katchi now lives less than 5 miles from me.  It's like a little bit of heaven.  I can't even imagine how amazing it will be to have him 100 feet from my house!  As a kid, I never fully appreciated just how lucky I was.  And how many years I would spend trying to get myself back to the same life I was so ready to leave behind for the adventures of the world!

The driveway of Trevi Manor

View from house onto front fields.

Several years ago, my mom and I took a trip to Italy.  While in Rome, my mom insisted we visit the Trevi Fountain to throw in our coins and wish for true love.  With the purchase of this farm, we have decided to call it Trevi Manor, as it is our true love!  There's not much there yet, but it already has a website - I'll be keeping the site updated with our construction progress.  So check out the Trevi Manor website! 

Likely location of arena.

Future individual turnout paddocks.

 

A bovine neighbor.

Final Days of 2012 Event Season

Having only made it to only one event in 2012 with Katchi, writing about the end of the season is bittersweet.  In many ways, I'm glad to be done with this year.  I'm ready to start 2013 fresh and new... with many of the same goals I had for 2012, that went unrealized all year.  I'm still stunned that 2012 was the year that never really got started for us. It's disheartening to realize that I have nothing to look forward to at the various annual awards banquets.  But, despite the deep downs this year, there have been many highs and I feel Katchi and I are stronger than ever. In 2012, Katchi earned me the USDF Performance Award in 2nd level - something I'm not sure I ever really thought possible.  And I have my eyes solidly set on 3rd level -- something I definitely never thought possible!  And we found real success at our many jumper shows this summer - something I hope to capitalize on fully as we start the spring eventing season.  And I'm already looking forward to a do-over with Aiken ...  with big time goals of trotting and cantering and even JUMPING in the state of South Carolina in 2013!  For me, winter is always about taking the time to re-evaluate and fill in the training gaps...  which change but never seem to get smaller no matter how many winters pass!  We have a lot to work on this winter!

Meanwhile, I am so very thankful to the wonderful students I have had the privilege of working with this year!  While I have been so severely sidelined myself, they have kept me motivated, inspired, and hopeful.  They have given me a reason to show up at the events, walk courses, study rides, and plan for future lessons and perfection!  And they've given me a hoarse voice more than a few times from cheering like a maniac as they've made me so very proud! I can't wait to do it all again in 2013!

Today I coached a student at CDCTA - her first recognized event and the final event for 2013.  Perhaps it was the sun and 70 degree weather, but it just didn't feel like the end!  Sort of hard to make winter training plans, standing around melting wishing you had worn shorts!  In thinking back over the year and seeing how much several of my students have improved and how happy they have been moving up the levels - they inspire me!  And so it's off to the drawing board and the planning book...  because 2013 is going to be amazing!!!

Notice to Eventing Fans: Top Ten Reasons to CHEER!

I love a Fair Hill hangover!  Especially when it doesn't include sore muscles from shivering all weekend!  My lips have the sting of Sun and crisp air.  My voice has a twinge of raspiness from hootin' and hollerin'! The one place on my chest where I forgot sunscreen is pleasantly pink and warm.  I might even be a little tired from the gluttony of mimosas, sangria, and Maker's Mark... or some combination thereof!  And I feel inspired to JUMP the big boy jumps!

Picture Perfect show jumping day

But I have a complaint about Fair Hill this year.  The crowd.  I've never seen a less enthusiastic crowd at Fair Hill.  What happened?  It wasn't cold and wet.  Your clapping hands weren't muffled by warm mittens.  Your lips weren't sealed shut by cold rain.  It was a glorious day, yet over and over again, standing among hundreds of people - I'm pretty sure I was the only one screaming in appreciation of a hell of a save or seriously good piece of riding!  At Rolex, even those who retire get a handy applause - "thanks for trying, good look to ya next time!"  Eventing fans of Fair Hill - what's wrong with you???  We were in Tailgating section C, and we had a landslide "win" of the cheering contest - while we gave out some good cheers, our competition  was well, mute, so it wasn't really a contest at all.  Sad, folks, really sad.  I told several people that the day I ride around Fair Hill - if I cross the finish line and haven't heard a single cheer along the way, I will cry.  

Tailgating!!

Just a few of our tailgater gang - the early morning Mimosa crew!

Along the I-95 corridor, where I spent many hours this weekend driving back and forth, I did some thinking.  And I've come up with the Top Ten Reasons to CHEER for our cross country horses and riders!  

10. The home field advantage is about the support of the crowd! Let our riders (and horses!) feel the love!

9. While self-congratulations goes a long way for an Eventer, "Yay for me!" starts feeling a little pathetic after about fence 3 - when you're riding AT FAIR HILL!

8. You have a beer and a funnel cake.  If you can't get excited about the horses, at least get excited about that!

7. Let's give Brian O'Connor a reason to say "And the crowd goes WILD!"

6. Has any (winning!) General led his troops into battle with the yell of "Charge!" followed by silence?  That guy lost the war.  Eventing is the ultimate test of Calvary courage.  Imagine the horse and rider on course is our General and we're his troops!  CHARGE! YAY!

5. It does matter.  The horses and riders do hear you.  

4. Could you have ridden it better than what that rider just did?  No?  THEN CHEER!

3. Bolder, Better, Faster, Stronger.  Seriously, this sport is AWESOME!  CHEER!

2. If Fair Hill is a final stepping stone for America's future Rolex, Badminton, Burghley... OLYMPIC... WEG... horses - lets prepare them for the CROWDS!!!  Think Allison Springer's Arthur, folks - give these horses a chance to learn what big time cross country crowds are all about!

And the #1 Reason to CHEER on cross country day is...

Don't let those Dressage queens and their red foam fingers make America believe they're bigger sports fans than Eventers!

Phillip Dutton on Fernhill Eagle - check out the helmet cam! Didn't he deserve a wild and crazy cheer?? 

Yes, I did a little shopping too!  The chevron is MINE!  Who says every girl wants diamonds?
(In photo: Kerry York & me )

The Secret to Winning...

Jim Wofford loves to tell riders that he's found the secret to winning every event!  He leans in close, with a twinkle in his eye and a smirk on his face, and he whispers... "The secret to winning every event is [pause for dramatic effect], you must win the dressage.  And jump double clear on cross country and show jumping."  He stands back up and grins.  Well, of course, Jimmy.   It really is just that simple. Shoot me, right?!  I've seen him do this to rider after rider, myself included, over the past several years... but today I got to see my wonderful student, Kerry, with the magic in her own eye as she discovered truth does exist in Jimmy's secret to winning.

Today was the final 2012 event for Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy.  When I arrived this morning to coach Kerry and Atticus, I made a mental note of the temperature displayed in my car.  A full 65 degrees colder than the last time Kerry and I both competed at Loch Moy this summer.  Yes, I cursed the Sun God that weekend.  But, really, were the dramatics so necessary, Mr. Sun God?!

Under sunny skies and crisp air, Kerry put in a lovely dressage test.  It's been wonderful watching her transformation from not surviving in the white rectangle (forgotten tests, inexplicable "movements"...), to surviving, to thriving!  She is a solid competitor every time she steps in the ring these days, and she has been knocking on the door of real success for some time.  While there were still some points left on the table, today's test was a picture of harmony and partnership.  And she was well rewarded, being one of only 4 riders in her division of 17 to score in the 30's -- she led the division by over 2 points.  I've been saying to her the last few events, "go in there like you think you can win this thing!" Now I get to say, "go in there, and KNOW you can win this thing!".

At the 110 degree summer Loch Moy event, the hilarious and bizarre award went to the horse who dumped his rider on XC and headed straight for the pond, where he refused to leave.  Today's hilarious and bizarre award went to the one-eyed Chestnut OTTB who dumped his rider out of his dressage saddle and headed straight for the show jumping ring.  He jumped the yellow gate rope and had a look around... just after a poor unsuspecting rider had jumped the first jump on course!!!  There was a bit of a scramble, and I never actually heard the judge ring the bell, but I head some yelling at the rider on course, and she quite sensibly pulled up as the loose horse was galloping straight at her! (An added element of difficulty to show jumping?!)  Myself and a group of folks jumped into the ring to capture the dressage-hating beast, and thankfully he didn't prove too difficult.  The judge and rider [IN THE MIDDLE OF HER ROUND] had a quick conference and the rider proceeded on with jump #2.  I'm not sure how they handled her time, but I suspect she was relieved of any and all time penalties!  There's one for the Eventing Judge's final exam, "What do you do when..."

Although Kerry was unaware of her "top of the leader board" standing going into jumping, her entire support crew was well aware.  I knew she had 1/2 a rail in hand, and oh wouldn't it be nice for her to jump her first clear Training level show jumping round today?!  But it wasn't to be.  Fence 4B fell to the ground.  It made me wish so much that each rail in a combination would only count for a fraction of a rail!  But, oh well.  It was a lovely course, and I will gladly take her one rail down over a few of the clear rounds I saw today!

Atticus has become a XC machine and they flew around the course making it look like a walk in the park.  Video proof:



At the finish line, I told Kerry of her standing after dressage.  It was there that I saw the magic in her eyes.  She found Jimmy's secret to winning every event.  And while it didn't happen today (her rail dropped her to 4th) - Kerry knows the truth in Jimmy's words now.  All you have to do is win the dressage and jump 2 clear rounds.  It's just that simple.