And She's Off!!

Drew Cheek, our young working student from Georgia, has been working and training with Missy since she was 13 years old.  Drew's parents have supported her commitment to the sport of eventing by allowing her to stay on top of her online studies while working with Missy at BHF South in Ocala and also at our home base in Unionville.

Credit GRC Photo

Drew has been up here since the summer helping us in all aspects of barn and horse management, while readying herself for the Waredaca Training 3 Day.  We were especially proud of her skills in helping her horse G battle an abscess which challenged her up until the day we shipped out for the event.  Drew is mature beyond her years and did a wonderful job at the event, despite more challenges with the weather and a change in the format scheduling over the weekend.  Regardless of an unlucky stop on XC - they still finished mid pack, and sound, adding another accomplishment to their growing equestrian resume.

Drew and her family have gone home to Georgia for a week respite before continuing their travels down to Ocala, where Missy and the rest of the crew will meet them at the beginning of the year.  Next up for Drew and G will be the Modified division at Grand Oaks in Ocala at the end of November.  Best of luck to Drew, we truly appreciate all of her hard work, and we're looking forward to seeing her in the beginning of 2019!

Help Support Our Para Rider's Road to WEG!!

Calling All Supporters!!!  We're looking forward to the upcoming mock competition being held in Virginia in the beginning of July, but our USPEA riders need our help.

Below is the fundraiser information to raise funds for traveling expenses for all of the top 8 athletes chosen for the Mock competition in Purcellville from July 5-8, 2018. The results will be considered in choosing the US Para Equestrian Team for September’s World Equestrian Games.

Here is a link to the fundraiser on the USPEA page:
http://uspea.org/144-envelope-fundraiser/

You can make your donation with PayPal or a credit card, then specify which envelope amount you are choosing. 

We thank you so much for your support!

Joan and Chester Ribbon at Devon in Ladies Side Saddle!

We are very proud of Joan Farwell and Chester's grand debut in the ladies side saddle ring, at Devon no less!  This pair was so impressive in the Dixon Oval, bringing home a 5th place ribbon out of 20 seasoned competitors.  Chester was such a gentleman in that big atmosphere, well done!

Congrats goes out to David as well for producing Chester up through the levels in dressage.  Keep an eye out for them as they will continue to compete at the PSG/I1 level with their eye on Grand Prix - in the near future! 

Here are just a few of the photos from the day, but you can see the full photo gallery on the Blue Hill Farm Facebook gallery!

Gigi and Heros One Step Closer To WEG Team Selection!

It's countdown to the WEG team selection for Gigi, Heros and Missy with the official invitation to the USEF Para-Dressage event this July.  We are thrilled for this team and look forward to their performance this summer in Virginia!  Please see official invitation below:

USEF INVITATIONAL EVENT
WHEATLAND FARM, PURCELLVILLE, VA
July 6-8, 2018
   
Thank you to those who met the requirements in Sections I.A. and I.B., of the USEF Athlete Selection Procedures for the WEG to qualify for an invitation to the USEF Para-Dressage Invitational Event, Wheatland Farm, Purcellville, VA, July 6-8, 2018!  The Selectors, in consultation with the USEF Para-Equestrian High Performance Consultant, Chef d’Equipe and Team Vet recommend, to the Para-Equestrian Sport Committee, eight (8) athlete/horse combinations to receive an invitation to the Event.   With the approval of the Para-Equestrian Sport Committee, the following eight (8) athlete/horse combinations selected are listed below in alphabetical order. 

Photo Credit Sue Stickle

Michele Bandinu
Rebecca Hart
Katie Jackson
Margaret McIntosh
Angela Peavy
Kate Jackson
Deborah Stanitski
Roxanne Trunnell

Should athletes selected to attend the Event have a second horse, then an invitation for the second horse is also extended. 

This Invitational Mock Competition is NOT A STAND ALONE SELECTION TRIAL.  Results of this competition will only be one factor used in determining the Short List/Nominated Entries.

An invitation to the Invitational Training Event and Mock Competition does not guarantee that an athlete/horse combination will be named to the Short List/FEI Nominated Entry or the Para-Equestrian Dressage Team for the Event.

Congratulations to all!  

Laureen Johnson   

BHF Para Riders Earn Top Placings at AGDF CPEDI3*!

This past weekend at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, the BHF girls wrapped up their 2nd round of competition with huge success.  Both Gigi and Laurietta were very consistent in their scores, taking top placings in all 3 of their classes.  Missy was very pleased with their performances and has great expectations for their next big qualifier at Tryon in April.

"Gigi had a great freestyle this past weekend scoring a 75??. The judges loved her music and choreography, and overall the mare was more settled this weekend but not quite as active as she was two weeks ago. Still, she has such a lovely walk the judges like her.
 
"Laurietta was reclassified and is now a grade one rider. This was her first weekend competing at they walk only and she scored well every day, finishing with a 72 in her freestyle. As she practices the test more her scores will go higher. They have a training session the end of February, and then it's onto Tryon for the test event in April!"

Laurietta & Missy at BHF South
Photo Credit Jill Henneberg and Direct Connect

Please follow along and support both these ladies through their FB pages.

Laurietta Oakleaf 
Margaret McIntosh, Elite Para Equestrian

The official press release from the weekend is below.
__________________________________________
Team USA Riders Dominate at Second Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 
Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* of 2018 
For Immediate Release
Alice Collins for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – January 21, 2018 – The second and final para-equestrian dressage show (CPEDI3*) of the 2018 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) concluded at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida, with the USA’s riders winning every grade.

In the day’s most heavily subscribed class, the Grade I freestyle — the riders with the most severe impairments — Margaret ‘Gigi’ McIntosh improved on her second places over the previous two days to win the class with 75.287%.  The judge at M, Portugal’s Carlos Lopes, awarded McIntosh and her own Heros, a 14-year-old Danish warmblood by Blue Hors Hertug, over 79%.

He said: “The degree of difficulty was high, the horse was steady and responding to her aids with good activity and showing good medium walk, which has improved over this week. The music was also very good for her and it all fitted together. It was all fluent and I gave 8.5 for the music and choreography.”

Heros is unbeaten at Grade I under the USA’s Margaret McIntosh,
landing 75.2% in the freestyle class.

The mare was sourced by USEF Head of Para-Equestrian Coach Development and High Performance Consultant Michel Assouline’s wife Mette, and McIntosh also credits her trainer Missy Ransehousen for the giant strides taken with the horse.

“She loves the music; I think somewhere in a past life, she was an old disco diva,” said McIntosh, who suffered a broken neck in a fall in 1999, a year after riding round the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day CCI****, which left her partially paralyzed. “I am so lucky I have been able to get a lot of my function back, and to be able to continue with my riding has been priceless.”

Michel Assouline was delighted with the American riders’ progress between the boards.

FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM AGDF 

FULL RESULTS FOX VILLAGE

Madeline is Off to Her Biggest Adventure Yet!

Ari & Madeline at the 2017 RK3DE!

We are so thrilled to see Madeline Backus reaping the benefits of years of hard work.  Madeline has been an integral part of the Blue Hill Family for many years, since she came to train with us when she was just a young teenager!

Now Madeline is about to embark on one of the biggest adventures of her life, going abroad to train with William Fox-Pitt for the next year, thanks to the Wilton Fair and Rebecca Broussard grants through the United States Eventing Association.

We asked Madeline to send us her thoughts on her past year and this next opportunity.

"I am sitting down to write this after a wonderful week at the Eventing 25 training sessions, with a barn full of happy horses and I can’t help but to be in awe over how fortunate I am. This sport includes a lot of ups and downs, but I have the most amazing people around me who continually offer me guidance and help through it all. It’s great to see Missy again, and the Blue Hill horses who migrated south again this year.

"2017 has been absolutely huge for me and my horses. Not only finishing my first CCI4* (at Rolex) in the top 20 with Ari, but also seeing everyone come together to help get me there. I was also privileged to ride and compete the horses my mom kept going for me in Colorado, and ended the year with a really fun group of competition horses.

"Now I am making plans to go overseas for the next year, and can still hardly believe that my dreams have become a reality. Ari, Vinnie and I will be crossing the pond to base with William Fox-Pitt in South England - that is something I never imagined myself saying. I am very excited for this opportunity given to me by the Wilton Fair and Rebecca Broussard grants through the United States Eventing Association.

P.S. On Top of the World (Vinnie)

"We will learn what it is like to train and compete overseas, and add that to our ever growing amount of knowledge.  Ari and I will be aiming for Badminton, and possibly Burghley this year, and Vinnie will be working his way up to the CCI2* level.  It is amazing the story that has gotten me here, and I am grateful everyday to everyone who has cheered me on and supported me along the way. My time at Blue Hill Farm will play a huge role in helping me be successful in the UK.  Missy, Jessica, and the Blue Hill family taught me so many valuable lessons which I will carry with me as I make this trip.

"I will make sure to keep everyone posted, I am looking forward to a great 2018. Best of luck to everyone this year!" ~ Madeline