Count Down to Rolex AND Working Student Position Opening!!

It's that time of year when everyone at BHF South starts to make their migration back to their home base locations all over the country.  Our riders head back to Kentucky, Georgia and Pennsylvania but we always see them return to Blue Hill Farm in time to prep for large upcoming events.

This upcoming month Missy will travel back and forth from Ocala, returning mid month to prep Madeline in her lead up to Rolex.  It's an exciting year for the entire team at BHF because we are all going to converge at the end of April in Kentucky to cheer on Madeline and Ari as they tackle their first RK3DE!! 

Madeline and Ari at Red Hills
Photo Lisa Thomas

This is a goal of a lifetime, and Madeline has steadily and diligently worked towards this day with her long time partner PS Arianna.  Can you imagine starting a relationship with your horse at the age of 10 with this ultimate goal in mind, and by age 21 reaching the pinnacle of your dream?!  The team at BHF is so proud of this remarkable young lady and we can't wait to sport our pink this year at Rolex!!

Upon the conclusion of Rolex, Madeline has decided to return home to Colorado to help her mother with her business.  She will return to BHF in Pa in late August to prep for the fall competitions with Ari.  We now need to fill her very capable shoes.

BHF Has An Immediate Opening for an Ambitious Working Student!

Our Working Students Have Fun and Become Friend For Life!
Photo Brigitte Aickelin

We are looking for a capable, independent, hard working event rider to join our team.  This person needs to have competition experience, preferably someone with upper level experience or poised to be there in the near future.

The job requires that you roll up your sleeves and help in all aspects of horsemanship, including the care and grooming of the horses, feeding and turnout, cleaning tack, help around the farm and exercising the horses.  In exchange for your competence and hard work, you will receive olympic level coaching, living quarters, board on one horse and the ability to compete at area USEA events.

Our working students also become part of our family, so come for the education, but you'll form friendships for life!

Please send us an email with detail on your riding experience, photos and perhaps a recent video of schooling or competing.  We would also appreciate several letters of recommendation.

Inquiries can be sent to missyransehousen@gmail.com 

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Missy directly at 484-576-3947.

BHF News from Ocala and Red Hills!

I spent last week in Ocala at Blue Hill Farm South taking in some quality training preparation and camaraderie with the event riders in their lead up to Red Hills International.  For everyone who has been following along on all of our posts on Facebook, it was a bit of a wild week for the Eventing crew at Blue Hill Farm.

Megan Lynn and The Natural E

As many of you know, we had a very successful weekend at Red Hills with Megan Lynn and The Natural E winning the 1* for proud owner Karen Isberg.  In addition, Madeline showed the eventing world that she and Ari are truly ready for their first go at the Rolex Kentucky 4*, which is at the end of April!  Becky and Lion also rocked around the 1* for a stellar 15th place finish as well!

Madeline and P.S. Ariana (aka Pony Knees)

Becky Joules-Cornetta and Lion Drive

Our weekend did not end as planned, with Donna Miller having a bad collision with a tree coming out of the first water on XC.  She and Salty were having a brilliant round up until that point, and we are very grateful that he galloped back to the stabling unscathed.  Donna unfortunately suffered some serious injuries which kept her in the hospital for the week, but she's tough as nails and will recover.  She should be on her way back to her farm in Georgia to recover with her recuperation.

Many thanks to all members of the Blue Hill Team, especially Missy, for sticking by Donna's side during this emergency.  It's not going to be an easy road back for Donna, but we have faith that she'll be back in the saddle and ready for more competitive adventures once she is fully healed.

Thank goodness for air vests, helmets and a swift safety team at Red Hills International.

Please visit our Facebook page for multiple media posts from Eventing Nation and the Chronicle,  plus my photo albums from the week in Ocala and Red Hills!

~  Lisa T.

Media Roundup Below.

Live Results

Megan Lynn's Chronicle article on 1* Win
Megan Lynn's EN Article on 1* Win

Madeline Wins "Who Jumped it Best" on EN!
Madeline is Rolex Bound!!

Congrats to Laurietta Oakleaf and Niekele Fan Busenitz at AGDF!!

Final CPEDI 3* of the Season Concludes at 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 

By: Carly Weilminster

Mar 12, 2017 - 7:26 PM

For Immediate Release
Kim Beaudoin for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

 Wellington, FL – March 12, 2017 – Week nine of the 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), featured CPEDI 1*/2*/3* Para Dressage, presented by Mane Stream courtesy of Rowan O’Riley, Mission Control, Adequan®, and Nutrena. Competition concluded on Sunday at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), in Wellington, FL.
The 2017 AGDF hosts seven CDI events, two CPEDI competitions, and national shows through March 25.

The Para Freestyle Test Grade II – CPEDI 3*, was won by Laurietta Oakleaf (USA) and Niekele Fan Busenitz, a 2004 Friesian stallion (Sape 381 x Wemke H x Fetse 349) owned by Oakleaf, with a 70.833%.

Commenting on her ride, Oakleaf said, “We are improving from where we were at this point last year. We are working on stretching him more forward, and his gaits are much bigger, so we’ve got to re-do our musical freestyle to fit him better. I’m very proud of him, and I’m very proud of the direction we’re headed. We are working for a spot at the 2018 World Equestrian Games so I’m hoping we can really keep moving forward.”

Oakleaf and Niekele Fan Busenitz won all three of their classes throughout the weekend. “He is a Friesian, and I tried to find something that would fit him,” said Oakleaf in regard to her musical freestyle. “We wanted something that represented his presence as a stallion, so I tried to find something with a good beat and something to keep him up and going with that beat.”

Laurietta Oakleaf and Dale Dedrick in their winning presentation with Rebecca Reno of Mission Control (left) and judge Adrienne Pot (right).

Second place in the the Para Freestyle Test Grade II – CPEDI 3* went to Dale Dedrick (USA) and her own Bardondales Ultrasuede, a 2007 Connamera Cross gelding, with 70.056%.

Other classes of the day included the Para Freestyle Test Grade I – CPEDI 3*, which was won by Robyn Andrews (CAN) and Fancianna, a 2001 Friesian x Andalusian mare owned by Andrews, with 73.500%. Charlotte Merle-Smith (USA) and Firewalker, a 2006 Westfalen gelding owned by Merle-Smith, took the winning ride in the Para Freestyle Test Grade III – CPEDI 3*, scoring 69.056%. Katie Jackson (USA) and Royal Dancer, a 2005 Westphalian gelding owned by Julia Handt, captured a win in the Para Freestyle Test Grade V – CPEDI 3* with a score of 74.458%.

Pamela Hardin (USA) and Quarterjack, a 2005 Brandenburg gelding (Quaterman x Medea ii x Rohdiamant) owned by Hardin, were victorious in the Para Freestyle Test Grade IV – CPEDI 3* with a score of 73.458%.

Placing second to Hardin in the Para Freestyle Test Grade IV – CPEDI 3* were Angela Peavy and Royal Dark Chocolate, a 2008 Oldenburg mare owned by Rebecca Reno, who scored 72.375% with their “Chocolate” themed freestyle.

Peavy and “Cocoa” were also named high point horse and rider of the weekend, with an overall score of 71.798%.

“Her canter tour is my favorite,” said Peavy of her freestyle. “She’s very elastic and flowing in the canter. We have a nice serpentine and different, exciting movements. The theme was picked to go along with her name so it suits her.”

Third place in the Para Freestyle Test Grade IV – CPEDI 3* was awarded to Eleanor Brimmer (USA) and London Swing, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding (Londonderry x St. Pr. St. Ribanna x Rubinstein I) owned by Martina and Kai Schneider, with a 65.958%.

Competition at AGDF will resume Wednesday, March 15, with the CDI 4* and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Havensafe Farm; CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corporation; and CDI 1*, presented by CaptiveOne. The week also features a National Show and the 2017 Florida International Dressage Youth Championships.

For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
Photo Credit: ©SusanJStickle. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with credit.