Puppies, Ponies & Winter Plans!

Fall Colors at BHF!

It was great to get back down to BHF yesterday for a visit with Missy, Jessica and the whole crew!  When I arrived Jess was just getting off of schooling Ben while James has gone on holiday back to Ireland.

All the working students (Rachel & Jess) were busy prepping horses to be ridden, or in my case, to be groomed for the camera.  It was nice to see a new face in the crowd, David, BHF's new working student from Canada.  David will be traveling with Missy down to Ocala when she leaves in December.

Handsome Ike!

I was also able to catch up with Steph who is recovering well from surgery after a bad break in her leg last month.  All the staples have been removed & she's a few weeks off from being able to walk with crutches. Keep up the great attitude & get well soon because everyone at the barn misses you!!!

Onto some important business matters:

1.  Winter Boarding Opportunites:
During the winter months of February & March there will be a few stalls available for individuals who are looking to continue their winter training in our indoor.  Please contact BHF for rates.

2.  Christmas Puppies!
Burghley and Bailey have produced another beautiful litter of puppies, who will be ready to go by Christmas.  There are 2 black & tan boys (out of a little of 5) who need homes.  The 3 girls have already been claimed (1 by this blog writer), but the chunky little men are still available......so why not give the best Xmas present on the planet!!!

Adorable Puppies!

3.  Schedule you lessons with Missy while she's still in town, it's countdown to Florida!

I've included a slideshow of pictures from yesterday's visit featuring scenes from BHF of colors, puppies, the new competition horses & Seema's new pony.    Enjoy the slideshow & safe riding!  LT

New Sales Horse - Cole

Cole - 2005 15.2h Bay TB cross gelding.

Cole is as cute and quiet as you could want, scoring a 29.5 in the dressage at his first outing in July.
He is easy to hack out alone or in company and has yet to spook at anything, including deer jumping out of the bushes. He has super ground manners, is very easy going with a cute jump and is game without getting fast or excited. Cole is the perfect horse for a kid, junior or small adult who wants to do a bit of everything while being safe, competitive and having fun!

Picture Slideshow of Cole 

Video 

Para At Saugerties & Upcoming Events

Rachel, Jess & James at Saugerties CPEDI 3*
Photo Credit Lindsay Yosay McCall

As always, Blue Hill Farm has been hopping with a busy balance between horses here on training board, students attending dressage and eventing competitions and the Para riders traveling to Saugerties.

This past month Missy and Jess went up to the Horse Park of Nj, where Missy won her 3rd level test on BG, Jess won her 2nd level test on Hugh Knows and Rachel won her 3rd level test on Taldi!  Not bad for a day's work.  Steph also ran Dylan at Plantation Field International in the 1* with a solid dressage test and a double clean XC,  which put them in 8th going into stadium.  Dylan had a bit of a blonde moment coming around the corner to the 2nd which cost them 4 points & time penalties, but they still finished in a respectable 16th place (without touching a rail).  Steph & Dylan were also awarded the Top Conditioned award presented by Dr. Peter Blauner!!  Slideshow below.




The weekend of the 15th took the Para riders up to the  CPEDI 3* at Saugerties, which was held alongside CDI3* & National Championships.  James had a huge weekend, winning all 3 of his Grade 4 classes with a 73% in the Freestyle, a 69% in his Individual test and a 69 in the team test.  The event also awarded him for the overall best score as well!

Photo Credit Lindsay Yosay McCall

The girls also had a great weekend with Becca taking 3rd on her team test with a score of 65, and winning her Freestyle Grade 2 on Saturday with a 72% and Elizabeth was 4th on Whitney’s Willow with a 65%.  On the last day grade 2 Individual test -  Becca was 2nd & Elizabeth was 4th.  Becca, Elizabeth and Margaret MacIntosh rode the Grade 2 Championship Test (same test used at international events) & the Freestyle, which Becca won.  Elizabeth & Gigi both came in 2nd in those two divisions.  

The US Para riders also had a fabulous weekend.  This was a team qualifier for the US team, with 26 riders from US, Canada, Ireland, Mexico & Bermuda.  The US team won with great contributions from our BHF para riders in the National Championships with Becca placing 3rd & Elizabeth placing 10th.  On a strategic level our team had the opp to get in front of 3 international judges who were judging at the European Championships in Belgium, so the mindset was tough and they weren’t giving away any marks!

Here's what's on the calendar for our year end events!

Morven Park -  Steph on Dillan Prelim & Jeff Kibbie on Loki Intermediate

Loch Moi - Rachel on Cole in the Novice & Madison on Sophia Prelim 

Fair Hill - Jeff 2*

Va Horse Trials -  Madison/Sophie & Steph/Dillon aiming for Intermediate

GAG Finals down at the Horse Park of Va - 3rd Level

James on Ben Open Pre St George & third level

Jess is riding Hugh Knows - 2nd Level


Missy has also agreed to do the course walk for Radnor Hunt Horse Trials on Friday, Oct. 7th
at 5pm at the start box.  Come out & join us!!

Great Para Article Compliments of DressageDaily.com!

USPEA Acknowledges NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage For Hosting the 2011 USEF National Championship and CPEDI3*

Submitted on 09/27/2011 to 

• Para Dressage

Written by Lindsay McCall for the USPEA

Ramp at Saugerties, NY Facility donated by IVY Tock Farms & R+S Country Living will benefit Para-Equestrians like Donna Ponessa and Otto (Photo: Lindsay McCall)

Saugerties, NY - From the minute an equestrian, family member, spectator, or sponsor stepped onto the grounds of the 2011 NEDA (New England Dressage Association) Fall Festival of Dressage they were met with smiling faces and attentive staff. It was a week of new faces at the Fall Festival of Dressagewhen the 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3* event was included in the program and the weekend could not have run smoother. From the ramp donation from Ivy Rock Farms and R+S Country Living to the numerous rider awards to compete for, NEDA went above and beyond for the Para-Equestrians. The United States Para-Equestrian Association would like to thank NEDA and their volunteers for all of their enthusiasm and hard work at the Fall Festival of Dressage in Saugerties, NY September 15-18, 2011.

At 8:00 a.m. each morning the four judges, Anne Prain of France, Kjell Myhre of Norway, and Carlos Lopes of Portugal sat with the scribes watching as the first Para-Equestrian entered the ring each day. Over three day's of competition the Para-Equestrian ring moved flawlessly.

At the end of the week the presentations were made for both the 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and the top performers in the CPEDI3*. NEDA worked hard to make each ribbon ceremony special for the riders and the spectators.

Many Para-Equestrians earned awards during the Fall Festival of Dressage that were unexpected and generous.  fter the jog, Jonathan Wentz and Rebecca Hart both from the United States were presented with awards for the Best Dressed Jogger at the FEI Jog. Each rider received $100 gift certificates compliments of SHO CLOTHES. Winner of the 2011 Trilogy Best Seat Forward award was Wendy Fryke during the weekend events. James Dwyer of Ireland was given a $50 cash award for the highest CPEDI Freestyle donated by Elaine Donogue and unexpected was the Best Foot Forward Award donated by Draper Equine Therapies. The award was presented to trainer Sabine Rijssenbeek for promoting a positive attitude even when no one was watching. Rijssenbeek is not only an international instructor and competitor but she is the trainer of Para-Equestrian Eleanor Brimmer of the U.S.A.

Just outside the FEI barn, was a new structure which was provided by Ivy Rock Farms & R + S Country Living. The brand new ramp was created for equestrians that may need to drive a wheel chair to the top of the ramp to mount their horse or it may be used for a rider that needs assistance getting to the level of their horse.  Many Para-Equestrians were grateful for the ramp that now stands as a permanent structure. This ramp will help encourage more Para-Equestrian events, clinics, and international competitions.

The USPEA truly wanted to thank each and every sponsor who donated awards and made the Fall Festival of Dressage possible including NEDA, USEF, the judges, stewards, and many staff members. The largest group of smiling faces at the horse show was the volunteers. When an announcement came over the loudspeaker that runners were needed in the dressage rings, riders, friends, and dressage enthusiasts stepped forward and provided that assistance. It is volunteers like the ones at NEDA who make an event as prestigious as this one, an event to remember.

As the 2011 season comes to a close, the USPEA thanks each competition venue for their assistance in providing facilities that help encourage growth of this international discipline. Within three years the number of Para-Equestrian competitors has tripled due to the support of organizations like NEDA, USEF, Lamplight Equestrian Center, Keenan Productions & Events, and many other associations.

Para-Equestrian Training Session To Be Held November 5-6, 2011

RELEASE: September 26, 2011

AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Helen Murray

Lexington, KY- Para-Equestrian dressage athletes will have the unique opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of renowned dressage competitor and trainer Robert Dover November 5-6, 2011.

The four-time Olympic Bronze medalist will conduct a Para Equestrian Dressage Training Session along with U.S. Para-Equestrian National Team coach, Missy Ransehousen, at the USET Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ.

Eight riders will be invited to participate in the training session; riders from all five Para-Equestrian Grades are encouraged to apply. Applications should be returned by October 7, 2011.

This Training Session will give horse-and-rider combinations a chance to fine-tune their skills in preparation for the 2012 season. This is a season in which the U.S. will be trying to secure Team and Individual qualifications for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

"We are very excited to have Robert's assistance," said Pam Lane, USEF International High Performance Director of Para-Equestrian and Vaulting. "We are aiming to qualify a Team and Individuals for the 2012 Paralympics and his expertise will be invaluable."

Applications for the Para Equestrian Dressage Training Session can be found at
http://usef.org/documents/highperformance/paralympic/2011ParaDressageTraining.pdf.

For more information about the USEF Para-Equestrian program visit;http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allparaequestrian/hpparaEquestrian.aspx.

A Long Overdue Thank You to BHF!

So, this blogger is long overdue for publishing my BIG THANK YOU to the whole crew at BHF.  The real reason for the delay is that I wanted Amy Dragoo to give me her blessing that I could publish this great series of photos that she took at Plantation Field, at the Weldon Wall, which seemed to have me quite intimidated!  Note the huge smile after landing!!

Rhythm, otherwise known as "Fatty" in the barn, went to Missy and crew for a little bootcamp & a solid 2 weeks on the muzzle, so he could live down his nickname.  He finished up his bootcamp with a szvelt new body and a 2nd at Plantation in the Training Division.  Our consistency in training has gone back to watching my daughter ride around in circles on her 12h pony, but we do try to throw in a good dressage & stadium school at least once a week.

The whole crew at BHF is just the tops!  The girls all work so hard, and the karma at that barn between Missy, Jess and clients is 2nd to none!  I only wish that we could have stayed longer, but there will be opportunities in the near future.  I'm really looking forward to the beginning of the school year, when my kids get on the bus at 8am & I get to hit the road to Unionville again!  Yeeeehaaaaa!  LT

News from Hartpury

James, pictured here with fellow Irish team mates, Rosemary Gaffney(sitting) and Angela Lyons(Standing) both Grade IV riders.  The other photo is the whole team with Team Trainer Donie McNamara and their Chef, Naomi Donoghue.

Fresh off his return from the CPEDI3* at Hartpury College, England, James has sent the following update:

"It was very successful trip for myself and the Irish team with 10 teams competing and nearly 70 riders in total at the show. (www.hartpury.ac.uk/dressage).  My team from Ireland had 9 riders there, and I rode on the team along side Rosemary Gaffney (Grade IV), Eilish Byrne (Grade II), Helen Kearney (Grade IA).  As a team we were 2nd to Great Britain and Canada was 3rd.

Wed July 13th was the team test where I was the first of the Irish riders to go in the morning and 3rd of the Grade IV riders to enter the ring.  I scored a 68.21%, which kept me in the lead until the last rider (who was my team mate Rosemary) scored a 68.37%!  The final result for  the Grade IV team test put Ireland in first and second, with the Sophie Wells, the WEG  Gold medalist placing 3rd.

On Thursday evening the 14th the table turned in the Grade IV Individual Championship test.  I rode at 8:06pm and made some mistakes which put me in 3rd place with a 67.26%,  Rosemary took 2nd and Sophie came out on top.  Friday July 15th was the Freestyle test, where we rode late again.  Sophie Wells won with a 73.2% and I was 2nd with 71.2% and Rosemary was 3rd with a 71.1%.

Overall it was a very successful show where I had the opportunity to ride with my country's home team and to get in front of our coaching team.  In the early fall I hope to travel to Saugerties, NY for CPEDI3*, September 15th to 18th."

This coming weekend Missy, Becca, Elizabeth, Jess Brumfield and Rachel Gross are traveling to Morven Park for the Summer Fling dressage show!