Salute To Champions at Willowdale!

Photo Credits Jim Graham

It was a beautiful day yesterday at the Willowdale races, with the weather God's shining upon us!  There was a packed field in attendance to enjoy a day of racing, tailgating, shopping and spectating.  The USEF generously helped sponsor the "Salute To Champions", which honored local Olympians & Medal winners who have represented our country over the years.

Photo Credits Jim Graham

In attendance for the procession were several area equestrians including our own Jessica Ransehousen, Donnan Sharp Jones, Jane Sleeper, Bruce Davidson, Tod Flettrich and Michael Matz.  They were paraded onto the course by the lovely 4 in hand driven by Mike Gracie, and each of the participants was honored with an introduction.  Later they all came up to the USEF tent to sign autographs for fans of all ages.

Many thanks go out to Jessica for participating in the celebration.  Here are some wonderful photos taken by infamous area photographer Jim Graham.  Enjoy the slideshow!

Direct Link to Slideshow
Photo Credits Jim Graham (Thank you!!)

Back from Belgium!

Orlando and Ben left the U.S. the 18^th of March and James followed on an overnight flight landing in Amsterdam on Monday morning.  James rented a car and drove directly to Stal De Swart about one and half hours from the Amsterdam airport.  Ben arrived that afternoon and looked wonderful after the excellent flight and drive from the airport.  His good form was a direct result of the wonderful care and planning of our flight agents James Luck in the UK and Paul Weygand at Mersant in N.Y.

We can’t say an enough about the kindness and care our hosts in Holland gave us.  Jos and Thea De Swart fed us each day and supplied us with their van and trailer for our long trip to Normandy.  Eight and one half hours we drove to Deauville. Deauville is only about 12km from Caen where the next WEG will be held.  The centre of Deauville has many beautiful multi-colored half timbered houses and very nice restaurants.

The show-grounds were close enough to our hotel that our wonderful groom, Emily Walkup, could walk to the stable.  The show offered us the chance to start a good relationship with the Coach and  Chef d’ Equipe of the Irish Team.  Donie and Dara were wonderful, including us at all times, in their midst.  All together, there were nine Irish riders.  

With the stress of the very long trip and being surrounded by many good grade IV riders from 14 nations, James struggled during those 3 competition days.  The Individual test was his best score at 68.26% and we left Deauville determined to practice hard and prepare better for the next show in Moorsele, Belgium.

On our return to Holland we realized Jos was very busy preparing for a horse and pony jumper show over the Easter weekend.  What a busy place with many of the nearby riders coming in to practice before the show began.  One of the riders invited us to trailer Ben to his beautiful facility, Swanenberg, with four 20x60 well cared for dressage arenas.  We were thrilled because we were able to trailer over there every the day and seriously prepare for our next show.  Moorsele was only three and one half hours from Stal De Swart.

We had a fun reunion with the Irish riders! Somehow the Irish have a wonderful way to laugh and enjoy each other and lighten-up the surroundings!  

James, from the very start of the competition, was concentrating better and began with a good score of 67.68% in the Team Test.  The Individual Test was even better with a 68.25%.  He placed sixth and made the Championship section of the Freestyle.  There were 20 riders in the Grade IV division and James rode a really good Freestyle and finished 3^rd with a 72%.

The best part of this whole trip was the good feeling we got that the judges rewarded James when he rode so well and his score help the Irish Team to place 2^nd in Moorsele.  This show had 78 riders from 19 nations and so we left Moorsele feeling satisfied.

We are now at home; Ben looks really well out in pasture happily grazing.

We miss our wonderful friends, Jos and Thea and our many cozy lunches and dinners with them.  Thank you to everyone who made this trip such a wonderful & successful experience!

Updates From The Hill!

Photo Credit Alex Ruane

It's transition time for the crew at BHF, with James & Jess traveling to Europe and the eventing crew and Missy coming home from Florida.  There's also been some changes with the working students at BHF and we'd like to wish Jess Brumfield the best of luck with her move to work with Mrs. Mars down in Virginia!
Jess came to us in 2006, and during her tenure evented up through Intermediate and achieved her USDF bronze and silver medals.  We'll miss you Jess!

David Ziegler joined the working student team several months ago & has been a wonderful addition to the  team.  David is originally from Canada, but spent several winters down in Ocala, where he began training with Missy.  He saw such great improvement in his riding that he decided, upon graduating from high school, that he would continue his education with BHF!  Check out his bio on our website.

Sadly, BG came up lame after his last spectacular performance at Popler, and it saddens me to announce that Missy has had to withdraw from Rolex.  BG will be taking a few months off while his hamstring heals, and then Missy will regroup and make decisions about his training schedule.

On a very positive note, Missy attended a fundraising dinner for Thorncroft last month and she was awarded the Human Spirit Award.  I'm waiting for details from Thorncroft on the presentation, but we're very proud of Missy and all her contributions to the para community.  No one deserves this more!!

Safe riding everyone!  LT

Coverage from Eventing Nation!

Advanced XC Poplar Place

By Samantha L Clark on March 24, 2012 8:02 PM, Filed Under SamanthaLClark.com

Missy Ransehousen relinquished her lead in Advanced B with a stack of time faults on the experienced Critical Decision, but must be pleased with their round which should set them up perfectly for The Fork, and then hopefully on to Rolex where I'm sure she'll let the handbrake off! More coming from Missy later!!

James, Europe & Zoo Animals?!

James and His New 3* Mount!

James and Ben are off to Holland to join his fellow irish riders and to show the Europeans what he's got!  He will be doing a tour of Europe over the next several weeks to show the  Irish team selectors & the olympic judges that he is a prime candidate for the Irish Olympic team!!  He's been joined by the exceptional team of Jessica and Emily Walkup.

Emily the Circus Trainer!

The barn Ben is staying at is located near Amsterdam and owned by Jos De Swart, who is also the owner of Molen Koning (which means Walker King),  which provides horse walkers and stalls.  They have quite the menagerie of animals on the farm including donkeys, a zebra, monkeys & and several camels!  With all these distractions, Ben has settled in nicely & James has had 2 great warm up rides on their beautiful arena with felt footing.

James and Ben Schooling

They will be shipping to Deauville, France for the Grade IV para test where he will be doing the individual, freestyle & team test.  James has been selected to ride on the team for the first show in France which we interpret as a great show of confidence.  The jog is on the 27th and the competition directly thereafter.  Then they ship back to Holland on 4/1 & will stay at farm until 4/9 when they leave for Marseille in Belgium.

Jess will fly back to the states on the 16th, and Ben, Emily & James fly back on 18th.  Stay tuned for updates and results!!  Enjoy the Photo Slide Show!

Tour of the Olympic Village

Olympic Stadium

As part of the pre-Olympic preparation for the Para team, Missy joined other chef d'equipes for all the summer athletic programs over in London on 3/12!  The purpose of this trip was specifically to tour the Olympic village to see where the athletes are going to be living & the logistics of negotiating the Olympic campus.

Olympic Housing

It's fascinating to look at these photos, which give perspective on the enormous amount of construction and preparation that has been underway since 2005 to ready London for this great event!  The London Olympics commence on July 27th and run until August 12th, with the Paralympics starting on August 29th and running until September 9th.

To find out more information about the Olympics and ticket sales, please go to their website & register!

Enjoy the Full Slideshow!

US Para Team Qualifies for the Olympics!

We at Blue Hill Farm are very excited that our US Para Team improved so much from one CEPDI to the next, that we not only won over the strong Canadian Team, we were able to make 425 points and qualify internationally for the Para Olympics! The qualifying period closed Jan. 31 st. And the US Para Team is lying 5 th out of the 11 teams qualified for the Para Olympics!!!

We are also proud of our James Dwyer, who won all his 6 classes in the CEPDI 4*s in Wellington,Florida!!!  His Irish Team is lying 8 th out of 11qualified teams!! So, now he will work toward making the Irish Para Olympic Team!

Best,

Jessica

Read the US Para Press Release on the Olympic Qualifying Teams.