Our Friend Seema

As word is spreading on social media regarding the passing of our dear friend and supporter, Seema Sonnad, we want to ask everyone to remember her amazing spirit, determination and generosity to all the people who were graced by her presence.  Seema embodied philanthropic spirit and her infectious "can do" personality will forever be part of our family at Blue Hill Farm.

Our love goes out to Henry and all of Seema's extended family, which was enormous.   The entire eventing community grieves today.

Seema and Keegan at Blue Hill Farm

Fair Hill May Horse Trials

This past weekend was the Fair Hill May HT and the Blue Hill team was there in full force!  Saturday both Brigitte and Bonnie has stellar results, with Bonnie and Loki racking up another win and finishing on their dressage score of a 31.5!  Brigitte and Harper were in the Open Training D which was packed with top Pros, also finishing on their score of a 27.5 to come in 5th, wedged between Ryan, Jennie B., Phillip and Boyd!! 

I'm sorry girls that I wasn't there to get pictures on Saturday.

On Sunday, Maggie and Dante were back at it for the first time since last year's Fair Hill International.  They were having a great stadium ride but forgot that darn skinny at the end of the ring!  Woops!!  She was allowed to continue onto XC and trucked around having a really positive ride after time off.  So happy to see them back at it!!  Note the grin on Maggie's face in this photo sequence.  I dare say this is when she realized she missed the skinny before this combination :)

On Sunday Missy rode Keegan in the Prelim and this blogger was able to get down for the morning to get plenty of pictures during stadium and XC.  They had a few rails in stadium and cruised around XC in 3rd gear, accumulating a few time faults......but it was a great ride on a hot humid day.  It's just so fabulous to see Missy out there.  Thanks so much to Seema for putting Missy in the irons!!

Enjoy the photos courtesy of Lisa Thomas, Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services and property of Blue Hill Farm.

Jessica & Missy Featured in May Edition of The Chronicle's Untacked!

This month's edition of Untacked, The Chronicle's lifestyle magazine, features a wonderful article on our favorite Mother/Daughter team at Blue Hill Farm!!

Featured Photo - Lisa Thomas

Here is the login to the online version, which you can access with your subscription to The Chronicle. I want to make mention of the special Editors Note written by Kat Netzler, who many of us know personally from her lifelong support of equestrian sport.  Her forward shares insightful remarks on the special Mother and daughter relationships that Untacked has featured in this Mother's Day edition.

Many thanks go out to Mollie Bailey who authored the article on Jess and Missy.  She was wonderful in tracking down our favorite, but busy, Mother/Daughter team this winter in order to complete the interview process.  I've been a lifelong supporter of The Chronicle, and although we are all inclined to do everything online these days, there is nothing better than curling up on the couch with a copy of The Chronicle, so please renew your subscription and login to view the full article including Kat's forward!!

Adventures In Europe - Spring 2015!

Almost one month ago, Rachel Gross and Rio Rio set off for JFK with my dear friend and fellow Stoneleigh Burnham School graduate, Susan McLean (who generously donated her time and trailer)!

Missy Ransehousen and I caught up to them at Jeanette and Chris Haazen's stable in Neeroenteren, Belgium, home base for our dear friends, James Dwyer and Philippa Johnson-Dwyer. Always a good traveler, Rio settled right in to her shed-row box next to James' horses, Orlando (Ben) and his lovely mare, Fleur. 

We set off for the first competition, a CPEDI3* at Waregem, in caravan with James and Philippa in their car and trailer, followed by Missy driving our little red rented horse box. (The speed limit for trucks in Belgium is 90 k/hour, much slower than Missy has ever driven any vehicle!)

The venue at Waregem is an extensive riding school, next to a beautiful green racecourse, accommodating steeplechases and trotting races! I had never seen such an eclectic collection of horses - from schools of kids on ponies to jumpers to driving horses! The outdoor competition area was expansive and the indoor schooling area, currently more than adequate, is under construction to add even more space!

I was a little disappointed to find only three riders in my 1a classification but one of them was the Belgian National Champion and the other, a lovely little girl from Hong Kong, was coached by the very successful British coach, Clive Milliken. After a brilliant ride on the first day, Rio was consistently in a very close second place despite needing more activity in subsequent tests. We left Waregem excited about the judges' feedback regarding Rio's world class potential and determined to improve her energy and her scores!

Back in Neeroenteren, with almost a week before we had to leave for Germany, we practiced diligently but also managed day trips to Antwerp, Düsseldorf and Waterloo! We were very lucky to spend time with James and Philippa at their tiny "chalet", enjoying delicious chicken dinners and equine philosophy. Both Paralympic medal winners and competitors in able-bodied dressage and totally invested in their horse's well-being, they share a unique and professional perspective. Many thanks to Philippa, James, Jeanette and Chris for our lovely time with them!

Sadly, on Friday morning, we left our friends in Belgium for the Mai-Market Horse Show at Mannheim, Germany. Usually, CPEDI3* are fairly well-regulated because there are many competitors with a limited ability to control their horses. This is not the case at Mannheim! All levels of Para Dressage competitors warm up next to galloping jumpers and prancing dressage horses with flags snapping and loud-speakers blaring.  I have never been more grateful for Rio's phlegmatic temperament! (Thank you very much to Marion Dressel-O'Connor and Jessica Wisdom for her extensive showing background!)

The day of the Team test was cold and rainy and Rio and I earned 69.2% in a sluggish test to place fifth (behind two WEG medalists and two riders on 69.7). The German team coach kindly reassured us that we had a lovely horse and the that scores were very close. Probably the lowest point of the trip, we consoled ourselves with watching the jumper show and eating bratwurst…

Monday was a beautiful, bright and breezy day....and I didn't ride until almost 4 o'clock...way too much suspense but perfect for a brief early ride for Rio and a little shorter final warm-up. 

Thanks to Missy and Rachel's equine intuition, Rio was wonderful! Along with the advice of the coach from the Netherlands, "Ride for the fastest time!", we had a very snappy test! Still in fifth place but with a 70.1%, the improvement was spectacular! 

We were able to maintain Rio's momentum through the musical freestyle the next day to score 74% for third place behind Sara Morganti with 80% and Elke Philips with 75% (both medal winners in the Freestyle at the World Equestrian Games)!

Here is the link to Rio's Freestyle video on YouTube

There were two objectives for this trip to Europe. The first was to qualify for the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro next year and the second was to show the European judges what a good horse Rio Rio is. We have had resounding success on both counts!                      

Many thanks to Missy and Rachel for pushing me all over Belgium! And to Jessica Ransehousen for all her input last winter! And to the Blue Hill Gang and my family!

Especially this year, I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends and supporters in the community. Thank you so much for all your help in making my dream come true!

Please stay tuned in for the National Championship in Houston at the end of October and the final qualifying CPEDI3*s in Wellington next January and, of course, the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in September of 2016!

News from Gigi and our American contingent in Europe!

News from Gigi and our American contingent in Europe!  We're so excited to hear that they're all doing well, and in a call with Missy today, she said that they have analyzed the judges comments and know exactly what they need to work on to win the next competition!

We are so excited for Gigi, Rio, Missy and Rachel.  

____________________________________________

To my great friends and supporters!

Rio and I had a wonderful weekend in Waregem! We finished in second place by tenths of a percent in the 1a Team and Individual Championship Tests with 69.8% on Friday and 67.8% on Saturday. Rio's Freestyle Musical ride to the soundtrack of "The King and I" earned 71.3%! (Our first score over the 70% benchmark in Europe!) I was delighted despite finishing in second place again!

 After the prize giving ceremony we took advantage of a break to visit the American War Cemetery 'Flanders Fields', literally across the road from the show venue. This memorial to 348 Americans killed in World War I was beautifully tended with bright spring flowers relieving the stark white crosses, definitely helping us keep the day in perspective.

Missy Ransehousen, Rachel Gross, Rio and I will spend the next week back in Neeroenteren, BE, working toward higher scores in Mannheim on May first thru fifth!

Thank you so much for all your good wishes!
Gigi

Thorncroft Press Release Featuring BHF Rider Riley Garrett!

Thorncroft Equestrian Center Promotes Para-Equestrian Sport Growth

  By: Lindsay Y. McCall

Malvern, PA - April 9, 2015 - The Para-Equestrian sport works closely with many therapeutic riding programs. This partnership helps foster developing athletes and provide disabled riders a high performance sport opportunity in addition to the therapy program. A few of those therapy and education programs include Carlisle Academy in Lyman, Maine, and Thorncroft Equestrian Center in Malvern, Penn.. Therapeutic Riding Programs use horses and equine-assisted activities in order to achieve goals that enhance physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral and educational skills for people who have disabilities. It not only focuses on the therapeutic riding skills but also the development of a relationship between horse and rider. The Thorncroft Equestrian Center is a mainstreaming facility where handicapped and non-handicapped people come together to ride together, learn together and relate to one another; and within an accepting environment, foster growth in each other.

Hope Hand, Paralympian and former student at Thorncroft Equestrian Center graduated from Thorncroft Equestrian Center  and moved onto competing in able-boided Dressage competitions.

Hope Hand (right ) with U.S. Para-Dressage Chef D'Equipe Kai Handt. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall

Hope Hand (right ) with U.S. Para-Dressage Chef D'Equipe Kai Handt. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall

Her education and ability propelled Hand into high performance competition leading her to the Paralympics. Hand has since given back to the equestrian program that helped develop her as a rider by mentoring those interested in the Para-Equestrian discipline. Fourteen year-old Riley Garret is one of those athletes.

Riley with Hobbs

Garrett began riding horses when she was three year old. She started riding at Thorncroft Equestrian Center in 2012. She then became a working student and trained under Carole Laulis. Garrett explained, "I am part of the big happy Thorncroft family. Carole Laulis was my trainer and built me into everything I am today. My goal is to compete as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team in the future. Another goal of mine is to compete in Kentucky with the Junior Young Riders Team."

Garret is working hard at accomplishing those goals currently riding with Missy Ransehousen at Blue Hill Farm.

Garret added, "This is a once-in-a-life-time experience, and I would never be in this position if it wasn't for the support, guidance and love given to me at Thorncroft."

Thorncroft Equestrian Center  is continuing to be a mainstreaming facility where handicapped and non-handicapped riders work together. It is also providing an exciting avenue to those interested in competitive riding with their Para-Equestrian program.

Through therapeutic riding facilities like Thorncroft Equestrian Center, the high performance Para-Equestrian discipline can create a pipeline for future Paralympic athletes.

30th Annual Victory Gallop In Benefit of the Therapeutic Riding Programs at

Thorncroft

The 30th Annual Victory Gallop is scheduled for Saturday April 18, 2015, in support of the Therapeutic Riding Programs at Thorncroft. The Victory Gallop occurs from 6 PM-12 AM at the Hyatt at the Bellevue in Philadelphia, PA. The evening includes a black-tie dinner, dance and auction. To learn more about Thorncroft or to attend the 30th Annual Victory Gallop please visit www.thorncroft.org.

And They're Off!!

Bags are packed and Rachel and Rio Rio are ready to go!!

Susan McClean, dear friend of Gigi's from her Stoneleigh Burnham school days, picked up Rachel and Rio this morning….bound for JFK!  They will fly early tomorrow morning, and James will meet them at Jeanette Haazen's stable on Friday night.

Gigi's daughter Charlotte has her bridle shower this weekend, then Gigi flies to Europe to meet the crew on Monday.  Let the competition begin!!

Schedule:

April 23 - 26 CPEDI3* Waregem Belgium
May 1 - 4 CPEDI3*  Mannheim, Germany

We wish Gigi, Rachel and Rio the best of luck abroad and know you will make us proud!!

To our supporters back home, thank you again for all the recent donations and please continue to spread the word about fundraising on Gigi's behalf.  She has the ambition to make the team and we can help her get there!!

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