David Ziegler and Topper Make A Clean Sweep at DAD 2014!!

Now that the champagne has once again been replaced with coffee I can reflect on what a great weekend my team and I had.

The plan had always been to compete at in the Young Riders division at Devon following the NAYRC.  Jess has been very involved with Dressage at Devon since its inception (Competing, judging, commentating, and retiring Orpheus), so its a very sentimental competition to us here at Blue Hill and we are all proud to have the most prestigious CDI in our backyard.

Thursday night was our first experience in the atmospheric Dixon Oval under the lights for ring familiarization, Topper was barraged with decorations that we may or may not have made scarier by shaking (corn stalks).  That certainly set us up for competing in the ring the following day.

Friday was the Young Rider Prix St George, Topper was laying down one hell of a test until he thought he'd make it interesting and kick out in the 3 tempi's. Despite that, we still scored 67% to win he class.

Saturday we moved rings to the side Gold Ring, we rode very quietly for a fault free test to score a 71%, again taking home the blue.

Sunday was the day we were all waiting for, Freestyle test day. Topper was the last to go in the Dixon Oval, giving us his best freestyle in competition yet, dancing his way to the Sound of Music to 71.7%.

The clean sweep at Devon would not have been possible without coach extraordinaire, Jessica Ransehousen, physio Doug Hannum Equine Therapy making sure Topper had everything in him to bring us the blue (all of them!),  my sponsors Nupafeed, APF, & Icehorse, Rachel Gross for making Topper look spectacular and to everyone who came to cheer me on.

What a great way to finish my Young Rider career.

Future plans?  We're going to continue to work on the one changes, the piaffe and the passage to hopefully rise up to GP next spring!  Stay tuned..........
Check out the DAD photo album on Facebook!

Photo credits Lisa Thomas
Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services.

Gigi's Making Of A Para-Equestrian Documentary For USPEA Global Awareness!!!

Video Shoot at Blue Hill Farm

LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM AT BLUE HILL FARM
Photo Credits Pari Nurrish

Monday, July 28th started with a flurry of activity that snowballed into two days of mad cob-webbing, dusting, sweeping and mowing in anticipation of filming a short video chronicling Margaret "Gigi" McIntosh's equestrian career. Blue Hill sparkled in the crisp morning light on Wednesday when producers Cindy Connors and Julia Fisher (Live Well Network/ABC/Disney), camera man Brian Troy (also from Live Well) and his assistant, Bethany Ditnes arrived.

Quiet descended on the farm as Cindy interviewed Gigi McIntosh, Missy and Jessica Ransehousen and Mary Hazzard with the intention of documenting Gigi's long-term passion for horses and raising awareness of the Para Equestrian discipline. Cindy's direction elicited insightful discussion of the financial challenges facing Paralympic hopefuls.

An exceptionally beautifully turned-out Rio Rio had her moment in the spotlight with both Gigi and Rachel Gross as Missy and Jessica trained them for the cameras!

DAY TWO - BLUE HILL FARM & CHESTERLAND

Setting Up With Bruce at Chesterland

Visitors On The Set!

LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM AT CHESTERLAND
Photo Credits Lisa Thomas, Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Svcs.

The second day of shooting began back at Blue Hill Farm with Brian McIntosh's interview and Hobbs' Rose Garden press conference, continuing onward to Bruce Davidson's Chesterland Farm, just over the hill.  Bruce's film set included a panoramic view of Chester County hunt country and a herd of very curious young home bred Chesterland horses! Jan Smith, Hobbs' owner and long time young horse manager at Chesterland, had the last word in shepherding the herd! Thankfully, Brian Troy's camera equipment survived the Unionville safari!

We are looking forward to the great Premiere of this fabulous video documentary sometime in late September! Until then, please enjoy the two days chronicled in pictures, provided by Pari Nurrish (Blue Hill Farm) and Lisa Thomas (Chesterland)!

Many thanks to the Blue Hill and Chesterland support staff for their hard work and Blue Hill boarders for nobly suffering the disruption!

Update From Brigitte and Harper!

Brigitte and Harper Schooling at Windurra USA

While David, BG and Topper bask in the glory of Young Riders, the crew back at BHF have been hard at work developing their own future event horses!  Brigitte has been kind enough to send along an update on her green horse Harper, who came to Blue Hill last fall.  They are making quick progress and I was able to capture some of their developing jumping skills at Boyd and Silva's jumper just show a few weeks ago. 

Here's a link to the photo album on Facebook.

"Harper and I  have completed multiple Novice Horse Trials and schooling trials since the spring season has started. He has always been in the top 5 after dressage with scores no higher than 36.0.
I'm super excited to see how he progresses at each show. I feel like each time we go out, he gets more and more settled and figures out his job quicker and quicker.

Our next few shows consist of Fair Hill and the New Jersey Horse Park, where we will remain in the Novice division. We are striving to become very competitive at the novice level before moving up to training by early fall.

He has grown up A TON since I got him in September 2013.  At 5 years old, he already knows more than enough to be super competitive at Novice and Training, producing a very steady and consistent dressage test and jumping around stadium and cross country with no problems.   If all goes well and he's still gaining confidence, our near term goal is to progress well and aim to compete at the Waradaca 3 Day Event!" 

Photo Credits Lisa Thomas
Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services

Support the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ U.S. Para-Dressage Team!

Support the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ U.S. Para-Dressage Team with a Tax-Deductible Donation


Press Release by: Lindsay Y. McCall
Photographs Copyright SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ - June 27, 2014- On June 6, 2014, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) named the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team. The top four ranked horse-and-athlete combinations will serve as the Team and the fifth ranked combination will serve as the self-funded Individual.

The costs to travel to Normandy, France for the U.S. Para-Dressage Team are considerable. The United States Para-Equestrian Association 501(C)(3) (USPEA) has created a tax-deductible fund to support the U.S. Para-Dressage Team headed to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. These funds will be used for travel for the riders, grooms and trainers. Those travel expenses include airfare, trains, rental cars, vans, etc. 

As a USEF International Discipline Association, the USPEA 501(c)(3), supports the entire Para-Equestrian discipline including each individual athlete. The USPEA is excited for one of the best U.S. Para-Dressage Teams in history to head to an international games. To support the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team with a Tax-Deductible donation please click this link or USPEA link below.
 

 CLICK HERE TO DONATE
 

2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™
U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team

Rebecca Hart (Unionville, Pa.) and her own Schroeter's Romani.
Schroeter's Romani is a 2003 Danish Warmblood mare.

Roxanne Trunnell (Rowlett, Texas) and her own Nice Touch.
Nice Touch is a 1995 Dutch Warmblood mare.

Sydney Collier (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Willi Wesley, owned by Victoria Dugan
Willi Wesley is a 2000 Warmblood gelding.

Susan Treabess (Winters, Calif.) and Kathryn Hill's Kamiakin.
Kamiakin is a 2005 PRE stallion.

2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™
U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Individual

Angela Peavy (Avon, Conn.) and Rebecca Reno's Lancelot Warrior.
Lancelot Warrior is a 2002 Hanoverian gelding.
 

A Big Congrats to David and Topper on Making The Team for NAJYR!!!

The Dressage Canada Youth High Performance Committee and Dressage Selection Panel announced the selected athletes who will represent Canada at the 2014 North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, held July 15-20, 2014 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
Three teams, for a total of 11 competitors, have been named to represent Canada at the Junior Rider level.
Young Rider Team British Columbia / Alberta / Manitoba will include the following athletes

• Amy Wellburn - Cape Town
• David Ziegle - Peninsula Top Man
• Nachelle Forde -  Sir Elton

The chef d'équipes for the 2014 North American Junior, Young Rider Championships will again be Leslie Steele of Pitt Meadows, BC and Ellen Rumball of Hillsburgh, ON. Steele and Rumball will be assisted on site by shadow chef's Alison Brebner of Osgoode, ON, and Nina Urff of Langley, BC.

FULL ARTICLE!

Focusing On The Positive!!

While there has been some recent disappointment at Blue Hill Farm, with Gigi's grade classification as it pertains to the Selection Trials, we want to point out the importance of the achievements that were reached by our girls (Becca, Gigi, Missy, Rachel, Alex, etc) during their stellar performances at Gladstone!!  It's pretty impressive to think that they've produced a National Champion and Reserve National Champion through consistent training, determination and the loyal support of such an amazing team of owners, riders and staff members at Blue Hill Farm.  It's a pretty special place!
Kudos to all!!

Rebecca Hart Earns Sixth USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and Margaret Mcintosh Takes Home Reserve U.S. Para-Dressage 2014 World Equestrian Games Selection Trial Rankings are in Press Release by: Lindsay Y. McCall Photographs Copyright SusanJStickle.com   Gladstone, NJ- June 5, 2014- For the sixth time in history Grade II Para-Dressage rider from Unionville, Penn., Rebecca Hart, took home the 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Rebecca Hart (Grade II) earned the 2014 USEF National Championship with Shroeter’s Romani, (Danish Warmblood) , owned by Rebecca Hart in conjunction with Margaret Duprey, Cherry Knoll Farm, Sycamore Station Equine Division, Barbara Summer, The Ruffolo’s, and Will and Sandy Kimmel. Photo copyright SusanJStickle.com. Photo is taken in Gladstone, NJ at  the 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship/ Selection Trial for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG). Dressage National Championship. Hart rode the Danish Warmblood Shroeter’s Romani to the victory. Schroeter’s Romani is owned by Rebecca Hart in conjunction with Margaret Duprey, Cherry Knoll Farm, Sycamore Station Equine Division, Barbara Summer, The Ruffolo’s, and Will and Sandy Kimmel. Earning the Reserve Championship was Grade Ia rider Margaret McIntosh and her own Rio Rio (Rheinland Pfalz-saar). The 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship/ Selection Trial for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) was one of the most competitive Championships/ Trials in Para-Dressage history. Para-Equestrians from around the U.S. traveled to Hamilton Farm at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, for their chance to earn a spot on the U.S. WEG Team and achieve top national rankings. The June 2-5, National Championship/ Trials ground jury included President Kristi Wysocki (4*) USA, Adrienne Pot (3*) USA, and David Schmutz (4*) USA. Behind Reserve Champion Margaret McIntosh obtaining third place was Grade Ia athlete Roxanne Trunnell and her own Nice Touch. Fourth place overall went to Young Rider Sydney Collier and the Mecklenburg NTEC Cuplee, owned by Patricia Mendenhall. Fifth place overall was earned by 2010 WEG athlete Susan Treabess and the PRE Stallion Kamiakin, owned by Scott and Katie Hill and the sixth place accolade went to Angela Peavy and the Hannoverian Lancelot Warrior,owned by Rebecca Reno. The awards ceremony named the top horse/rider combinations in each of the five Grades in addition to the top horse/rider combinations selected for the long list for the U.S. Para-Dressage WEG Team. Also included in the final accolades was the Sportsmanship Trophy. The Sportsmanship Trophy was awarded to Marsha Cullen. The Sportsmanship Trophy is a Perpetual Trophy awarded to a Para-Dressage Athlete competing at the National Championship who best personifies the high standards and virtues of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, courage, team spirit, good temper and unselfishness. Cullen was presented with a take-home trophy during the final awards ceremony. Top U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage athletes (Left to Right) Sydney Collier, Angela Peavy, Ashleigh Flores-Simmons, Susan Treabess, Rebecca Hart, Roxanne Trunnell with U.S. Technical Advisor/ Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt. Photo copyright SusanJStickle.com. Photo is taken in Gladstone, NJ at  the 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship/ Selection Trial for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG). Margaret McIntosh and Rio Rio (Rheinland Pfalz-saar International), owned by Margaret McIntosh earned the USEF Reserve National Championship.

Do You Know Carli McGinley?

NAME: Carli McGinley
Working Student With BHF Since December 2013
Discipline - Eventing
Horses - Searching for a new partner in crime

Photo credit to Xpressfoto
Hagyard Midsouth CCI* 2012

Carli is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and developed a passion for eventing as a kid, riding and competing anything and everything she could get her hands on. She started her eventing career on a 13.2 feisty Arab mare that she competed through training level.

Since then Carli has mostly ridden OTTB's and really loves working with them and bringing them along. She spent a summer at a training track galloping racehorses, learning how they tick and gaining invaluable experience.

Carli came to MIssy and Jess' after working for Stephen Bradley in Va, with the goal to work on her dressage. She brought along Kaiser, with whom she has had had a long and successful career with, including being 2012 USEF JR/YR CCI* National Champions. Missy helped her solidify her riding partnership with him, ultimately making the decision to retire Kaiser from upper level eventing. He is now very happy in his new home where he will run around beginner novice and novice with ease.

Carli is currently looking for her next partner...Probably an OTTB with a lot of personality and willingness to jump! Carli believes that Blue Hill is a great fit for her and feels like part of a huge family, and BHF is very happy to have her!!

Photo credit to Xpressfoto
Hagyard Midsouth CCI* 2012
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