County Saddlery - Customizing the Perfect Fit!

Wednesday we were thrilled that the whole team from County Saddlery at Blue Hill Farm fitting Missy's new horse Wiley, and several of our students and clients.  Gene Freeze, owner of County Saddlery, came with our Pennsylvania rep, Patti Gillen, and her saddle fitting assistant Heather Hunter.  It was an educational day having Gene, who is a master saddle fitter, show us the bio-mechanics of saddle fitting on Wylie, Ari, Loki and Rio Rio!

Gene Freeze analyzing the saddle fit on Wylie

 Gene's professional life has been dedicated to the art of saddle fitting.  He introduced the County Saddle line at the 1978 world championships, and since then his passion has been educating equestrians on the importance of saddle fit and performance.  

Sidelines ran a very interesting article recently on Gene's impressive riding background, his resume and his involvement in many aspects of equestrian industry.  He has always been very analytical and a huge proponent of studying the bio-mechanics of saddle fit in sport horses and how that effects soundness and performance.
 

“We’ve tried every material in the world, from synthetic to natural,” said Gene. “Although we could make saddles cheaper and faster using high-tech materials, we simply can’t get the results we want. We resisted the trend toward synthetic pre-formed panels, because they can’t conform to the horse’s back and when you need to, you can’t adjust them. For that reason, we use laminated beech wood trees and pure wool flock. Horses’ backs come in many shapes, and they go through changes as a result of training, food, injury, age, weight gain and loss. Off the rack and on the back or one size fits all is unrealistic and pads don’t solve the problems.

"Gene suggests having the fit and flocking checked once or twice a year by one of County’s experienced representatives or a qualified saddle fitter. The good news is that, when needed, a relatively inexpensive adjustment can be made. As for using a tool to open or close the head (pommel) to make it narrower or wider, County Saddlery doesn’t follow that practice.

"Saddle design became Gene’s passion. He belongs to the British Society of Master Saddlers and serves as president and chief instructor for the Masters Saddlers Association in the U.S. His presentations to veterinarians and horse owners, scheduled around the world, receive excellent feedback."

Team County with Missy and Wiley

County has had a long relationship with Blue Hill Farm, originally sponsoring Jessica several decades ago.  Jess is so enthralled with her older County Saddle, that she requested Gene just have it re-flocked when he offered to replace the saddle.  Their saddles are that good......and they withstand the test of time! 

We are so thankful to County for being so hands on in creating the perfect fit for all of our horses.  Missy is excited to get her new custom Solution Monoflap.  Since this is County's newest product on the market, Gene has taken the time to evaluate several flaps and tree sizes to create just the perfect show jumping and cross country saddle for Missy.  We are so grateful for the time and expertise of his entire team at County;  Patti Gillen (together with the help of Heather Hunter) has been exceptional in her customer service and responsiveness to all of our needs.

Missy and Wylie Testing Out One of the County Saddles

Madeline Tackles Her First 3* With Amazing Success!

Last weekend was a roller coaster of emotions for the team at BHF.  Madeline was competing at Jersey Fresh with Missy at her side, and from a trainer's perspective, Missy could not have been any prouder of Madeline's continual show of class and resilience.  Continuing to compete during an extremely sad and stressful weekend was quite an accomplishment in itself, and Madeline impressed us all with her resilience and composure.  Madeline and Ari finished the weekend 13th in a very tough 3* division and she was also awarded the 3* YR award.

Madeline exemplifies hardwork, sportsmanship and dedication at all times, both at Blue Hill Farm and at the competitions.  We are so proud of her accomplishments!

We stole this quote from her FB page :)

"So excited to have completed our first CCI3* at @jerseyfreshintl! Ari and I also won the best turned out award for jog outs, and the 3* young rider award! I wouldn't have been able to do it without the wonderful support team I have. Thanks to Missy Ransehousen for wonderful coaching, Laura Backus for flying in to help and be there for me, and for so many others who either came and helped or cheered me on from afar. I am truly grateful and lucky to be doing what I love. ‪#‎rideforphillipa‬ ‪#‎drapertherapies‬ ‪#‎majykequipe‬ ‪#‎actistatinequine‬ ‪#‎glcdirect‬ ‪#‎mangobaydesign‬""

Rio Rio's Count Down to Rio!!

Rio and I will be showing on Saturday, May 28 at he ESDCTA Dressage Show at the Horse Park of New Jersey, Allentown, NJ.  Rio looks great and thanks to Missy's hard work this winter, is going better than ever! 

Please come out to watch on Saturday May 28th for our "dress rehearsal" for the Paralympic Selection Trials! I will post my ride times as soon as they become available!
 

We leave early on Sunday morning, May 29, for the Waterloo Hunt Club in Grass Lake, Michigan where The final selection trial runs from June 2-5th for September's Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro! The team will be named shortly after the competition ends.
 

Thank you so much for your encouragement and enthusiasm for getting "Rio to Rio"! I look forward to seeing you in New Jersey!

Horse Radio Network Features Equestrians Margaret McIntosh and Katie Jackson

Jupiter, FL -April 5, 2016- Horse Radio Network's once-a-month Para-Equestrian Show featured equestrians Margaret McIntosh and Katie Jackson with hosts Lindsay McCall and Regina Cristo.

To listen to episode #357 please visit: http://www.horseradionetwork.com/2016/04/03/dressage-radio-episode-357-by-uspea-getting-ready-for-selection-trials-and-a-newcomer-preps-for-nationals/

Margaret McIntosh and Rio Rio. Photo (c) Lindsay Y. McCall  

Once a month the Dressage Radio Show becomes the Para-Equestrian Show Hosted by Lindsay McCall, of the United States Para-Equestrian Association, focusing on Lindsay Yosay McCallinternational FEI discipline Para-Dressage. Although Para-Dressage is the main event, listeners have the opportunity to learn more about the skillful U.S. Para-Driving Team, the Para-Reining discipline, Para-Vaulting, and the future of Para-Jumping. The para-equestrian dressage show will feature a line-up of guests including olympians, paralympians, trainers, coaches, professionals, amateur riders, young riders, and equine enthusiasts. The intention of the radio show is to educate, inform, and entertain listeners on the para-equestrian Dressage discipline.

To learn more about the USPEA please visit www.USPEA.org or e-mail President Hope Hand at hope@uspea.org. You may also e-mail the host of the para-equestrian segment Lindsay McCall at Lindsay@uspea.org.

To learn more about the Horse Radio Network visit www.horseradionetwork.com or to contact Glenn the Geek go to http://www.horseradionetwork.com/contact/ or leave a voicemail at 270-803-0025.

About Margaret (Gigi) McIntosh:

Margaret McIntosh broke her neck in the spring of 1999 while riding in an event, resulting in incomplete quadriplegia. Initially paralyzed from the chest down, she is eternally grateful for having the opportunity to regain her mobility.

McIntosh had extensive riding experience before her accident: 1970-1976 Working student for May and Denny Emerson; 1976-1979 Working student and barn manager for Gunnar Ostergaard and Ellin Dixon; 1979-1983 Working student/groom George Theodorescu in Sassenberg, W. Germany; From 1987 through 1999 Gigi evented several horses with lots of help from Bruce Davidson, culminating in completing the CCI*** and CCI**** at Rolex Kentucky 3-Day in 1997 and 1998.

Six months after her accident she began riding with Jane Cory, the owner of the Cort Center for Therapeutic Riding at Pleasant Hollow Farm in Pleasant Valley, PA. She initially asked Missy and Jessica Ransehousen for help just before the World Equestrian Games in 2010 and has enjoyed their expertise ever since.

In 2012, McIntosh qualified for the London 2012 selection trials including successful trips at back-to-back CPEDI ***s in Wellington, FL. McIntosh was also the Reserve Champion at the 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships. Married since 1983, with two grown children (Charlotte (27) and Cameron (25)), and her husband, Brian, a retired banker. McIntosh is now aiming at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio Di Janiero with her own Rio Rio.

We Will Miss You Jamie!

As many people have already heard, we lost Jamie last week down in Ocala.  She was truly Missy's devoted side kick and best buddy, always well behaved, full of affection and personality.  Those two had a special relationship and Jamie was such a unique character, from her unusual breeding (Ridgeback/Lab) to her unending patience with squirrel herding.

Everyone at Blue Hill Farm mourns the loss of this special dog and we hope that every day Missy turns her sadness into a smile as she remembers the most amazing 10 years with this beautiful animal.

We've put together a full photo album that can be seen on our Facebook page.  Here's a little glimpse of those photos for this blog post.

Missy also wanted to thank Paddy Hughes for originally breeding this beautiful dog and bringing her to Missy~

RIP Jamie.  We love you.

 

Florida 2016 - Adventures of Jess Pye and DJ!

Florida 2016: It’s been a while since I’ve wintered in Florida and getting the chance to come south this winter with Blue Hill has turned into my most successful Florida trip to date! Blue Hill Farm South is a lovely place of airy barns, huge turnouts, tons of open riding space and lots of sunshine! I brought Dr. Jo Ellen Krueger’s DeeJay with me this year with the goal of making the move up from preliminary to intermediate.

Ocala 2: I’ve spent my entire eventing career in Area V where hills are unheard of, ground is generally concrete and interval training is the only way. DeeJay has been playing on the hills of Chester County since September and it’s made a tremendous difference in his fitness and strength. Missy has helped take our show jumping and cross-country skills to the next level while Jess Ranshousen has literally taught me how to teach DJ to do dressage. The first event of the season on a young horse is always a bit of an unknown and Ocala is never an easy event but DeeJay clearly wanted to show off all his new tricks and had three great phases to finish in 3rd place in the Open Preliminary C division.

Rocking Horse 2: The big move up! I will start by saying that I’ve never been so proud after finishing with an R next to my name. DeeJay is young and still green. He’s really only been jumping and eventing for two years and although he always aims to please he doesn’t necessarily have the “seek and destroy” mindset when it comes to the sport. His brain operates more like, “Green grass, rainbows, and butterflies and… OH! Jump! More rainbows…” He put in a very steady dressage test, a one rail round in the show jumping that looked much worse thanks to my extra trip through the start flags and then jumped most of the XC course like a complete pro. Sadly, he had a green horse moment, just one wedge and two tables from home, and I chose to retire after two uncharacteristic runouts at the C element of the final combination on course rather then get the big E. As I made the long walk home I smiled. My lovely young horse just jumped like he’d been running intermediate for years. He didn’t understand one question on course. At this point, I can definitely live with that.

Rocking Horse 3: Redemption time. I was ready to redeem myself when Rocking Horse 3 rolled around and after a great dressage lesson with Jess and good jump and XC lessons with Missy I was sure we were ready.

DeeJay didn’t disappoint. He put in a lovely dressage test that still left tons of room for improvement, a beautiful show jumping round to leave all the rails in the cups and I went a bit cautiously around the cross-country to come home with a clear jumping round. DeeJay is an intermediate horse – Mission accomplished!

Ready to go Home: In a few days I’ll be leaving for the return trip home to PA and Blue Hill North and DeeJay and I will compete in the Carolina International as our layover. I’ve never been there before and I’m looking forward to a new event and challenge! I’ve already done several new things in the past six months including living, training and competing om the East coast and at events like Jersey and Plantation Field, ridden with a former US Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe in Jess Ransehousen, survived a real winter (for like a month..), trotted and cantered up some seriously big hills and been part of a wonderful group of eventers who I can call my Blue Hill family. And it’s only been six months!

Jump Schooling With Missy

April 3rd Fix A Test Fundraiser with Jessica Ransehousen!

Sunday April 3rd, 2016 is the date for the Fix A Test event to help fund-raise for the Second Nature Farm Junior Young Ride Team!!

Come on out for a fun, productive day of improving your dressage scores!
Registration with Lara at DQlara@verizon.net or call her with your questions at 484-459-2532
You can also follow updates on Facebook