EN Article: Gigi McIntosh: From Eventer to Paralympian!

We are so appreciative to Abby Powell who took the time to interview both Gigi and Missy and to produce such a wonderful article on our Para Team at Blue Hill Farm!  This truly is one of the best articles that we've seen published on Gigi's story and reflects what years of team work can produce through commitment to the end goal. 

More importantly, this article captures the determination and positive attitude which has carried Gigi through to her ultimate dream of being selected to the 2016 Paralympic team.

Below is a wonderful excerpt, but we encourage you to read the entire article on EN:

Gigi’s story shows how a positive attitude and “get back on the horse” mentality can carry a person through difficult times and ultimately lead to new heights.

“Gigi has always had a determination her whole life to be the best she can,” Missy said. “Her personality is very driving, but in a kind way. She is always conscientious and respectful about what it takes to make it happen for her.”

When asked if she has any advice for someone who feels like the odds are stacked against them, Gigi said: “The voice inside your head is the most important one! Very early on in my recovery, I resolved to stay positive.”

Gigi has also lived by a famous mantra from Henry Ford:

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.”

And most importantly?

“Never ever give up!”

Full Article by Abby Powell for Eventing Nation

New Sales Videos of Lewis, 17H Imported ISH!

Lewis is a 2010, 17h Imported Dutch/ISH who would be great for show jumping and eventing. He was imported October of 2015 and has hunted with Cheshire and schooled XC.

Lewis had colic surgery December of 2015 has been back in full work since April and doesn't have any current limitations.  He is a big handsome horse with lots of presence and he easy to ride.

Lewis would be great for an amateur looking to compete up to Prelim.
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Flat Work July 2016



Jump School July 2016

Invitational Derby Cross Celebrates the Return of the Essex Horse Trials!

This is a great article by Nancy Jaffers regarding the return of the Essex Horse Trials in Far Hills, NJ!  Missy and Bonnie were two of 12 riders asked to come and compete in the Invitational Derby Cross which was held to promote and celebrate the return of this fabulous event which was originally founded by the late Roger Haller.

Missy on Dr. Peter Berk's Prince

The event last week included an invitation list of over 400 spectators, a competition purse and a fun party afterwards.  What a day!  Bonnie rode her favorite brumby, Loki, and Missy stepped it up to the prelim fences with Prince, owned by wonderful long time client, Dr. Peter Berk!

Bonnie and Loki

Missy, Peter and Prince

Nancy Jaffers did a wonderful job summarizing the day.  Here's an excerpt from her article:

"A cocktail party and an Invitational Derby Cross (I'll explain later) marked the occasion at Moorland Farm, just a few miles from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, where Essex was held for years under the sponsorship of M&M Mars.

Now it's Mars Inc. that's the title sponsor of the event, set for the weekend of June 24, 2017. It will run beginner/novice to preliminary competition, though I expect it to offer higher levels as time goes on.

Moorland farm is the most perfect venue. Every October, the 230-acre former estate hosts the Far Hills Race Meeting, chaired by Guy Torsilieri. The races draw about 30,000 people for a day of high-end steeplechasing and tailgating.

The terrain has real character, with a big hill as well as gentle slopes. The turf is maintained beautifully and all the equipment necessary to keep it in shape is available because it is used for the racing surface.

Space to ride is abundant and the views are lovely. Although Moorland Farm is conveniently close to major highways, the roads are peaceful in tiny Far Hills, which has a population of about 1,000. Within just a few miles, there are all kinds of restaurants, from casual to fine dining, and shops, supermarkets, train stations and places to stay."

Check out the full article below.
http://www.equisearch.com/article/bringing-back-the-essex-horse-trials-53381

And to follow more updates on next year's horse trials, go to their FB page!

THEY'RE GOING TO RIO!!

Huge news out of the Blue Hill Farm camp, as we received word late yesterday that Gigi, Missy and Rio Rio are in fact heading to Rio!!!

As Gigi said today, my phone has been on fire.  We couldn't be any more proud of the entire team at Blue Hill Farm and to Gigi's extended support group who have worked to support them in their dream of going to the Paralympics.  It's game time!!

USEF Names U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

RELEASE: June 16, 2016
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named four athlete-and-horse combinations to the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Para-dressage competition at the Paralympic Games will take place September 12-16, 2016, at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The following athlete-and-horse combinations will compose the Team (in alphabetical order):

 Sydney Collier (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Grade Ib, and Wesley Dunham’s Western Rose, a 2003 Oldenburg mare

Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.), Grade II, and her own Schroeters Romani, a 2002 Danish Warmblood mare

Margaret McIntosh (Reading, Pa.), Grade Ia, and her own Rio Rio, a 2006 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar mare

Angela Peavy (Avon, Conn. and Wellington, Fla.), Grade III, and Heather Blitz and Rebecca Reno’s Lancelot Warrior, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding

Further information regarding the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team selection process can be found on USEF.org. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support U.S. athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.

http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/14013/2016/6/16/usef_names_us_paralympic_equestri.aspx

Gigi Reflects on Her Roller Coaster Ride at Para Selection Trials in Michigan!

The home of the Waterloo Hunt Club, Grass Lake, MI, is a State forest! One of the most beautiful venues I have seen, the expansive five-ring show ground is shaded by stately trees, providing many comfortable spots for watching or grazing. The lunch pavilion was perfectly situated with a great view of the warm-up and competition rings. The many and varied representatives of the Dressage Pony division provided the best entertainment!

Rio Rio had no problems with the many distractions around the competition ring, including the four-ring-circus of adjacent competitors and the warm-up area behind the judges' booth! We presented our best Grade1a Team test ever...steady and energetic...even Missy agreed! Knowing how much we had improved over the winter, I was a little disappointed in my 70% score but determined to ride the same quality test on Saturday.

Erich Linder Photography

Meanwhile, Laurietta Oakleaf and her beautiful Friesian stallion, Niekele Fan Busenitz, blew everyone away to score 68%, becoming the overnight leader of the National Division! Joining Blue Hill Farm South in Ocala this winter, Laurietta and Nikki have blossomed under Missy's coaching!

Saturday was another beautiful day in Michigan, warm, blue skies and a nice breeze. Laurietta had another nice ride in the Individual Championship test to finish the day as Reserve Champion in the National Division!

Back in the High Performance division, Rio and I bombed! On this most important day of my entire Para Equestrian career, we got our worst score ever! A fly started to harass Rio shortly after we turned right at C and, never stoic, she just had to kick out between M and B. Only one judge gave me three points for that movement but that was punishment enough to drop my score to 66.37%! As I left the ring, Missy stated the obvious , "I guess we'll have to find something else (besides the Paralympics) to do this fall..."

I was devastated. Isn't it typical of a horse to take you to the highest point and then the depths of "black despair"? I spent the rainy afternoon in the barn with Rio, and FEI stewards, Denise Heitmann Pool and Marilyn Kulifay, trying to be philosophical at the implosion of my hopes for Rio (and Rio Rio). (I really enjoyed their moral support as well as that of Pat Sweeney and Sandy Rafferty, there to help at every turn!)

Sunday brought a whole new variety of anxiety with thunderstorms rolling through and random weather delays. Laurietta, Nikki and Missy were on their final walk around the competition ring when they were sent to the tent for an hour delay! They were able to rally in time to clinch Reserve in the National Championships!!!

Laurietta & Kathy Amos-Jacob

After a great pep talk from Becca Hart and Alex Philpin about not giving up and the "fat lady singing", I was ready to truly enjoy riding my horse without all that competitive pressure. Missy did a great job of warming Rio up through the warm-up ring puddles so the standing water in the show ring was no problem! Once again, Marlene Whitaker's lovely composition of music from "The King and I" was a hit with the crowd and the judges. I won the Grade 1a Freestyle and the Grade 1a Championship, finishing in sixth place in the Selection Trials!

Erich Linder Photography

The USEF asks us to avoid speculation on the composition of the Paralympic team. My scores from this weekend will be averaged with my International competition scores to determine my ranking for the team to be named in a few weeks. Fingers crossed, light a candle or whatever voodoo you use...all your best wishes on my behalf are greatly appreciated!!!

My utmost gratitude to Missy, for her riding and coaching ability, determination and just hard work on my behalf and Laurietta's! And to Jessica for all her wisdom and ability to jump on Rio when Missy was away and Clive Milkins too, for his mid-winter clinics! And Gail Baumander for keeping Rio happy and well-oiled! (And Rachel Gross, an original member of Rio's team, instrumental in my great scores from Mannheim!) And my Blue Hill farm support group, working students, boarders, Moms and Pari!  Lisa Thomas, Todd Meister, Stacey Kent, Bonnie Kibbe, Laura Spilhaus and Sharon Bennet. Special supporters: Susan Opengart, Amy Coughlin, Nancy Deale, Barb Riggs and Team Africa!

Most of all, thanks to my family and wonderful encouraging friends! ~ Gigi

Gigi & Kathy

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""