Quality Hunters and Jumpers

NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2012

As I reflect upon 2011 and make plans for 2012, I ponder my involvement with both horses and people.  I know that my interactions as a teacher can either make someone’s day or break someone’s day.  I also know that horses are better teachers than I could ever be.  Horses have no agenda but are honest teachers.  Horses have no problem letting you know when you are lying to them, not supporting them, or ignoring them. 

I am so privileged to be involved with horses and people alike.  It is my  hope that as my interactions with both horses and people have positive changes in my thought processes and learning curves, and that I also have the same positive effects with the horses and people that I interact with.  I believe that many lessons in life can be learned from our horses, and that we only need to reflect back through the years to come up with the many valuable lessons we have learned. 

Who is there offering comfort for the teenager shedding tears over a fight with a boyfriend when she is crying into his neck in the stall?  Who is there for you when you are having an intense lesson?   Who is there for you when you go off course but left all the jumps up?  Think about it; your horse is always there for you.  Life with horses can teach you to take charge, develop patience, exercise sensitivity or take control of the situation.  The skills you are learning, developing patience, and empathy, will help you with your skills outside of the barn, developing the same skills with your family and friends. This teamwork between you and your horse is a partnership: and as in all partnerships you take the good with bad days, you cope with the disappointments and hopefully the success outnumbers the disappointments.    

In the total picture of teamwork, I would like to thank all of our support team who help to keep our horses healthy, happy and sound.  Iban, Max and Miguel who are there in all kinds of nasty, cold and hot weather, changing blankets, trapsing through the mud, checking on all the horses day in and out, including Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Maryjane is trooper extrordinaire, always pleasant, always working, and always caring.  Natassia has so many gifts, and every day I appreciate her skills both on and off the horse.  Paul Jeremy our farrier does a fantastic job, and between Trey and Chris Newton our horses are well cared for.   
 

From an educational/horsemanship standpoint, last year was a sterling year!!!  Elaine helped to host the KHJA Judging Clinic with Linda Andrisani at the Alltech Arena in January.   It was a very successful clinic with 200 people attending.  The winter chili dinners were entertaining as well as educational.  Everyone was looking for a reprieve from the brutal winter, and this was a great option for farm bonding, consuming knowledge and good food   I put a great deal of energy into Horsemanship Quiz Challenge program that will launch in the form of online quizzes this February 2012. This program is an exciting tool that will hopefully encourage young horse people to read and educate themselves about the total package of caring for horses, which includes nutrition, conformation, stable management, bandaging, first aid, diseases, lameness, shoeing ,behavior, identification, tack, and much more; not just riding them.  

As I reflect back through the year, we had so many successful relationships as well as trials and tribulations. Josie Oldham with both Lehmann and Fidelio had their fair share of triumphs and tribulations.  Josie ended the 2011 year as KHJA Children’s Jumper Champion.  Josie and Lehmann would have clearly been Jr Jumper Champion but he fell between the cracks in the registration department of KHJA.  Natassia and Enoc (Shaamen) were High Jumper Champion.  She has done a beautiful job bringing Enoc along through his young years and we will be looking forward to a successful year in the 7 year old jumpers. 

Speaking of Lehmann; Ali Cibon is leasing him and they are a truly great team. Ali just won her first Low Amateur adult NAL championship at Ledges as well as division champion. She is off to a pretty awesome start to the year.

 Rhonda Allen gets my vote as the BEST HORSE MOM OF THEYEAR.  Risky was injured in April and she hasn’t missed a day of his rehab.  He is 100% today and let’s hope that all the stars line up for her to return to the ring and be a star.  In the mean time she has forged a great relationship with Barb Gilbert’s Annie, and has had many great classes . 

Stasha Hickey and Bette were amazing!!  They have come so far and are ready for the move to the Jr. Jumpers.  They won the puissance in December at Rolling Acres and we are excited to see this team as they move up the ranks. 

 Sweet William and his riders Helena Emig , Natassia, and Mawghan McCabe all rocked. Natassia won the New Vocations Mini Prix at Robert Murphy Horse Show in July at the Horse Park.  Mawghan had many sweet victories but the sweetest had to be when she was the strong and winning anchor of the Rood and Riddle team in the Hagyard-Rood and Riddle Challenge at Ballyhigh Horse Show.  Helena and Willie competed at some big shows and were super successful.  Way to go girls!!

  Morgan Miller and Mac had their fair share of disappointments.  It was just bad timing that every time they were ready to go to the ring an ailment was the winner.  We look forward to a strong year this year for Morgan and Mac. 

Louise Jones and Hugo were amazing.  Once they get their game face on, they are force to be reckoned with.  Great ribbons in the adults at Ky.  They were also 7th in the Hunter Derby at the Rob Murphy Fall Classic. 

Let’s talk about out dear Natassia, the female horse whisperer.  She won the TB New Vocations Mini Prix with Sweet William, the Hunter Derby at Rob Murphy Fall Classic with LA, and the Punchestown/Hallway Feeds Hunter Classic with Betty Fegenbush’s Southern Magic.  

Sure Schott (Count) had a huge set back after his first baby green horse show when he got bitten by a brown recluse spider.  He beat the odds and has made a complete recovery thanks to our consciencious team of caregivers.   

Morgan Broyles had a great show at RMI in April and then things went south on and off for most of the year.  We are back on our game now as we enter 2012 so good luck to Morgan. 

Louise and Roudi are there day in and day out.  Everyone should respect her dedication as she balances her young adult life, while establishing her financial independence. She is extremely dedicated to her wonderful horse Roudi and continues to keep him going and appreciate him even though she is unable to show him. 

Cate Thomas and Whiz Kid are a match made in heaven.  She began in the fall, showing in the adult hunters and in a mere few months has gone to adult jumper ranks.  We are looking for great success stories from this pair. 

Lizz Kunz and Freddie who is at RMF on loan from Sarah Holmes had lots of fun showing at Balhyhigh and Punchestown.  Emily Melcher and Freddie also had a great time at the same shows. 

Abigail Renner started showing on Amulet, and finshed the year with Laura. They did really well at Ballyhigh and we hope to see them more often this year. 

Betty Fegenbush and Belle not only had championships every time they showed, they kept us laughing at the barn. 

Larissa and Airborne (Fletcher) are the cutest pair ever.  They have a great chemistry and were Adult Champions every time they showed.

Goals for this year include:

• Implementing a Battle of the Barns Quiz Challenge at the Robert Murphy  Horse Show. 
• Many successes across the board for all of our clients and young horses. 
• Having everyone under the age of 21 qualify for level 3 in the USHJA Quiz Challenge. 
• Students who are begging me to ride other horses,
• Great attendance at the chili dinners, and
• Healthy, sound horses all year. 

My 2012 message to all of you is that making a living isn’t the same as making a life, and I highly recommend that you explore life!

 

JANUARY 2011
"Being A Good Student"

As I reflect upon 2010, I wonder where the year went to.  As the years fly by, there are some things that have never changed in my year to year goals.

Knowledge is key.  Since the days I was a young,” know it all” horsewoman (lets say roughly 35 years ago), I have always been eager for knowledge: better ways to do/accomplish a task, new and improved products,  better therapies and remedies, and I always try to learn something new each day.  Today I learned that it takes a minimum of 3 minutes of walking at the end of a ride for the ligaments and tendons to reshape themselves to a normal alignment.  My point is that I see many young horse people come and go from my facility and very few are curious about how their horses are maintained.  I can walk up to a horse in the crossties with deworming medication , put a tube in the horse’s mouth, walk away and the client won’t express even the slightest interest or curiosity.  I want you all to ask me what I am doing, why I am administering, and anything else that may be of interest. 

My goal for my riders and clients is to work hard to be the best rider they can be, to become educated horsemen and women, to always have the horse’s best interest first and foremost in mind, and to give back to the sport.
Becoming a horseman and a good student begins with desire.  In our instant gratification society, it becomes more difficult to build horse people.  Everyone is in a hurry and wants to cut corners: (skip a few stages of grooming, tack cleaning, and attention giving). 

If you look at the top notch working students and young professionals, they are not afraid to get their hands dirty, to spend all day at the barn caring for horses, and doing whatever needs to be done.  The job description is endless, and truly should not matter.  Horseback riding begins with horse care.  The opportunities to learn are endless, you just have to be open to them.  Just this week I learned how to replace a hose fitting.  Being a good student will give you strength.  There are so many disappointments germane to showing horses.  You can not expect success without the hard work and perseverance that go along with it.  You must be willing to put in time and effort, and ride other horses if you really want to be successful.  If you really want to be successful, let the hunger for the sport drive you.  Nothing that is handed to you is worth as much as the great things you achieve. 

River Mountain Farm began the year with monthly horsemanship clinics/chili dinners at the Schott’s.  We divided into teams and had a Equine Trivia/Jeopardy type quiz bowl.  It was great bonding, informative and competitive.  We are definitely going down that road again this year!!

We showed indoors at the Horse Park in February and March and did really well.  We went to Cleveland and Nashville, TN in April.  We got to visit with Callie for 2 weeks in April and May.  Country Heir was a blast as always.  We spent most of the summer at the horse park with record entries.  We are so fortunate to live in Lexington and be able to experience the WEG up close and personal.  Those memories will stay with me forever.   Summer was scorching and the farm looked like the Mojave dessert.  Now we are growing snow and mud in frigid temps.  Bottom line:  Dress appropriately, work your horse early or late in extreme temps and err or the side of caution.

Natassia was very successful with Calendo, and Lehmann.  She did an amazing job with the very young horses.  We have been very productive this year, despite the economy.  Stasha and Bette were Children’s Jumper Reserve Champion.  Louise and Roudi were also Reserve Champion in the A/O jumper division.  Lehmann was Champion in the Jr./AO division and Wild Rose was KHJA Small Jr. Champion.  The most rewarding riders were Morgan Broyles and Allison Davidson who were very competitive in the Ch/Ad jumper division, achieving their goals to get to the 3’6” division.  Allison and Sweet William were the winners of the TB Mini Prix at the Robert Murphy Horse Show.   Allison, Stasha, Morgan and Sara Collins were 1st -4th  in the Doug Parsons Classic at the Punchestown horse show.   The most fun to be had at a horse show was at Ballyhigh Horse Show.  We got extremely creative and about 10 of us did the costume class in full costume.  Even the dogs got dressed up. 

We did a couple of outings at the gorgeous Masterson Station Park and took our annual trail ride to Shakertown this fall. 

Polo always plays a major part in the farm:  Trey and Buck won their fair share of tournaments, and it wouldn’t be a lesson unless a few horses spooked at the pony sets going around the farm.    

 

SPRING NEWS 2010

After a very long and very cold winter, Spring has begun to entice us into believing that the sun does shine, and that the mud can dry up.   Kudos to all of you who stuck it out, continued to ride and attend to your horses.  The Equine Jeopardy was really great fun and informative at the same time.  The team of Tres Chico’s with Tiffany, Victoria and Nadya ended the series with the most points and were the winners.  Congrats!!!

Showing indoors at Lakeside and the Horse Park was very successful.  Everyone from RMF was very competitive and rode really well.  Christy, Allison and Morgan have been raising the bar for themselves and finding out that they are players.  The winter program of going back to basics may seem boring at the time but the rideability really pays off in the big picture.  I want to thank everyone for a great job of being courteous and sharing the indoor all winter.  It was certainly a bit stifling but we managed.

We want to wish Victoria the very best on getting herself well.  She was having some physical issues that needed to handled, so she returned to Tn. to get everything straightened out.  Alex Atkins is going to pinch hit until she leaves for her new job riding and teaching at Fiesta Farm in Knoxville, Tn.  We will be doing a grand changing of the guard the first of May.  When Alex leaves, my cousin Samantha Strouss will return for the summer, as well as Meg McTiver, a Findlay College student.  Morgan Broyles will also be joining us for the summer. 

We plan to be busy this spring showing and training at home.  We have 7 or 8 babies 3 and under to work with which sounds like a full time job in and of itself, plus all of the others, so we will have our hands full.  Buck should be returning at the end of April with his string of polo ponies, so let the craziness begin!!  Please refer to the website for the current show schedule.

Callie and another staff member, Diane will be here with two of Beezie Madden’s WEG mounts to participate in the show jumping test event during Rolex.  They will be here from April 12 – 22, so I if you would like to take a lesson from Callie in the afternoon between the 13th & 21st ,  just let me know and she will happy to hone your skills.  

A reminder that IHSA Nationals will be held at the Horse Park in the new indoor May 6-9.    I will be lending about 6 horses and if anyone else would like to lend their horse for the show just let me know.  They will be ridden according to the level of rider appropriate for their ride, and well taken care of. 

Off to the barn on a gorgeous Spring day.  Words of wisdom for the day:

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

 

WINTER 2009

Another year has snuck in and out leaving all of with so much to be thankful for.  The economic hard times has proven to be a challenge, but still we all made do and many good times were meshed with success.

During the Winter we implemented chili dinner clinics and they were a great reason to get together plus try to improve on our knowledge.  This year we have changed the format a little to incorporate a little fun while we are honing up on medicine, first aid, vaccinations, diseases, lameness, and teeth.   We have divided into four teams and have invented our own equine jeopardy. The first clinic proved to be great fun and informative at the same time while stirring up a little competition among ourselves. 

The KHJA banquet was held at Keeneland on Jan 9th .  The dinner was really nice and the atmosphere and ambiance were terrific. It was a blustery snowy day, but we were warm inside the glass enclosed Entertainment Center watching as the snow fell.  We had many success stories and RMF was well represented.  Natassia and Calendo were Baby Green Champions, and she followed herself with Kensay as Reserve Champion.  Kirsten Boe and Goose were A/O Champions, Wild Rose was Champion in the Small Jr. Division, Morgan and Leroy were reserve Champion in the Pre-Ch/Adult jumpers, Kelly and Razzle were also Reserve Champion in the Children’s Pony division.  Louise and Roudi were 3rd in Open Jumpers, Sandy was Reserve Champion. Congrats to all of you who placed and finished the year end in the ribbons.  This would be a great time to remind everyone to renew all of your memberships in KHJA, USEF, and USHJA. 

I have updated the calendar and you can find it on the web site.  We have some new clients who are eager to get started, so let’s all hope for a great year in 2010.

Thought for the day: Talent is nice to have, but it seldom determines how far an individual will go.  Pitch in and help out.  It may be a little kid next to you on the cross ties, it may be a load of laundry in the dryer, it may mean picking up someone else’s trash. 

FEBRUARY '09 NEWS

It seems like the weather has actually been the most newsworthy topic of discussion.  This too will soon pass and we will all enjoy hacking around the farm in one layer rather than three or four.  The ice storm in early Feb. took its toll on many of our beautiful trees.  Hopefully they will recover. 

We would like to welcome new clients Peggy Brennan and her Lusitano Celoso.  Peggy is a Junior at Transylvania University and grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  We would also like to welcome Ali Cibon and her gelding Louie.  Ali is a Sophomore at UK and comes to us from the Chicago area.  Please introduce yourself to these lovely young women.

We watched the George Morris Horsemastership DVD for our February clinic.  It was very informative, and we had a good time feeding our faces. 

We spent four consecutive weekends at Lakeside alternating between their new “A” show and their local shows.  Kelly Corrigan did all four weeks with Razzle at the “A” show and Recognition at the local show.  Kelly has done a super job with both horses and it showed with all of her Championships.  She was Champion with Razzle one week and Reserve Champion the 2nd week in the Children’s Pony Division.  Recognition and Kelly racked up in the Beginner Horse Division at both shows.  She was champion with him as well, and he tried so hard to be a good boy.  Kirtsten Boe showed in the A/O hunters the first “A” show and was Champion.  Congrats to Kirsten and Goose. The February show was very successful for RMF riders.  Caitlin Ray, Kelly Corrigan, Morgan Broyles, Stasha Hickey, and Natassia were all Champion or Reserve Champion. 

This year’s theme is HORSEMANSHIP and on that note I would like for all of you to have a goal.  In pursuing this goal there may be set backs, and it is important for you to accept the fact that there may be frustrations along the way.  On that note it is so nice to see Morgan in the beginning stages of bringing Sky back to work.  I really want you young people to stop and take a couple steps back from your day in and day out experiences.  Try to make the best of all of your experiences, your horse, your trainer, your friends, and most importantly, your parents who support you in this expensive endeavor.  Try to appreciate the fact that you are gifted with this amazing opportunity to connect with your horse, and the means to show and enjoy.  Work hard, learn more about your horse’s nature, develop mental coping skills, appreciate your opportunities, and enjoy the process!!!

JANUARY '09 NEWS

For all of you who were able to attend the 08 KHJA annual meeting and banquet at Churchill Downs, I’m sure that you’ll agree that it really was a special evening.  It was a terrific way to bring in the new riding year being surrounded by such prestigious momentos, photos and former famous horses, jockeys, trainers and owners.  Like our sport, the message for success was the same.  Whether you want to ride at the top of the sport or the top of your division, nothing replaces hard work, dedication, determination, talent, support, and sometimes a twist of luck. 

Our ventures and adventures with our horses lead us to bonding and developing relationships we never knew could exist.  Our steeds are there for us through rain and snow, heat and frigid temps.  They tolerate all of our emotions and rarely complain.

In the coming 2009 I would like to challenge all of you to raise the bar for yourself to become better riders, better students, and better horse people. In that vein I am going to promote better horsemanship by being more critical, having higher expectations, conducting horsemanship clinics once a month. 
These clinics will be held at dinner time during inclement months, and possibly lunch or dinner during warmer weather. I will provide food and would like to charge $15.00 for dinner and the clinics.

RMF would like to congratulate year end champions Casey Quick in Eq. 12-14, as well as being the KHJA overall Medal Finals Champion.  Casey and Better Than Chocolate aka “Alvin” had their fair share of obstacles and time off, and we are glad to see this partnership back in the game.  Kelly Corrigan and Razzle Dazzle was Limit Rider Champion.  Lexi Hutchens and Rio Grande Time “Yankee” had a successful year finishing the year as Champion in the Intermediate Adult Hunter Division and Reserve Champion in the Adult Hunter Division.  Callie and Wild Rose finished the year as Champion in the Amateur Owner Division, while Alex Atkins and Rose doubled as Champion in the Small Junior Hunter division.  Not to be outdone, Sandman was Reserve Champion in the Amateur Owner Hunter behind Rose.  (Rose wouldn’t have it any other way.)  Kirsten Boe was 4th in the Lg. Junior Hunter Division with only a few shows under her belt in Ky.  Kelly Corrigan and her new mount, Recognition was 4th in the Beginner Hunter division.  The Jumper super stars included Chad Venn and Fantastico finishing the year in the Hopeful Jumpers in 3rd place.  Right on his heels were Travis Massie and Lexus in 4th place, and Caitlin Ray and Paint By Numbers were 6th.  Adult Jumpers and Open Jumper Reserve Champions were Callie with Toucan Tango and Lehmann, Sweet William and Alex were Reserve Champion in the Jr. A/O Jumper.  Callie and Sandman finished right behind her in 3rd place and Louise and Roudi finished 4th in both the A/O as well as the Open Jumpers. 

Congratulations to all of you who worked for your success, and here is to improving on that picture for 2009. 

The highlight of my year was having Sandman return to the ring in April after 15 months vacation, and make it to his first Grand Prix in Dec.  This was very rewarding for me, and should be reinforcement for all of you that sometimes we need coping skills, time off and to take one day at a time.  Patience and perseverance may pay off.  Casey and Morgan have had to deal with this situation this past year, and we just hope that Morgan and Sky will come back as well as Alvin and Sandman did. 

Our first 09 Horsemanship clinic which was a viewing of “Through the Judges Eye” by Linda Andrisani was very well attended.  We will have a clinic every month and I would really like to encourage your participation as well as any fresh ideas you have regarding clinics and what you would like to learn about.

Please review the RMF revised  barn rules.