Wed Aug 27th-  Took us 8 hours to get to Leta and Shawn’s barn in Culpeper, VA.  Luckily we had no travel problems.  As soon  as we arrived in VA, however, it started raining.  Apparently this rain is from Hurricane Faye. Ugh! Lucia traveled great and came off the trailer with no problems.  We let her rest a while then I rode her at Leta’s…in the rain!  Leta rode a young horse, too, and Pat took a lesson with Shawn.  Lucia schooled great and Shawn remarked that Pat’s riding had greatly improved from the last time he saw him ride in the spring.  I’m getting excited about showing Lucia under saddle tomorrow!

Thurs Aug 28- 

 Still raining! Got up to meet the braider at 5:30am.  Lucia looks lovely. Got to the show around 9am and they were just starting (they were suppose to start at 8am ) because they had to try to drain some of the water out of the arena.  The ring was like a swimming pool!  They also cancled the Three Year Old Hunter division because they didn’t have enough entries so I entered the Baby Green under saddle instead.  There were about 20 horses in the class and Lucia went in like a trooper and gave me one of the best rides I’ve ever had on her… in the rain, in the mud, around all the jumps, in and out of all the horses, and in a ring we hadn’t schooled in!   We ended up 4th! I was so proud of her!  Then we did the Young Hunter under saddle.  There were less horses in this class, but much stiffer competition.  Some of the top hunter riders and horses in the country were in this class and we ended up 6th!  Again, I was so proud of her!

Fri Aug 29- Finally stopped raining mid morning so Shawn was able to  help me get Lucia started over fences!  She was brillant!  She has a nice jump and plenty of step.  I can’t wait until next year when I can show her over fences.

Sat Aug 30- 

   Shawn shows off Lucia’s trot in hand . Photo credit to Jordan Koepke.

What an amazing day we had! The day started early at 4am with the braider.  We arrived at the show around 9am.  Lucia’s first class was the 3 year old TB Filly in hand class and she came in 3rd!  She looked beautiful, behaved perfectly, and moved perfectly!  She was so good in fact, that Shawn wanted someone to show her in the Amateur handler class and since Pat was the only amateur we had…he was it!  He quickly threw on Shawn’s sport coat, shirt, tie, and borrowed a pair of khaki’s while I entered him in the class.  Shawn gave Pat a quick lesson in how to show a horse in hand and in they went!  Pat did an amazing job and was against the top amateurs in the country!  He came in 7th place!  Later in the afternoon it was time for the Sallie B. Wheeler Hunter Breeding Championships for the East Coast.  Lucia was in the 3 year old Filly class (open to both TBs and non TBs) and she came in 3rd! We were totally estatic! 

 Pat happily accepts his ribbon!  Photo credit to Jordan Koepke.

I am so proud of Lucia and exteremly excited for things to come. I have a lot  to work on with her to get us to the next step and I am competely inspired and energized to do that.  Next year promises to be an even bigger year for this talented filly! 

Let’s all be sure to also congratulate Breanne and Rannita!  Breanne took a wonderful head on photograph of Rannita grazing that really showed off the dun stripe down her mane and into her forelock.  Breanne submitted this picture, entitled “Norwegian Skunk” to a contest for the New York State Fair and she won first place!  Breanne is an amazing young photographer and Rannita got win a first place prize for doing what she does best…eating!

Elliot exploring the outdoor arena

Lizz purchased a new horse this week and I’d like to welcome Elliot The Man to the barn!  Elliot is a lovely, sweet Thoroughbred gelding that was racing and is now going to try a new career as a hunter.  We are so excited to see how this handsome horse is going to progress!  Good luck with Elliot, Lizz, and congratulations from all of us! 

On Sunday, Pat took Suki to the Corner Haven Farm horse show to compete her in the jumpers. Pat put in 3 clear rounds, and came away with Reserve Grand Champion!   

Jeff, Pat, and Chris coming through a meadow with LCH member Laura Hand

On Saturday, Chris, Jeff, and Pat attended the LCH trail ride in Otisco.  They had a gorgeous morning with great views of the lake, and enjoyed delicious chicken BBQ afterwards! 

Our lovely new stall curtains!

We started the week by taking Heather, Elise, Breanne, and Pat to the Coliseum Classic Horse Show at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse.  Pat rode Suki in the Schooling and Baby Green hunters on Tuesday and put in some excellent rounds!  Suki jumped everything beautifully!  Breanne showed Ransom in Maiden Walk Trot.  She had three flawless classes and got ribbons in each one.  Elise also competed on Ransom in Walk Trot and got a 3rd in Equitation as well as ribbons in under saddle, pleasure, and both cross rail classes!  Heather showed Dr.Kiltz’s horse, Geronimo, in Walk Trot.  What a beautiful team that was!  This pair also came home with ribbons in each class.  I was so proud of all of the competitors for not only showing off their excellent riding skills but for being such great sportsman! Nice job everyone! 
I also got a huge surprise at the horse show…I came in Tuesday with the horses to find the most beautiful stall curtains that Breanne’s Aunt Noni and Aunt Susan had made!  Wow!  Thank you all so much for your support…it means so much to me!

What a fanastic ride we had at the De Ruyter Hunter Pace!  Chris, Pat, Amelia (aka “Rick’s niece” ), Dr. Robert Kiltz and I attended a Hunter Pace in De Ruyter on Saturday morning.  It was a beautiful spot for a ride…once the rain cleared up the mist around the mountains was breath taking!  Dr. Kiltz rode Geronimo beautifully on their first hunter pace together and Pat did an excellent job riding Mason, Jeff’s horse.  This was also Pat’s first hunter pace.  Claire and Dr.Kiltz came in 2nd place and Chris and Pat came in 5th!  Amelia came in first place!   We had a wonderful time and plan on attending the pace in October.  For more information and pictures from pervious years check out their website…
http://www.hunter-pace.com/id4.html