We just returned from a wonderful week with the wild horses of the Pryor Mountains.
Abundant rain has turned the range emerald green. All the horses are fat, and most are sleek, except for a few yearlings who still have remnants of their scraggly winter coats. There were twenty-some babies atop the mountain, including a charming trio of foals sired by Cloud’s son, Bolder. I can’t help but remember another trio of foals 15 years ago, sired by the magnificent black stallion, Raven. His son, Cloud, was a leggy white foal who loved to pester his two sisters, Smokey and Mahogany, and make wild runs around the clusters of fir trees after sunset.
July 1, 2010 – The Charleston Summer Classic starts in two weeks from today and we still have about 50 stalls for week one and about 100 for week two still available. The temporary stalls will go up right after the July 4th weekend so if you need stalls, call our office so we put up the right number. We will only have 450 stalls this year.
Three other things.
1. If you are interested in renting a golf cart, please call the office. We do not have an onsite vendor and are trying to find carts in town. 843 768 5503 – speak to Tissy.
2. You are welcome to arrive on Saturday the 10th of July if you like. We will have a VERY limited staff but if you call about shavings early, you are welcome to come. Please do not arrive without calling us. 843 768 5503.
3. There was a misprint in the prize list for the $7,500 Jumper Classic. The specs implied that the class was only for Jr AO Jumpers. That is not true. It is an open jumper classic, open to all horses and riders.
Eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driver Chester Weber continues his winning streak -- winning the Bromont International Driving FEI Four-In-Hand Competition in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth-Ann Tuppert)
Bromont, Quebec, Canada (July 1, 2010) – American Combined Driver Chester Weber continued his winning streak – this time on Canadian soil – when he won the FEI Four-In-Hand division at the Bromont International Driving Competition at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in Quebec. Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, captured the title with a 45-point lead over second place winner Josh Rector, also of the USA.
Weber was pleased with his win, and said that the marathon and cones courses at Bromont proved to be very challenging. “I had my less experienced team of horses and I am really proud of them because the marathon course was on the level of a world championship course,” Weber said, adding that he really felt that Reno stood out. “My young horse is coming together and proving to be consistent.”
Weber took Grumus, Para, Boy W, Reno W and Horus Du Bois to the Canadian competition, considered the most important driving show in Canada. “I am very proud of Reno as it was his best show yet,” Weber said. “Reno is really showing that he can be a valuable asset to my team.”
Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm and ridden by McLain Ward, winner of the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix and the Callari Cup presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.
WESTPORT, CT – June 29, 2010 – McLain Ward, aboard Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm, emerged victorious over a field of 27 competitors at the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, Connecticut.
Urged on by spectators and over 350 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon, Ward and Vocas claimed victory in an exciting jump off. Ward also placed 4th aboard Esplanade 7 owned by Louisburg Farm, and 12th aboard Miel D’Amuray owned by Gabby Slome. George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Jonathan Moffly of Moffly Media, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman and Catherine Herman, Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.
The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 29, 2010 – Live video coverage will be available for spectators wanting to watch this year’s American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup July 3-11 in Oklahoma City.
With teams made up of American Quarter Horse Youth Association members from 16 countries, spectators from all over the world can enjoy the exciting leadership and educational clinics, and Olympic-style competition thanks to America’s Horse TV.
To watch the Youth World Cup, visit www.americashorse.tv/youthworldcup.html for free live-streaming videos starting Saturday, July 3, through Sunday, July 11. To view the schedule of events, including clinics and competition times, visit www.aqha.com/youth/activities/ywc/2010/YWC_schedule.pdf. Please note trail will be judged “at-will” on Thursday, July 8, and Saturday, July 10. Video coverage of all trail competitors will be replayed 30 minutes following the last class each day.
LEXINGTON, KY — 87 Days to Go — Big Ass Fans, an international company that designs and engineers industrial, commercial and residential large, slow-speed fans has been named the Official Fan Sponsor for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
As the Official Sponsor, Big Ass Fans will provide their cooling technology to many locations at the Games including the Tradeshow Pavilion and the Eventing Cross Country Course. The Games will feature world championships in eight equestrian sports at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25 through October 10.
“Quality fans are crucial to create a comfortable environment for staff, spectators, and our human and equine athletes at the Games,” said Terry Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing for the World Games 2010 Foundation. “Big Ass Fans is the perfect company to accomplish this task and their technologies will be valued during the 2010 Games.”
A new horse came to the barn today. She is very young. I was in the arena with Jane when she arrived. She saw us practicing some upper level movements, and it embarrassed her. She told a friend of mine that she was ashamed that she didn’t know very much, and was afraid to talk to me since I obviously know a great deal.
That surprised me, and made me sad. She is young and hasn’t had much training. Why should she be shy about what she can or can’t do? I’ve been around awhile and have lots of experience. She’s just starting out. I don’t like it that she’s intimidated by me.
I heard Jane tell someone that you don’t have to be an advanced rider to be a really GOOD rider. Just be the best at what you’re doing now! My friends who are working at their training level foundations are just as hard working and dedicated as I am at Grand Prix. I’ve just been at it longer.
Long List for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Announced
Wayne, IL – June 28, 2010 – The final day of intense competition for the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games concluded Sunday. Earning both the championship rosette and cooler and the reserve championship rosette and cooler was Rebecca Hart. Hart rode both of her mounts to top honors over the last three days. Hart and Kazan earned the National Championship and Hart and Norteassa earned the reserve championship. Hart was surrounded by top coaches including her trainer and Chef d’Equipe of the USEF Para-Dressage team, Missy Ransehousen; top judges Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR); and top competition.
The weekend’s competition was a chance for the riders to not only compete among their peers, but to gain experience in front of international judges. The three days of Para-Dressage competition included the team test, individual test and freestyle competition. On Sunday, the freestyle test added the music element to the test where riders showcased their artistic abilities on horseback.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is urging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated following an upsurge in the number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases. Sentinel chickens that serve as an early warning of the existence of the disease are also being diagnosed with EEE in areas of the state that are not usually affected.
So far this year there have been 16 confirmed cases of EEE in horses. While that is not an unusually high number, seven of the cases were reported on Wednesday, June 23, from counties scattered throughout the state.
“Most of the cases have been in the central and north central part of the state which is normal,” Bronson said. “But we are also seeing increased EEE and West Nile Virus activity in sentinel chickens in the southern part of the state, including Martin County which has not had EEE detected in 30 years. In addition, there has been a confirmed case of EEE in a horse in both Collier and Okeechobee counties. So I want to remind horse owners of the importance of getting their animals vaccinated.”
EEE is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. Signs of the virus include fever, listlessness, stumbling, circling, coma and usually death. The disease is fatal in horses in 90 percent of the cases.
Bronson says the majority of cases of EEE and other mosquito-borne diseases can be prevented through proper vaccinations. Horse owners are urged to check with their veterinarian to make sure their animals have received current vaccinations and booster shots against EEE and West Nile Virus, and that these shots are kept up to date.
Wayne, IL – June 27, 2010 – It was another beautiful day at the Lamplight Equestrian Center where the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials are occurring for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Riders and their top mounts entered the arena in front of spectators, their peers and international judges. The three judges included Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR). Saturday was the individual competition, which will be counted alongside Friday’s team tests, and Sunday’s freestyle tests. Consistency has been the weekend’s theme with Rebecca Hart earning the blue ribbon and the second place ribbon in the short course test, and Robin Brueckmann earning first place honors in the long course test. Both riders earned the top ribbons in Friday’s competitions as well.
In Saturday’s long course individual test Robin Brueckmann and Raison d’Etre earned the top honors with a combined score of 66.667%. Most of the competitors Saturday had an increase in their score percentages as Brueckmann did going from Friday’s 65% to Saturday’s 66.667%.
