Thursday, February 26, 2009

Two IDA Team Members Qualify for Nationals!

Lauren Parker was reserve champion in the Intro division for our IDA Region. Greta held onto her lead and took the champion ribbon at first level. So there will be at least three of us heading to Findlay in April. (I hear rumor that several team members will be following us up there to cheer on their team mates.)

Spring break is next week and it seems that everyone is ready for it! I have certainly noticed a drop in the number of assignments that are turned in on time!

Some of our students along with Liz and Pebbles will be attending the NARHA Region 3 conference in Virginia Beach at the end of spring break. Another group will be taking horses to Raleigh to show at the “C” rated hunter/jumper show.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Qualifying for Regionals, Semi-Finals and Nationals

Greta Friesen qualified for IDA Nationals at the Virginia Intermont show this weekend. The IDA team had its best placing this year with a third behind Virginia Intermont in first and NCSU in second place. Lauren Parker placed third in the Intro division which keeps her in second place regionally with a couple of riders able to overtake her if things don’t work out at Averett this Saturday.

The western team had an exceptional weekend qualifying their team for Western Semi-Finals in Kentucky, March 20 – 22 as well as the following individuals.

Class 11 - Beginning Horsemanship
Jessica Gesel & John Coppollo

Class 12 - Intermediate Horsemanship
Chella Glennon

Class 13 - Novice Horsemanship
Kayla Hay & Tony Fernandez

Class 14 - Advanced Horsemanship
Erica Hill

Class 15 - Open Horsemanship
Kody Zaagman & Kelsey Moody

Class 16 - Reining
Kelsey Moody

The IHSA hunt seat team was reserve champion behind Virginia Intermont last Thursday at VI with Karen Gruninger and Rob Jacobs qualifying for regionals in Walk, Trot, Canter and Novice Flat respectively, This team heads to Wake Forest this Sunday for their last show before regionals.

Lynn Palm judged the western IHSA show this weekend and then stayed and did a clinic for the western team on Monday. I had a chance to chat with her on Monday. It is so refreshing to have your beliefs in the importance of strong basics for horses and riders confirmed by someone that is so successful in the horse industry. Lynn is both down to earth and practical and oozes a deep respect for the horse.

This week we have Showing Under the Stars on Friday evening, the Averett IDA show on Saturday, the Wake Forest IHSA show on Sunday and then it is smooth run to Spring break 2/28 – 3/8. Time for me to catch up on some projects and maybe ride a bit!

Friday, February 13, 2009

February is Crazy!

February is always crazy with IHSA & IDA shows every weekend. Last Friday (Feb 6th) we hosted a hunt seat show with 14 schools competing. Gilmore who returned to us from his retirement home about a year ago and who must be close to 30 was wild and had to be pulled from the walk, trot canter classes. (He is great in my beginner dressage lessons, but must have had flash backs to his younger days!) The cold weather created a lot of frisky horses which is never good for an intercollegiate show. SAPC ended up in 5th place, Virginia Intermont was the champion team.

Carla, Peggy & Dale headed up to Martin Community College for two weekend shows (Feb 7th & 8th). The judges were very thorough causing the Saturday show to go until 9:00 pm!

This weekend (Feb 14th & 15th) we are hosting a western show on Saturday and western regionals on Sunday. Lynn Palm is judging Sunday and them staying on to do a clinic that afternoon and Monday for SAPC riders.

I will be headed to Bristol, VA Saturday afternoon for an IDA show on Sunday. Then next week we have Showing Under the Stars on Friday and the IDA team travels to Averett on Saturday for our last regular show of the season.

Like I said Feb. is a crazy month. Happy Valentine’s Day!