Great Memorial Day Weekend Clinic at Fitch's Corner

Photos Courtesy Sunny Cross

 Silva and I once again taught at the Fitch's Corner Memorial Day Clinic in Millbrook, NY.  Without question this is one of the best-run eventing clinics of the year, held at he beautiful Farm of Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels.

Over the three-day weekend we utilized the jumping ring, cross-country course and dressage ring to work with riders from all over who came to improve their riding and horses. 

This year saw some very challenging weather on the first day, but in true eventing style we battled the elements and carried on. 

We worked on grid work and show jump courses on day 1, also paying particular

attention to the riders' positions. On day two we addressed many of the technical cross-country

questions addressed and on Monday the focus was more on the dressage, with Silva.

The clinic takes place on the beautiful grounds of the Fitch'sCorner Horses Trials, which will run this year on July 19-21. This will be the 20th Anniversary of the event and the competition is offering a total of $20,000 of prize money! On top of that, course designer Derek diGrazia is adding a new mound complex, as well as expanding the water jump to make the event even better than ever.

A big thanks must go to Kirk and Fernanda, Nick Meyers and Sunny Cross for organizing this highlight of our calendar every year.  A big hand must also go to the 68 riders who took part in the clinic for the tremendous riding that was displayed over the weekend.

Boyd

Rosa's Fabulous Freestyle!

After a slightly rough start at the KDA CDI in Lexington, KY, Rosa was back to her usual fabulous self today for the musical Freestyle. I am not sure if her being in season made her a little uncomfortable the past two days, which might be something that I have to address. There are lots of important things to learn about your horse as you go up the levels.

Rosa loved her freestyle and did not put a foot wrong! Two judges gave us 71% and the Canadian judge gave us 66%. That was unfortunate, but that is dressage. There is no point in getting frustrated about the judging. There are other times when I finish my test and did not think it was great and I get a big score, so it all evens out, I guess! We finished fourth with 69.5%!

Yesterday we finished fifth in the Intermadiare 1. Rosa did a nice test, but unfortunately we had some expensive mistakes in some of the movements: Rosa tripped in the first extended trot, we had six instead of five steps of rein back, and we had a bobble in our last transition into the trot. In a CDI you cannot have mistakes! The judges are not and should not be forgiving.

Rosa is a fabulous horse and I have to keep reminding myself that she is not even eight years old, and it is completely normal for her to make green mistakes. She still needs a lot more strength and that takes time! I feel very lucky to ride such an amazing young horse and I am very grateful to all the people that are supporting Rosa and me!

Due to computer problems, videos and pictures are coming soon.

Silva

Rosa Finishes Fourth (Again) in the CDI Prix St George

Rosa at Canter

Rosa and I had a pretty good test this morning, but I have to say I am a little disappointed because I did not ride my best and Rosa did not go her best. I know that we can do better!

 We scored 66.55%, which had us finish fourth place.I am not exactly sure what happened -- I guess I was a little nervous and I could have collected her more at times, and Rosa felt a little behind my leg today.

Rosa at Trot

But of courseI am still so very proud of Rosa, since she is so young and the Rolex Arena is a big stadium with a lot of atmosphere. I tell you, it is very hard to get it all right in the only six minutes that you have to ride the test! But tomorrow we will do our best to show what we really can do.

Michael Barisone

 Michael had a great ride on Victor this morning and won the Grand Prix CDI!

Michael's wife, Vera Kessels Barisone, also rode in Rosa's class and finished second on a 67%. Vera is not only a beautiful rider from the Netherlands, she also deserves a medal for being married to Michael! :-) All jokes aside , Michael and Vera are great people and are helping me a lot!! THANK YOU!

Last minute tips from Michael

I think Rosa goes early tomorrow morning .

Silva

A stroll in the Bluegrass

THANKS MIKE!

Trading Aces at The Fork

A big thank you to my good mate Mike McNally for all of his photographic contributions over the years.  Since retiring from the Md. police department, Mike has taken a serious obsession with equestrian photography and is a true talent.

Crackerjack

Mike was good enough to send me a few snaps of the advanced horses from The Fork HT and Rolex Kentucky this year.

Trading Aces Rolex

If anyone out there is looking for high quality photos of their horses, be sure to give Mike a quick email on Mikejmcnally@aol.com or call him directly at 301 829 6759!

Crackjack

Thanks again for all your photos from over the years....you've been very generous to both Silva and I.

Cheers ~ Boyd

Master Frisky

Photos from Day One at the Kentucky Dressage Assn. CDI

Michael Barisone and Jeff the Chef W

Silva and Rosa Cha W at the Veterinary Inspection

Michael Schooling Silva on Rosa Cha W in the Rolex Arena

Rosa Cha Passes the Jog at KDA CDI

I worked with Michael this morning at the Kentucky Horse Park and Rosa was great! She loves the Rolex Arena, with all the atmosphere.

Michael is riding a different horse in the CDI, but he’s been riding Jeff the Chef for a while now; they are a perfect match, both big and strong!  I hadn’t seen Jeff go in a while and he looks fabulous. We want to sell him because he’s really too big for me, and Michael is looking to put together a syndicate so that he can keep the ride on him. Heath Ryan bred Jeff in Australia and Boyd bought him as a foal. I brought him up through the levels to Grand Prix, and it's exciting to see him going so well. I think that they have the potential to go to Normandy together and it would be so exciting if we could potentially have a couple of our horses there!

Rosa was her princess self at the jog: she loves every aspect of competition including the jog; she stands very still for the judges, pricking her ears and posing for the photos so that went really went. It was raining so we got wet at the jog, but it’s supposed to be nice all weekend.

Rosa and I are the first to go after the break tomorrow morning at 9:27 in the Prix St. George. She’ll do the I-1 on Saturday and the I-1 Freestyle on Sunday. "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keyes is our music, put together by Anne Miller. She did a beautiful job putting it together. This will be our first time riding it and I think it’s going to be great. Usually by Sunday the horses are a bit tired but I think that with the music in the arena Rosa will be great, I’m looking forward to it. 

Due to uploading problems the photos will be posted separately.

-Silva

Rosa Cha in Kentucky to Compete in CDI

Rosa , Gracia and I arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park yesterday afternoon for the Kentucky Dressage Association CDI. Rosa traveled very well!

Michael Barisone and his wife Vera are also competing in the CDI. I worked Rosa with Michael this morning in the Rolex arena; the trot up is at 5pm.

Here is a recent video of a lesson on Rosa with Michael at home in PA. Videos from Kentucky coming soon!