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Ryans Horses

Maryland Horse Trials

The Maryland Horse Trials is a great event to prime the horses for the international CIC's and CCI's that are coming up, and to get the training and sales horses out for a run to see how they've come along. This past weekend I competed eight horses on Saturday, four at intermediate, one at prelim and four at training level, and two prelim horses on Sunday.

It was great to be riding Remington, Shatzi and Benwald who are all gearing up for the CCI***-W at Wit's End in Canada next month. Remi went his best ever, winning the OI-A with 34.5. Benwald came a creditable eighth in the same division, his first run since The Fork in April, where he pulled both front shoes on cross-country. He was foot sore after that and we've been playing around with his shoeing and seem to have him back on track.

Shatzi W scored 36.2 to finish sixth in OI-B. I also finished 13th on Select, a catch-ride who belongs to the organizer of the event. She was too busy to ride him and he just flew around for me.

In training level I rode an exciting mare called Sancerre who belongs to Sandra Ranke, a fashion designer for the catwalks of New York City. Sancerre is a gorgeous Dutch/French cross mare who placed second with a 33.7 in her first run at training level.

The rest of the day was spent with three catch-rides that I had never sat on before. Two of them, Zack and Wrandels, belong to my friend Betty Adams, who is ill with shingles right now, so I hopped aboard and spun them around for her. The other horse is Clover Sky, an Irish horse that's just getting established at training level and gave me a great go this weekend.

On Sunday I brought Minotaure du Passoir out for his first run since the Bromont three-day event in Canada and he placed fourth in preliminary A with 39. In Prelim B I rode Double Exposure, a new horse that's in for training and sale. He's a classy seven-year-old Thoroughbred and finished fourth as well on 39.6.

For complete results click here.

Now Silva and I are on vacation for a few days, living it up in Las Vegas, doing a bit of gambling and catching some entertainment before we get back to work on Thursday.

-Boyd

RIP Highland Hogan

Our condolences to Faye Woolfe and her daughter Eliza on the loss of Highland Hogan, who was struck by lightning in his pasture. Faye also owns Ying Yang Yo, who Boyd competed to the four-star level. Eliza was competing Hogan at the lower levels after he had retired from upper-level competition with US Olympian Becky Holder (Becky and Highland Hogan were the U.S. Eventing Team's alternates for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia). This is a tragic loss and we send them all the best.

-Boyd and Silva

Note: The above photo is courtesy of Faye Woolfe. Faye included the following note:

It has been so hard but in time the wonderful, incredible memories will replace our tears.

[The photo] was taken a year and half ago at Eliza's very first event that Hogan so gallantly took her through placing first. It was such a memorable day that we will always cherish. I bought Hogan when he was 3 1/2 years old and Eliza was 3 months old! It all came full circle that day with Hogan, Becky, Eliza and I enjoying the moment.

Silva's Horses are Stars in Lexington, Virginia

I had a good weekend showing at Dressage at Lexington, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia riding Jeff, Concorde and Sea Lord in the Prix St. Georges Challenge. It was a huge class with 45 horses.

Jeff did a good test, finishing fourth, and he feels like he is ready for his first CDI in Saugerties, New York.

The PSG Challenge was the first PSG for Concorde and I am very impressed with his performance. He was a little green but he tried his heart out and only made a few little mistakes. He finished fifth.

The Challenge was also Sea Lord's (pictured at right with Caitlin Silliman) first PSG. He was a little excited and made lots of little mistakes, which hurt our score; but the good news is that I rode him on Sunday in the Open PSG and he was a star and we won on 69%! I am so exited about that win because I really think he is going to develop into a super star!!!

Concorde also went in the Open PSG on Sunday and he did a great test to finish third on 66%.

I am so proud of these two horses. They did better than I expected for their first time in FEI competition!

Jeff competed in the Intermediaire 1 Challenge on Sunday. I was a little worried about him getting tired in the test, so I pushed him in the warm up a little more. He can get a little lazy on the second day and I was not going to let him die on me in the ring again. I had to ride every step in the ring and I thought that the hard work paid off: it was a very expressive test and I thought we did very well. I was shocked to see that the judge hated it! But dressage is a subjective sport and that is just the way it goes sometimes, and that is okay. I am glad I rode him the way I did because now Jeff knows that he still has to work on the second day in the ring.

I also rode Sheelagh's horse Comet V, (pictured top of page), who was outstanding! He was a star both days and won with great scores in both his tests. I am very excited about riding him in more shows. He is very reliable and has the biggest heart! With Sheelagh keeping him going for me at home and Comet and I getting along the way we do, we have a great time together. Comet has won the last five tests that we did together, and we are looking forward to more success.

I also rode Fernhill Figaro in two second level tests on Saturday and Sunday. He is such a good boy, very easy to have around and always reliable in the ring. He finished fourth on Saturday in a big class and sixth on Sunday. He is ready to move up to third level soon.

I would like to thank Caitlin and Devon very very much for all their great help this weekend - I could have not done all that without them!

-Silva

Calypso X Sold

Sadly for me today Calypso X was sold to a new rider in Ohio. She's been a fantastic mare that I've had in training for the past six weeks. I had the opportunity to compete her in two prelim horse trials; in her last start at Surefire Farm, she was one of only two horses to jump a clear show jumping round and she finished in second place.

Calypso's new owner, Suzanne, trains alongside my good friend Theresa Evans. The past owners of the horse are a good mate of mine from Washington, DC, Donovan Cunningham, and his daughter Mara. They've been good friends of mine since arriving in this country, having met them at the first clinic I taught in Maryland back in 2007. Mara recently completed high school and is now pursuing her higher education at the University of Vermont, whilst Donovan is working hard for the U.S. government and helping the Native Americans establish better living arrangements in their communities across America.

Congratulations to Suzanne and the best of luck with this very talented horse.

-Boyd

Photo: Will Rogers and Trigger

Great Clinic in Sunny Northern California

On the July 4th weekend I was lucky enough to jet up to Meg Finn's barn near San Fransisco, California to give a hand teaching at the magnificent Stanford Barn on Saturday, and then out at the Woodside X-country course on Sunday.



Saturday was sensational. I was teaching show jumping lessons and soaking up the sun. The riders worked on tough bending lines and a few bounces.


I set up one really tough line which caused plenty of action. The highlight of my day was meeting Bob Garcia; Bob was a real crowd pleaser, having two falls in the lesson.




On Sunday we all took a 15-minute drive to the Woodside Equestrian Park. Woww!! What a facility. A great cross-country course that had jumps ranging from Beginner Novice up to Advanced. The lessons went great. I really felt every rider was challenged. It was great to see my old mate, Castleview, at the clinic. His new rider, Katherine gave him a great ride. Again, the highlight of the day was watching Big Bob go flying off his horse after he cleared the training fence at the water jump.


A big thanks to Meg, as she really looked after me on my first trip to California.

-Boyd

Thanks to Rick Hyman, whose daughter rode in the clinic for sharing his fantastic photos. A few are posted here and many more are posted on his website: check it out here.

Upcoming Clinic Sponsored by ENYDCTA

Beginner Novice through Training Level Clinic

School Water, Ditches & Banks at the Old Chatham Horse Trial Site

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Groups of 4 -5 riders In 2 hour sessions

Members: $100 Non-Members: $140

There is no x-c fee so the ENYDCTA are passing the savings on to members.

Auditor fees apply – one free with each clinic rider

Don’t miss this great opportunity - sign up early!

For more information contact:

Susan Ripley:
518-882-1863 (eve.)
518-928-4805 (cell)
stirip@aol.com

Volunteer Help Welcome

Proof of Negative Coggins Required