The Area II Training Training Three-Day Auction begins today! Be sure to visit the site and bid on lessons with Boyd and Silva!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Bid on Lessons with Boyd and Silva!
The Area II Training Training Three-Day Auction begins today! Be sure to visit the site and bid on lessons with Boyd and Silva!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Georgia or Bust..and a Brush with The Law
Yesterday we had our fourteen-hour drive from PA down to Atlanta, GA with Remington, Neville, Charla and Summer for this weekend’s AEC. My heart stopped when halfway through Georgia I saw blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror but luckily it was not the highway patrol, it was animal health inspectors. I’m glad to say all my horses’ health certificates, Coggins tests and vaccinations were up to date so I managed to continue my trip unscathed.
Chattahoochee Hills is an amazing venue. It’s my first time here and it looks like a nice place to spend the next couple of weeks, hopefully, in preparation for the WEG. All the horses shipped well and look to be in good condition to compete in this weekend’s event.
Summer competes on Thursday in the novice and the other three go on Friday.
-Boyd
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
FAIR FIONA W SOLD
Our home bred mare Fair Fiona W was sold last week to Janet Rubino from Malvern, PA, who is an amateur who trains with Rebecca Cord. I’m very excited that Fiona has gone to such a good home and will have such good training. We knew that they got on straight away: Janet’s a very nice, soft rider, which Fiona likes, and they look beautiful together. Since they’re in the area I will see them around and I’m looking forward to seeing them out at their first show. We had Fiona all her life and had two colts out of her, so it was kind of hard to let her go, but we’re happy that she’s going to a nice home with good people.
NJ Dressage
Silva and Caitlin spent Labor day weekend at a dressage show at the New Jersey Horse Park with four horses:
Larry and Melinda Waltons’ young mare, Constantina RRS, is only four years old and this was her first show. She was so good, she just walked on the trailer with everyone else, and at the show I got on her straightaway and she went in the big arena and was great. She won her first class with 74% and then straight afterwards she did the Materiale class four four-year-old mares and was second with a 76% to Chris Hickey. That was pretty impressive for such a baby – she had the best time, she loved to go to the show!
“Cece” came to me about six weeks ago and hadn’t even been out of the round pen yet, so she was still very green. Melinda and Larry did a really good job; it’s unbelievable how they handle all their young horses. The horses are so worldly and never have had anything bad happen to them. Melinda spends a lot of time with them so they are very good, they’ve been handled so much and so well and that makes a big difference.
Video of Cece:
Duvent
I also rode Duvent, who is also owned by Melinda and Larry. At Saugerties he was very wild and I still had to get to know him – he was good but a little bit excited. This time he was so much better! I knew what to do with him and he warmed up well and went straight into the ring. He won 2nd level test 3 with 68% on the first day and was 2nd in 2nd level test 4 with 65%. On Saturday he won 2nd level test 3 with 69% and was 3rd in 2nd test 4 with 66% and finally he was second level champion!
He is now qualified for the BLM and GAIG finals, which is exciting – we still have a month to prepare and I think we have a good chance at the finals. I’m glad I took him in all these classes this weekend to get him qualified. I’ve got him entered in the second level championships there and then in 3rd level the next day – he’s ready for it.
Videos of Duvent:
Sarah Reece came to watch Rosa – here's a photo:
Rosa Cha W took a little time off the first day – it was my fault! She’s been doing so well every time out and it was a hot windy day and I didn’t really feel like competing, which is bad when you’re at a competition! I was also wearing some spiky spurs from another horse and I should have switched with Caitlin, who was also at the warm-up. Rosa warmed up a little wild and I thought she’d be fine, but then they said it’s time to go in. I thought, “Oh shit…” as she was snorting and still a bit wild. We went in and she was up like a champion but when I asked her to canter I just touched her with a spur and she squealed and bucked and had the best time! She’s a very electric horse, which is going to be awesome when she gets to Grand Prix, but this was a reminder that I still have to ride her! I’m glad that happened because it’s a reminder when I get to the BLM final that I have to ride her more the first day. She still got 65%, which is low for her but not bad. She was still a little up the next day but was much better: still a little tense, but she scored 69% in training level. She will go to the finals and I will definitely be ready for her there!
This weekend Caitlin rode Zanadoo, a sales horse owned by Sara Hughes, at his first dressage show. I had Caitlin ride him because I wanted to see how he’d do with a little bit less experienced rider than me and he was great: he trailered well and didn’t spook at anything. He did 1st level and was 2nd the first day with 66%, then placed 3rd on the second day with 65%, again at first level. I don’t think it will take long to sell him: he’s an Oldenburg gelding, only six years old, and he looks beautiful and was so easy to ride.
-Silva
Larry and Melinda Waltons’ young mare, Constantina RRS, is only four years old and this was her first show. She was so good, she just walked on the trailer with everyone else, and at the show I got on her straightaway and she went in the big arena and was great. She won her first class with 74% and then straight afterwards she did the Materiale class four four-year-old mares and was second with a 76% to Chris Hickey. That was pretty impressive for such a baby – she had the best time, she loved to go to the show!“Cece” came to me about six weeks ago and hadn’t even been out of the round pen yet, so she was still very green. Melinda and Larry did a really good job; it’s unbelievable how they handle all their young horses. The horses are so worldly and never have had anything bad happen to them. Melinda spends a lot of time with them so they are very good, they’ve been handled so much and so well and that makes a big difference.
Video of Cece:
DuventI also rode Duvent, who is also owned by Melinda and Larry. At Saugerties he was very wild and I still had to get to know him – he was good but a little bit excited. This time he was so much better! I knew what to do with him and he warmed up well and went straight into the ring. He won 2nd level test 3 with 68% on the first day and was 2nd in 2nd level test 4 with 65%. On Saturday he won 2nd level test 3 with 69% and was 3rd in 2nd test 4 with 66% and finally he was second level champion!
He is now qualified for the BLM and GAIG finals, which is exciting – we still have a month to prepare and I think we have a good chance at the finals. I’m glad I took him in all these classes this weekend to get him qualified. I’ve got him entered in the second level championships there and then in 3rd level the next day – he’s ready for it.
Videos of Duvent:
Sarah Reece came to watch Rosa – here's a photo:
Rosa Cha W took a little time off the first day – it was my fault! She’s been doing so well every time out and it was a hot windy day and I didn’t really feel like competing, which is bad when you’re at a competition! I was also wearing some spiky spurs from another horse and I should have switched with Caitlin, who was also at the warm-up. Rosa warmed up a little wild and I thought she’d be fine, but then they said it’s time to go in. I thought, “Oh shit…” as she was snorting and still a bit wild. We went in and she was up like a champion but when I asked her to canter I just touched her with a spur and she squealed and bucked and had the best time! She’s a very electric horse, which is going to be awesome when she gets to Grand Prix, but this was a reminder that I still have to ride her! I’m glad that happened because it’s a reminder when I get to the BLM final that I have to ride her more the first day. She still got 65%, which is low for her but not bad. She was still a little up the next day but was much better: still a little tense, but she scored 69% in training level. She will go to the finals and I will definitely be ready for her there!
This weekend Caitlin rode Zanadoo, a sales horse owned by Sara Hughes, at his first dressage show. I had Caitlin ride him because I wanted to see how he’d do with a little bit less experienced rider than me and he was great: he trailered well and didn’t spook at anything. He did 1st level and was 2nd the first day with 66%, then placed 3rd on the second day with 65%, again at first level. I don’t think it will take long to sell him: he’s an Oldenburg gelding, only six years old, and he looks beautiful and was so easy to ride.
-Silva
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Ambassador’s Rose Sold!
Congratulations to our good friend Jackie Gilbertson of Maryland who bought Kristin and Andy Sparks' beautiful mare Ambassador’s Rose last week. Many thanks to Kristin and Andy, who brought this mare to us for her breaking in and training.
Jackie trains with both me and Silva and also is a proud part-owner of Silva’s promising dressage horse Rosa Cha. It looks like Ambassador's Rose is going to live the good life down in Dickerson, Maryland with Jackie, who is excited about her new project of training a young, talented horse for eventing and dressage.
Final Gallop in PA
With the hot summer making the ground hard, it was a big morning at Michael Dickinson’s training facility. Several event riders were busy there this morning: Phillip, Buck, Bruce and I
were down there galloping horses in preparation for their final outing before the World Equestrian Games, at the AEC next week. Both Neville and Remington galloped beautifully. I chose to gallop them up the hill head to head with Sara Gumblier riding Remington. Putting Remington side by side with Neville the ex-racehorse definitely makes him gallop easier; both horses rocketed up the hill.
It’s a 1.8 mile track, all uphill, and we’re very lucky that Michael has allowed us to use this facility as it’s known worldwide as the ultimate place to gallop a horse. Obviously we are taking every extra step to make sure the horses get as fit as they can with the least trauma to their legs as possible. We’re very grateful to use this training track, which is usually reserved for million-dollar racehorses.It’s been a busy week for fitness: Remington also had a swim on Wednesday at Merry Meadows swimming pool. I feel with his latest performance at Richland he has a real shot at getting on the WEG team so I am doing everything I can to make sure he and Neville are both fit as a fiddle.
On Monday night I am taking Summer, Charla, Remi and Neville down to Chattahoochee Hills for the American Eventing Championships. On Saturday both Neville and Remington have been excused from running cross-country, but the selectors want to simulate some sort of physical exertion, which means a gallop on the track first thing in the morning, so that the situation is similar to when the horses are competing. They will still also then show jump after having strenuous exercise the day before.
Chatt Hills will be home for me and my groom Andrea Beech for the next month, as the Monday after the championships it turns into the US training camp. The squads will be officially announced the Tuesday after the AEC’s after the vetting of the horses is complete.
-Boyd
Monday, August 30, 2010
Richland Park CIC***
On the weekend I drove up to Richland Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan to compete in the CIC*** on my two advanced horses Remington and Neville. I also took along Kate Hicks’s Phenomenon, a new ride for me, as well as Ron and Densey Juvonen’s Charla in the prelim.
The US team selectors and vets were all watching and Richland was basically a mandatory outing for all short-listed horses, so it was the first time this summer that these guys were lining up against the other horses from the US and Canada looking at the WEG.
I had a conservative run at Millbrook a couple of weeks ago just to make sure they are both nice and fit and came out of Kentucky well; this weekend I decided to let them run on a little more, not only to show the selectors we’re on form but also as a fitness run before the Games in September.
The good thing is both Neville and Remington XXV, who is owned by Ron and Densey, put in stellar performances this weekend, especially Remi, who shone in the dressage, being the highest-placed US contender. He hardly faulted from there, cruising around cross-country inside the time but having an unlucky rail in the show jumping. I think he really put his best foot forward and let everyone know he is in fit form. He was second overall and the highest-placed US horse of the competition.
EventingNation posted this video on Youtube along with their great coverage of Richland. Remi appears around 4:30. They also posted a photo of Remi on cross-country.
The USEA Blog also featured comprehensive coverage of the event with some great photos of the horses on cross-country and stadium. Click here for more stadium photos...
Neville ran fourth in the three-star. I also felt like he is gaining momentum the closer we get to the final selection. Both horses had such impressive performances that I have been given the nod from Mark Phillips to opt out of running the cross-country at the AEC and just do the dressage and show jumping to ensure the horses are fresh and sound at the WEG.
They both endured a very extensive veterinary evaluation on Monday morning, which was favorable for both of them.
The ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Phenomenon showed promise in her first two-star outing. I’m lucky enough to get the ride on this mare thanks to my good friend Kate Hicks getting pregnant. Phenomenon finished a credible eighth overall.
Last but nowhere least was Ron and Densey’s young horse Charla who is getting better and better, every event we go to. She had a flawless performance in the open prelim, winning the dressage, clear and under time on cross-country and foot perfect in show jumping to finish on a score of 29 and winning overall. She’s an exciting horse for the future and I think in time she’ll be a world-class international horse.
-Boyd
Complete results are located at EventEntries.com
The US team selectors and vets were all watching and Richland was basically a mandatory outing for all short-listed horses, so it was the first time this summer that these guys were lining up against the other horses from the US and Canada looking at the WEG.
I had a conservative run at Millbrook a couple of weeks ago just to make sure they are both nice and fit and came out of Kentucky well; this weekend I decided to let them run on a little more, not only to show the selectors we’re on form but also as a fitness run before the Games in September.
The good thing is both Neville and Remington XXV, who is owned by Ron and Densey, put in stellar performances this weekend, especially Remi, who shone in the dressage, being the highest-placed US contender. He hardly faulted from there, cruising around cross-country inside the time but having an unlucky rail in the show jumping. I think he really put his best foot forward and let everyone know he is in fit form. He was second overall and the highest-placed US horse of the competition.
EventingNation posted this video on Youtube along with their great coverage of Richland. Remi appears around 4:30. They also posted a photo of Remi on cross-country.
The USEA Blog also featured comprehensive coverage of the event with some great photos of the horses on cross-country and stadium. Click here for more stadium photos...
Neville ran fourth in the three-star. I also felt like he is gaining momentum the closer we get to the final selection. Both horses had such impressive performances that I have been given the nod from Mark Phillips to opt out of running the cross-country at the AEC and just do the dressage and show jumping to ensure the horses are fresh and sound at the WEG.
They both endured a very extensive veterinary evaluation on Monday morning, which was favorable for both of them.
The ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Phenomenon showed promise in her first two-star outing. I’m lucky enough to get the ride on this mare thanks to my good friend Kate Hicks getting pregnant. Phenomenon finished a credible eighth overall.
Last but nowhere least was Ron and Densey’s young horse Charla who is getting better and better, every event we go to. She had a flawless performance in the open prelim, winning the dressage, clear and under time on cross-country and foot perfect in show jumping to finish on a score of 29 and winning overall. She’s an exciting horse for the future and I think in time she’ll be a world-class international horse.
-Boyd
Complete results are located at EventEntries.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
