South Carolina adventures for the pair!

Some of you may know that Bill and I are building a barn apartment on our farm in Johnston, SC (just 10 miles north of Aiken, SC). We are almost done with the framing and will start with the systems in the new year.

This year, we took two weeks vacation down there to speak with the contractors, move walls and make little adjustments to the plan at a stage when the changes are nothing more than a sketch change on the plans. It was great!

We 'camped' in the barn with the beagles and a full sized futon.. to say it was challenging is an understatement. However, its definately more than camping because we had electricity, wi-fi connectivity, water nearby and a fresh port-a pot!~ We grilled on a BBQ and enjoyed camp fires and Pao Lin worked the horses every day!

Some days, I worked the horses as individuals/singles and some days because I had Bill's help, worked them as pairs. They were terrific troopers .

I ended my vacation with a lesson with a national champion, Muffy Seaton and then a low key ADT event at Shepard's Purse Farm in Windsor, SC.

Teddy Bear Trot- an adventure!

The day started off auspiciously.. beautiful weather, plenty of time to prepare and lots of helpers on hand.  I scored a decent enough dressage score with the pair of big kids.. their first public performance as a pair! Then descended into the abbiss....I went into the finish gate before I even finished the cones course and was disqualified. What a horrendous mistake.. well, we all learn the hard way! Finding out later that had I put in a half decent cones score, I may have won the Combined Test (Cones and Dressage) for training pairs.

I split the pair after lunch and took Rascal. I thought he did a decent enough dressage test, we bumped 4 cones on a very tight cones course. I was disheartened. It sure didn't help that he screamed for his sister who was tied to the trailer the entire time. So embarrassing! So I readied myself and took him out for a clean and speedy Teddy Bear Trot.

To my tremendous surprise... we won! Just goes to show.. don't give up until the very end!

Wonderful drive at the Comegy Creek Farm in Chestertown

Could it have been nicer? Don't think so! Drove my pair of 'kids' all over the most beautiful farm located on Comegie's bite, near Chestertown, MD on the Chester River. The Hewes family outdid themselves with hospitality! There was a fun cones course set up with a timer on site, an regulation dressage ring and a hugh fun cross country course. The pair were marvelous, very much instep and considering it was their first time doing a dressage test.. I was very impressed with them! It was also their first cones course so of course... we're going to the BVDC Teddy Bear trot and embarrass ourselves on Sunday.. stay tuned :-)

My new carriage! I'm so psyched!

Well, I finally broke down and ordered a custom carriage for my big horses. As you may know, I've been looking for 2+ years for a 4 wheel vehicle which I could use with my big 'kids' (17.2 and 18 hands) and nothing out there was suitable. Actually, I rushed into buying something very cute but now I find out it was too short! Okay to play with but not show in. I even took it to Fairhill for the Mid Atlantic Drive. The long and 'tall' of it was that I was going to be looking for a long time for what I wanted and most likely, it would be a compromise of something. So.. heck.. it's only money.

From Shelly R. of Kuzmann Carriage from Poland.. Here it is

Hurricane Irene is history!

All is well at Jade Acres, home of the magnificent (biased of course!) North American Spotted Draft horses. Irene came in 'like a lion' and dumped about 6 inches of rain and now we have 30-40 mph winds with a 60 mph gust. The casualties include: 1 tree, 1 fence board and a port-a pot. We are blessed :-)

Fair Hill Mid Atlantic American Driving Society Weekend- Woo Hooo

We had a fabulous drive today with the pair at the Mid-Atlantic American Driving Society's Weekend at Fair Hill. Martha M. and Michael L. were my grooms. Despite the 5 inches of rain they had the night before, the trails were still reasonable and firm. This pair was at their best and have progressed amazingly. I was very happy at their calmnest over some very scary obstacles. We did the FH tunnel (oooh scary!) the water crossing (oooh very scary!!) and the bridge over water (oooh very very scary!!) but survived with a big smile on all faces


http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/

Trying to stay busy and keep the horses in shape but...

Throughout the country, we are all facing record temperatures. Yikes! Its really hard to keep your horses in shape with this kind of weather. Fortunately, you have the choice of getting up and doing things at 7am to avoid the hottest time of the day. I drove my mare at a beautiful historic farm in Kent County, MD last weekend. What a glorious morning! Fresh breeze off the Sassafrass river, sun kissing our skin but not burning (yet!) and wonderful yummies afterwards with good friends. Love my life!

SO HOT SO HOT.. "Sung to the tune of the Defenders..."

Yes, I feel like a lyric in a pop tune.. I have had two successive drives scheduled at Fair Hill Natural Management Resource Area.. (just the most fabulous place to ride and drive). Both have been cancelled due to extreme heat indexes.. I mean 100 degrees F and more!

As a result, I have been frustrated with this predicament and have cancelled both events due to health concerns for myself and my horses.

Wow.. is it hot!

Well here in the Mid-Atlantic, its the hottest time of the year and this week is no exception! Hopefully, when you are concerned about yourself and your children, don't forget your pets and horses! Lots of fresh water and shade and fans if available. Its not forever but you'll do alot for them if you take action now.Hot Weather Tips

Just call me the "queen of green"

After a frustrating weekend at the Susquehanna Whips and Wheels show, (e.g. too many 6th place ribbons) extremely tough competition and a long pair of days, I've decided to maybe keep working on my progress, skip some shows and go down a division or two. I'm just not ready for the big leagues yet! sigh :-(

I now have a 2nd riding horse.. WHOOOO HOOOO!!!

Went on a lovely trail ride with my friend Michael L. on my green and black and white mare, she was a dream boat. Only one little spooky thing, piece of rubber mat layover over a culvert, deep ditch on both sides so I decided not to school today :-). I'm so tickled with her!!

Next up- Susquehanna Whips and Wheels 2 day show

Ever heard about the "Traditional Day of Driving" events which are popping up everywhere? Well they include a 1) Road trip-where the driver and horse encounter road sort of hazards commonly scene. Quite often, a parade is included in this portion of the day, 2) A Turn Out class- where the appropriateness of harness- carriage and then horse-outfit is assessed. This is where fit and appropriateness take precedence over pretty~ (or at least it's suppose to take precedence), 3) Progressive Cones class which is wear the simple cones class offers the team of driver and rider progressively narrower and narrower cones to navigate. Clean and fast will when the day!

Susquehanna Whips and Wheels, a club based in Williamsport, PA offers its 2 day show which includes a standard Pleasure Show format on day 1 and the traditional day format on day 2.

Hope to do well but regardless it is such great fun, we go with friends and eat and drink up a storm!

Show 3 of the 2011 season is done!

We can assume that when we progress through the season, we get better. Well not always! I possibly 'over-thought' this year's Brandywine Valley Pleasure show's Cones Classes. I planned and planned, various expeditious routes over scurry and your route-my route. The result? I competed both courses (no DQ or eliminations THIS year, LOL) but man, were we slow! Lost my way (Bah Bah Blacksheep)_on the Your Route-My Route course.. "Cone #4 WHERE ARE YOU???"

Oh well, next show is the most fun anyway.. its a 2 day show in Hughesville, PA called Susquehanna Whips and Wheels and a ton of friends come up and party together.

Gearing up for the Brandywine Valley Driving Association Show

Well its almost show time and it will be the fourth show of the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Carriage Driving season. I find myself surprising unenthusiastic about this show. Don't know but perhaps a little apprehensive about the heat. You see, last year was probably the most inhospitable weather during the BVDC show. Pictures of the others all displayed extremely red faced and hot exhibitors.

This year, Brandywine is showing 15 ponies in the Single Pony Division.. YIKES!!!! Thank goodness I don't drive ponies :-). I don't really have the carriage setup for the pair at this time so I am going to continue and school my big guy, Rascal at the next two Mid-Atlantic shows. Fortunately, there is a draft horse like division, so that's where we will be! I'm not keen on competing against the like of the semi-pros (Open Horse) or the semi-pros (Multiples Division). Sigh.. it may be my fate next year.