Well, like everyone else on the planet we have had terrible weather in North Carolina. So last Monday, Ashley Kriegal, Kate Fitzgerlad and I decided to go to Aiken for 5 days before Pine Top. It was the first time we were able to xc school, and Last Monarch was a total train wreck! He thinks it is so funny to run off with me after every jump, and me, not so much. I ventured over to P. Duddy's (Phillip's) for jump lessons on Stewie and a new ride, Cold Harbor. Both horses jumped great and it is always good to see everyone again. I also had a dressage lesson with Boyd's bride Silva which was AMAZING! She rode Stewie and I saw a trot on him I have never seen before. Silva had Stewie going better than I ever have, and while I felt like an idiot, I cannot wait until the next lesson! After 5 great days it was off to Pine Top.
The first show of the spring season is always a bit touch and go, and when you add 5 inches of snow, it becomes comical. I have to say Pine Top Farm did the most fantastic job with everything. I never thought the show would run as well as it did! While a bit stressful for the organizers and volunteers, it was however, one of the most beautiful Saturday mornings I have seen. Check out hoofclix.com to see what I am talking about. Anyway, Last Monarch was great. He tends to be quite a handful, especially early on in the season! But despite a few spins, leaps, and rears, he finished 2nd in the OI on his dressage score of 33.6. Because Ashley was riding (and won the prelim rider division) Kaylie O'Neal and Erin Sheets came to help out. While I tried to prepare them for dealing with the little monster at a competition, we all had a good laugh at the end of the weekend about how ridiculous Stewie is! Cold Harbor won his prelim division and is the total opposite of Stewie. I tell his owner Dana Diemer all the time he is "dreamy" compared to the wild man.
With the first show successfully completed, we are nowhome and will head back to Pine Top in 2 weeks. Both horses will move up a level, and like everyone else, I am hoping for better weather. Thanks to Chuck (my driver, chef, and cheerleader), Ashley, Kaylie, Cali, Erin, Dana, and Laura who made the weekend what is was. Will catch up in 2 weeks!
Holly Hudspeth
The first show of the spring season is always a bit touch and go, and when you add 5 inches of snow, it becomes comical. I have to say Pine Top Farm did the most fantastic job with everything. I never thought the show would run as well as it did! While a bit stressful for the organizers and volunteers, it was however, one of the most beautiful Saturday mornings I have seen. Check out hoofclix.com to see what I am talking about. Anyway, Last Monarch was great. He tends to be quite a handful, especially early on in the season! But despite a few spins, leaps, and rears, he finished 2nd in the OI on his dressage score of 33.6. Because Ashley was riding (and won the prelim rider division) Kaylie O'Neal and Erin Sheets came to help out. While I tried to prepare them for dealing with the little monster at a competition, we all had a good laugh at the end of the weekend about how ridiculous Stewie is! Cold Harbor won his prelim division and is the total opposite of Stewie. I tell his owner Dana Diemer all the time he is "dreamy" compared to the wild man.
With the first show successfully completed, we are nowhome and will head back to Pine Top in 2 weeks. Both horses will move up a level, and like everyone else, I am hoping for better weather. Thanks to Chuck (my driver, chef, and cheerleader), Ashley, Kaylie, Cali, Erin, Dana, and Laura who made the weekend what is was. Will catch up in 2 weeks!
Holly Hudspeth
*John Note: If you are interested in taking a clinic with Holly, she will be at Equiventure Farm in Rougemont, NC March 5-7, see Holly's site for more info. She will also be at Showman Farm in MI March 27-28, see the Area 8 website for more info. Holly will also be teaching at the Area 8 young rider camp in June, in which Holly has worked with riders such as Lauren Kieffer, Hannah Burnett, and even yours truly, but don't hold that against Holly. Also, be sure to check out Holly's Chapter 1 for a comment appearance by Holly's Hollybell's mom.
-thumb-350x318-986.jpg)
