Many thanks to EN reader Pam Bennett-Skinner for sending us her event report from Santa Fe (NM). You may remember Pam’s past event report from St. Johns earlier this spring; we appreciate her view from the West Coast! If you attend an event as competitor, spectator, or volunteer, please send us your recap and photos at [email protected]– we love seeing events across the country (and throughout the world). Thanks to Pam for writing, and thank you for reading.
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Denise Krause-Spangler and Cheval on the Novice course
From Pam:
Greetings from the desert! This time of year it feels a little less dry due to the “monsoon rains.” Starting mid-summer almost daily afternoon thunderstorms deliver much needed moisture. Sometimes a little too much, as it can cause flash flooding, but it greens up the desert.
This weekend was the Event At Santa Fe, formerly the Event At Goose Downs. Dressage and Stadium Jumping were held at the Santa Fe Equestrian Center, Cross-Country was held 30 minutes away at Goose Downs Farm. The Equestrian Center was a great venue and gave us an opportunity to do Stadium Jumping on a polo field.
What's this green stuff?
The Tom Angle designed XC course at Goose Downs had a good variety of jumps for all the levels, including Pre-Comp (our intro division in Area X, jumps up to 2’.)
Some of the locals overseeing the course walk.
Laura Welsh with Whimsical on the Preliminary course
Heather Morris and Sportsfield Maisie Grey at Intermediate
The Event at Santa Fe hosts a Team Challenge, where a different rider does each of the three disciplines. The dressage is done by a rider from the New Mexico Center for Therapeutic Riding, the stadium by an international level rider (this year Mike Huber and Heather Morris,) and cross-country by a Pony Clubber. Each team has a color and every member uses the team saddle pad during their ride. After the rides are over everyone signs the pads and then they’re given to the therapeutic rider.
Jenna Fults and Romeo, Pony Clubber for the Teal team, going over the Pre-Comp table.
Other than a problem with the scoring for Beginner Novice, the weekend went smoothly and was a lot of fun. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers for a great event!
The author with her pony, Better Than Ice Cream, having a fabulous time at Beginner Novice.
