We appreciate Colleen Hofstetter for sending us this article about three Floridians who make a trip north for the summer– the opposite drive that many eventers face each winter. It sounds like Marcea, Debbie, and Caroline have had a great time and learned a lot! Again, thanks to Colleen for writing and thank you for reading.
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Snow Birds in Reverse!
By Colleen Hofstetter
So what’s it called when the fair folks of Florida head north for the summer? Snow birds in reverse! Not bad planning – considering that the weather in Florida during the summer is HHH – hazy, hot, and humid! And this year the summer started out with more than a foot of precipitation – makes it kinda hard to keep event horses fit and in training. With that in mind, three Floridians have traveled north for the summer and have exchanged the HHH weather of Florida for cooler HHH weather in Virginia! Whatever the weather, there are many advantages to spending a summer in VA!
Marcea Funk of Jacksonville FL, Debbie Foote of Tallahassee FL, and Caroline Mandeville of Callahan FL all made the trek north with their horses and are ensconced at Sara Kozumplik’s Overlook Farm in Berryville VA. Why? Well as Debbie explains, “In one week I had lessons with Linda Zang, jump schools with Brian Murphy, and went to a horse trial in MD.” Now that’s keeping your horse in training! Marcea and Caroline agree. “Not much happening in FL right now. The horses get bored going to the same venue over and over. This summer will give me a chance to get to know a new horse I have and I can keep him in training,” noted Marcea. Marcea regularly trains with Karen O’Connor and Brian Murphy. Knowing that Karen would probably not be spending much time in VA didn’t deter Marcea, who is concentrating on getting to know her new partner Basil Brush. “I’ll be able to work with Karen for a short period of time in late summer; and I really believe event riders need to train with professional show jumping coaches to help build and develop proper jumping skills. It influences riders and horses to better negotiate our courses but also to develop better balance in the canter, something that can only help us out on XC. Usually event riders spend January in Palm Beach or Wellington working on their stadium. So now my new horse will be getting some extensive training time working with Brian throughout the summer.”
Marcea with Basil Brush
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This intrepid group of gals made the trip north at different times and each has different goals. Caroline has come north trying to find a new horse to replace her steady-eddie lower level horse. “I’m thinking I would like to look for something with a bit of experience – something that could be competitive at the prelim level. So I figured – there must be lots of horses to look at in VA!” Horses have a way of coming out of the woodwork, so Caroline has been able to get in extra riding in addition to keeping her horse going. Marcea and her new partner, Basil Brush, are still getting to know each other. “He has had some time off and seems to be enjoying getting back into the game. He’s a great jumper and has taken well to a new program. We are doing some re-educating and changing the approach on some things. Regular dressage lessons with Linda Zang have been a tremendous influence. If I were in FL now I would still be drying out from all the rain and would have missed weeks of training time. I’m not in a big hurry with this horse, but I do want to keep his education going.” Debbie brought several horses with her and each has a different goal, but to specifically work with Brian Murphy on show jumping. “Brian has really turned my riding around and I want to keep that going. I have a young event horse – Ziggy – that is coming along quite well, and then I have my old buddy with me, Frankie, and we are still deciding what will be his next career move.” Long, hot days in the VA sun has brought great results : at Upperville and Culpepper both Ziggy and Basil had high placings in the level 3 and level 4 jumpers – even winning some money which is always welcome!! Debbie also has a very young super star in the making that has been spending some extended time with Brian – practice makes perfect!
Debbie schooling Frankie on the flat.
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So what have the southern transplants been up too? The summer started off with the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, as well as Culpepper – a couple of times! XC schooling is a short hack across the street to Gordonsdale, and the girls checked out the lovely countryside at Seneca, Surefire, Loch Moy, and Stuart Horse Trials. In between has been Linda Zang dressage lessons as well as good ol’ country lane hacks through the beautiful VA scenery. This visit is a first for Caroline. “I had never been to Virginia before – it’s so beautiful! And the nights are so cool – the horses love it. In FL it is hot day and night, the horses never get a chance to really cool down. Here the cool air in the night time, as well as the fireflies, makes for a pretty picture!” Another first for Caroline is Middleburg – oh yes, the quintessentially quaint Middleburg. Good food and good shopping!
Caroline trying out a new horse.
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Marcea has had to travel back to FL every now and then to keep up with her Market Street Equestrian training business. “While I have my own goals for my horse, I also have clients that have goals for their horses as well, so I do feel a responsibility to be available to them also. It does take balancing and planning, but it’s what the northern folks do all winter.” Being from NY, Marcea knows quite well how to deal with seasonal issues. “I started coming south for the winter during the latter part of high school and eventually moved there with my husband Chris. I spent the summer in VA about two years ago training and competing and found it to be immensely helpful. I want to keep my new horse on the right track, but value my training clients as well, so this seems to be a good compromise.”
The girls will be competing at the main northern venues including the upcoming Millbrook and Richland. “Lots of miles on the truck and trailer, but might as well make the most of your time,” stated Marcea. “If you’re not out there learning and doing things, then you’re going backwards; I’m so thankful for the opportunity to do this and the horses I have to work with. I don’t want to miss a single chance to improve and work towards my long term goals.” Caroline has had to return to FL for work, but has lots to mull over and Debbie continues to make plans for her horses. All in all, a HHH summer in VA doesn’t sound bad at all! Good luck ladies and see you next year when us “original” snow birds put the pedal to the metal and head south!
