The Porcupine Hill Chronicle
The June-July 2000 Archive
July 31:
What a great weekend!  Got a chance to ride, teach and swim and lounge about!  And the weather was wonderful!  We spent most of the weekend taking pictures with Adam's new digital camera.  I have added to and updated the Photo Album and put some pictures of Taleisen.  There is also a new photo of Kayleigh on the Sales Page.
I buzzed up to Ottawa on Sunday to help Renee warm up for her two classes at the City of Nepean show at the Nepean Equestrian Park.  Renee and Mayfair were 1st in their Basic 2 and 2nd in Basic 3 (first time at Basic 3!).  A very credible showing - congratulations, Renee!
Please note that I have fixed the panoramic image of the farm, so that it indeed "panoramic" instead of just tiny and wee :-).
People at shows are always asking after Kate/Catherine/Cliffie (aka "Pinkie", as in Pinkie and The Brain), since she hasn't been to too many of the shows lately.  Just to let you know that she is still alive and well, here's a picture of her!
Carolyn returned home from the Ontario Rowing Championships last eveing, having finished with a silver medal in the Junior Women's heavyweight 8 race - awesome performance, kiddo!
Aaron is actually working for a living, these days!  He's getting pretty excited about moving up to Kingston this fall.
Book of the Week is Household Gods by Judy Tarr and Harry Turtledove.  Judy is a Lippizan breeder, dressage enthusiast and a frequent contributor to the Dressage-L mailing list ... she's also a wonderful writer whose grasp of ancient history is rich with detail and dialogue, and historically accurate.  Harry I don't know at all :-(, but his additions to this novel haven't impaired the crisp narrative and almost visual discriptive quality that is usual with Judy's work.  A really great read for anyone even slightly interested in ancient Rome.
It looks like we will be making the trip to the Regional Championships in August - looking forward to another show, since all the horses are going so well.  I know that JT and Barb are going to make this show special.  Palgrave has been selected for the site of the Equestrian Events, should Toronto win it's bid to host the 2008 Olympics ... it's a pretty nice facility!  I also received a prize list for the Ontario Dressage Championships to be held at Hendervale Equestrian Park in late September.  Looking forward to visiting that excellent facility also. 
Hope everyone has a great week.
July 25:
The show at Blainville was great fun.   Bear was a really good boy, and placed 6th in the Intermediaire I in the CDI class, and then finished 7th in the Freestyle.   I was really pleased with his performance.  Louisa finsihed up extremely well in the Medium 2 on Sunday with a  59%.  Ron completed his very first CDI with Maxwell, ending up in the Freestyle and having a terrific learning experience.  The CIDRA party on Friday night was huge fun, and the Saturday evening performance of the Freestyles was a glitzy, fun evening, which was extremely well attended by an appreciative audience.
So now it's back at the farm for a few weeks anyways, and I will finally get to spend some time working with Taleisen, whom I will try to get out to a show in August.  He's such a talented young horse, I don't want to rush him, but I am also keen to start getting him "out and about" to see the sights and get used to showing.
Here is a great picture that Adam made.   It's a Panoramic view of the farm ... scroll to the right and it's like you were turning in a circle.  Adam made it with his new digital camera.
Book of the Week is The Neverending Story.   Renee lent me her copy of this timeless tale, and it was a treat to read.  The movie is great, but the book is better.
Am looking forward to doing some coaching at a couple of local shows here over the next two weeks - I'll be at the Park next weekend and at Windedge the weekend after.  Hope to see you there!
Have a great week.
July 12:
The Cornerstone Farms show at Palgrave was fun.  I rode Bear in the Prix St. George and Intermediaire 1 classes, and received good, fair scores from judges Poulin, Lamping and Rockwell (62.3% and 63.1%).  Bear was a pretty good boy - we still had some glitchies, but overall I was very happy with his attitude and and performances.  I had to slap myself several times after my Freestyle, though, as I stupidly forgot to ride the shoulder-ins ...
Ron and Max had another tour at PSG and I1, and placed fourth in the PSG on Sunday, in a big class with good competition.  Ron is feeling more confident now, and Max continues to be happy about his work at the level, although he put in a gorgeous piaffe in Saturday's I1 :-).  Renee and Louisa also rode at Palgrave - Renee had some very good learning moments, and Louisa made extremely good progress with the Medium 1 and 2, scoring over 60% and placing 3rd in the Medium 2 class on Friday.
OK, you have heard about it, here is finally a picture of our new gazebo.
We'll be of to Blainville next week for the CDI/W - the usual crew is making the trip, and we are looking forward to the Saturday evening freestyles - if you are planning to attend to watch, try to be there for this gala event.   Hope we see you there!

Have a great week!
June 26:
Our weekend was Super.  We spent it at the OADG Dressage Festival at the National Capital Equestrian Park.  Louisa and Waverley and Amanda and Sam (Emeritus) made the trip from our stable, and we also brought Maxwell along, for his debut under his new rider, Ron King.  Riders from Phantom Farms included Carolyn Rees-Potter with Phantom's Jocko and Renee Young with Mayfair.  Unsettled weather made the show a bit difficult on Sunday, when all the morning classes went in a driving downpour, but it did clear up for the afternoon.  As usual, "Big Al" at the NCEP had the rings in terrific shape, and the stabling was also excellent.  The show committee was friendly and accommodating as well, and everything ran pretty much tickety-boo.  ALL of my students made me very proud this weekend!
Louisa and Waverley did a good job.   They rode the Medium 1 and 2 classes, and, although they had lots of little mistakes, they both improved alot, and had some very nice work.   Unfortunately, lots of little mistakes really cost you a lot in Medium level, and so their scores weren't the best, but I am confident that they will dramatically improve over the next few weeks, as they both become more accustomed to working at the level, and get more comfortable with the tests.  Louisa is a fantastic young person who works very hard at her riding - I just know her determination is really going to pay off.
Amanda and Sam were wonderful.  Many of you will know that Sam was formerly a jumper, acquired late last summer for Amanda, and together they have made a huge improvement over the winter.  This weekend all their hard work came to fruition, and they were happy to place first in Basic 2C and Basic 3B, as well as 3rd place finishes in Basic 2B and Basic 3C.  This excellent showing earned them the Reserve Championship for the Basic Division.   I am thrilled for Amanda, and Sam, "The Carrot Man", was a real trouper, unfazed by rain, wind, puddles and the busy warm up area.  It was kind of cute, the announcer (who did an otherwise wonderful job) got Sam's name wrong the first day, announcing him as "Emer-i-tis", which we all decided was some sort of nasty, itchy disease!  On Sunday, she got is right, and announced him as Em-ERi-tus, which he truly was.
Renee and Mayfair had a very good show as well.  They won the Basic 2B on Saturday, and were second in the Basic 1C on Sunday, with a very high score (68.7%) from the European judge, Reinhard Seim.  Mayfair was a very good girl, and Renee did a good job riding.
Carolyn also did an excellent job with Jocko.   Jocko is a pretty amazing horse, who has done it all, over the years, and is lately come to dressage as a career, making the switch from hunt horse to dressage horse with great aplomb.  Carolyn and Jocko had a pretty good day on Saturday, with nice scores and placings in every class.
Ron was very nervous about showing Maxwell, and who could blame him?  Max is not the easiest horse to ride, and Ron had never shown at the FEI levels before, and has only been riding Max for about two weeks.   They had to show the Intermediaire I on Saturday, so it really was initiation by diving in with both feet.  In spite of nerves and some small mistakes (Max was pretty sure there were supposed to be some one-tempis in the test!), Ron rode quite well and received a 58% for his work, which placed him 2nd.  On Sunday, with fine weather and a calmer feeling about everything, Ron quietly earned a 63.8% in the Prix St. Georges to win the class.  There is still much work to do (of course, there always is!), but it is clear that this will make a nice combination.  I was pleased to see Max looking so happy in his work, although he did look at me a bit quizzically a few times, as if to say, "Why are you *there*, instead of up here?".  I admit I had a bit of a lump in my throat when Ron and Max headed down to the ring for their first test, but I was very proud of my horse for doing his job, and I am delighted that Ron will have the chance to get some experience and further his knowledge - Ron is a wonderful student, and it is great fun to teach him.   Max and Ron won the FEI Championship, and I feel that this is just the first of many successful outings for them.
This week is Birthday week ... on Monday, Ron officially becomes "middle-aged" :-), and on Tuesday is Adam's birthday.  Please feel free to send Adam congratulations on his birthday!  You know, he does so much to help and support with the horses, and he's a fabulous dad and an incredible partner  - I cannot adequately express to him what a great guy he is - so give me a hand here, friends, and say "Happy Birthday" :-).
One of these days I am going to HAVE to buy a new washing machine for the barn ...
Looking forward to welcoming Gary Simkin and Nantucket to the barn on Friday.  Gary has been a friend for quite a few years now, and I am thrilled that he has obtained a good horse and will be joining us.
And for myself, I guess this is really a year of change.   Thanks to all the people who came up and spoke with me about Max - I appreciate your support and kind words.  My students are the best people in the world :-) - thanks again for the opportunity to help you.  Although I am still riding Bear and will be showing him at the Advanced level this year, he is for sale, and I am actively looking for a new horse to ride - let me know if you know of any!
Song of the Week is "Raise a Little Hell", by that venerable Canadian Party Band, Trooper.  Figure it out.
Congratulations to my collegue Evi Strasser on her wonderful 4th place finish with Quantum Tyme at the World Championships for Young Horses in Arnhem, The Netherlands.  This is a fantastic achievement, and I know we will all look forward to seeing Evi represent Canada in the future with this outstanding horse.
Have a really good week.  Be sure to proudly celebrate Canada Day on the first.  We are so lucky to live in a great country where we have opportunity, freedom and wide open spaces - to say nothing of good friends, Trooper, great beer and a warped sense of humour. 
June 19:
The Trenton Dressage Festival took place over the weekend, and, in spite of lousy weather on Sunday, we had a pretty good show.   Renee and Mayfair, in their first show together placed in every class and received four scores over 60%, including one 66%, which was good for 2nd place in a big class of nice horses!  This was in fact Renee's first show EVER, so she did exceptionally well, although I think she was quite nervous!  Louisa and Waverley were challenged in their first attempt at the Young Rider's tests, but got through without forgetting the tests, and achieving some very nice moments.   For a "novice" pair, they did a good job.  Louisa rode intelligently, and Waverley tried, but they found the demands of the level a little daunting in actual competition.  Now that they have done it, they will return to the medium level and confirm the collection and flying changes, with a view to moving up to the FEI levels in 2001.  Bear (Daneel) was a pretty good boy, and put in two decent Prix St. Georges tests, with two scores over 60%.  If I had remembered the "new" halt-reinback at A, our score on the first day would have been better!  Won't make THAT mistake again!   Now, if I can just get my tailcoat dried out in time for Palgrave!
Our very good friend Larry had a wonderful surprise for me when I arrived home yesterday.  Apparently Larry has been finding the mosquitos a little thick for pleasant evenings sitting at the side of dressage ring drinking beer and watching the schooling.  So on the weekend, he build a pretty little gazebo next to Kenner's tree ... it's not quite finished yet (due to the rain), but I can visualize the screen and some nice hanging baskets.  I am sort of glad I wasn't there for the "gizzintas", but it's going to be fabulous!  I know it will make things a lot more pleasant on those buggy evenings!   Thank you, thank you, thank you, Larry - you are the BEST!
Our new paddocks are finished, and now we are planning to start on the latest project - a new, six-stall barn!   Plans and pictures as we go!
As you can see, we are now live with our own domain name.   I haven't changed my email yet, so you can still reach me at liz@cybertap.com.  Soon, I will have a new email address - liz@porcupinehill.com.  I have some plans for the site that I will implement as soon as I find the time - some streaming video and a guest book (options that weren't available through our cybertap account).   Many thanks to Paul Haggert at Superaje Communications for great support on setting up the new domain.
We will ALL be in Ottawa next weekend (24th & 25th) for the OADG Festival at the NCEP.  I think there might be some celebrating on Saturday evening at the stables, so bring a chair and a beer (or two!) and join us for an eveing of singing and good fellowship.
I am plodding through the second volume of Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Series.  There is ALOT of science in this book!   More science than fiction, actually!  I keep having to ask Adam what stuff means.  But it is facinating.  Very well written, with huge ideas and solid research.  Putting the "S" back in "SF"!
Have a great week.
June 12:
This weekend, we were happy to welcome home Louisa and Taleisen, who is a most attractive young horse, with an admirable character and lovely gaits. 
Louisa's parents, Allan and Lydia have been our guests as well for a few days.  Allan and Lydia spent much of this year in Tobago, where they worked with one of the local educational institutions.  We spent some time this weekend talking with Allan and Lydia about the conditions that they found in Tobago and some of the plans they put in place to help the people there to a better life.   If you have educational materials or something that you would like to donate to the cause, please contact me.  Allan and Lydia are planning to return to Tobago later this year.
We have confirmed that we will be building a new stable this summer, to compliment our existing facilities.  Although our plans are not yet firm, we are tentatively planning for six stalls - all already spoken for!  Our business is definately growing!
Larry has nearly finished the new paddocks - they look terrific, and I know that Carlisle is eyeing the lush grass in the newest paddock with great anticipation.
We are off to Fallowfield Farm in Trenton this weekend with Bear and Waverley.   Renee and Mayfair will also be joining us for the trip and the show - this will be Renee's first show with Mayfair, so I hope you will join me in wishing her the best of luck and good riding!
Book of the Week is Kim Stanley Robinson's "Red Mars".  Classic SF, lotsa 'science', good story, great characters, terraforming, murder, lots of Martian geography.   Facinating.  First in a three part series.  I'll let you know how the rest comes out!
We have some exciting new developments in the works - watch this space!  Have a great week!
June 5:
Congratulations to my daughter Carolyn - she just returned from the Canadian Schoolboy Championships where she won a gold and a bronze, rowing for Brockville Collegiate Institute.  The Junior Women's 8, of which she is a crew member, won their race by more than 3 lengths - a stunning victory in a 27 year old wooden boat!   Carolyn's 4 was third in the Junior Women's coxed fours, the other BCI team took the gold in this race.  This is a considerable achievement against some of the best rowing clubs in Canada.  You row like a girl!  Good for you!
And congratulations to another Carolyn - Carolyn Rees-Potter took home two firsts and two seconds from the Spindrift competition, with her Thoroughbred gelding "Phantom's Jocko".  Nice scores too!, from FEI judge Libby McMulen.   Great job Carolyn!
We backed Kayleigh, my 3 year old Trakehner filly, on the weekend.   This mare is going to be wonderful!  She looked around at Sally sitting on her back as if to say, "Well, so you finally figured out how to get on!", and then proceeded to walk and trot around quite calmly.  This is one smart horse, and has recently matured quite a bit, finding her balance and gaining alot of confidence in her lunge work.  She is still for sale, but the price just went up.
We are looking forward to welcoming Louisa home this week with Taliesen, and getting back to work on her debut at Young Riders later this month.
Happy Birthday on the 6th to my brother Rob ... networking guru, visionary and heretic at Bell Nexxia. Have a good one, buddy!
I am looking foreward to my mum's return from Europe this week ... she's been over there doing some judging clinics.  While Lynda is a pretty good surrogate mum, it'll be nice to have my real mum and coach back in town!
Hope you have a great week.
June 1:
You will notice that we have added Freestyle Design to our list of business services.  Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in having me help you with your freestyle!  I think we have a lot of experience and talent to bring to you in this area - everyone who has seen the "All Canadian" Freestyle Max and I performed last year at the Royal, or Daneel's famous "Space Opera" freestyle can attest to our proficiency in design and musical production!
Just have to let you all know that not only did the Number One Son Aaron get accepted to Queen's University, he was awarded a prize for proficiency in Physics at last night's Commencement Exercises for St. Mary Catholic High School.  I am so proud of this kid!