The sales page
is updated, with new photos and online videos. Please take a look
at the nice horses we have for sale. These are sound, capable
young horses with lots of potential. Wed be happy to show you any
that interest you.
August 30, 2007
Our show season has come to an end
for 2007, but we had such a great year that it seems to be over too
soon!
Mikayla and I had some successes at
Prix St. George and Intermediaire 1, most notably the Reserve Advanced
Championship at Palgrave, which included a win in the Intermediaire 1
Freestyle, and a super 5th place in the Freestyle at the Blainville CDI.
Ruth and Sambuka had to "roll
with the punches" this year, when her late declaration for Young
Riders' was denied by the "Youth High Performance Committee",
so instead of fighting what we felt was a very unfair decision by the
committee, Ruth and "Spot" moved up to the Advanced Division
and had tremendous success, culminating a 5th place in the Intermediaire
1 and a 6th place in the Freestyle at the CNE CDI***, and scores in
Intermediaire 1 up to 69%. They really rose to the challenge and I
couldn't be more proud of them or more pleased for their success.
Kerry and Fresco also had a
splendid year of successes, win almost all her FEI Children's classes in
CDI competition, and dominating the Junior 1st level at every show this
year. At our last show, Kerry tried out Second Level, and won both
her classes, resulting in the Junior 2nd Level Championship! So
it's definitely onwards and upwards for her!
All our other students also did
very well in their respective divisions, and felt well rewarded for
their efforts over the season.
Back at the farm, things are going
very well, with horses back in training and regular visits from all our
students and friends. Everyone is fired up to train again, and
look forward to next season after a winter of hard work.
On the home front, plans for the
"Wedding of the Century" progress, as Aaron and Christyna plan
to tie the knot next May. This is promising to be quite the party
- we are so looking forward to it.
Aaron is wrapping up his 8 month
course at Bridgestone Racing (Mosport), currently standing 5th in the
racing series, and having tremendously enjoyed the program. His
dad and I are eagerly awaiting news of how exactly this translates into
a viable career, but so far we have faith :-).
Carolyn and Drew are both preparing
to enter their second years at St. Lawrence in Kingston, and both are
looking forward to progressing in their respective programs.
I have added to the
"kitty" collection, with the recent purchase of a '69 E-type
2+2 Coupe - a gorgeous old car with a straight six and 4 speed
manual. The old girl is undergoing some repairs and fix-ups at the
moment, but I hope to get her out to Shannonville or Calabogie at some
point this fall for a few laps. Here's a picture:
Best recent
book is Steven Pressfield's The Afghan Campaign, which is a
historical novel about the Afghan campaign of Alexander the Great.
It should be required reading for all politicians which wish to sustain
the current Canadian presence in Afghanistan, since I don't think
anything has really changed since 330 BC.
Hope you all
had a great summer, are looking forward to pleasant and interesting fall
and winter, and are enjoying life one day at a time.
May 26, 2007
Well, I know it has been a long
time since this site was updated: some computer troubles and lack of
time mostly to blame, but all is resolved now, and I can happily update
you with all the news.
First of all, congratulations to Celine
on her purchase of "Kressley", our
palomino Sport pony, and to Sandra P. on her purchase of "Glen
Ayr". I'll get to see Celine and Kressley regularly
in the clinics in St. Lazare, and, of course, Sandra P. is a regular
here.
Additional congratulations to Tori
P. on her purchase of "Hamilton", also
known as "Archie". Tori bought a horse from us many
years ago, the TB gelding "Westwood", with whom she had many
successes in the eventing world. Here's hoping she and Archie
enjoy similar successes in the years to come.
Our first two shows of the season
were good outings: At Saddlewood, Ruth and Sambuka
won the YR Team Test and were fifth in the Individual and then went on
to fourth place finishes in both the Team and Individual at Equivents,
capping it all with a second place finish in the YR Freestyle at
Equivents. Ruth also rode Joanne Brooks Oldenburg gelding "Presley"
to a Reserve Championship on Saturday and the Championship on
Sunday at Saddlewood, and to very good scores and placings at Equivents.
This young horse continues to develop beautifully, and is now proving it
in the ring.
Here's two great pictures of
Sambuka and Ruth in competition at Equivents:
Mikayla has also been
a good girl this season, and has achieved good scores and some nice
placings in the Advanced Division, including a 9th place finish in the
HUGE Intermedaiire 1 at Equivents. Here's a nice picture of her
also:
(Photo Credit: Chris
Windover)
Our students have also done very
well: Kerri and Frescoe have dominated the First
Level junior tests at both shows, and have made their debut in the FEI
Children's Tests, with great successes. Allie and Denver
have also had good tests in the Training Level junior, with scores that
continue to improve, and some nice ribbons. Karen and Elvis
successfully completed their first ever Prix St. Georges test together
(which was also Karen's first ever!). Ariane and Dav
have had some good rides in the Advanced Division. Sandra
and Falcon made their debut at Fourth Level at Equivents. Roberta
and Adrianna have had some great rides at First Level. So
all in all, its been a great start to the season, with more to come at
Palgrave, Equivents in June and Blainville.
We were pleased to welcome two
imported Irish Sport Horse mares to the Quarantine barn
recently - what lovely mares these are, too! I believe one will be
for sale, so if you are looking for a horse with a great character,
super movement and rideability, and gorgeous grey colouring, email me!
The kids have all done extremely
well in their schooling this year - Ruth finished her course at St.
Lawrence College, graduating with a high average and excellent results;
Carolyn and Drew both got great marks and enjoyed their first year at
St. Lawrence in Kingston; Aaron continues to work on his Masters degree,
and is also taking a racing course at Mosport, where he not only learns
to drive race cars but maintain and tune them - he's doing well, leading
his group in time trials and loving every minute he spends on the
track.
Adam and I continue to have fun and
enjoy ourselves with our work and our kids. Adam has a little more
time these days, since he is no longer Chief of Staff at the hospital,
but has taken on a Board position with the OMA, so remains involved at
an administrative level. I have taken up some gardening as a
hobby, and am enjoying the fine weather these last few weeks.
Hope your summer is shaping up
well, and you all take time to stop and smell the roses!
