Ride in the Rain blog

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<3 Pip <3 Connemara pony eating XC for breakfast. 

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Seamus McGee, a purebred RID gelding (Braveheart x Fossa Queen) with a BIG personality is off to his new home in Colorado. Congratulations, Kristin, he is such a super fun and talented guy and I can’t wait to hear how the two of you hit it off! 

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Townmoney Mouse is off to his new home. He is still breaking hearts! I will miss his sweet face everyday in the first stall of my barn, but baby birds have to leave the nest and he is ready for the next chapter of his life to begin. He is the most charming horse I have ever had the privilege to own or train and it was a hard decision to let him go. Congratulations Hailey, I know you will take great care of him through thick and thin and he will treat you like precious cargo, too. I hope he brings you the same joy he has brought me. 

Townmouse and Hailey ride with Christine Headley in Port Townsend, WA. Townmouse is a kind and talented 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding that I purchased off Craigslist as a 3 year old. He has quite a fanclub around here, but I know it will only continue to grow! 

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ANNUAL UPDATE

We are ready to close the books on another great year, and running full steam ahead into 2017. A big thank you to everyone involved for their support this past year, you know who you are and I LOVE you!

Highlights of 2016 included purebred Connemara mare “Northern Expectation” finishing in 3rd place on the USEA Area VII Leaderboard for Training, as well as achieving a USEA Gold Medal for Training Level. She finished in the top ten at every Event attended this season, including 1st place Young Rider’s Benefit Horse Trials, 2nd place Spokane Sporthorse Trials, 4th at Aspen Farms, 7th at Rebecca Farm, and a 5th place finale at Championships.

My own 5 year old “Townmouse” was a delight, scoring in the 70s in Dressage, and we welcome a new addition to the barn, a fun 6 year old KWPN gelding by Contango called “Sweet” (pictured). 

Additionally we sold a few nice horses (Connemara Cole and Rocky, a TB by Grindstone) to really good homes this year, and it can’t go without saying the huge reward of watching so many of my clients go out and tackle big riding goals this year.

Fingers crossed for a 2017 full of fun, challenges, and (pleasant) surprises! 

For other pertinent updates, check the Ride in the Rain Facebook page www.facebook.com/rideintherain 

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I have some saddles gathering dust... 17" Southern Stars Saddlery Monoflap Dressage Saddle. Black. Medium tree. $1499 OR BEST OFFER. 17" Jaguar XJS Showjumping Saddle. Calfskin. M tree. $700 OR BEST OFFER 17" County Conquest with High/Forward flap and upgraded leather. Fits very wide and is very well used. Includes CWD leathers. $800 OR BEST OFFER

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SUMMER WRAP UP 

Fall is in the air. Area VII Eventing Championships was last weekend at Aspen Farms, which wraps up my Horse Trials season for the year. Polly Kranick’s Northern Expectation, a now 7 year old purebred Connemara mare, finished in 5th place in the Open Training Champs. Sadly two rails dropped us out of our 2nd place position. Normally a very careful jumper, I still have not mastered the ride on her when she is tired from Saturday’s cross country. Still, I am happy to finish the season with a strong finish and many highlights, including earning our USEA Training Level Gold Medal, for finishing 3 events with final scores under 35. On to Prelim!

Though qualified for Beg Novice, Townmouse had to sit out Championships due to a pesky splint. He is still young and I am looking forward to our Winter training and coming out strong in the Spring. Even though I enjoy the thrill and test of showing, I look forward to settling into the rhythm of Winter and the quality time spent Training at home. That said, there is lots left to do! It is cubbing season, and Woodbrook’s Shakedown Hunt is next weekend, followed by the annual Hunter Trials and Opening Day Hunt October 1 and 2. I will be participating in the Major Jeremy Beale clinic, which is always a special treat, and taking some youngsters and clients to some Dressage Schooling shows over the Winter at Donida. And let’s not forget about JUMPERNITE!

We have had changes at the barn with sales horses and clients moving on, and I am making a concerted effort to embrace all the changes and settle into a new routine. I am trying to take a step back and enjoy this (relatively) quiet time, to ‘just be’ with my own horses and family and even make time for myself. I have always loved Autumn and considered it a creative and regenerative time. I am so thankful to have such a supportive group of clients, trainers and sponsors to work with, helping me pursue my passion everyday. You know who you are -- Thank you!

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Photos of Townmouse by Holly Casner Photography at the beautiful MeadowWood show. He scored a 69 and a 71 at Training 1 and 3. 

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The Rider's Role in Self-Carriage

Lendon Gray explains how the use of passive aids can improve a horse's self-carriage.

Fantastic article by Lendon Grey about not ‘over-riding’ your horse. I love how she says “My goal was always that I could do nothing for three strides. If that worked, I was pretty happy.”  

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MeadowWood Recognized dressage show is a wrap! Ashleigh’s 5 year old Dutch WB “Townmouse” 69% and 70% at Training 1 and 3. What a good boy! Beth Anne nailed it at her first Rec show with her new, awesome partner Foster Pepper (we like our BAYS!) and not pictured is Polly Kranick, who met a big goal of riding 1st level at a R show on her own Connemara Wellspring Ariaden... And we all survived the 90 degree heat! 

MeadowWood is a beautiful venue and we will be back next year! 

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Northern Expectation aka Pip won her Open Training Division at Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials, finishing on her Dressage score of 25.5. Photo credits Tim O’Neal Action Taken. 

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HIGHS AND LOWS AT YRBHT: 

It was a rollercoaster weekend at Young Rider’s Benefit Horse Trials in Chehalis, WA. Highs included the insane temperature -- well into the 90s on Friday and Saturday with no shade to speak of. The show had some technical issues such as repeatedly running out of water, but like my friend Sarah Lorenz said as we carried water buckets together, “This is what Eventing is all about!”

A big highlight was winning a competitive Open Training division aboard Pip. She was foot perfect throughout the weekend, finishing on her dressage score, 25.5, her best to date! My 5 year old Townmouse was super through Dressage and showjumping on Saturday, and warmed up great for cross country, but decided he didn’t want to play anymore out on the XC course and just stopped going for a disappointing Elimination. Perhaps the heat was getting to him late in the afternoon, or maybe it was just green-ness and immaturity. Luckily the show offered XC schooling after, so we did go back out in the heat to finish up our round and end on a positive note.

Horse show friends Sarah George (riding Eva Lucia to a 4th place finish), Sarah Lorenz (riding Zuara to a 2nd place finish, right behind Pip!) and Devin Robel (riding Storm Watch to a 2nd place finish in OP) all finished on Qualifying scores, and Polly Kranick on her own Wellspring Ariaden finished in the top 10 in her division.

I always complain about the heat at this show, but I keep coming back year after year, Thank you Area VII Young Riders for hosting us again. Townmouse and Pip will finish up the Season at Area VII Championships at Aspen Farm in September, and after this weekend I am definitely ready for the cooler weather to come rolling in...

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New RIDE IN THE RAIN FACEBOOK PAGE, please visit us and leave a review! 

https://www.facebook.com/rideintherain/

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THE EVENT AT REBECCA FARM 2016. Polly Kranick’s purebred Connemara mare Northern Expectation aka Pip & I finished up in 7th place over a tough weekend of competition. Dressage was competitive and Pip was tired, but she totally delivered over XC, answering every question honestly and giving me a great ride. In stadium she was once again feeling the effects of the hot weather and the long drive, and chipped in a stride which resulted in one rail down. Still we were able to move up throughout the weekend and finish in the top ten. I am very proud of her because Rebecca is such a big show-- competitive divisions, big atmosphere, heat and a loooong drive to get there. I am happy that her next show will be the low-key two day Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials in Chehalis, we are hoping for a confidence building run before Area VII Championships at Aspen Farm in September. 

I am definitely coming home a better rider than I left. What an experience to be able to ride amongst so many talented top riders and trainers. And of course you could not conjure up a more striking and awe inspiring background than beautiful Kalispell, Montana. 

Aside from being a competitor which is the ultimate treat, highlights included watching upper level Cross country on Saturday, seeing all of the stunning and beautifully turned out horses for the FEI jogs, and appreciating all the work put in by competitors in the Novice & Training Classic Three Day format divisions.  

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Fun day of showing with Lower Puget Sound Dressage Club at Kitsap Saddle Club: Beth Anne rode Foster Pepper in their first show for 2 blues at 66% and 68%, Beth L debuted her Training level Test 3 with success and Townmouse (aka Townmoney!) won High Point for the day with a 71%, good boy! Proud of my little dressage princes and princesses! 

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