PHEventing

Fair Hill

by Linda Willey on 10/19/11

Fair Hill

There are just some events you want to forget and others that will stick with you in memory for years to come. This past weekend was a memorable one on so many levels.

I have never been to Fair Hill before, what a great event. So well organised and classy, although the weather played its part, everything ran smoothly and professionally.

Fresh was an understatement for Rockstar at the first jog - he kicked over a pumpkin and leapt in the air- he passed with flying colours!!

Dressage for me was Thursday- it was a pretty cold and wet day but Rockstar coped with the conditions well and scored his best 2 star score to date. This left him 6th overnight. Fridays dressage group were strong and some great tests were preformed. At the end of dressage day two we were sat 24th, not bad as there were 70 in the class.

The Cross Country was, well,........ BIG!!! A fabulous forward course that required bold riding and an honest horse - luckily I had that!

It had rained a lot and the course was wet and muddy. I made the decision to run Rockstar but really listen to what he was telling me, it was a 9 min track in heavy footing with some substantial questions. Rockstar cruised around, I let him run at his own pace, didn't push him and we were clear with 22.6 time penalties. I couldn't have been happier.

Sunday morning Rockstar felt great, again he passed the jog with no issues and we manged to do this without knocking any pumpkins over - bonus!!

I thought for sure Rockstar would be tired to show jump - or maybe not tired, just ridable.....Oooohhhh No!!!! I felt if I was to make one wrong move he would deposit me - I had, had enough of being a human catapult!!! The atmosphere was intense and so was he. When we entered the ring I thought I was in trouble, it could have gone one of two ways, Rockstar has a melt down or Rockstar jumps his butt off - thankfully Rockstar jumped his butt off! Clean, yes I said Clean!! He jumped very well and let me have some influence, I got 3 time faults which is me, I'm just thrilled our showjumping is coming together.

I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now, not only to ride a horse of his caliber but also to own him.

Dressage boot camp this winter and hopefully a late winter early spring trip south.

Thank you everyone for all your support in my journey, stay warm!!

As 2011 season draws to an end, the pheventing crew look forward to an exciting 2012!

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Jump Start Horse Trials

by Linda Willey on 10/08/11

'Tiz a humble sport and this is why I love it. Two weeks ago I was in the top ten at a 2 star and this past weekend I was on my butt at fence 3 riding training level! Oh the ups and downs of eventing.

Jumpstart was a fun event, we had a great group head down to Kentucky, I'm so fortunate to have such wonderful people who surround and support me, thank you!

Cheeky The Barbarian was doing his 4th training level. He did a solid test which left him 3 marks off the top spot. The course was straightforward, a great end of season run...........or not! To call it terrible riding is an understatement, really I'm a professional and I ride like this?? I tried to ride him like Rockstar and he's just not ready, he will be, but I should know better......I'm over it......just.......rightly so I took some gip for it in the barns!!

Cheeky didn't put a foot wrong, he just jumped really big and catapulted me into the air, puff went the air vest and mad oh mad I was! Sorry sweet guy who gave me a lift back to the barns, there was some foul language coming out of my mouth and he calmly assisted me - talk about bipolar crazy horse girl :)

Cheeks had fun with it, bucking and kicking, winding all the horses up in the warm up and thankfully he's none the worse for my stupid error. We will be back next season, and hope to move up to prelim.

The wonder pony Elvis The King was doing his third event. Elvis is soooo cool! I'm so excited to announce that he will be staying in the barn, congratulations to Julie Lenon on the purchase of Elvis.

Elvis just gets better and better! It's hard to believe he's only four. He has such a sensible head on his shoulders and a wonderful work ethic. Elvis scored his best dressage score yet 37.9 and sat 9th out of a competitive group. Show jumping caused its issues, but The King jumped like a pro and was clear, this moved him up to 4th. Elvis skipped around the cross country inside the time to end up 2nd. Great result for The King, look for him next season at Novice with me and at Starter with Julie!!

Congratulations to all my students who had a fab weekend and a big thank you to Miss Pickles who worked so hard and made our drive home very fun!

One last event to go in 2011......the big one, Rockstar and Fair Hill!

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Plantation and More!

by Linda Willey on 09/19/11

Its been a while since I updated- today I actually have some time, having driven back from Plantation at 2am this morning - I'm taking a day off!

Apart from being addicted to peanut butter M n Ms, which have been the staple diet for the past 5 days life is going great, bar the withdrawal symptoms they are pretty bad, I have to admit!!

Lets start with the good news, ARRRRAHHHHHH I actually jumped a CLEAR, yes a Clear round on Rockstar in the CIC** Showjumping, can you believe it? Its been a long time coming and I finally gave my fabulous partner a somewhat decent ride. Rockstar was his usual wonderful self XC and we still have some work to get done in the dressage before Fair Hill CCI** but he finished 9th so I was thrilled!

Richland was Rockstar's first CIC** and he handled it like a pro. I was, well, very ill- its no excuse for poor riding, but I was in bed for two days after the event! Rockstar decided to take advantage of my poorly state and properly bucked me off in cross country warm up.....the stinker! It was actually quite funny, maybe a little embarrassing but I handled it well, his clear round made up for it, clearly he didn't think I was awake......lets just say the neck strap came out at Plantation, but luckily it wasn't needed!! Showjumping at Richland, I rode like a spaz, no other word for it, and I nearly ended up on the floor again, luckily I somehow managed to land back in the saddle and stay on, two rails which were totally my fault, no surprises there!

Cheeky The Barbarian is going from strength to strength, he has done three training levels now clean in sj and xc in all of them. He heads to Jumpstart next, I hoped to move him up there but he needs a fourth training, so he will wait til next year. I should really sell this guy, but he's super cool with serious potential.

My students are all doing great, Jumpstart is their next outing.

In other news, we have three new fancy young ones in the barn- Congratulations, to Audrey, Laura and Carol and Courtney- some super prospects which you will all see competing next season!

Also someone needs to buy Elvis - he is amazing, check the sales page for more info on the 'super' pony!

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Fox River Valley IL

by Linda Willey on 07/03/11

Fox River Valley

Pheventing headed to Fox River Valley in Illinois

The Barbarian aka Cheeky was doing his first training level. Please bear in mind that Mr Cheeky seems to be so far, a good boy at a show, but proceeds to be a little stinker at home, this makes practising at home challenging!! I was happy with his test, he was lazy but very consistent, which is the total opposite at home! Cheeky sat second on a 30.5, so I was thrilled. Cross Country was big, and at times I was second guessing my move up decision. Cheeky put his big boy pants on this weekend and I couldn't be happier with his effort Cross Country. Although green in areas, he trusted me and grew in confidence around the course. Showjumping.....lets just say this boy can jump. He did the most amazing clean round and finished second at his first training. Cheeky will be back out at the end of the month at Gemwood.

Congratulations to Shelby Strah and Black Tie Affair aka Vassago who finished 4th in their first CIC*. Shelby led the dressage and did a fabulous clear round XC, picking up a couple of time penalties, this left them in the lead over night. Pressure was on, on Sunday to jump a clean round. Shelby was understandably nervous, Vassago was his usual handy self but time penalties moved them down. I'm so proud of Shelby, she has done a fabulous job producing Vassago, a great first international result. Next stop Stuart NY.

Congratulations to Michelle Weeks and Dusty Dazing who finished 5th in the CIC*

Congratulations to Kaytee Willey and Poker Face who finished 5th in the BNR divison with a double clear round

Congratulations to Courtney Ainsworth and Skyz The Limit who did another fabulous dressage test, 27 at prelim!! Unfortunately a corner came up a little fast on XC and Courtney shot past it. They finished the weekend with only one rail down showjumping, so overall another good weekend.

Pheventing heads to Cobblestone Farm this coming weekend with students.

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Lost Hounds PA

by Linda Willey on 07/03/11

Lost Hounds PA

Pheventing headed to Lost Hounds in PA, I'm pleased to say it didn't rain this year....this is a first Yahoo!!!

Rich N Famous aka Rockstar was doing the Intermediate. I felt we did a solid test, bar a little pilot error! I always get confused with my left and right, not good timing when your heading down the center line, Whoops! The cross country was small and Rockstar had a good confident, slow run. He would have preferred to have gone much faster but the footing was pretty hard and the fences really didn't back him off, so the handbrake was on, he really didn't appreciate this. Show Jumping was after XC on the same day, which I think is tough, especially for intermediate. The footing was rock hard and rutty, under normal circumstances I would have withdrawn him but I wanted a qualifying score. I did get it by the skin if my teeth, Rockstar needs a very specific ride in the ring........I'm still figuring it out. Home work, home work, home work. Stuart NY is out next stop, lets hope I get my.....**self** together by then!!!!

Cheeky The Barbarian is turning into a little super star, Rockstar better watch his back!! Cheeky was doing his third Novice. He led the dressage on his worst score to date, he just got behind my leg, but I was happy to be leading the pack. Showjumping was spooky, but yet again the big pony went in and posted a clear round. Cheeks skipped around the cross country like a little pro, I see a move up in the near future. Cheeky won on his dressage score, I couldn't be happier with his progress.

Congratulations to Sarah Chiazza and Prince Charming for jumping clean around the Novice, this was Sarah's first event of 2011....shame Sarah managed to get lost on course otherwise she would have been in the ribbons if it wasn't for the time penalties!!

Well done to Kaytee Willey and Albert Einstein for another solid run at Beginner Novice.

Next Stop Fox River Valley

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