Welcome back! I can’t believe the summer is over and we are about to start a new school year! I hope everyone managed to have some cool time over the summer. A big thank you to Katherine and the guys that stayed at the barn all summer and kept our horses and ponies safe.
We started the month of July with Junior Hunter Finals where Dana Malin and Happier Than Ever aka Eli finished sixteenth overall in the very competitive large, older, 3’-6” juniors. This was Dana’s first National Final! Congratulations Dana!
Week 3 was a charm for Liston Johnson and Highmark aka Koko. Liston and Koko won a Younger Children’s Hunter over fences both days of the division, as well as picking up some other ribbons. When the points were added up, Liston and Koko were Champion! Liston and Koko continued to show what they could do by getting the second highest score (88) in the first round of the Non-Pro Derby on Sunday. They finished up tenth overall!
Julia Sand had a new partner Week 3, Paloma. They had a great first show in the Intermediate Hunter Division. Julia and Paloma placed in every class including a win over fences and a win in the under saddle. When those points were added up, Julia and Paloma were Reserve Champion! Paloma won a 2’-6” USHJA Hunter over fences earlier in the week with Caroline Molther in the irons. Caroline and Julia’s other horse, Eddison had picked up a win Week 1 in a 2’-6” USHJA Hunter over fences.
The Wuertz girls had a great week 4 with Emery picking up her first Championship on Lillie Lyn aka Lillie! Emery won three of her four classes in the Walk/Trot Division! Older sister Elle was Reserve Champion on Tallulah aka Lulu in the Intermediate Hunter Division. This was Elle’s first time in the Intermediate Division!
Georgia Carter and Gentleman Jack aka Jack also won an over fences class in the Intermediate Hunters.
MJ Maestas and Major Sassafras aka Majorette were Reserve Champion in the Short Stirrup Equitation. This was only MJ’s second time doing the Short Stirrup.
Caroline added two blues to our curtains during Week 4. She won a 2’ USHJA Hunter over Fences on Tallulah and a 2’-3” USHJA Hunter over fences on Paloma.
Meanwhile in Kentucky, Emmy Canterbury and Bada Bing Bada Blue aka Blue were Reserve Champion in the Medium Children’s Pony Hunter at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
Good luck to Emmy Canterbury and Bada Bing Bada Blue at Pony Finals this month!
August is always a difficult month for lessons. Everyone is excited to be back and wants to ride their horse or pony, so it is a busy time of year for us. This year the extraordinary heat adds to the difficulty of scheduling after school lessons. After much thought, we have decided to teach after school on Tuesday through Thursday until Labor Day. After Labor Day, we will add the Friday after school lessons. Until Labor Day, we will teach a pony lesson at 5 and a horse lesson at 6. You must sign up for the lessons on time tree so we can keep track of how many horses/ponies will be in the ring at any given time. If you are not signed up, you will not be allowed to ride in the ring. If you sign up, you will be charged for the lesson spot unless you cancel by e-mail 24 hours in advance. If we feel we cannot accommodate everyone safely in those two hours, we will teach a lesson at 7 for horses. While I know this is not ideal, we need to take the heat seriously for the safety of our animals, the riders, and the staff. We will continue to break the groups down to ability and smaller sizes on the weekends. There will be no hack times available in the afternoons or weekends. We will offer morning lessons for anyone who is not yet in school or whose work schedule allows them to ride in the mornings. If you can ride in the mornings, please do so to make more room for those who must ride in the afternoons. If we are lucky enough to have temperatures around 90 degrees, we will schedule a lesson at 4 before Labor Day.
Remember to send your children with water!
Although it is hot, we will still maintain a dress code. We expect our riders to be neatly dressed and have clean boots. If you have belt loops on your riding pants, you should have a belt! Shirts should be tucked into your pants. Shirts should not expose your midsection and absolutely no sports bras! Hair should be neat and tied back in a ponytail.
Here are a few useful numbers and e-mails to help you communicate with us:
- The office e-mail is office@memorialparkhunters.com. Katherine and Patty read this e-mail.
- Billing questions should be directed to Amanda at staff@memorialparkhunters.com. Amanda and Patty read this e-mail.
- Private matters can be e-mailed to patty@memorialparkhunters.com. Only Patty reads this e-mail.
- Alejandro also has an e-mail address, al@memorialparkhunters.com. Only Al reads this e-mail. Al prefers text.
The only phone numbers you need:
- Office, 713-683-8636
- Patty, 713-805-8266
- Alejandro, 713-805-8268
- Amanda (billing inquiries), 713-922-5615
Please do not text Caroline and Katherine on their private phones. During business hours they are instructed not to look at their phones. After business hours they deserve some space. We will not respond to texts during the day asking us to get horses/ponies ready. If you would like your horse or pony tacked or untacked, please e-mail the office. Please call or text Al if you are running late and need assistance. The “girls” are usually riding or teaching and can not stop to ask the guys to get a horse ready. Please, no texts or calls on Monday or after 8 Tuesday through Sunday. Thank you for your understanding.
Please e-mail office@memorialparkhunters.com if you will be out of town for Labor Day weekend. Remember to include when you will be leaving and returning.
I look forward to seeing everyone and hearing about your summer adventures. Patty
