February 2024 Newsletter
Happy Groundhog Day!
Let’s hope Punxsutawney Phil does not see his shadow! I am ready for an early Spring!
For those of you who will be going out of town for President’s Weekend, please let us know ASAP. This helps us better take care of your horse or pony as well as allowing us to have an accurate lesson schedule.
We spent three weeks of January in Wellington, Florida. These are extremely competitive competitions and I was very proud of how well everyone rode. Despite not ideal weather, we had good lessons, good rounds, fun shopping and fun times at “The Beach” watching amazing show jumping.
WEF Premier:
Amelie Schaeffer and Divide’s Freedom Spirit aka Spirit won the Short Stirrup under Saddle in their first outing in the Short Stirrup Division.
Liston Johnson’s Chine Van’t Schanshof Z aka Chine had two Blue Ribbon rounds in the Meter Jumpers with Caroline Molther in the irons.
WEF 1:
Amelie Schaeffer and Divide’s Freedom Spirit aka Spirit won the Short Stirrup Equitation on the Flat.
Liston Johnson’s Chine Van’t Schanshof Z aka Chine had another Blue Ribbon round in the Meter Jumpers with Caroline in the irons. Liston and Chine got a 6th in the meter Junior Jumpers.
WEF 2:
Liston Johnson’s Chine Van’t Schanshof Z aka did it again in the Meter Jumpers! She and Caroline had another Blue ribbon Round! Liston and Chine were 10th in the meter Junior Jumper Classic.
To Note:
Liston Johnson and Don Bocelli aka Freddie placed 5th and 8th in the highly competitive 3’-3” Younger, Large Junior Hunters over the two weeks they were there. Liston and Cassandra made it to the Flat Phase in the Hammel week 2.
MJ Maestas and her two mounts, Clint One aka Uno and SWS Charleston aka Charley moved up to the Children’s Hunters. MJ picked up quite a few ribbons between her two horses including a 2nd on Charley in her last class. MJ and Charley’s score was an 84. They were beaten with an 85 by the last horse!
Elle McNear and Caracalla aka Boston made their one week in Wellington count. They won ribbons in all five of the Younger Children’s Hunter Classes!
Meanwhile the MPH ponies were holding their own!
Margot Evans and Badda Bing Badda Blue aka Blue brought home four nice ribbons in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunters. This was a very competitive group of over 20 ponies in a class.
Sam Marshall and Moves Like Jagger aka Jagger got a ribbon in every Short Stirrup class over the two weeks they competed.
Amalie Schaeffer and Divide’s Freedom Spirit aka Spirit moved up to the Short Stirrup Division. They won a class each of the weeks they were there.
While we were in Florida winning ribbons, Katherine Cameron was busy doing some winning of her own! She ran the Houston half marathon in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Way to go Katherine!!!
We will be in Katy, Texas for the month of February showing at the Winter Series. If you plan to show at any of the four weeks and have not told us, please let us know ASAP.
Our next outing to Katy after the Winter Series will be the three Pin Oak Charity Horse Shows.
The first week of Pin Oak falls over Easter Sunday. We do not show on that Sunday. Junior classes will be held on Friday and Saturday. Weeks 2 and 3 are WCHR shows.
Please be thinking about Michigan. We need to order stalls ASAP. These shows sell out!
I have had a number of people ask me about the protective vests that are available to riders. We at MPH try to do everything we can to prevent accidents. We are, however, working with animals in an environment that we cannot completely control. I think any thing we can do to help keep us safer is a good idea. I would venture to guess that within the next 10 years they will be required equipment for competition. Presently, we are not requiring them at the barn. That may change in the future as more research is done and I feel I can make an educated recommendation.
It’s a big birthday month for MPH! We wish the following MPH’ers a happy, happy birthday!
Marisol Hess
Emalyn Bilski
Elle McNear
Delaney Husted
Brittany Tribble
Elle McNear got quite the early birthday present! She received Boston from her parents! (Boston had previously been a lease.)
A big welcome to Reese Johnson. She will be leasing Small World aka Petunia.
An equally big welcome to Brynn Neustadt. She will be half leasing Lillie Lyn aka Lillie.
Good luck to the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers!
Patty
