Hello!
Well, we have made it through another school year! Here is a wish for a happy, healthy summer! Please let us know when you will be gone over the summer so that we can adjust your horse or pony’s exercise and feed accordingly. If you have restrictions on when you can ride on the weekends, please let us know that too. We will try to accommodate you. Remember it is not too late to sign up for Pony Camp!
Upcoming Horse Shows
May started off with two weeks of horse shows in Katy. We will be in Lexington, Kentucky for two weeks in June. If you have not yet signed up for Kentucky but would like to go, please talk to Patty ASAP. The same is true of Michigan, if you would like to go but have not yet told us of your intentions, please let us know soon! Finally, we will be back in Kentucky at the end of July and beginning of August. These shows sell out quickly. If you plan to go, now is the time to let us know.
The following are the highlights from the May Katy shows.
Round Up Horse Show
Sam Marshall had a great show winning four of the five Medium Pony Hunter classes on MTM So Fly aka Sophy making her Champion. With that Champion, Sam has qualified for Pony Finals. Sam and Sophy were also second in the Pony Hunter Classic. Sam and Slowhand aka Minty were Reserve Champion in the Low Children’s Hunter. Additionally, Caroline Molther won a Hopeful Hunter over fences on Minty.
Alice Tschirhart and Leonardo aka Leonard were Champion in the Cross Rail Division.
Annabel Grefe and Indigo aka Indie were Reserve Champion and fifth in the Children’s Hunter Classic.
Lauren Harrison’s Mosaic M was Champion in the Hopeful Hunters with Caroline Molther in the saddle.
Cheryl Lawrence’s Esquire aka Squirrel and Caroline Molther were Champion in the USHJA Hunter 2’-6”.
Margot Evans had school commitments during the show, but her boys went out for a little practice. Thank You Robert aka Bob was Reserve Champion in the GSEC 2’-6” Hunters. Cambastian aka Cam picked up a win in a GSEC 2’-6” Hunter over fences. Caroline Molther rode both horses.
Amelie Shaeffer won two of the Children’s Pony Hunter Classes. She won an over fences class on Flower Power aka Faith. She won the under saddle on Says Who aka Oliver.
Maddie Singer and Diego VSH picked up the win in the Short Stirrup under saddle.
Fiesta Classic
Amelie Shaeffer had a great second week of showing in the Children’s Pony Hunter Division. She was Champion in the Large Children’s Pony Hunter Division on Flower Power aka Faith and Reserve Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunter Division on Says Who aka Oliver. Look for Amelie and Oliver to be moving up to Medium Pony Hunter Division soon.
Scarlet Buckner and Wonderland aka Via had a great first show together. The pair was Champion in the Cross Rail Division and Reserve Champion in the Walk/Trot.
MPH had a clean sweep in the Cross Rail Division. Brynn Neustadt and Cool’s Candy Apple aka Candy were Reserve Champion in the Cross Rail Division.
Margot Evans and Cambastian aka Cam were Champion in the Low Children Hunter Division. Margot also placed third on Thank You Robert aka Bob in the Low Children Hunter Classic as well as placing eighth in the Classic on Cambastian.
Caroline Molther and Cheryl Lawrence’s Esquire aka Squirrel were Reserve Champion in the USHJA 2’-6”.
Congratulations, Welcomes, and Important Items
A big CONGRATULATIONS to Marisol Hess and Ellie Tapp. Both girls have graduated Episcopal High School and are off to the University of Texas, Austin in the fall. Thank you to everyone who helped them celebrate at the Mad Potter.
A big welcome to Vivian Egger and Khloe Scott. Look for Vivian in our pony group. Khloe will be on Charm riding Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
The barn is not open on Saturday, July 4, but it will resume operations on Sunday, July 5.
A gentle reminder that we are NEVER to be on the Sunday Field or the Stick and Ball Field. If the weather allows, we can walk around the fields outside the borders. We should not walk on the grass if we are leaving hoof prints.
I often get questions regarding riding in college. The latest USEF magazine, US Equestrian, has an interesting article on how to include your riding experience when applying for college.
Horse Show Corner
For those of you who watch the lessons, you often hear me say do not lose the class on the opening circle. Even before you or your child starts the opening circle you could lose the class! Any rider will be eliminated if they trot or canter into the ring. So, it is important to enter at a flat-footed walk.
Why do we do an opening circle? On the opening circle the rider establishes the rhythm of their canter that they will use throughout the course. Riders are often under or over paced to the first jump, which is why we continually review the correct way to pick up the canter.
Are the riders judged on the opening circle? In the equitation, the riders are definitely judged on their circle. In the hunters, a messy circle will deduct points from the score. In the jumpers a messy entrance will most probably mean a messy first jump. So, although it is a jumping class, that first impression that you make on the circle could mean the difference between blue or no ribbon at all.
Happy Fathers Day!
