For many reasons it is hard to believe the new school year is here! Because of the heat, we will continue to stay on summer hours until Tuesday, September 1. Anyone who can ride in the morning is encouraged to do so. We would like to keep the numbers down in the arena as much as possible. As of now, I do not believe we will be able to accommodate afternoon hacking. If that situation changes, we will let you know via e-mail. The 5 pm lesson will continue to be ponies only, the 4 pm and 6 pm lessons will be reserved for horses only. If you are able to ride at 3 on any days please let us know. We are available to teach at 3 and the ring will be less crowded.
We will continue to monitor the school COVID situation and try to come up with the safest plan to help keep everyone healthy. Our goal is to try to keep lessons small while accommodating everyone’s school and work schedule.
As more and more of us return to the classroom and work place, we ask that you continue to self -monitor. Please do not come to the barn if you have been exposed to COVID, have a fever or a cough. Even before COVID, the start of the school year often signaled the start of flu, strep, etc. Please err on the conservative side if you are not feeling well. Do not come to the barn! Help keep the environment safe so we can remain open.
While on the subject of COVID, please remember that everyone over the age of 7 must wear a mask unless mounted. MPH is a MASK MANDATORY SITE! This means you must wear a mask at all times while around the barn including while talking on the phone. Another important rule to help everyone remain safe is to limit only one person tacking or untacking a horse in the grooming stalls. If a child needs help with the process, a staff member will be happy to assist. The tack room remains off limits to everyone but staff. We ask that you not sit in the bleachers. If you would like to watch your child or watch a friend’s lesson please practice social distancing. You are welcome to bring a chair. If we find too many people are just hanging around, we may need to change this policy. One more rule reminder, please keep all dogs on leashes.
August found us in Tryon, NC. The horse show did a good job of trying to keep the grounds safe and the exhibitors healthy. Horse show officials took temperatures when you entered the grounds, required a mask anytime you were unmounted, enforced social distancing and had an abundance of hand sanitizer available.
Here are the highlights of our two weeks of showing in Tryon:
Week 1
Hunters
Lina Monty’s Small World aka Petunia was Champion in the 2’ Hunters.
Liston Johnson’s Charmed aka Charm was Champion in the 2’-3” Hunters. Liston also won a blue ribbon in the warm up on Charm. Along with winning a blue on Charm, Liston was Reserve Champion in the Short Stirrup on Jumping Jack aka JJ.
Victoria Johnson’s Brazos was Reserve Champion in the 2’-6” Hunters. Victoria also rode Brazos to the Championship in the Long Stirrup and won her Challenge class!
Courtney Baggett’s Highmark aka Koko was Reserve Champion in the 3’ Hunters.
Elle Wuertz and Blueprint aka Harley were Reserve Champion Saturday and Sunday in the Opportunity Division. They were also Reserve Champion in the X-Rail Division.
Jumpers
Emma Roberts and Pinto Bean aka Spot were Reserve Champion in the Low Junior/A/O Jumpers.
Courtney Baggett and Upcountry Bettie aka Bettie were Reserve Champion in the 0.90 meter Non Pro Jumpers.
Week 2
Hunters
Victoria Johnson and Brazos repeated their Championship in the Long Stirrup. Victoria also won the Long Stirrup Challenge with a score of 80.
Courtney Baggett and Highmark aka Koko won the blue ribbon in the Adult Hunter Classic with a score of 161.
Lina Monty and Small World aka Petunia received a blue ribbon in the Saturday Warm Up.
Jumpers
Courtney and Upcountry Bettie aka Bettie repeated their Reserve Champion in the 0.90 meter Non Pro Jumpers.
Emma Roberts and Pinto Bean aka Spot won the first class of the Low Junior/ A/O Jumpers.
Week 1 Highlights:
Small World aka Petunia had a clean sweep in the 2’ Hunter Division. They won all 3 of their classes.
Week 1 every horse entered in a classic received a ribbon.
– Brazos, Victoria Johnson, First in Long Stirrup
– Highmark, Courtney Baggett, Third in Adult Hunter
– Small World, Lina Monty, Third in Long Stirrup
– Charmed, Liston Johnson, Third in Short Stirrup
– Jumping Jack, Liston Johnson, Fourth in Short Stirrup
– Pinto Bean, Emma Roberts, Seventh in Low Jr/A/O Jumpers
Week 2 Highlights:
Emma and Spot went wire to wire for their win week 2. The pair went first of 20 entries. After the last horse finished the course they were victorious.
Week 2 every horse entered in a classic received a ribbon.
– Highmark, Courtney Baggett, First in Adult Hunter
– Brazos, Victoria Johnson, First in Long Stirrup
– Small World, Lina Monty, Third in Long Stirrup
– Jumping Jack, Liston Johnson, Third in Short Stirrup
– Charmed, Liston Johnson, Sixth in Short Stirrup
– Pinto Bean, Emma Roberts, Eighth in Low Jr/A/O Jumper
We had quite a welcome after coming back from North Carolina! Within one week, Hurricane Laura came knocking at the door. I want to take this opportunity to again thank you for helping us prepare for the storm by picking up your saddles and tack trunks in an orderly manner. Hopefully, we will not have to ask you to do that again this hurricane season.
Congratulations to Sloane Wallace. Sloane and RVF Hudson aka Hudson were WCHR South Central Regional Champion for 2020!
Congratulations are also in order for Elisabeth Marek. She has qualified for the 3’-3” Jumper Seat Medal and the ASPCA Maclay. She will be competing in these finals later in the fall.
We will be horse showing in Katy in September. If you plan to show but have not yet told us, please let us know asap.
Stay healthy,
