This Winter, Anne Hambleton, former eventer, steeplechase rider, pony clubber and now devoted fox-hunter, published her first novel, drawing on her life-long love of horses and riding.  Anne’s book, Raja, the Story of a Racehorse, begins at a stud farm where the handsome, black foal with aristocratic genes stands out among the others.  With a Kentucky Derby winner as his sire, a great name is needed to seal great expectations; he is named “Raja”, meaning “hope” in Arabic, and “king” in India, by the owner’s daughter.

As is the case of many modern thoroughbreds, his life is marked by changes, both minute and catastrophic, that take him from a safe, caring and respectful environment where he is “special,” to places where he is but one of many and “not so special”.   Woven through this “first-horse” narrative are the voices of his dam and the Arabic princess who had named him but who is pulled from his life by the exigencies of the 911 attacks.  His dam told him, “Remember this always; even when life is hard, never, ever give up.”   Princess Ayesha told him, “You’re the most perfect thing in the universe and I will always love you.”  He will need the strength of these memories to pull him through because, as the farm manager reminds us, “racing is a business, plain and simple.  It’s a beautiful sport, but you can’t be sentimental if you want to win at the highest levels.”

Anne Hambleton’s commitment to riding and horses has continued unabated throughout her varied academic and business lives. During the years that she was a steeplechase jockey she was working full-time at her home in Vermont and commuting to the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania on weekends to race horses.  When she left steeplechasing, she picked up three day eventing and continued the commute.  These days she is still commuting from her farm to foxhunt with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds.  She has taken the sum of these experiences to author Raja.

In 2002, she rode her horse Holtzman, who is the model for one of the characters in Raja, at Mr. Lady’s Manor Races in Monkton, Maryland.  The trip to the races, about two hours from the barn where Holtzman was trained in Unionville, Pennsylvania by Lilith Boucher, brought along fellow jockey, Don Cochran, as friend, as well as two grooms, brother and sister Gina and Brian Korrell.  When a horse goes to the races, or any other event for that matter, there are many more people behind the success of the horse than just the rider.

Anne arrives early and walks the course with fellow jockey Don Cochran.

Anne fills the pad with lead prior to weighing in.

Weighing in with boots on and tack in hand.

After weighing in, back to the holding barn to do some last minute braiding.

Besides the rider herself, the horse has been accompanied to the races by the trainer and two grooms, here, Gina Korrell fixing the flash.

Trainer Lilith Boucher applies hoof polish.

Brian Korrell finishes the bandages with tape.

Brian Korrell places the anti-slip pad, then the saddle....

... then extends the front legs to stretch.

Holtzman, led by Gina, leaves the holding barn for the paddock.

Checking the tattoo against the entry.

Pre-race in the paddock.

Moments before the race are time for reflection.

Brian and Gina give Anne a leg up.

Led to the start by an outrider.

Horses get a look at the first jump before the flag falls for the start of the race.

Racing in the meadow, a half mile from home.

Anne is first to the last fence.

Over the last fence.

Landing, then off.

Heading to the finish line.

Anne's husband, Dave, her most ardent supporter, helps remove her helmet.

Off to weigh in after the race.

Between the last fence and the finish, Holtzman lost the momentum and came in second. Anne got a congratulatory hug from the eventual winner anyway.

Gina takes Holtzman back to the holding barn for a bath.

Hotwalking and the occasional sip of water before the bath.

Trainer Lilith Boucher bathes Holtzman.

"You are the most perfect thing in the universe and I will always love you."

Anne and Holtzman

Putting on the shipping bandages.

Rest and relaxation, grass for Holtzman, before loading up to ship home.

I was struck, as I prepared these photographs ten years later, that every person who made an appearance in this photo-essay is still active in steeplechase, still supporting each other in the pre-race paddock and most importantly, imparting the love of the sport to the next generation.

These days, Anne grooms for Maggie Buchanan who is busy checking the program before the Small Pony Race at The Cheshire Races.

Leading Maggie in the paddock, pre-race.

Gina Korrell groomed for her sister-in-law, trainer Elizabeth Korrell at the 2010 Brandywine Point to Point, where Elizabeth's husband, Brian, was the jockey.

Gina on the way to the paddock.

Brian, about to weigh in prior to the race, chats with Don Cochran, who still rides as a jockey in the races and now gives of his time as a member of the Delaware Valley Point to Point Committee.

Off to the start on Voice of Power.

Over the stonewall, half-way through the race.

This years Cheshire Races finds Brian riding his wife's horse again.

The paddock is a family affair. Elizabeth Korrell and her daughter chat with the groom on the way out to the course to watch the race.

Brian, over the stake and bound, heading to the final lap.

Brian, in green, ten yards from the finish line.

Don Cochran prior to the 2012 Cheshire Heavyweight Race.

Don Cochran, to the left, on Armed Brat, a horse he has campaigned for several years.

Don Cochran heads for home.

With the publication of Raja, Anne has synthesized the details of her rich life in horse sports with the elements of a terrific and engrossing story.  As in the book, the same people appear and re-appear in her life providing continuity and community.   She has lived the life she conjures in the book and continues to come to the races as spectator and mentor.

Her novel is so well crafted it is appropriate for a young reader and captivating enough for an adult.  I couldn’t put it down.

For More information, or to order a copy of Raja, please visit the website:

http://rajaracehorse.com

As the 2012 foxhunting season draws to a close, Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds met Saturday, March 25 at The Laurels at Landhope.  On the way to the Meet, scattered showers moved through the area presaging a long, cold, wet weekend.  Despite the subsequent downpour, for the Cheshire community, good things happened from the start, marking the celebration of a hunting season that began with the Opening Meet in November and continued unabated to the end of March.  It was the first time in recent memory the season had not been weathered out or closed down by mid-January.

Riders, car-followers and staff met before 9 A.M. rather than the usual 11 because it had been so warm, the “scent” of the fox dissipating as the temperature rises.

Long-time Cheshire member Conrad Somers waits for the hunt to begin.

Joint Master Russell Jones asked the riders to come closer as he had an announcement; it was a “graduation” ceremony of sorts.  Cheshire Hunting Etiquette states that “Children who can go at the pace set by the Fieldmaster, and jump whatever he jumps, may hunt up with the adults as long as they are with an equally proficient adult responsible for them.”     A few years ago, the Board of Directors decided to formalize this by awarding “armbands” which recognizes not only the ability of the child to ride the pace required, but also their broad understanding of the sport of foxhunting and its rules.  This privilege is awarded sparingly and without notice.

Russell Jones makes the formal announcement at an informal meeting.

And so when MFH Jones awarded armbands to children at the Meet, it was a surprise.  One child was not present but two others were.  The delight and pride of the recipients was tangible.

MFH Jones awards the armband to Rachel Wilkowski.

Another recipient is Audry Buchanan.

Rachel Wilkowski can hardly contain her joy.

Business having been concluded, the Huntsman and Whip move off to begin the day’s chase.

Leaving the Meet.

The Huntsman, followed by the First Fieldmaster, Bruce Miller, moved along the woods  after leaving the Meet, encouraging the hounds to find the scent of fox.

Huntsman Ivan Dowling and the Cheshire pack.

Ivan Dowling

The First Field, led by Joint MFH Bruce Miller (champion Steeplechase trainer of Eclipse Awards winners in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2000 and Hall of Fame chaser Lonesome Glory).

Another young member of Cheshire was out that day on her new thoroughbred for the first time.

Lydia Fisher and her new mount.

As the day progressed, the rain became a steady downpour but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the field which “carried on” despite.

The field jumping into the Hannum’s, headed up the hill and across the road to Plumsted Farm.

Car followers brought out umbrellas and continued to watch the hunt.

Carol Hannum stands out in the field with her red umbrella. She is the daughter of former Cheshire MFH Nancy Hannum and mother of eventer Bruce “Buck” Davidson.

The chase continued for another two hours; chilled, damp, but exhilarated, riders returned back to their trailers to put away their horses and head for a hunt breakfast.

Dr. Cindy Buchanan organizes volunteers to bring food and prepare the coffee and lays everything out before the hunt commences.

That night, in anticipation of the Cheshire Point to Point (the 67th year), a local landowner sponsored a well-attended cocktail party.  The next morning, storms had moved on and it was overcast and cool.  Race goers dressed for fifty degrees but by 2 P.M.,  the sun came out and immediately everyone shed a layer.  Preparing for chilly weather, everyone had worn fleece.

The Third Race, the Heavyweight Race is defined in the Conditions Book as “open to riders that are non winners of sanctioned races over timber … (with a minimum weight of 190 lbs….)”.  Conrad Somers, the rider in the first photograph of yesterday’s hunt, has been a perennial entrant into the Heavyweight Division and always the bridesmaid.  For years his entry has been a family endeavor, his wife supporting his chase after the “grail”,  his daughter grooming and hot-walking at the races.  This year, riding the horse “Undignified”, Conrad led from the fall of the flag by the starter to the finish line.  It was a family celebration I was privileged to witness.  The following tell the story without any need for narration.

I was very glad to have been there.

The Show in the Woods

There are sometimes places so magical that even though you go there every day, it’s spell never fails to seduce you.  The Hitchcock Woods, in the center of Aiken, South Carolina, is one of those.  Somehow, as soon as you enter The Woods, the canopy surrounds and embraces you and time holds still.  The air is clean and soft, scented with Longleaf and Loblolly Pine needles underfoot; footfall is muffled by the sand. This time of year, the woods have gone from the yellow blooms of Carolina Jesamine to the purple haze of the wisteria which envelopes every tree and shrub.  Soon the wild azalea, Confederate Jessamine and kalmia will unfold and turn the landscape white, coral and pink with the fragrance of The South.

The Hitchcock Woods is one of the largest urban forests in the country, but rather than drawing its maintenance budget from the tax base, it is owned and managed by a private foundation supported solely by membership contribution. Thus has evolved a unique relationship between the stewards of this amazing treasure and the community that surrounds it.  Most anyone that has heard of Aiken has heard of The Woods; the city has come to be defined by its presence.  Admission to 2100 acres of The Woods is free and open to all and because it is located in the center of the city, surrounded on all sides by houses and retail, the park is heavily, but respectfully, used and enjoyed.

One of the major fundraising efforts by the Foundation is the annual Aiken Horse Show in the Woods, this year marking the 96th year that the show has taken place.

The Show Grounds are as carefully groomed as the first tee at Augusta National. Horses are prohibited from entering the show ring except for the three days a year of The Show.

Two weeks before The Show, the grounds have been mowed and primped.

Flowering trees at the Entrance Gate.

The week beforehand, the tent is erected.

Tuesday the jumps and trees are laid out on the course.

Feverish preparations the night before include a bath and braiding, then on to the next barn for another four.

Riders from outside of town frequently trailer in to ride in The Woods and park at the South Boundary entrance below Banksia, a former Winter Colony home now occupied by the Aiken County Historical Society. The morning of the show, competitors arrive as the sun rises, unload their horses and ride the mile to the show ring.

The Hitchcock Woods are restricted to equestrians, hikers, dog walkers and joggers; wheeled vehicles are prohibited.  So three days of the year, there is a sight not seen at any other time – cars and trucks shuttling participants, volunteers, guests, staff and caterers the mile or so to the horse show grounds from the main entrance at South Boundary Road.

Roads more commonly traversed by horses become crowded when traffic comes in and goes out on one lane.

Once there, parking is dense.

Team Canada, at ringside, enjoys a tailgate, a great view of the course and the company of their horses.

Inside the tent, spectators watch their friends compete in the Foxhunter classes, enjoy lunch and bid on silent auction items.

The Foxhunter Under Saddle class at the canter.

The view is incomparable.

Gretchen Wintersteen, winner of the Foxhunter Winners Stake, and her husband George.

The 2012 Pine Top Farm Advanced Horse Trials organizers had one ordeal after another to deal with this past weekend.  Pine Top Farm, in Thomson, Georgia, was the scene of the area’s first Advanced competition for the season and when they realized a week or so beforehand that they couldn’t run everyone in the three phases in the daylight, they had to notify 280 riders that the Dressage and Cross Country phases of Advanced had been moved to Friday.  Then Friday opened with a Tornado watch and a Severe Storm Warning.  Dressage went on as scheduled but then the skies opened up with such a torrential downpour that riders, horses and grooms sought shelter in trailers and barns hoping that the roofs didn’t blow off.  In fact, some distance to the north exactly that happened.  Again, the organizers were notifying everyone of a change to the schedule – Cross Country was now moved to Saturday:  look at the order of go published on the internet, subtract two hours from the Friday time and off you went.  Organizers scrambled for volunteer fence judges but the event went off as planned.

The view from the inside of the Aiken Brew Pub during Friday's storm. High winds and hail brought down trees and then the electricity.

Saturday dawned bright, crisp, with low humidity and the clear blue skies for which this area of the south is known.

One of the early jumps of the day, successfully cleared, a stroller sans baby.

A view of 19 and 20A,B and C and 21 on the Advanced cross country course. After jumping out at C, riders took a bending line to 21, which is just out of the picture to the right of the flag for 19.

As someone commented that morning, there was a disproportionate number of greys competing at this event.  Michael Pollard dominated the top places after dressage and took first and second in the Advanced Open Division One with two greys.

Michael Pollard on Icarus III taking home the Blue.

Michael Pollard on Schoengreen Hanni bringing home Second.

Advanced Open Division Two was again topped by two greys.

Jude's Law in first.

Becky Holder on Can't Fire Me is second.

Division Three of the Advanced Open was won by Michelle Mueller on Amistad, followed by Rachel Jurgens on Ziggy.

Michelle Mueller and Amistad.

Rachel Jurgens and Ziggy.

Open Intermediate Division One was won by Boyd Martin on (my hometown favorite) Remington XXV.

Boyd Martin and Remington XXV.

William Coleman III on Zipp takes home the red ribbon.

Phillip Dutton and Ben take first in the Open Intermediate Division 2.

Will Faudree and Pawlow are second.

Jessica Schultz and Lock N' Load headed to home and number one in Open Intermediate Division Three.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek for second.

Action in the Aiken Eventing arena continues this weekend, March 2-4, with Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials Tadpole through Intermediate/Preliminary.

The Paradise Farm Winter Horse Trials took place this weekend, February 17-19, in Aiken, South Carolina with some 280 rider/horse combinations registered to compete Beginner Novice through Preliminary.  Paradise Farm is situated in the middle of the eventing venues of Aiken, just east of Downtown.

Paradise Farm looking toward the Cross Country Course.

Saturday, the first cross country ride was at 9:00 and by 8 AM, there was a meeting of volunteers and officials taking place in the barn just off the central office space.

The volunteer meeting in the barn.

Younger volunteers visited with the boarders.

The youngest volunteer, Ruairi MacLoed, smiles at his mother, Jane McDonald, as he awaits final instructions for the cross country phase.

A walk around the warm-up with WHF Kitaro before preparing for the Novice Rider show jump phase later in the day.

Johanna Hall Glass, owner and organizer of Sporting Days, venue for another event, helps set up the show jumps.

For the Preliminary Eventers, cross country began with moderate temperatures and overcast but as the morning progressed, temperatures rose to the mid-60‘s.

Lellie Ward, owner of Paradise Farm and organizer of the Event, is particularly proud of the newest obstacle on the course, the Sunken Road Complex, situated at 13abcd (of 20 questions) and which debuted this week.  As the first competitor, Will Faudree on Embellisher, rode through the complex, Lellie Ward was standing a short distance away.

Will Faudree on Embellisher

Close behind him, at pinny number 7, was Phillip Dutton on Gran Banks, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by Augie Vettorino.  Showing how the complex should be ridden, Phillip led the Open Preliminary Division on Gran Banks at the end of cross country on Saturday, finishing on his dressage score.

Phillip Dutton riding Gran Banks

And so the sequence begins:

Second in the Division was Elizabeth Ricklefs riding On The Rocks.  Elizabeth is a veterinarian with a practice in York, Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Ricklefs riding On The Rocks

Galloping away.

Andrea Glazer, on Deputy Commander, won the Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary Division, rising from fourth after dressage to first after cross country, jumping double clear in show jumping.

Andrea Glazer and Deputy Commander

Preliminary Rider was won by Stephen Rogers on Rugby Road, second went to Laura Duhamel on Fate’s Patriot.

Stephen Rogers and Rugby Road

Laura Duhamel and Fate's Patriot

Color coordinated.

Mark Lehner of Hoofclix.Com (http://www.hoofclix.com/Paradise-Farm/2012-02-19-USEA-Horse-Trial) works diligently to get the “right” shot and here shows his dedication, racing camera in hand, foot to the pedal, to get to the right spot before the competitor goes by.

Mark Lehner of HoofClix

Coffee, cream and sugar were delivered and scores were picked up by roving Gator.

Return to the office following the Preliminary Division

(Un)Divided Loyalties

Fancy Footwear

The Aiken area Eventing Series continues next weekend with the Pine Top Spring Advanced Horse Trials in Thomson, Georgia, February 24-26  (http://www.pinetopfarm.com/events.shtml).  Due to the high volume of entries, Advanced and Intermediate Dressage and Cross Country will take place on Friday.

USEF Aiken Training Sessions continue today and tomorrow with a jumping clinic with Lauren Hough and Captain Mark Phillips.

With the goal of bringing home Gold from London this summer, the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Training Sessions continue in Aiken, SC this winter, hosted by Ilene and Bob Boorman at their Mohaph Farm, the winter home for Boyd Martin, his staff and horses.  Mohaph Farm is located within the Bridle Creek Equestrian Community which also encompasses the training facilities of Phillip Dutton and Kevin Keane.

  http://www.usef.org/documents/highPerformance/eventing/EventingHPP.pdf

The dressage arena comprises the front "lawn" of the beautiful Boorman barn and home combination. The Boormans have invested heavily in separate paddocks and a cross country schooling area.

The United States Eventing Association announced an updated 2012 Eventing High Performance Training List last fall (http://useventing.com/news/usef-high-performance-training-lists-updated-2012-land-rover-us-eventing-team) and two of the four A List Riders and several of the B List Riders showed up for the Training Sessions with Bettina Hoy and Captain Mark Phillips; in addition, several of the USEF 2012 Eventing Developing Riders were participating as well  (http://useventing.com/news/usef-announces-2012-eventing-developing-riders).

Bettina Hoy Clinic

From January 26th through the 28th, Bettina Hoy, arriving from Germany especially to give a clinic, provided support and critique for Boyd Martin, Jan Byyny, Will Coleman, Allison Springer and Erin Sylvester .  Riders entered the ring, warmed up and then went through walk, extended and collected trot, working up to the canter.  Bettina Hoy watched the riders, made suggestions then followed up by riding the horses herself.

Jan Byyny and Why Not

 Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotierre

Kevin Keane and Fernhill Flutter

Captain Mark Phillips Clinic

February 6th through the 9th brought Captain Mark Phillips to Monaph Farm to work with a long list of rider/horse combinations, starting at 8 o’clock A.M. and running through the 5 in the afternoon.  Attendance by auditors and spectators at these sessions was large enough that vehicles had to park outside the farm on the common streets of the community.

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos

Susan Beebee and Wolf

William Coleman III and Twizzle

Training sessions continue at Mohaph Farm February 17th through the 19th with Captain Mark Phillips and Katie Prudent.

Late Autumn in Chester County was punctuated by crystalline days, an errant snow and unrelenting weekly rains.  Staff and hounds continued to leave the kennels three mornings a week to pursue Mr. Fox.  One morning a hard frost covered the Doe Run Valley, every tree, blade of grass and fence rail, with silver.

Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds meets every Thanksgiving morning at 11:00 at the Kennel Lawn.  The “field” of riders grows to twice its size from the week before, enlarged by students home on break from college, friends and family in from out of town.  Non-riding members of the community are encouraged to come out, meet the hounds and watch the hunt take off from the hill overlooking Plantation Field, home to a major Three Day Event competition.  The crowd arriving to watch is so large that traffic control is warranted.

Some spectators come prepared for a tailgate party.

The crowd numbers into the hundreds and includes many children.

Children and hounds mix and play to everyone’s delight.

Hounds released, they head down the hill for the first draw.

Riders and horses wait while the hounds search for a fox in the cover below the Kennel Lawn.

Hounds find a fox and chase him across Route 82 behind Chesterlands, eventually returning to the Plantation Field.

Riders are dressed formally, including Top Hats.

The end of the day, Ivan Dowling, huntsman, blows his horn to gather the hounds.

Saturday, following Thanksgiving, the hunt meets at The Laurels at Landhope, site of an annual carriage driving event which is one third of the Triple Crown of Combined Driving (http://www.equidigital.com/Combined-Driving/Laurels-at-Landhope-2011)  Terrain here is largely flat and rolling hills.

The following week, the hunt meets at a location at the highest point in The Laurels Preserve area (http://www.brandywineconservancy.org/laurelsPreserve.html), which overlooks the Doe Run Valley.

The sunlight in autumn is rich and ethereal.   Joint Master Russell Jones (in Pink coat, foreground) and First Fieldmaster Sanna Hendricks (in Pink coat with blue helmet cover) lead the field behind the Huntsman.

The field heads down the hill, away from the meet, towards the Brandywine River.

Huntsman Ivan Dowling blows his horn to bring hounds back while the remainder of the field enjoy a check (a rest in the action) after putting a fox “to ground”.

Ivan Dowling casts his hounds into the cover.

Crossing the Brandywine River at a ford…..

and later, through a covered bridge.

Third Fieldmaster, Nancy Miller, rides through a covered bridge in The Laurels Preserve.

The field at a check overlooking the Doe Run Valley.

The Doe Run Valley, looking toward Unionville.

Where did the fox go?

Back down over the Brandywine, yet again.

Returning to the meet, and….

counting hounds as they return to the hound truck.

Two weeks later, hounds meet at the home of one of the Joint Masters for a good day of hunting followed by a Hunt Breakfast hosted at his home.

Rain brought mud, and mud brought the expected hazards:  stuck in the “in” gate waiting for a tow, even before the hunt begins.

On the other hand, if you didn’t get dirty, you didn’t have fun.

A Visual Recap of Foxhunting in Cheshire Country,

Autumn, 2011

–::–

Opening Meet, Formal Hunting, Runnymede

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Formal Hunting moves to 11:00 A.M.  in November from 9:00 the previous month.  Riders met at St. Malachi Church to park their vehicles and hacked to the Meet at Runnymede, about a mile away, down the hill and a long driveway, along a creek ruled by a venerable Blue Heron.

The Joint Masters, Huntsman and Whip, wearing Pinque for the first time this season, are joined by the Field (the riders following the hounds) on the lawn of Runnymede.

Runnymede is known for its broad, open fields and sloping terrain, punctuated by fences with gates and coops, with creeks emptying to the Doe Run, and eventually to the Brandywine River.

–::–

Byrd Road, Webbs Woods

Saturday, November 5, 2011

The Meet at Byrd Road encompasses a large woods, Webbs Woods, and is flatter than Runnymede, with many foxes.  The Meet is close by the Veterinary School at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton.

Cheshire encourages family participation and many children join their parents on the hunt.

This dairy farm, close by Brooklawn, the home of the late former Master, Mrs. John Hannum, was owned by her as well. No longer home to herds of cows, horses graze in the pastures.

 –::–

Junior North American Field Hunter Championships

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Warrenton, Virginia

After a fall during which children competed against each other and displayed their riding and hunting prowess in regional judged meets, the finalists met in Warrenton, Virginia for the Championships representing hunts from New Jersey south to Virginia.  Some came on tiny ponies, as small as 10 hands and appeared to be no more than 6 years old.  Many families made a weekend of it; the hosts made hunting arrangements Saturday for participants and their families and threw a party the night before.  Before setting out on their ponies and horses, parents and friends completed preparations including adjustment of ties and braiding of hair.

Contestants listened to the Master of Ceremonies as he explained the order of the competition and the rules.

Ella Brophy hunts with River Hills and Cheshire.

Ada Plumb shows winning form early on.

Audrey Buchanan regularly hunts with Cheshire accompanied by her sister, Maggie, and her parents.

After the initial cross country test during which competitors were judged on control of their mounts, the entire group returned to the starting point to begin the selection process to move on to the next level.

Ada Plumb canters her pony, Willie, in the flat phase with the entire field of hilltoppers and first flight.

::

Hilltoppers

Maggie Buchanan was in the hilltopper section although she is a regular second field participant during hunting season.

Lee Lee McNeil hunts with Radnor but occasionally hunts with Cheshire as well. Hilltoppers were required to trot down the hill, cross a narrow bridge, turn right handed and return over a small log, then canter up hill to a complete stop in front of the judges.

After the stop, Lee Lee dismounted, ran up her stirrups, then led her pony across a small stake and bound.

Lee Lee's calm demeanor and her obvious mastery of the challenge brought her the reserve championship of the division.

::

First Field, 12 and Under

John Brophy, older brother of Ella, also hunts with River Hills and Cheshire. He is a talented fiddler (see the blog archives for June 2011) and was the overall pony racing champion this past year for the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association.

Ada Plumb displays the easy grace and great position that won her the Under 13 Championship.

During the awards ceremony, it looked like Ada was going to get the reserve, but when it became clear that she was to receive the blue, she gave Willie a huge hug.

Ada balanced the large bronze trophy and bag of prizes while hoofing it back to the trailer.

::

First Field, Thirteen and Over

Rachel Wilkowski competed Pinkerton in the Thirteen and Over Division.  She and her father, John, hunt with Cheshire every week.  She posted an eighth place finish for her efforts.

::

So, even if you aren’t yet jumping your pony over the brush, there is nothing to prevent you from doing so.  Even if you’re only three feet tall.

–::–

To Be Continued…

Festival in the Country

The week before Fair Hill International CCI3* and 2* (October 13-16) was soggy, so much that fields were flooded and I rode strictly on the roads, foregoing hunting on Thursday because the footing was so slippery.  Friday was overcast with intermittent showers as I donned my wellies and fleece and headed down to Fair Hill, Maryland to go walk the course.  Between leaving the vendor tents and the far side of the course, clouds blew in with yet another rain shower; fortunately fleece is still warm and comfy even when wet.

But glory be!  Saturday began cold and as the morning progressed past 6 A.M., the sun rose and it turned into a perfect day spend in the country with blue sky, bright sunshine and magnificent foliage in yellows and crimson.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Creature comforts

The organizers of the event thoughtfully placed many, many trash barrels everywhere. You didn’t need to carry that empty drink bottle more than a few steps.

 Port-a-potties are normally something that I, as a photographer, abhor as they always seem to crop up in the most un-happy spot – like a “Win” picture.  The organizers made sure there were lots of them and they were spread out well around the entire course, never obtrusive but there when needed.  Might not be something everyone else thinks about, but I sure am grateful.

The cross country course is long and skinny; there were designated stops, with signage, where spectators could pick up a ride back to the tents.  Very good detail.

Family Friendly

Many people brought children and dogs and made a family day of it.

This year I chatted with a woman who brought two ‘tweens, a grand-daughter and her friend, both of whom are horse crazy.  It involved a two and half hour drive but “no worry” -  she had never missed one and the long day was a minor matter.  Volunteers come year after year and at one of the water jumps,  three generations – a team of grandmother, mother and grand-daughter – spent the day together fence judging.

Anticipation

Kristi Nunnink, whose horse is named R-Star, has blue stars on her cross country helmet.

She resides in California but when she is on the East Coast Bruce Davidson is her coach.  While watching the show jump phase, where she eventually moved up from her 13th after dressage to 8th place at the final jump, Bruce stood along the rail in great anticipation and when she finished double clear he was clearly over the moon.

Kristi in the warm up area prior to entering the ring.

Bruce Davidson watches as Kristi clears a fence...

then in nervous anticipation of another...

and at the end of the clear round, leaves for the "in" gate to congratulate her.

Life after Retirement

Some people get to the end of their career, retire and move to the chaise lounge for a well-deserved rest.  Others can’t imagine getting up in the morning without a challenge to tackle; they keep on showing up at work until infirmity calls them to quit.  The improbably named Ying Yang Yo came to the US with Boyd Martin and shortly thereafter placed 11th at Rolex.  This weekend Boyd won the the 3* on Ying Yang Yo whom he had previously retired, handing the reins over to the owner’s daughter who competed him at Novice and Training.  This horse, like some folks, didn’t seem ready to retire. Boyd tuned him up, starting all over at Preliminary then quickly moved to Advanced, winning the Three Star this year where he had come in second in 2007.

Boyd has gotten to the last fence with a lot of rubs but no downed rails.

He clears the last fence.

Just checking!!!

Now that he is sure the last fence stands, he knows that he has retained at least a red ribbon.

A pat for a job well done.

Boyd is congratulated by his wife Silva.

I love this picture of Boyd with Ying Yang Yo. You can see the partnership and easy friendship.

Boyd with owner Faye Wolffe in the winner circle.

The victory gallop with Boyd's stars and stripes helmet.

Outriders get to school too

At the end of Cross Country, as the crowd dissipated and judges packed up their gear to get back to their cars, an outrider took a moment to school her five year old Mule, “Rose”, at the water.  Rose wasn’t quite so sure about it all, the sand at the edge giving way slightly under her hoof, but though tentative, she was game.  With some encouragement from her rider and help from passers-by, she walked through the water and banished that boogey-man forever.

Success!

Every kid’s dream

Kylie Lyman is a 25 year old young woman who, through diligence and a winning disposition, won the Two Star.  As a teenager, she rode nasty little ponies at a local stable, then finding a passion for horses, began to work for and train with Robert Costello and Buck Davidson.  She has her own following now and has found a owner who clearly considers her family. Joan Nichols the owner of Trading Aces and the other horse that Kylie competed this weekend (Garrison Flash, coming in at 20th place in the 2*) told me that “she is the real deal” – a model for every kid who is willing to put in the time, effort and sacrifice that it takes.  As they say, “Cream Rises”.

Kylie and Trading Aces on Cross Country Saturday.

Kylie in Show Jumping on Sunday.

At the "in" gate, several people including fellow competitor, William Coleman III, cheer on Kylie Lyman.

Kylie has jumped double clear.

She is just realizing what she has done.

A hug from former employer and coach Robert Costello.

Victory Gallop

Kylie with her friend and the owner of her horse, Joan Nichols of Vermont.

Olympic Dreams

In reviewing the weekend and looking to the future, Boyd Martin is enthusiastic about the American prospects for 2012 (or the London Olympics, to be exact).  He has competed internationally on three continents and he categorically states that Fair Hill is the hardest 3* in the world due to the combination of questions, huge fences and terrain.  All three top finishers, Boyd, Becky Holder and Jan Byyny have capable horses and a depth of experience that he believes puts them in a good position to do very well next year.  While they coyly refused to actually say the word “Olympics”, they do admit they are anticipating and preparing for “a Big One”.

From left to right: Becky Holder in second place, Boyd Martin in first, and Jan Byyny in third.

Portrait at the winners circle: Boyd Martin on Ying Yang Yo and Becky Holder on Can't Fire Me

Dancing

At the end of Cross Country, Jan Byyny was ahead of Boyd Martin by two tenths of a point.

Jan on Cross Country.

The last fence.

Disappointment in having dropped a crucial rail as Jan heads out of the ring.

An unlucky fence in Show Jumping took Jan from first to third in the very last round Sunday.  Jan Byyny was honored with the Sportsmanship Award at the awards ceremony, an acknowledgement of achievement not only for placing in the top three, but also for having found the strength and hope to return to competition after a career-ending injury.  A year and a half ago, at an event in Georgia her horse fell and she suffered a traumatic brain injury.  Coming back from that fall required that she learn to walk and to talk all over again, then learn again to ride a horse.   She has said that re-learning to speak was as hard as re-learning to ride.

The second fence on the course Sunday snatched away her chance to win the 3* but it is almost beyond comprehension that someone could achieve that level of competence in a scant twenty months.  She just hammered away at the rehabilitation until she got back to the start box.  She says she takes everything “one day at a time”.  When she said that it was like hearing the phrase for the first time.  It will forever take on a new meaning for me.

To her, I send a Valentine.

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted ….
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
        I hope you dance” ***

***Song by Lee Ann Womack – “I Hope You Dance”

Sunday afternoon, during a break between the two star and three star show jump phase to decide the winners of the Plantation Field Three Star Event (Unionville, Pennsylvania), visitors were witness to a spectacular jump-off, of sorts, between some of this weekend’s event riders.

Three years ago the organizers of the Plantation Field Three Day Event sponsored a casual puissance jumping event during the lunch break.  Puissance features a wall that increases in height with elimination of riders as they fail to clear it until there is only one rider and horse combination remaining – a horse version of musical chairs.  It’s popularity with the crowd got the organizers last year to entice several event riders to participate and it resulted in a strip-tease of sorts as Doug Payne gamely traded articles of clothing for the right to stay in the game.  This year the Professional Riders Organization sponsored the event for the benefit of Operation Homefront, an organization which provides emergency funds for military families and wounded veterans.  As the contest progressed and a wall came down, off came the boot of one rider in compensation…

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but as the brick wall grew higher and higher, Jenny Brannigan topped them all and retained all her accoutrement.

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By the way,  in this puissance the riders are jumping BAREBACK.

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Well, that was easy.

Now, let’s add a little height….

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…and a few more bricks to the wall… how high is that?  Higher than one of the wall builders.  She has disappeared behind the wall.  But she IS there.

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…and yet again…

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We’re now going to six feet!

Six Feet!

Last (wo)man standing.

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When the arena cleared, Phillip Dutton escorted several young ladies to the brick wall to see just exactly how high it was.

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It was high.  Very high.