Written by guest Megan McCarthy
Brandywine is one of my all time favorite horse shows. It's in Devon, Pennsylvania in July. The show is on the same show grounds as Devon so it's very nostalgic going back and seeing all the iconic parts of Devon. There are several weekends you can show at Brandywine, my barn decided to go on the 4th of July, which made it twice as much fun. Spending a holiday with my best friends was the best part of the summer! I showed in the small and medium pony hunter and the day before they had a huge celebration with fire works, volleyball and pizza. It was such blast, we went foot jumping and layed in the ring to watch the fireworks. After a late night swim we had to go to bed and prepare for an early rise the next morning. I woke up at around 5:30, got a cup of coffee and headed to the show grounds to hack in the ring. Both ponies were perfect so we watched a few trips and went to get ready for the small ponies. My small was amazing and our trips were very so good, I was so proud! We wound up jogging in good places and my medium did really well in the handy! For the rest of the day my friends and I wondered around and looked at pictures and drank slushies. The one thing that really stood out for me was when I went on the ferris wheel with my friend. We were the only two people on the ride and we shook the carts really hard until we reached the top. I could see the whole show grounds from the lemonade stand to the dixon oval, it was such an amazing sight. There was a big International Derby later on that night so all the girls from my barn went to the hotel and showered then picked up Chipotle. We ate and laughed and watched the derby, that day was one of the best days of my life and I'll never forget it. The next day we woke up at the same time and the ponies were even better! My medium wound up placing 3rd in the classic and my small did really well too!! As we said goodbye to our last couple of hours in our favorite horse show, we watched the juniors hunter go and ate fries. It was the most memorable weekend I've had in a long time and I can't wait for this July when I can show my large green!
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Written by guest Sydney Flashman
I cannot, and will not, pretend to be an expert on importing horses. When I imported my mare, my trainers set up most of it. But the experience on my end was really cool. When I first found out that Karamel was a possibility, I was psyched. I'd been dreaming of importing a horse for years, since my old barn mate was showing a European mare, and as the years progressed, more and more people in our barn started getting European horses, as my trainers both grew up in Belgium and are still in contact with old friends and trainers. My old pony, Lizzie, could do the meters, but it was difficult, and at 15, she wasn't getting any younger. We tried it for a show or two, but I just felt bad. I dropped into the .95s, but my trainer and family believed that I was ready to step up, and with this knowledge, we set a goal: Pony Jumper Finals 2016. My trainer, David, knew that it was unlikely that we'd find a pony in the US that was scopey enough to do the finals, so he began searching in Belgium. When I first saw the video of Kara, in which she was competing in the 1.20s, I fell in love. At that point, I was unsure if it was actually a possibility to import her, and I tried so hard not to fall in love (I failed. Miserably.). I heard my parents having many conversations about it, and there wasn't a single day that I didn't think about whether I would end up with Karamel. Finally, my mom and dad broke the news- if Kara passed the vet check, I would be allowed to get her. My mom was stating that this meant I would have to get good grades, do more chores, and the works, but I couldn't hear her over my screaming. I almost knocked my parents over with my hug, and afterwards I ran around the house, to the point that my mom had to ask me to stop, as I was scaring the dogs, and possibly the neighbors. The next week, I had my outdoor education trip with my school, to the Grand Canyon. Karamel was to be vetted thatWednesday, but because I wasn't allowed to bring my phone, I wouldn't know anything until Friday night, when I got home. The trip was fun, but the waiting was torture. Wednesday night, I came very close to asking a teacher to let me call home so that I could find out the results of the pre-purchase. Finally, I got home and heard the news- Karamel had passed the exam with flying colors. There was even a picture of her. I saved it onto my phone immediately. The next couple of weeks were a blur. We had to book a flight, make sure that she got to the airport in time, make sure someone was there when she landed to make sure everything was okay, and then make sure she got to quarantine. By the time she was scheduled to come, I was practically dying. I wanted my mare to just get here already! Everything went smoothly. She got to the airport fine, and boarded the flight with no complications. The flight went well, and she arrived in America looking healthy and happy. She stayed the night at the airport's mandatory quarantine, but because she's a mare, Kara had to go to a quarantine facility in Northern California for two weeks. She arrived at the quarantine facility fine, and they took very good care of her. Every day, they emailed, called, or texted to tell me how she was doing. She got turnouts, and was lunged every other day. They also sent me pictures, which made me really happy. She looked like she was settling in very well, and I was super excited. The night that she was to arrive was a Friday. I convinced my mom to let me stay after my lesson so that I could greet Karamel when she arrived at her new home. The trailer arrived at 8, and I speedwalked over to it in the dark, so exited that Kara was finally here. When our groom and trailer driver led her out of the trailer, I couldn't breathe. Kara looked beautiful. Her ears were pricked, her neck was arched, but when I walked over to her, she put her head near mine and nuzzled my face. I was so happy. I took her to her stall, which was freshly bedded and had water and hay waiting for her. I stayed with her for another half hour, and then went home, hoping my new baby would like her new home in America. I have now owned Kara for 3 months, and I couldn't be happier. I know not everyone's import story will be the same, or even similar to mine, but I thought it would be fun to share this story, especially because importing is getting more and more popular. Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun Although R.J. Classics is most well known for their show coats, they also sell breeches, show shirts, and even schooling shirts! I received a pair of their wonderful sand "Low Rise Front Zip" breeches in the "Gulf Model" style. The fit on these breeches is very flattering and looks great with any shirt. What I love the most about these breeches is that you can easily wear them in the show ring since they feature tan knee patches and a "Euro Seat." Not only are R.J. Classics' breeches great quality, they are also of a gorgeous design and very affordable compared to other top brands. At first, the breeches were a bit tight, but over the course of a few rides, they stretched out for a beautiful fit! The breeches seem to run a little small, so I would recommend sizing up if you prefer a more comfortable fit. I have stained these breeches quite a bit already with dirt and hoof oil, but they surprisingly washed right out! Another great thing about the quality of these breeches is that water and sweat dries quickly and easily with the very breathable material. All in all, I would highly recommend purchasing a pair of the "Gulf" breeches from R.J. Classics. Their customer support is phenomenal, and the quality never disappoints. Also, be sure to post on Instagram with your R.J. Classics item and tag them for a repost! Make sure to give them a follow @r.j.classics! Hermès belts and bracelets are a classic in the equestrian world. Hermès' luxury line of equestrian items ranges from saddles to brushes to polo wraps. This company is so iconic in the horse world and will always be! The bright orange color is not to be mistaken for anything else, and a picture of you and your horse over a Hermès jump makes an AWESOME Instagram post. Photo by R & B Photography (left) and Fanny Eaton Photography (right). The Rolex Jump The Rolex jump is seen everywhere. The watch company's contribution to the show jumping world is appreciated by many, Scott Brash said so himself after he won the Rolex Grand Slam. Photos by Fanny Eaton Photography (right) and Abby Biter (left) The CWD Jump Although CWD obviously isn't the only major saddle company, the jumps advertising these amazing saddles surely are not overlooked. The distinct red color and logo is classic and is seen at many major venues. The different variations of these jumps are still not to be confused with any other brand! Photo by Tori Weed The Longines Jump The Longines Global Champions Tour, or LGCT, is held in some of the most amazing locations across the globe. From Miami Beach to Paris, France, large audiences crowd the stands to get a glimpse of this event. One of the recurring jumps is, you guessed it, the Longines jump! This watch company has also contributed so much to the sport and has increased popularity and attendance. Photos by Isabella Anderson The Land Rover Jump Land Rovers and Range Rovers- the car of the equestrian. Its almost impossible to go to a show and not see a Range Rover. At small, local shows there may be one or two at the minimum, but at bigger venues such as WEF, theres many more owned by the riders and their families. Land Rover sponsors many events and often the lease of a car is the (or one of) prize. The Land Rover jump is iconic and will continue to be! Photo credits to Youtube and http://www.ijrc.org The Butterfly Jump Jumpers, equitation - everyone has jumped this. The butterfly jump may not be unique or uncommon, but it's known by everyone. Whether these jumps are yellow, blue, purple, or green, you are sure to see them at one point or another. They work for the big equitation perfectly, and can be seen in tons of jumper classes. Photo by Isabella Anderson (left) & Abby Biter (right). And yes, the Open Water Whether you're a junior jumper, Grand Prix rider, big eq rider, or other, you've probably jumped the open water at some point. This is often dreaded by many, and for good reasons. It is definitely not a favorite among horses, but this jump is seen everywhere! Photo by Isabella Anderson (left) & Abby Biter (right).
Written by guest Isabella Anderson Ogilvy: Ogilvy half pads are one of the biggest half pad names in the equestrian world currently. Many top riders use these and recommend them for many reasons. They offer a great amount of support to the horse and are fully customizable. The jumper half pads can have any base, piping, or binding colors and can be customized to barn colors or your personal preference. They also offer hunter half pads that can be used while showing to offer more support than your regular show pad! They're also machine washable and the gummy/memory foam can be removed. https://ogilvyequestrian.com/en Equifit: Equifit is known for their high quality and impact technology used in their boots and wraps. They have two half pads that are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reasons. The contoured no slip half pad is one of my favorites. The subtle appearance is perfect for those who prefer a simpler look. The pad is contoured and conforms to the horse and saddle for the perfect fit every time. http://www.equifit.net/saddle-pads/product/1410-non-slip-contour-pad/category_pathway-17 Sheepskin half pads: Sheepskin half pads are a classic when it comes to schooling jumpers, hunters, and equitation horses. The timeless look is perfect for schooling and showing in the jumpers, as they match any colors and are recognized by all. They offer protection and support, although not as much as gel and foam pads, and are used by everyone from pony riders to top Grand Prix riders. In addition, many are machine washable. Written by guest Sydney Flashman
Like many young riders on the west coast, I have been fortunate enough to attend the almost legendary HITS Thermal show for at least one week a year over the course of the past three years. This is my fourth year showing, and while I am not an expert, and will never say that I am, I do feel like a Thermal veteran of sorts. However, this year, I attended on a mount that had never ever been to Thermal; in fact, this is only her second show in America. Karamel, my 9 year old mare, was imported from Belgium about three months ago. Since she's been in America, I've taken her to one small show at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, which is a good show to begin the season with, but is nowhere near as big or exciting as Thermal. As a rider who mostly competes on the greener mounts, I have taken horses and ponies who have never been to Thermal before into the competition. But as the animals are green, it is to be expected that they spook, shy, or take interest at certain things- they've never seen anything like it before. However, Kara, while not super old, is more of a seasoned competitor, and competed often in Europe with her previous rider. I have never been to Europe, so aside from watching the Grand Prixs on television, I have no idea how shows work there, or what can be found around the grounds (golf carts, motorcycles, etc.) It was really interesting to see what Kara spooked at, and what she didn't care about, and I had fun guessing whether she disliked things because she's never seen them, or for some other reason. For example, she was terrified of motorized vehicles. Golf carts, motorcycles, electric bikes terrified her, but she wasn't fazed by water trucks or tractors, which was probably due to seeing those at horse shows for such a long time. She also didn't like the regular bikes, but only if they were not being ridden-she was fine with them if they passed by her. I was wondering if she'd spook at the flapping tents and setups in the wind, but she didn't seem to care about that sort of thing at all. She really was a very good girl. All in all, it was interesting to see what she spooked at, and what didn't bother her. When I compared it to what fazed the little ones, it was pretty much what I expected- all of them looked at different things, based on their personalities, pasts, and level of experience. (Although, none of them seemed to enjoy the beeping noises that the golf carts made while backing up. I don't blame them.) Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun SKM Designs is a small monogram and decal small based around the everyday equestrian. From logos to even custom silhouettes, they truly have something to suit everyone's tastes and needs. Any equestrian knows that anything and everything monogrammed is the way to go! These decals add a nice personalized touch to almost everything. One of our favorite uses for monograms are on crops and Equifit boots. I received two stickers with my horses names in a super cute bold light purple font. One said "Opie 10" and the other said "Easy to Spot." I frequently take my iPad to horse shows and barns to video my trips and lessons, so I am obsessed with personalizing and decorating the case to make it original! I placed these on my iPad's case and it looked wonderful. I've had a lot of experience with decals of this type, and I personally think that these are the easiest to apply. They make a great addition to almost anything you can think of! They stuck right on and have been very durable upon my use of them. I also received a gorgeous monogram sticker in the same light purple color (which I'm obsessed with!). This monogram is perfect for anything, especially electronic cases to personalize them! This came in a cursive font that looked super classy but chic at the same time. As well as the stickers with my horses names, I put this on the front of the iPad case, and it looked stunning against the slate grey. It was also simple and quick to put on. A tip that I have found to help secure your decal is to use a coin as you apply it to the surface. I show in the hunters, so when I saw a sticker in a fun blue color with a hunter on it saying "#hunter", I fell in LOVE! This was definitely my favorite. It was a bit on the bigger size to my liking so as opposed to placing it on my phone case, I applied it to my iPad case. This sleek blue also looked gorgeous against the grey. Last but not least, I received a smaller light purple sticker of a horse jumping on it. At first, I was worried about it getting air bubbles because I made a small mistake when applying it, but to my surprise there were none! I put this in between the two stickers of my horses names, and it looked great! All in all, I highly recommend ordering from SKM Designs for all of your decal needs. They ship super quickly, and come right on time! On top of all that, they're also very affordable with a simple order process! To order, email them at [email protected]. You can also contact SKM through Facebook by searching "SKM Designs." Give Savannah a follow on Instagram at @skm.designs. Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun Kendall Schuler is an eleven year old rider from Great Falls, Virginia. She has been riding for three and a half years, and has had five ponies and horses so far. She currently shows in the Large Childrens Pony Hunters aboard her pony Blue Moon's Glass Slipper, and rides with Jenny Graham. Kendall's advice for riders who get scared or lose confidence to jump is that "not all animals don't jump. It sounds stupid, but when my ponies did that to me, that helped me get the courage to get on another horse and jump." "What I love about showing so much is the excitement you get when you finish your course and do really well. I just feel so complete and happy." "I would like to stay riding for most of my life or just be around horses." Said Schuler. Kendall's riding goals are to someday show in the Grand Prixs. "I would love to become a professional and one day teach people how to ride." "I hope that someday I can show at Devon. I also hope that someday soon I can get a clean sweep. I have been very close many times. My advice for people wanting to show at a big shows and big jump heights is to always get back on." Written by guest Sydney Flashman
I'm a pony kid. I've been doing the ponies for three years, competing around the country, and loving it. I've done big shows, little shows, medal finals, zone finals, even National Pony Finals. I've ridden horses, and shown them occasionally, but my focus has always been ponies. However, last week I attended Week 3 of HITS Thermal Winter Circuit, with the intention of showing my medium pony and my trainer's large pony. Maybe I would hack a horse for a friend or barn mate, or jump one that wasn't showing out in the warm up rings when I finished. I never imagined that I'd get to show a horse. But on the first day of the division, the large pony came out a little sore, and I couldn't show her. I was disappointed, of course, but that's how it goes in the horse world. Later that day, my trainer asked me to sit on a grey mare that had come in for a barn mate to try but she didn't get along with. I hopped on and took it to the warm up ring. We started jumping, and I eventually jumped it 4ft (1.20m for the jumpers out there) and fell in love. The next thing I knew, I was sent to ask my trainer's assistant if I was allowed to show it. That's how I found myself outside the ring where the CPHA Foundation medal was to take place, nervously walking my course, going over the course for the Taylor Harris medal next door, and wondering how on earth I was supposed to get the ex-jumper to slow down enough to do a trot fence, or whether she would even hold the counter lead, because I had little experience counter cantering jumps. (They don't usually ask for that in the pony medals). I warmed up, practiced a trot and counter canter jump, and walked up to the in gate. I was super nervous, and I felt like I had something to prove. Nevertheless, I went in the ring and completed both rounds. We didn't trot the trot jump and had trouble holding the counter lead, but I had a great time. It was so much fun. And though I thought that I would not be having this conversation for at least another six months, my family and trainer and I are discussing getting me, the pony kid, an eq horse, and I'm so, so excited. Written by guest Isabella Anderson OTTB Outfitters is a unique business dedicated to off the track thoroughbred owners and horses. They sell stylish apparel, beanies, stickers and more. Owning an off the track thoroughbred myself, I am biased towards apparel and items with the OTTB Outfitters logo because it goes to show that horses can go from being racehorses to top hunters, jumpers, and equitation horses, and even a George Morris favorite! The OTTB Outfitters beanie is a classic item, and can be worn with any outfit. It's perfect for chilly days, especially here in Wellington where it doesn't get too cold, but chilly enough! I wear mine around the showgrounds and at the barn when it dips into the lower temperatures, and it always keeps my head warm and looks great. The black color with white logo is perfect to pair with any outfit, and it comes in other colors as well. You can purchase these in one of four colors, each look good with nearly any outfit. The warmth and classic look it provides is ideal for the barn and at showgrounds! If you're like me and love seeing OTTBs transform into amazing horses, then OTTB Outfitters is an amazing place to purchase OTTB apparel to support the transformations. Everything from OTTB Outfitters can support the racehorse turned Hunter, jumper, equitation horse, and dressage, depending on your discipline. The unique designs and saying "So nice we use them twice" looks adorable and elegant on their saddle pads, long sleeves, beanies, and more. If you're an OTTB lover, stop by http://ottboutfitters.storenvy.com! |
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