I'm certain that how the horses feel when we drag them all over the country. In the last few weeks some subset of our horses have been from Mississippi, Virginia, various vet schools along the east coast, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. It's a wonder they ever get onto the trailer these days.
Our summer training trip up to MA has been a huge success. At least for the equine friends and Jessie. Poor Betsy popped off Aly week one because Aly jumped the snot out of a 3' oxer and cracked her back at the top. Betsy has been nursing a broken tailbone ever since. She's graduated from sitting on a donut, but not quite back in the saddle.
The horses have compete at some of the biggest, most impressive Area I events this summer. They ran at Fitch's Corner, which happened to be Area I championships, as well as Millbrook, which always has a lot of atmosphere. Competition was stiff and the courses were great!
Smellie ran two Intermediates up here. the First was at Loch Moy II, the second Millbrook. He is officially qualified for the CCI2 at Fair Hill, which was the ultimate goal, and he and Jessie got a WHOLE lot of education. Check out the Team Smellie blog for more details. Who knew the skinny little horse that squealed and rolled his head would be making such a splash on the international sceen? People are watching him, are you?
James, aka Professor Moriarty owned by Weatherburne Farm, ran two solid trainings at Fitch's and then Millbrook. He made easy easy work of the cross country courses and he continues to get stronger on the flat. What less would we expect from a horse with such a big heart. He is still a gnagly baby, but once he's grown up, he will be a knock out.
Zoey ran a novice at Fitch's and then her first training at Millbrook. The mare rises to the challenge each time. Dressage is still a work in progress. It's there, and we've had moments of greatness at home, but she is still only a little over a year under saddle. In reality she's just not very broke! However, she is a phenomenal jumper and brave as all get out. A jump is a jump is a jump. At Millbrook, she jumped a combination including a drop into the water, an ugly half coffin on a steep down hill approach, a pretty serious roll top - bending line over a mound - corner combination, and a skinny roll top into space, which brought many combinations grief. Another red mare with a great deal of talent.
Now we prepare for the long journey back south. It's sad. We've just settled into life up here. The weather is beautiful. We have so many good friends and family. The horses are really starting to excel. However, life has a way of rolling on no matter how you feel or what you have to say about it. Perhaps next year we will come for longer. It has been a real treat! Getting outside our own 'little bubble' in area III is so important. New competition, new venues, new course designers, new terrain, and new insight from other professional is what makes us better riders and competitors. We didn't walk away with a lot of prizes, but everyone is much more educated and confident. This is what is really important. After all, we're trying to make horses for the future!
We're looking forward to seeing all those we've missed at home and bringing some of the inspiration and knowledge we've picked up here to our students at home. It will be a whole 'nother adventure! The road is sweeping us along again.
