Optimum Eventing

Proud of Mary Catherine because all her hard work is paying off! She & Athena scored 66.54% on Training Level Test 1 taking first, and scored a 69.31% on Training Level Test 2 taking first! Woohoo!
Icing on the cake is they are Reserve Champion for Training Level year end awards with Foxberry Farm!

Congrats to Lu & Fortitude on their seventh place in Intro B scoring 60.0% and second in Intro C scoring 61.5%. This cinched the Foxberry Farm Champion in Intro level for them! Way to go!

Well done Mary Catherine & Athena on your Starter CT finishing on your dressage score of 33.82% to take second and cinch the third place year end finish at Foxberry Farm.

The GDCTA fall schooling show is in the books and we all did well. Lee Ann & Signed in Ink competed Starter CT finishing on their dressage score of 34.062% taking 1st and Training Level Test 2 scoring a 67.931% taking first.

Brylee & Phantom of the Opera showed Training Level Test 1 scoring a 65.385% taking 5th and Training Level Test 2 scoring 64.828% taking 4th.

Mary Catherine & Athena competed Starter CT finishing on their dressage score of 33.125% taking 2nd, Training Level Test 1 scoring 66.154% taking 3rd, and Training Level Test 2 scoring 66.034% taking 3rd.

So proud of everyone and now ready for a 6:00 a.m. alarm instead of a 3:30 a.m. alarm.

GDCTA show schedule for us on Sunday. Busy morning.

Boy did we get lucky with the weather for today's Foxberry Farm dressage show.
Lee Ann & Signed in Ink showed Training Level Test 2 scoring a 65.340% taking 2nd, and to keep the consistency going scored a 65.000% taking 2nd on Training Level Test 3.

Mary Catherine & Athena showed Training Level Test 1 scoring 64.230% taking 2nd, Training Level Test 2 scoring 61.720% taking 3rd, and Training Level Test 3 scoring 61.800% taking 4th.

Brylee & Phantom of the Opera put in lovely tests but clearly his movement was not the judge's cup of tea, and that is okay because you cannot win them all. They showed Training Level Test 1 scoring 59.800% taking 5th and Training Level Test 2 scoring 58.620% taking 6th.

Jenna & Bailey took two turns in the dressage ring as well for more exposure helping Bailey to understand we go places and do things. The scores do not reflect all that was accomplished today but that is how it goes with babies. BTW Happy Birthday Bailey, you now are officially 3. They showed Intro A scoring 50.310% taking 2nd and Intro B scoring 46.650% taking 3rd.

Lu & Deacon showed Intro B scoring 58.120% taking 2nd and Intro C scoring 56.750% taking 1st.

Melissa & Cruse Control showed Intro A scoring 61.250% taking 1st and Intro B scoring 66.560% taking 1st.

Way to go ladies, many improvements today even if they didn't show on the score board!

Big Cheese yesterday was a fun show and had two noteworthy moments that I am going to brag on. As most know Signed in Ink doesn't always have the best focus on the task at hand and often has squirrel moments, but yesterday he was checking out the surroundings before our first test and when the cow bell rang I felt a shift in him. As soon as he heard the bell I heard him say, alright it's time to go to work, and he went on the bit and it felt like he blocked out the surroundings and only focused on the job at hand. Not only did he do this before the first test but I felt him do it again on our last test. To work he went too, we showed Training Level Test 1 scoring 66.538% placing 3rd, Training Level Test 2 scoring 67.586% placing 1st, and Training Level Test 3 scoring 65.600% placing 3rd.

Jenna & Bailey also came to play and as anyone who has brought along a young horse knows you will have three steps forward and then five steps back in your training. Yesterday had a few steps back, like forgetting to halt and stand still instead of turning sideways at X ;-), but she was still well behaved, did all the things, and stayed in the ring. So definitely a win when it comes to a not quite three (but getting close) year old. They showed Intro A scoring 56.563% taking 4th and Intro B scoring 54.375% taking 5th. For not having this horse for two full months yet and having to be on a green bean I am so proud of Jenna and that she is going out and doing things. It will all come together eventually and they will have a beautiful partnership. For right now Bailey just needs the exposure and mileage without stress and Jenna is doing a great job at that.

Two of my riders were patriotic with their ribbons won yesterday.

Foxberry Farm show was hot yesterday for sure, temperature wise and competition wise. Mary Catherine & Athena smoked it in their Starter CT scoring a 30.88% and jumping double clear to earn 1st and a Foxberry fox! They also showed Training Level Test 2 scoring a 64.820% taking 2nd and Training Level Test 3 scoring 63.80% taking 4th.

Brylee & Phantom of the Opera were also on fire showing Training Level Test 1 scoring 64.80% taking 4th and Training Level Test 2 scoring 65.690% taking 1st. They also flew around a Starter jumper round to bring home 2nd.

Michelle & My Dodgy Endeavor showed Intro A scoring 59.060% to take 3rd and Intro B scoring 62.810% taking 2nd. They also braved the Pre-Amoeba jumper round to bring home 6th. It is so exciting to watch them progress together!

Lu is back in the show ring after a long hiatus called life, she is riding Fortitude and they showed Intro A scoring 60.620% taking 1st and Intro B scoring 61.560% taking 3rd.