I can’t believe we’re almost through February of 2024—time flies when you’re having fun and you have horses! I had a quiet December for me, and Tom and I were lucky enough to go skiing and have Christmas with my whole family. I came down to Florida at the end of December, a little earlier than usual, and I'm back at Barbara Riddleberger and Claudia Sarnoff’s Corner Oaks Farm and living nearby with Barton and Susan Merle-Smith at Marnick Farm.
The horses settled in right away and got right to work. I’ve been trying to work on my connection from leg to hand with all my horses, which is always my goal but I feel like I need to make that better in all my horses in order to make all three phases come together. When I’m in Florida I’m lucky because I get more help for myself, so not only do I get help from Lynn Symansky like I do at home, but I also work with Barend Heilbron, Jacquie Brooks and Ian Whitehead. All four have really impressed on me how important the connection is. Of course I know that, but it’s good to be reminded that it has to be better.
I’ve really taken the time this season to go cross-country schooling with Lynn, with both Ransom and Storm, to push myself to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I’ve been working on my connection in that phase, too.
I’ve been lucky that Kaylin Dines, a good friend and client, is here full time for first time ever. It’s been good to help her with her horses consistently, plus I enjoy all the others I get to help here, especially Claudia and Susan.
The horses settled in right away and got right to work. I’ve been trying to work on my connection from leg to hand with all my horses, which is always my goal but I feel like I need to make that better in all my horses in order to make all three phases come together. When I’m in Florida I’m lucky because I get more help for myself, so not only do I get help from Lynn Symansky like I do at home, but I also work with Barend Heilbron, Jacquie Brooks and Ian Whitehead. All four have really impressed on me how important the connection is. Of course I know that, but it’s good to be reminded that it has to be better.
I’ve really taken the time this season to go cross-country schooling with Lynn, with both Ransom and Storm, to push myself to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I’ve been working on my connection in that phase, too.
I’ve been lucky that Kaylin Dines, a good friend and client, is here full time for first time ever. It’s been good to help her with her horses consistently, plus I enjoy all the others I get to help here, especially Claudia and Susan.
| Beautiful Storm at Ocala Winter I, third place in the Advanced/Intermediate. | |
I have had some great events planned this year. I chose to do a combined test at Rocking Horse 2, and although Ransom didn’t look great on the scoreboard, he was actually the best he’s been so far on cross-country. At Ocala this past weekend, Storm was the best he’s been in all three phases, and Ransom was the best in dressage and show jumping but I decided to withdraw because he didn’t feel quite right for cross-country—such a bummer. My next competition will be Chatt Hills, although I’ll be doing some schooling shows with my young horse, Tate, starting this Wednesday at Magestic Oaks. I love training horses and it’s so nice to be able to do it this time of year in Florida.
RSS Feed