We just got back from a really successful weekend at the Virginia Horse Trials, where the weather and footing were amazing. It was Brynn Littlehale's first East Coast competition—she’s from California, where she was on the under-18 and under-25 lists, and is spending the year with us. We’re really excited to have her! Maddie and Katie Lichten also competed, as well as some other students and myself. It was a great weekend for everyone and the only one that was not super was Inmidair (JR), my ever-faithful companion, who thought it was so exciting to be back out competing! He was quite naughty in dressage, although his trot work was quite good, and show jumping. I think sometimes you get protective of their soundness when they’ve had injuries and forget to train them. Although JR is really fit, he hasn’t really jumped as much as I normally would. Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’ve done, or not done, enough. My conclusion at the end of the weekend was I hadn’t done enough, especially since I had to go out Saturday morning and gallop before I ran the 2-star cross-country just so he’d be rideable! Mark Phillip’s newly designed track, although two minutes uphill at the start, was a great. All that being said, JR was super fun cross-country.
I was also lucky to be able to ride RF Luminata and Kortina for owners Harold and Katie Lichten and the Lichten family. Both horses finished third in their divisions. I was really impressed with how much Kortina has grown up in the last year, and this was the first time I felt like she understood and enjoyed the cross-country. As far as Luminata, I had forgotten what an amazing cross-country horse he is, and just a pleasure to ride in all three phases. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help Katie better understand how to ride him after having him for a month of training.
Volcan was my other ride, and I think he finally turned into a Preliminary horse. So far my young horses have been jumping the Preliminary jumps, but haven’t really been ready to gallop for time and still understand what was being asked. Volcan really stepped up this weekend and was actually quite fast.
As far as my students go, Brynn was third on her Preliminary horse, Kilbunny Amigo, and won on her Training horse, Lagerfeld. Maddie Lichten—I’m so so proud of her— won the JYOP on Yarrow from the dressage on, with such a nice test and such a good weekend in every phase. Katie Lichten rode a young rescue horse, Piper, in its first event at Beginner Novice and completed, even though they had a 20 cross-country because poor Piper decided he wanted to go back to the barn. Katie also rode her mother’s horse, Womble, and finished 6th in the Novice division.
I was lucky enough to jump school Valerie Vizcarrondo’s horses when she was away in Poland working on her judge’s license. She was back home to compete them at Virginia and won the Preliminary Horse division on Favian and was 5th on her Novice horse, Dewey. The CCI* divisions were won by students Skyeler Voss and Claudia Sarnoff—I’m so proud of both girls! I’m especially proud of Skyeler because of all the ups and downs she’s had with her amazing Thoroughbred, Argyle.
I was also lucky to be able to ride RF Luminata and Kortina for owners Harold and Katie Lichten and the Lichten family. Both horses finished third in their divisions. I was really impressed with how much Kortina has grown up in the last year, and this was the first time I felt like she understood and enjoyed the cross-country. As far as Luminata, I had forgotten what an amazing cross-country horse he is, and just a pleasure to ride in all three phases. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help Katie better understand how to ride him after having him for a month of training.
Volcan was my other ride, and I think he finally turned into a Preliminary horse. So far my young horses have been jumping the Preliminary jumps, but haven’t really been ready to gallop for time and still understand what was being asked. Volcan really stepped up this weekend and was actually quite fast.
As far as my students go, Brynn was third on her Preliminary horse, Kilbunny Amigo, and won on her Training horse, Lagerfeld. Maddie Lichten—I’m so so proud of her— won the JYOP on Yarrow from the dressage on, with such a nice test and such a good weekend in every phase. Katie Lichten rode a young rescue horse, Piper, in its first event at Beginner Novice and completed, even though they had a 20 cross-country because poor Piper decided he wanted to go back to the barn. Katie also rode her mother’s horse, Womble, and finished 6th in the Novice division.
I was lucky enough to jump school Valerie Vizcarrondo’s horses when she was away in Poland working on her judge’s license. She was back home to compete them at Virginia and won the Preliminary Horse division on Favian and was 5th on her Novice horse, Dewey. The CCI* divisions were won by students Skyeler Voss and Claudia Sarnoff—I’m so proud of both girls! I’m especially proud of Skyeler because of all the ups and downs she’s had with her amazing Thoroughbred, Argyle.
 Naughty JR, photo: Virginia Horse Trials |  Skyeler and Argyle, photo: Tylir Penton |
I took JR to a dressage show last weekend to practice some circles, and will hopefully show him at Upperville this week in preparation for a better result with him at Great Meadow. We’ve been busy prepping for our horse trials that are quickly approaching the 23-25 of June. Before that, I’m lucky enough to be able to compete my young horses at the Middleburg Horse Trials June 10-11, and then go and watch all the Americans at Luhmuhlen June 15-18 as a selector. Busy month!
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