This year was the tenth year anniversary of our horse trials! It was a great event, and we were lucky enough that we had probably the best weather and footing we’ve ever had. Even though entries were down, I think the courses were fantastic and the Surefire Horse Trials team did the best job they’ve ever done.
My thanks start with Christy Stauffer, who is the brains behind the whole horse trials. Christy’s in charge of all the details, including me! And now she has a great partner in crime, Lisa Welch, who helped out for the second year--they’re known as the dynamic duo. Then there’s Tom Finnen, who makes sure that everything about the horse trials, from mowing the grass, to aerating, to fences--every single detail is dealt with. The farm never looked better and even the weather cooperated!
The rest of the Surefire team: Kendyl Tracy, McKenzie, Emily and Steve Ragan, Claire O’Connor and her mom, Terry, Sunny Green, Adolfo Hererra, the #1 course decorator Po Thatham, the special caterer Nanky Doubleday, safety officers Dick and Jo Byyny, my nephew Brandon D’Sa, course builders and designers Trav, Joe and Tremaine, and Secretary extraordinaire Mary Coldron--all worked their hearts out to make it happen. With everyone putting in their best, we got great prizes donated and the winner of the Intermediate division, Sally Cousins on Ideal Contini, was awarded $2,500.
I think sometimes people don’t realize what really goes into events. We always try to make it better each year, and sometimes we get it right, sometimes not. I thought the courses for both cross-country and show jumping were the best we’ve presented; every year we try to make them better and more consistent. We had a really great trade fair this year, too, and we hope to have everyone back next year. I felt the fences were decorated better, with good use of brush, and we aerated the dressage area and show jumping field twice, making the footing really great. We kept all the tracks mowed so the turf was good, and we fertilized everything. We can’t change the long walk from trailer parking, but maybe sometime we can add shuttle system to make getting to the rings easier, one thing at a time!
My thanks start with Christy Stauffer, who is the brains behind the whole horse trials. Christy’s in charge of all the details, including me! And now she has a great partner in crime, Lisa Welch, who helped out for the second year--they’re known as the dynamic duo. Then there’s Tom Finnen, who makes sure that everything about the horse trials, from mowing the grass, to aerating, to fences--every single detail is dealt with. The farm never looked better and even the weather cooperated!
The rest of the Surefire team: Kendyl Tracy, McKenzie, Emily and Steve Ragan, Claire O’Connor and her mom, Terry, Sunny Green, Adolfo Hererra, the #1 course decorator Po Thatham, the special caterer Nanky Doubleday, safety officers Dick and Jo Byyny, my nephew Brandon D’Sa, course builders and designers Trav, Joe and Tremaine, and Secretary extraordinaire Mary Coldron--all worked their hearts out to make it happen. With everyone putting in their best, we got great prizes donated and the winner of the Intermediate division, Sally Cousins on Ideal Contini, was awarded $2,500.
I think sometimes people don’t realize what really goes into events. We always try to make it better each year, and sometimes we get it right, sometimes not. I thought the courses for both cross-country and show jumping were the best we’ve presented; every year we try to make them better and more consistent. We had a really great trade fair this year, too, and we hope to have everyone back next year. I felt the fences were decorated better, with good use of brush, and we aerated the dressage area and show jumping field twice, making the footing really great. We kept all the tracks mowed so the turf was good, and we fertilized everything. We can’t change the long walk from trailer parking, but maybe sometime we can add shuttle system to make getting to the rings easier, one thing at a time!
RSS Feed