Third Charm Training Center NEWS (most recent first):

 

 

 

July 15, 2007

 

It has been a pretty good year so far.

 

Bolivia moved back up to Preliminary, finishing at Pine Top, Jumping Branch and the Ark.  After recovering from a stone bruise she ran Training at the VA horse trials and will be back to Prelim in August.  Recently she won a 3’6” Jumper class at the Ark in fine form.  We also participated in the Phillip Dutton clinic at the Ark in the Preliminary group and had a particularly excellent cross-country class. 

 

My new horse, Skedaddle Fast, has had a couple of good runs at Novice, with dressage scores consistently in the 30s.  She went to the Jimmy Wofford clinic with me and got some very nice comments. 

 

Jean Grizzell also went to the Wofford clinic riding our homebred, Spirit of Kildalton.  Jimmy really liked Spirit and was pleased to see Jean out and about in eventing-land (they are buddies).  Jean moved Spirit up to Novice and ran at Longleaf, Lumber River and VA HT.  Lumber River and VA HT were clean cross-country and much improved on time; they were 7^th at Lumber River. 

 

Ashley Nee is developing quite a partnership with Third Charm’s TB stallion, Lose That.  They won Novice at the Ark, were 6^th at Longleaf and 3^rd at Lumber River.  They will be making a run at Training at the Ark in August. 

 

Jordan Lemmond made her USEA debut at BN riding Spirit of Kildalton at Fancy Hill HT in VA, placing 12^th out of approximately 28 entries with clear xc and stadium rounds.  Mia Hartsell competed riding her own Shogunsrisingson, and had excellent stadium and xc rounds despite accidentally wearing bellboots into the dressage ring.  Whoops!

 

Terri Manno riding Pocket Change competed at Novice at Fancy Hill, finishing tenth despite an oops moment in stadium, with a dressage score of 38.5!  This after some very nice rounds in Jumper classes at the Ark.  They’re back!

 

Brittany Crawford riding Spirit of Kildalton at the 4-H district horse show received two second-place awards, qualifying for the State 4-H show where she placed 10^th, 12^th and 15^th in divisions with 27-33 entries.  She received very good scores and comments.

 

Lara Chance and Red Knight placed 5^th at Training at the Ark HT and have since moved to Southern Pines as Lara is doing an externship at the Pinehurst Resort for college. 

 

December 23, 2006

Year-End Wrapup…..

We had a lovely outing at the Jumping Branch Farm HT two weeks ago.  Bolivia and yours truly led our Training division from dressage with a 35, clean and FAST (she’s figured out how to gallop!) cross-country and clean stadium for the win.  Jean and Spirit led from dressage with a 32, clean in stadium, but took it easy on cross-country and had time penalties that dropped them to fifth.  Still a great result for their first show together! 

On Sunday USET rider Heidi White was giving a clinic at Jumping Branch, so we joined in (myself on Bolivia , Ashley on Vanna, Lara on Red, Jean on Spirit).  Everyone did extremely well but Heidi was particularly impressed by Spirit—said she was “something special” and to call her if I ever decided to sell!

The Christmas Gymkhana was a success, raising even more money for the saddle club.  The saddle club is planning to order custom embroidered coolers for the barn’s horses to wear when they are at competitions.  Individuals may also wish to order spiffy custom windbreakers for themselves—see Ashley for details. 

November 28, 2006

 

Only a month and a half between newsletters this time, haha!

Bolivia has been going well, winning the October Training CT at the Ark and placing 2^nd at the November CT .  At the November Ark show, Lara Chance and Red won the Training dressage and the USEA Novice dressage classes.  Ashley Nee and Vanna performed a USEA Intermediate test and Second Level Test One with respectable scores for their first attempts at that level.  Shelby Williams and Copper won a Jumper Derby class and galloped around the BN XC course.  At the VAHT Bolivia completed at Training, Ashley and Vanna placed 7th, and Lara and Red placed 8^th at Novice.  We just got back from the Pine Top HT, where Lara and Red placed 3^rd in their third Novice outing with a low-30s dressage score, clean stadium and xc, and are now qualified for the AECs! 

The October gymkhana was a success, raising about $100 for the Saddle club.  Kim and Breeze won the Chase Me Charlie (low) class, Lara and Red won the high, and Andrea and Lloyd made off with most of the timed events.  Dwayne got out his retired horses and gave a demo of “real” barrel racing and even took a run at the Chase Me Charlie on MT!  There is going to be another gymkhana this Saturday, December 2^nd. 

At the final CHSC show at Brandywine on the 11^th, Third Charm riders dominated the Jumper divisions.  Shelby Williams and Copper had nice rounds, winning a Low Jumper class.  Lara and Red, Ashley and Vanna, and Andrea and Lloyd took home an armful of ribbons each.  Mia Hartsell piloted Lloyd to the Limit Hunter championship, and Jordan Fedrizzi and her horse Thunder took home the Ch/AA Hunter championship. 

At the CHSC year-end banquet, Third Charm riders took home the top placings in all but the two lowest divisions.  Andrea Stark received two champions and two reserves; Lara Chance and Ashley Nee each took a tricolor; I took a reserve, and then Champion for the Modified division; all received placings in other divisions as well.  Shelby Williams was fourth in the Low Jumper division with only two shows under her belt!  Jordan Fedrizzi won the Ch/AA Hunter championship and Ch/AA Equitation Reserve, 3^rd Pre-Children’s Equitation, 5^th Pre-Children’s Hunter, and 6ths in Long Stirrup and Limit Equitation. 

Last week Mia Hartsell purchased Lloyd—congratulations and we are so glad he will be staying “in the family”! 

There will be a holiday party and bonfire starting at 4 pm on December 2^nd at the barn. 

The winter and spring calendar-to-date is on the website under “schedule”.   I have just received the spring Omnibus and will be updating the USEA events today.  Full Gallop’s first event in February, for instance, will only be running T, P, I, but they have a Wednesday event later in the month that will run BN, N, etc.  So we will have to take a look at the calendar with the updates and decide what to go to!

October 8, 2006

Another huge lapse between newsletters….. sorry guys!

Vanity Fair and I placed fifth at Training at Lumber River HT in June. 

Andrea Stark and I went to the Fancy Hill HT in July, with Shogunsrisingson and Andrea doing their last Novice outing, placing 6^th on their dressage; Bolivia placed third at Novice, back from her SDF injury (and subsequent blistering incident) at last.  In August we went to the Ark HT; Andrea finished third in her first Training outing with Shogunsrisingson!  I withdrew Vanity and retired Bolivia after slipping on due to the footing.  Spirit, in our first USEA BN outing, went clean XC, but I withdrew her before SJ as she was not feeling well. 

 

At the end of August the barn went en masse to the Brandywine CHSC show.  Leah Hucks and Krystal Kieffer did well at their first real show!  Mia Hartsell and Shelby Williams garnered ribbons.  Jordan Fedrizzi did the Pre-Children’s hunters and did well.  Andrea Stark, Ashley Nee, and I all competed in the Jumpers in the morning and collected a bunch of ribbons.  The truck was bedecked with satin in a variety of colors by the time we packed up and left (late!).

 

Spirit and Bolivia both did well at Fancy Hill in September; Bolivia placed fifth at Training, and Spirit placed sixth in her 2^nd BN outing with clean XC and SJ.

Denise and Casey had to skip the AECs; Casey was lame.  However Dr. Blackwelder has fixed him up so hopefully he will be back in action soon!  Ditto on Teri and Pocket Change, who has just come back to work. 

 

We just returned from the NCDCTA HT at the Fork.  Ashley Nee and Vanity Fair won their division of Novice with a 28 dressage score.  New student Lara Chance and her horse Red Knight placed third in their division of Novice.  Andrea Stark and Shogunsrisingson placed fifth on their dressage score in the Training Rider division (second time out at Training!).  Bolivia placed fifth in Open Training, and Spirit of Kildalton was 2^nd in the Trianing horse division.  Go team!

 

Third Charm students have formed a Saddle Club which is intended to promote horse-related social and volunteer activities around the barn.  The club has gone on excursions to the Camden Tack Room and the AECs, and had a jump-painting and bonfire party at the barn.  They are planning a trip to the Renaissance Festival October 15, and a Halloween Gymkhana on October 29^th.    

 

The winter and spring USEA calendar is on the website under “schedule”.  Several students have expressed an interest in going south early in the season; in January, the Ocala HT and Poplar Place HT strike me as a good possibility.  We could go to FL midweek, compete at Ocala, school xc and/or get some lessons with a ‘big name’, and hit Poplar Place in southern GA on the way home.  Any takers?  Let me know!

May 22, 2006

Only a month between newsletters this time! 

Denise O’Keefe and Casey, coming off their HOY award at BN, have moved up to Novice successfully, with a win and a third in two outings, on consistently low dressage scores.  A 2^nd place at the NCDCTA HT in October and a win at the Ark in March earned them a spot in the 2006 AECs at Beginner Novice, also, which will necessitate limiting their Novice outings (unless they qualify at Novice, too!). 

Andrea Stark and Shogunsrisingsun, aka Lloyd, are doing well in their first season of recognized competition, placing third at Novice at the Ark on a dressage score of 36.  Lloyd has proven to be an exceptional cross-country horse, with an unblemished record of clear xc rounds to date, unfazed even by galloping directly through the decoy flock in the Fork’s water jump!  He has schooled some Prelim and is scheduled to move up to Training at Lumber River in June if all goes well.  Lloyd, despite a reputation for being “lazy”, covers ground in a remarkably efficient fashion and consistently clocks the fastest (right at speed penalty) times xc, as well as being a veritable menace in Jumper classes due to his handiness. 

Teri Manno and Pocket Change are having a good season, with clean xc rounds and improving dressage scores in the 30s.  They placed sixth at Novice at the Ark and are about the only ones who can give Lloyd a run for his money in Jumpers. 

Katie Bradley and Lady In Waiting ran Training at the Fork, placing just out of the ribbons due to a rail in stadium.  Not bad considering Katie is at college several hours away from the barn and only gets to ride a couple times a month! 

Vanity Fair is still a work in progress, forced to withdraw at the Ark due to (apparently) slamming a shoe down on a rock on xc hard enough to drive the toe up into her hoof and pop the heel about ¾” away from the hoof wall.  At the Fork I was very pleased with her dressage (28—mostly 7s and 8s only three 6s! and continuing to improve) and xc (clean and under optimum) though Stadium was a disappointment.  She is getting more “broke” with continued work, downgrading from a Pelham on xc to a Myler snaffle with lifters, and I think I need to downgrade her stadium bit even further as she felt a little backed off. 

The next recognized outing for the “whole crew” will be the Virginia Horse Trials in May, though I expect several will turn out for Forest Glen on the 13th, including perhaps some of the greener riders who have not yet competed this spring.   Then there is Old Mill Farm Stables on the 27^th, as well.  (Greensboro “C” circuit Jumpers on the 28^th).

Bolivia’s strained SDF has been pronounced “100%” by the vet (if I’m not careful they’ll be sending me all their tendon injuries for rehab!), but we are restricted to flatwork until mid-May to be on the safe side.  She is doing quite well at her flatwork so far, so hopefully she has not forgotten too much of her winning dressage ways from the fall season (two wins and a fourth)!  At least we will be back in action over fences in time for Lumber River in June, though we may only be doing Novice with so little time to prepare.  I’m hoping she’ll be back to Prelim by the fall. 

My lone hunter student, Jordan Fedrizzi, and her new horse Model Behavior (aka Katie, who was started o/f by yours truly!) dominated their last outing at the CHSC shows, which was their second competitive effort so far.  The pair were Champion in their Hunter division and won both their Equitation classes.  They will be moving up at their next show and plan to compete on the NCHJA circuit this summer. 

Other news:  Pam Hall and I will be going to a dressage clinic next weekend with Cynthia Payne, a GP rider from Florida.  We’ll be missing the Jennifer Baumert clinic the weekend after, but there is about an hour-and-a-quarter shorter drive involved….  with the price of gas that is a bunch!  There is an Ian Stark clinic at the end of June that Andrea and I are aiming for…. If anyone else is interested let me know, it is $400 for three days….   Greta is due to foal around May 20^th and is big as a house…. 

And if anyone would be interested in running concessions (make money for BBQing!) at the Forest Glen shows this summer, let me know.  With the improvements in warmup location and the new fences on XC I have been getting a lot of inquiries and anticipate good entries.  The shows are on our schedule. 

March 20, 2006

 

Once again a huge lapse between newsletters…..

Denise O’Keefe and Casey, despite a late-season injury, placed second in the NCDCTA Horse of the Year awards at Beginner Novice.  Denise also was awarded the SHOE Horse Owner of the Year award for her faith in and hard work with Casey.

Also at the SHOE Awards, Copper was awarded Horse of the Year for his unusual dual roles as lesson horse and breeding stallion; Dwayne was awarded Educator of the Year for his work giving shoeing clinics, and also the Farrier Lifetime Achievement award which is unheard of for his age. 

I closed the deal on the new horse, Vanity Fair, trained through Intermediate by Advanced rider Amy Coffin (now the proud owner of Greta’s ‘05 filly, Dani).    Vanna and I have been getting to know each other over the last few months, starting with a win at TTC at Novice, a second at the Ark at Training, and winning at Hillcrest at Training.  At Sporting Days we placed 14^th out of 26 horses with an excellent score of 39.5 (isn’t that depressing….  there were a lot of four-star riders in my division!)  We moved up to Preliminary at Sporting Days March 15^th, and were clean xc which was my main goal!  Bolivia (who placed fourth at TTC at Training in November with another excellent score, and won at the Ark) has since sustained a minor flexor tendon injury which will keep her sidelined for the next couple of months….  I’m hoping to have her back in time to go Training at Lumber River in June, and move up to Prelim again in July or August.

Getting back into the show season for the spring, Andrea Stark riding Shogunsrisingson (aka Lloyd) placed 10^th out of 20, on her dressage score, in their first Novice outing at Sporting Days.  Katie Bradley and Lady in Waiting ran Prelim after several months off due to college, placing seventh.  At Hillcrest, Denise O’Keefe riding Casey and Teri Manno riding Pocket Change had excellent rides for third and fifth place at Novice.    At Forest Glen, Teri placed second at Novice, Denise was third, and Cydney Gilbert riding Late As Usual (Copper’s 6 yo daughter) placed fourth. 

Andrea Stark dominated the Jumper classes at Brandywine the last two weekends with Lloyd, winning all but two classes they entered and competing through 3’9”.  Katie Bradley and Lady also collected some blue and red ribbons at Brandywine; your truly placed 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in the Jumpers riding Silly Putty, and 2^nds and 3^rds on Vanity Fair. 

Congratulations to hunter student Jordan Fedrizzi on the purchase of “Katie”.  They made  their show debut at Brandywine, winning an o/f Hunter class and placing 2^nd in Equitation.

 

November 1, 2005

Everyone has been doing very well.  Denise O’Keefe and Casey have had several Beginner Novice outings at USEA and NCDCTA events, usually placing near the top of the class—most recently winning at Forest Glen and finishing second at the NCDCTA HT at the Fork.   New student Aryn Keogh rode Copper at Forest Glen Beginner Novice and placed second right behind Denise, in her very first horse trial.  New student Linda Icard and her mare Natalie had a great ride at Tryon HT, their first recognized competition, placing 8th with clean xc and stadium, just a few time penalties added to their awesome dressage score of 29.  Teri Manno and Chester have had a couple of excellent Novice runs, and are contemplating a move up to Training in the near future.   Bolivia had a very good summer at schooling shows improving her dressage, with many scores in the 30s, but we’ve only been to a couple of events this season while searching for a warmup routine that works at “overnight” competitions.  It seems to be working, at Full Gallop Farm HT last weekend she warmed up great in her XC tack, switched to dressage gear and stayed relaxed to gain the immediate lead with a 36 in the Training division, she jumped clean and fast around XC and went into stadium with a rail in hand.  Of course she jumped beautifully, left everything up and collected the blue in fine style. 

Clinicing with Connecticut Grand Prix trainer Jennifer Baumert on a monthly basis has also been a highlight of the season.  Pam Hall rode in one of the clinics on Copper, had a great time and received a lot of positive feedback.  If anyone is interested the clinics are about once a month out in Columbus, NC, on hiatus at the moment because Jennifer is in Florida for the show season, but they will resume in March and run $100 for a 45 minute private.  Denny Emerson will be back in Southern Pines this month, I generally go out to his barn about every other week for a lesson, usually on a weekday morning as he is usually at shows or clinics on the weekends.  Lessons with Denny run $65/rider for a group lesson that lasts about an hour and a half if anyone would like to come along.  Or you can come watch for free, school XC afterward!

Katie Bradley and Cydney Gilbert are off at school, especially unfortunate since Katie and Lady had qualified to run a CCI*—darn college education!!  But Lady and Hershey are still at the barn and are getting a little light exercise now and again with myself and Andrea.  Ashley Bell took her horses Bob and Dynasty to school with her and has been doing Jumper shows with Bob, who is for sale.  

I just took a new horse named Vanity Fair on trial, an experienced Prelim competitor with some wins and a couple of one-stars behind her; she has been off for a couple of years due to her owner having kids, but hopefully she will come back to her previous form so I have two horses to run in the spring.  So far she is a bit rusty and out-of-shape but quite fun to ride.  If she stays, Greta’s weanling Dani will probably be going off in trade, as by the time Dani is rideable Vanity’s previous owner’s twin babies will be in preschool and she will actually have time!   Greta’s 3yo filly, Spirit, is doing well, she was easy to break and is now w/t/c, quite nice on trails and galloping in the field.  I have plenty to ride this winter, too, with the sales horses:  Ray, a 16.2h Hanoverian gelding who will make a neat Jumper or Eventer (already showing 3’ jumpers), Katie, a 16.2h Appendix mare destined for the Hunter ring, and Silly Putty, a 15.2h grey TB mare who has already started showing in Jumping and a couple unrecognized HTs.   Urk!

I will be riding Bolivia in the Phillip Dutton clinic on the weekend of November 19, auditing is free if anyone is interested.  Over the winter we have the Forest Glen and Ark schooling HTs, and that will be most of the action until USEA event season starts up again in February.  Make sure you check the schedule on my web page for upcoming events!  If anyone is interested in NCDCTA Horse of the Year, join NCDCTA and I can get you a volunteer card if you volunteer at a Forest Glen show (you can also get volunteer cards at ANY NCDCTA recognized competition, like dressage shows at TTC, Pinehurst, etc, over the winter).  We will be doing a fair number of eligible competitions next year since I am going to ‘chase points’ a bit if I can manage the schedule!  

June 19, 2005

It’s been a busy spring!  Since our last newsletter:

In April, Katy Bradley and Lady In Waiting turned in their usual consistent performance at Tryon, placing 4^th in the Open Preliminary with the fastest cross-country time of their division.   Bolivia and yours truly finished 11^th in the Open Preliminary at Pine Top.   Ashley Bell and Maximum Bob finished eighth in the Novice division at Longleaf, while Bolivia went to hack around and work on her show nerves.   At the schooling HT at Forest Glen, Katy Bradley and Silly Putty finished 5^th at Maiden (their first show), and Denise O’Keefe won the Beginner Novice.  Cydney Miller and Late As Usual finished 7^th at Novice.

Also in April, Greta produced a gorgeous ½ Trakehner filly, nicknamed “Dani”.  She is now over 13h of solid muscle with attitude!  She has lovely straight legs, a very uphill build, and amazingly suspended gaits….  She’s a keeper!

In May, we first went to the Hillcrest schooling HT.  Denise and Casey finished second at Beginner Novice, Teri Manno and Pocket Change finished just out of the ribbons at Novice.  Bolivia went along to school her dressage test and was much improved in terms of show nerves despite now being off hormone shots.   At the Ark HT we had a few riders, including Andrea Stark and Test Flight taking 3^rd in Open Training, Ashley and Bob taking 4^th right behind them, Kathleen Moreno and Henry, Just Henry in 5^th place at Novice, and Teri and Pocket Change 7^th at Novice. 

In June, we went to the Sedgefield “C” show to do the jumper classes.  Katy Bradley took Silly Putty and won her first class, placing well in two others; Jordan Fedrizzi on Tattle Tail also placed.  Bolivia and I did one class and jumped double clear but didn’t go for speed in the jump-off, placing third if I recall correctly.  The next weekend was the Lumber River HT; Teri and Pocket Change had a splendid outing in their first “Away” show, finishing 5^th at Novice with clear fast jumping rounds; Bolivia and I finished 8^th at Training –we were having TOO MUCH FUN (now that we have actually developed her ability to gallop) to worry about little things like setting up to turn to fence 4.  Once reality intruded we had a very lovely xc ride, and stadium was marvelous.  Again, she was very calm throughout the day, making the fourth who in a row that she’s not been nervous!    

This weekend we went to the Ark for the Jumper classes.  I rode 5 year old warmblood Raisin, who has now been in training for two months.  When he arrived he could not even canter properly, about three weeks ago he suddenly ‘came together’, and at the Ark he carried himself competently through two classes, leaving all the rails up for a third in his first class and a first in the second.  This was his first show and he was not at all rattled by the covered ring and PA system!  I rode Jordan’s pony Tattle Tail to clear rounds in two classes (Jordan is at horse camp), placing fourth and second, despite vehement disagreements over which of us was in charge of speed, direction, and way of going.  In the second class she was significantly improved (though mightily disgruntled).  Teri and Pocket Change did three classes, winning one and placing second twice.  Denise and Casey did four classes, garnering placings from second through fourth with only one rail down in all.   I rode Bolivia in three classes for two firsts and a second, and again no show nerves!

March 20, 2005

When was the last time I did news?  Egads.  Well, let’s hit the highlights…. Katy Bradley and Lady In Waiting won the Jr/YR Prelim division at NCDCTA (qualifying for the AECs)….   Andrea Stark and Isis, and Ashley Bell and Maximum Bob, each won a Training division at the Ark’s Frostbite series….  Andrea and Out of Reach won a BN division at the Ark’s series, as did Kathleen Moreno and Henry, Just Henry.  Denise O’Keefe and her homebred gelding Casey won the final Maiden HT and placed well in the others of the series, taking home the series-end award in the Maiden division.   Teri Manno and Pocket Change took home 4^th and 6^th place ribbons at Novice at two of the shows, and Jessica Pinkerton and Quintessence took home a 2^nd and a 3^rd at Beginner Novice.  

Bolivia is a whole different horse under ‘hormone control’ and has finally started to live up to her potential, placing third in the Open Training division at the Sporting Days Horse Trials this weekend on her dressage score of 37.  She’ll show Training at FENCE (just to make sure she’s really got down the concept of good behavior at shows!) and then back to Preliminary at Pine Top in April.   

We have a new training horse at the barn, Olenska, a TB/Akhal-Teke cross from Vermont, now belonging to student Kim Meeks.  Next week she will be joined by Raisin, a substantial young warmblood event prospect owned by Kathy Shook.  

Check the show schedule (http://www.thirdcharmtrainingcenter.com/schedule.htm) for upcoming events, I have it updated through June now, though I haven’t put the CHSC shows on it for those interested in Hunters and Jumpers.  

November 1, 2004

My my, time gets away from me as always. We have had a very busy season…. I showed at Summer Nights at Latta with Bolivia, the highlight being a 69.23% first place ride in Training test 2. We attended a couple of Jumper competitions at Brandywine and the Ark, resulting in a slew of excellent ribbons for Teri Manno on Pocket Change, Andrea Stark on Isis and Out of Reach, and myself on Bolivia. Andrea took her new horse, Test Flight, for a promising trial run at Novice at Pine Top, finishing just out of the ribbons.

At the Tryon Horse Trials, Lauren Claire Keller went BN with her horse Cuyuna, their second recognized outing, and placed 7th; Ashley Bell went Novice with Maximum Bob, placing 6th, Katy Bradley went Preliminary with Lady In Waiting, placing 9th, and Bolivia completed the Training courses with no jumping faults but some time on xc-not used to all those hills-keeping us out of the ribbons.

At the Pinehurst Horse Trials, Ashley Bell and Bob ran Novice and placed fourth, and then repeated that result at the Ark HT in October. Also at the Ark, Teri Manno and Pocket Change placed 7th in their first USEA event at BN, Cydney Gilbert and Late As Usual placed 4th at BN, Kristen Young placed 2nd at Novice with Third Charm's TB stallion, Lose That--all on their dressage scores. Andrea Stark and Test Flight placed 6th with a couple of stadium rails.

Hunter student Jordan Fedrizzi was Champion in the 2'9" Children's Hunter Division at the Ark Open Show in October, on her horse Painted Thunder.

We've had a couple of great clinics in the area. I took Bolivia xc at the Fork with CCI**** trainer Ralph Hill, and she was a star, jumping all the Preliminary complexes with ease. Then Andrea and I went down to catch a couple of pre-clinic lessons with famed British eventer Ian Stark. Bolivia and I had a superb outing, but I think Andrea and Test Flight (despite being in the 'getting to know each other' stage, they did incredibly well) got Ian's attention with their demonstrations of what SCOPE is all about!

Coming up, the NCDCTA Horse Trials. Lady in Waiting and Katy will be running at Prelim, Ashley and Maximum Bob (who is really coming into his own confidence-wise after a year-plus of careful work!) will be making their Training level debut, Andrea and Test Flight will be running Training, and Bolivia will be making her last Training run before moving up to Preliminary at Pine Top over Thanksgiving weekend! There is a XC School, Jumper Show and Dressage Show planned at TTC on December 4 (entries at www.ttcmocksville.com), a unrec. HT at Jumping Branch December 11 (www.jbfarm.com) and an NCDCTA HT/CT/Dressage/XC Derby at the Ark on December 18th (www.whynotanamericanark.com)

July 14, 2004

Poplar Place was a great event!! Andrea Stark competed with Isis at Novice, since Isis is for sale as a "novice packer" and wanted to show her stuff. Divisions were big, around 18-20 horses, but Andrea finished eighth on her dressage score. Ashley Bell and Maximum Bob finished their first Novice Horse Trials, second place after dressage, with one stop on xc (Bob was too busy goggling at the surroundings to notice the jump lurking around a sharp turn!) and clean stadium for eighth place. Bolivia had a much-improved dressage test, clean xc, and one rail in stadium for, oddly enough, eighth place. Matching ribbons for everyone!

Ashley followed that up with a trip to Foxtrack to compete in the Training Level Combined Test. Bob put in a lovely dressage test (34.5) and clean stadium to win his first time in that division.

Summer Nights At Latta is always a nice schooling dressage show. Teri Manno and Chester (aka Pocket Change) sallied forth at Training One and Two with much-improved relaxation for Fourth place in the first test, and not sure about the second (had to leave before results were announced). Tootie Cox rode Rebel at Intro, kicking on from a fourth-place finish in test A to a hugely improved second place in test B. Barbara Summers rode Rebel in Training Level tests Two and Three, placing fourth in the first and then I had to leave before results were announced, again!

A tractor-related injury put me out of the saddle for the last few weeks, but I'm back now and hope to be in shape again and competitive in time for August's Summer Nights at Latta and the Tryon HT.

May 30, 2004

At the Longleaf HT in April, Katy Bradley and Lady in Waiting completed their second Preliminary event, jumping clean (and very fast) over a tough XC course and finishing fourth. Bolivia finished at Training with yet another clean XC round as well.

The Ark HT went well. No major crises! 84 riders started, which was a much better turnout than we had expected. Katy Bradley finished fourth at Training on her dressage score; Cydney Gilbert finished fifth on her dressage score at Beginner Novice, and Lauren Claire Keller and Cuyuna completed their first USEA event in seventh place at Beginner Novice.

We are now gearing up for Poplar Place in Georgia, Champagne Run at the Kentucky Horse Park, and some unrecognized events in Southern Pines. The Ark will also be holding an NCDCTA event July 31st.

Greta is the proud mama of a bay tobiano colt named Scamper, who at seven weeks is already about 49" tall and very frisky. She is bred for 2005 to a gorgeous Trakehner stallion named Feuertanzer, recipient of the 2nd highest stallion inspection score in NA, and one of the few Trakehner stallions in North America to be awarded Premium status. That should be a nice foal!

April 12, 2004 The Fork Horse Trials went well for two Beginner Novice teams, Ashley Bell riding Maximum Bob, and Cydney Gilbert on Late As Usual. Ashley won with clear xc and stadium rounds, making a move-up to Novice mandatory before she is lynched (three times out, two wins and a second). Cydney placed third with one rail down off a hard turn in stadium, not bad for her four-year-old filly's second recognized event!

March 22, 2004

The Lucinda Green clinic went very well at the beginning of February, despite Livi being the greenest horse in our group (all the other horses had Training/Prelim/Intermediate experience!) she held her own. She has now completed four Training Level events…. Sporting Days and Paradise with one 'greenie stop' apiece on xc, Jumping Branch Farm clean xc and stadium, Sporting Days March clean xc again. And she has figured out galloping… we were perilously close to speed penalties at Jumping Branch!

Also at Jumping Branch, Andrea Stark finished her fourth Training HT, clean xc, with a much improved dressage score. And Ashley Bell riding Maximum Bob won their BN division on their dressage score of 25.

This past weekend, Lauren Keller competed at the TTC spring HT with her horse Cuyuna, their first outing at BN…. They handled cross-country with ease, and jumped everything in stadium after handling a bit of over-enthusiastic 'wheeha!' on Cuyuna's part. At the Sporting Days Farm, March event, Katy Bradley and Lady in Waiting made a successful Preliminary level debut, finishing in fourth place despite having only ten minutes to memorize the correct dressage test…. Cydney Gilbert on Third-Charm-bred-and-raised Late As Usual, Copper's 4 year old daughter, placed fifth on her dressage score in her first outing at a recognized BN event.

We're now gearing up for the Fork and Longleaf in April, Ft Bragg and the Ark in May! Anyone who is interested in eventing in VA/MD during the summer, please let me know because we WILL be going, particularly to events that run Preliminary divisions.

New stalls are completed and we are at capacity with boarders and training horses. Greta is as big as a house and looks like she will foal any day now.

If anyone is interested in going to Rolex and hasn't got tickets yet, I have extras! Call me ASAP.

The Ark HT, May 15th, still needs volunteers!! Please get friends and family to join in if you can and let me know ASAP who is willing to help out. No experience necessary! We need dressage scribes, xc jump judges, someone with a mathematical frame of mind to be in charge of scoring, a few quick folks to act as jump crew during stadium (resetting jumps that are knocked down before the next horse starts), organized types to be ring stewards.... there is a job for everyone!

January 8, 2004

Well, it has been a quiet holiday season. Some students came down and watched the Jennifer Baumert clinic at Hidden Springs, in which I rode Bolivia. Aside from spooking at a lap-quilt that had been left on the ground by the arena, that was very successful. I've been down to Southern Pines for several lessons with Denny since he came back from Vermont, and Bolivia is doing EXTREMELY well. While Denny was at a competition in California I went down to Lellie Ward's Paradise Farm in Aiken, SC for a couple of lessons which were a blast. I have also signed up for the Lucinda Green clinic (for those who are new to eventing, Lucinda won Badminton-basically the 'Indy 500' of eventing-six times on six different horses, starting when she was 18) at Paradise Farm on February 1st and 2nd. If anyone would like to come watch, the fee for auditors is minimal. You can learn a LOT watching your coach get yelled at!!

Students are now starting to gear up for the new event season…. Entries have already opened for the Sporting Days HT, so get those entries in!! Entries will open soon for Paradise Farm HT, so get them ready if you are going. They are both great events! We have a LOT of events scheduled, so see the schedule page on the website and LET ME KNOW where you want to go! It is important to speak up so we can make appropriate plans!

Bolivia and I will be making our first start at Training at Sporting Days, and have signed up for the Area II Year-End Awards and American Hanoverian Society awards programs. Wish us luck!

Any students who are interested in pursuing year-end awards, please let me know and I will help you track down an appropriate program!

A reminder: If you've been taking lessons on Copper and don't have a suitable horse of your own, he would be absolutely delighted to go to a Beginner Novice or Novice event with you! A fun way to get your feet wet or build your confidence!

Another reminder: Send me a little "bio" of you and your horse and I'll put you on our bios page!

November 24, 2003

The Horse Trials at the Ark has been approved by the USEA with myself as Organizer. The date is set for May 15th and will include Beginner Novice through Training competition. It will be a great conclusion to the spring event season, so everyone plan on it!

Results at the Fork HT were disappointing due to the terrible footing on xc, which caused numerous falls throughout the day no matter what kind of studs the horse had, apparently. Andrea Stark's horse Isis slid into a jump, which she then jumped ANYWAY, but was penalized as if she had stopped, dropping her to tenth place-one of the few times she has been out of the ribbons. I rode Katy Bradley's Lady in Waiting at Training but retired on xc after sliding into two jumps.

Bolivia and I competed at the Fort Bragg HTs in the Open Novice division, placing fifth on her dressage score, just a few points out of first (tight division!)

At the Weymouth HT, Ashley Bell and Maximum Bob finished on their dressage score for second in Beginner Novice.

Results from the Hillcrest CT are a bit hazy, since they didn't give out ribbons or announce placings that I'm aware of-but most everyone had a good time out. I know Andrea Stark and Isis won the Training division with a low-30s dressage score and clean jumping round! Laura Collander on Borrowed Time, Cydney Gilbert on Late As Usual, Teri Manno on Pocket Change, and Ashley Bell on Maximum Bob also competed.

Results from the Brandywine schooling jumper show: Lauren Claire Keller and Cuyuna, in their first competition, placed 3rd at 12", 5th at 18", and 6th at 2'. Sarah Tweed riding our Lose That, her first time showing over fences-5th in the 2'6", 3rd in the 2'9", 6th in the 3'. Ashley Bell and Lady Dynasty-3rd at 2'6", 2nd at 2'9"; with Maximum Bob, 2nd at 2'6", 6th at 2'9", 3rd at 3', 1st at 3'3". Andrea Stark on her event mare, Isis, placed 1st at 2', 4th at 3'3", and 1st at 3'6" and 3'9".

The NCDCTA horse trial was well-run and enjoyable as always, though stiff competition kept Katy Bradley and Andrea Stark out of the ribbons at Training. Bolivia recovered sufficiently from her bout with colic to finish in the Novice division, jumping marvelously but a little unfocussed in dressage. Ashley Bell and Maximum Bob posted an excellent dressage score (33.5 I believe) and kept it there for second place in the Beginner Novice division-a great job for their first USEA event!

Richard Sexton and In a Hurry placed fourth in the Senior Novice division at the Forest Glen Farm HT; Ashley Bell and Maximum Bob placed sixth in their first Novice HT. Whitney Johnson and WNAAA Sea A Superstar (aka "Ben") placed third, their first time out, at Beginner Novice, and Jessica Pinkerton on Quintessence placed third in their division of Beginner Novice (their second time out). Chad Lawrence and Heza Drum Major had excellent rides, marred only by difficulties at the big drop fence on xc. Lauren Claire Keller and Cuyuna competed for the first time, jumping clear on xc and with one stop in stadium.

Katy Bradley and Lady in Waiting are currently FOURTH in the USEA Area 2 Jr. Training standings. With only SIX EVENTS!

We are very, very proud of all our wonderful riders this season, and look forward to many more successes!

October 7, 2003

Jordan Fedrizzi and Painted Thunder continue their winning ways, taking the Children's Hunter Championship at the TTC September Hunter show.

We had a fantastic weekend at St. George's Quarters. Competing at Jr. Training, Katy Bradley and Lady in Waiting had their best-yet dressage score for an early lead, and double clear jumping rounds over a course that seriously reshuffled the field in most divisions, to finish on 33.5. Andrea Stark and Isis put in a solid dressage test, moved up to second place after xc, and stayed there with a clean, fast stadium round. I rode Bolivia at Novice, where a hugely improved dressage score put us in second, after xc we moved up to first by a large margin, and stayed there with one rail down in stadium. Go team, eh?

September 18, 2003

Boy it has been a long time since I've sat down and done the news. Time to catch up and hope that I can remember everything!

We had some fun at TTC and Foxtrack in July and August, with Katy Bradley and Chad Lawrence placing well in the showjumping at TTC (as did my new ride, Bolivia). Students competing at Foxtrack included Chad, Katy, Andrea Stark, Ashley Bell, Teri Manno, Cydney Gilbert, Emily Elliott, Jessica Pinkerton and Brooke Niblock. Students competed from Maiden through Training levels with excellent results and great experience for all.

Lalla Reid has been taking her lovely young Pinto Warmblood mare, Isabella Too, to the dressage shows at Latta. Their first time out they won Training Level 1 and 2 with scores in the high 60s and low 70s. Last weekend they placed second at Training Level 3 and 4 with 66% and 69% (first place went to a professional in both classes).

After a summer of bad weather, cancelled shows, and away camps, Jordan Fedrizzi returned to the ring last weekend. She and her horse Painted Thunder were the Children's Hunter and Equitation Champions at Cedarhill's PHJA show.

This recognized USEA event season is under way. Andrea Stark completed her first Training event at Fare Well Farm in SC, missing ribbons only b/c it poured down rain on Stadium day and Shelby (aka Isis) slipped and had a couple of rails down on the hilly course. However she was wonderful in dressage and undaunted by the challenging xc course! Bolivia and I had a decent dressage test and a fantastic xc until a hidden sinkhole in front of Jump 12 caused yours truly to part company from the saddle (at least some good came of it…. After three horses came to grief, they DID fix the sinkhole!). We finished xc-Bolivia was unphased by the mishap, but I was too sore to do stadium the next day! Ah well.

The next weekend was the Pinehurst HT. Katy Bradley and her mare Lady In Waiting put in a good dressage test, had one unlucky rail in stadium, and devoured the xc course (Prelim speed will NOT be a problem) for sixth place in the Junior Training division.

Coming up we will be going to watch XC at Five Points (Pan Am team riding Advanced will be the highlight, we will probably have to leave in the wee hours though!) on the 27th, then a busy October of showing with the St. George's Quarters, The Fork, and Fort Bragg HTs. October 26th is the Weymouth HT, an unrecognized event for Maiden through Novice. November 8th and 9th is the NCDCTA HT, with Prelim/Training on Saturday, and Beginner Novice/Novice on Sunday. We have an ad in the program and a xc jump sponsored, so students had better ride if they're able!

July 1, 2003

Moving on into summer, and will the rain EVER stop? However it does finally give me a minute to pen the latest news….

At the Forest Glen HT on May 24th, yours truly piloted Teri Manno's Pocket Change to second in the Novice division, followed by our new mare Bolivia in third place. Anna Pesta finished her first Beginner Novice HT on her dressage score, placing second I believe.

The diehards went to the Meadowbrook Dressage/CT in early June, despite heavy rain which pretty much turned it into a meagerly attended dressage show. Ashley Bell rode her horse, Maximum Bob, to first place in Novice Test C with a 30.5. Kim Jones rode Kildalton's Cross to wins at Training 3, 4, and First Level 1 with 73%, 66%, and 64%.

Andrea Stark and I drove all the way up to VA for the Fancy Hill Farm HT this past weekend. It was a great event so we will likely return in the future. Andrea won the Novice Jr/Yr division with Isis, and Bolivia finished her first Novice in promising fashion.

Make sure to sign up for the TTC XC school July 5, and the Foxtrack HTs July 12th and August 23rd!

May 13, 2003

The spring USEA season in our area is finished! Katy Bradley has competed two more events at Training Level, placing fourth at Longleaf and sixth at Fort Bragg, and is now one event away from qualifying to run Preliminary. Andrea Stark placed sixth in the Novice division at Fort Bragg on Isis, and Andrea Giordano completed her first HT at Novice there with Max the Cowboy.

Anna Pesta and her new horse Sportive placed second in the Just Begun division at the Hillcrest HT; Cydney Gilbert and Late As Usual placed fourth; and Third Charm's latest aquisition, a Hanoverian mare named Bolivia, piloted by yours truly, finished first. Hillcrest's xc course was quite nice and we look forward to competing there again soon!

We FINALLY got to compete at The Fork in Norwood, NC. Andrea Stark finished second in the Novice A division (over a truly championship caliber course); Laura Collander placed third in the Maiden division with Jordi; Teri Manno's Pocket Change finished fourth in the Beginner Novice division, with Richard Sexton's In A Hurry a close fifth. Emily Elliott, new to the horse trial scene, rode Third Charm's Kildalton's Cross to an exceptionally good dressage score (31.5) and completed just out of the ribbons.

Don't forget to enter the Forest Glen/Goldhorse HT May 24th! It will be Bolivia's Novice debut.

Big plans for the summer--I will be travelling out of town to Virginia for the USEA recognized Fancy Hill HT in Natural Bridge, VA at the end of June if anyone is interested in going, and in July or August will be spending a couple weeks at Denny Emerson's Vermont training center and competing in a couple of Area I horse trials. Also in case anyone isn't aware I am getting married June 14th and will be gone from June 15th through 19th on a cruise.

March 24, 2003

We are now well into the season and things are progressing nicely. Katy Bradley competed with Lady in Waiting at St. George's Quarters, her second USEA event and first outing at Training Level, and won her division handily. This past weekend Cydney Gilbert rode Late As Usual (known as "Hershey" at the barn--Copper's 3 year old daughter) in her very first outing under-saddle, placing second on her dressage score at the TTC Horse Trial in the "Just Begun" division. Three more recognized events before the end of the season, and several unrecognized coming up as well!

February 9, 2003

Eventing season is here! We just returned from the USEA recognized Sporting Days Horse Trials. In the Junior Novice division, Andrea Stark and Isis took third place with one rail in stadium, and Katy Bradley on Lady In Waiting took fifth with a clear stadium and one "oops, there's water there!" stop on xc. Both schooled the Training level xc course today with no problems and look forward to moving up. Sindi and Andrea Giordano accidentally ended up in the Open Novice division (instead of Novice Horse and Junior Novice) and did not place, but were clear XC, with Sindi's Bo Bar Hobby having one rail in stadium and Andrea jumping clear on Max the Cowboy.
Copper also went along for the ride and schooled nicely, so perhaps his hock is improving already!

February 1, 2003

Please check out the updated schedule on our website, which has links to several event entry forms including the new unrecognized event February 15th at the Fork Stables, the March 2 Foxtrack HT, and the March 23rd event at Sporting Days.

I regret to announce that despite treatment, the hock injury that Copper suffered in 1998 and subsequent arthritis continues to interfere with his jump training. Copper will be withdrawing from competition for an indefinite period until his condition improves. Meanwhile I will probably be looking for another prospect to bring along and compete until Late As Usual (Hershey) is ready to go next spring.

December 13, 2002

Many thanks to Diane Francisco for hosting the Third Charm season-ender party. It was a huge relief after having no power and being under ice for a couple of days. Thank you to everyone for coming, and hope you had fun!

We are still on for this Sunday's Show Jumping and XC Pace competition at Fort Bragg!

I will be gone from January 1-5th, if you would normally have a lesson scheduled on these dates please contact me about rescheduling.

We will be cross-country schooling on December 31st at Denny Emerson's Tamarack Hill Farm in Southern Pines, NC. Tamarack Hill has a wide variety of jumps suitable for Beginner Novice through Prelim horses. The schooling fee is $35, and I will be charging $20 for coaching. We will school around 11 am as I generally have a lesson with Denny at 9:45. Call me for directions and any other info. >

October 2002

October 26th, we are going to Aiken to school at Paradise Farm and Jumping Branch Farm. Everyone plan on it! Paradise hosts an event in November and a couple in the spring, Jumping Branch hosts an event in the spring, so this will be good experience for anyone who is interested in competing in 2003!

Tryon Horse Trials Results: Sindi Giordano placed second in Beginner Novice, finishing on her dressage score. She was actually tied for first, but the tie was broken by the other rider being _three seconds_ closer to optimal time on XC. Diane Francisco finished on her dressage score for sixth place in the Novice division.

Meadowbrook Farm Dressage & CT was quite a success. Students Jessy Brooks, Whitney Johnsen, Chesney Watkins, Katie Bradley, Cydney Gilbert, Ashley Bell, Kim Jones, Tootie Cox and Reggie Summers took home a bunch of ribbons! Lalla Reid's warmblood mare, Isabelle, also performed well with scores in the 60s and two placings in her first show.

September 2002 The Hopeland Horse Trials in Aiken, SC, was the first USEA event of our fall season. Diane Francisco finished on her 39.5 dressage score at Novice with clean stadium and xc rounds for seventh place (only four points out of first!). Sindi and Andrea Giordano competed at Beginner Novice for their first recognized horse trials, and both finished with clean stadium and only minor problems on xc, with Sindi pinning seventh in her division. Copper was tied for fifth until an unfortunate error on xc dropped us to tenth; aside from that, however, he went so well that I ordered the inordinately expensive video!! You all are welcome to watch it and laugh as I make two of the cardinal errors of cross-country (do the phrases "SLOW DOWN" and "DON'T TRUST HIM" ring any bells?) Ashley Bell came with us as our groom and did a MARVELOUS job of keeping everyone aware of their schedules and properly outfitted (whips, pinnies, medical cards, etc!).

PARTY ALERT: Diane Francisco is planning on having some sort of "Season Ender" shindig, tentatively scheduled for December 7th. Let one of us know if you are interested or if you have a conflict!

SCHOOLING SHOW: Start planning for Meadowbrook on October 12, as the judge at Meadowbrook, Brian Ross, is an international dressage judge. You can't beat the value of his input for such a small entry fee! If dressage is your weak point, sign up for multiple tests! Tests may be called, so memorizing is no worry.

GROUP LESSONS--great for making up missed rides, or if you just can't fit in a private lesson--will be held on Sundays and Mondays at 7 pm and 8 pm. On Sunday, 7 pm will be Flatwork and Jumping, 8 pm will be Dressage, and on Monday the order will be reversed. Of course this depends on interest as well! Cost will be $20 per rider ($25 if riding a lesson horse). If you are interested in this class any given week, just call ahead and let me know so we do not overbook.

GROOMS NEEDED--If anyone would be interested, we need a groom (or grooms) at NCDCTA and probably Paradise Farm. Responsibilities will include helping tack up and care for horses competing, running for necessary items, helping keep everyone on schedule and properly equipped, etc.! Shared hotel room (if necessary), meals, etc. will be provided! Please contact me ASAP if interested!

August 19, 2002

Summer working students did a great job, putting up fences, cross-country jumps, and various other improvements around the farm. The water complex is well under way--it actually rained (at last) and it HELD WATER!! Working student Andrea Stark will be staying on through the school year, so we will be working on more cross-country jumps. Bad news--today's windstorm blew a HUGE tree over a fence. Good news--a chunk of the trunk will make a lovely big log jump, and a whopping big branch will make a Hanging Log for the other levels! And the fence was undamaged (love that electric tape!)

GROUP LESSONS--great for making up missed rides, or if you just can't fit in a private lesson--will be held on Sundays and Mondays at 7 pm and 8 pm. On Sunday, 7 pm will be Flatwork and Jumping, 8 pm will be Dressage, and on Monday the order will be reversed. Of course this depends on interest as well! Cost will be $20 per rider ($25 if riding a lesson horse). If you are interested in this class any given week, just call ahead and let me know so we do not overbook.

GROOMS NEEDED--If anyone would be interested, we need a groom (or grooms) at Hopeland, Tryon, and possibly VA, NCDCTA, and Paradise Farm events. Responsibilities will include helping tack up and care for horses competing, running for necessary items, helping keep everyone on schedule and properly equipped, etc.! Shared hotel room, meals, and other compensation WILL be provided! Please contact me ASAP if interested!

June 19, 2002

Summer working students have started, putting up fences, cross-country jumps, and various other improvements around the farm. Ground has been broken on the water complex! "Schooling show" season is well underway, so it is extremely busy out here. Not to mention HOT!! In deference to the heat, and understanding that some daytime lessons may be cancelled as a result, on Monday evenings we will be offering an 8 PM group class at the farm (bring your own horse, or call for availability of lesson horses). This is a great way to beat the heat while making up missed lessons or fitting in some extra saddle time. If there is enough demand we may do a 9 pm lesson as well. Cost will be $20 per rider ($25 if riding a lesson horse). If you are interested in this class any given week, just call!

St George's Quarters NCDCTA Horse Trials: Teri Manno and Pocket Change, Sindi Giordano on Beau Bar Hobby, and Andrea Giordano on Max the Cowboy all finished on their dressage scores and jumped every one of the "optional" xc jumps. Summer Nights at Latta Dressage: Teri Manno and Pocket Change won T1 section A with a 67.2727--their first time at Training! and scored a 62.999 on Training Level 2. Reggie Summers and Tootie Cox rode Dillon and Rebel, respectively--Reggie scored a 68% at Intro II (only his second show), Tootie scored 60% and 62% at Intro (her first show ever).

May 13, 2002

It's been a busy spring! Ashley Bell and Dynasty have been cleaning up in the Hunter/Jumper classes at the Scoggins Farm "Carolinas Circuit of Champions" Open show series, most recently winning five out of eight classes on May 11. Jessy Brooks competed on Twinkletoes at Cedarhill's PHJA show, winning a second and a fourth against stiff competition in Short Stirrup. Teri Manno took Pocket Change to the Meadowbrook CT at Maiden and placed fourth, scoring 45 penalty points in their first Novice level dressage test. Pocket Change won his first Training Level dressage class later that day with a 65%, piloted by yours truly. I rode Trina Hargett's young CSH Baron to wins at Intro I and II with scores of 74% and 68%--not bad for his first show! Barbara Summers and Rebel made their First Level debut at Meadowbrook. Barbara also recently acquired a new QH yearling in February, who won his first blue ribbon in Halter at the Cabarrus Saddle Club. Andrea Giordano has qualified for the State 4-H show, where she will be competing in the Combined Training division on her new horse, Max the Cowboy. Christian Killian's lovely black Trakhener mare, Panache, was Champion Green Hunter and Res. Champion Green Hunter on consecutive days at the Willow Ridge/Latta PHJA show--an exceptional feat for a Junior rider in an Open division!

We have pics of a new Lose That foal on the website--Docs Stormy Valentine was born in February. Dawn Donald's palomino mare Frosty (who showed in Jumpers with daughter Lauren as "Champagne Supernova") produced a fine-looking Palomino filly a couple of weeks ago--pictures coming soon!! June should see the arrival of two more foals, out of TB mare Miss Ansorian at her new home near Winston-Salem, and out of our ISH mare Kildalton's Cross.

Third Charm's stallion, Lose That, is training extremely well, and is aiming for a successful season at Prelim in the fall. His arthritis seems to be completely under control at this point, and provided I am able to put in the necessary saddle-time (a continuing problem), all should go well. I will also be putting in a good bit of time on a familiar face around the barn, Make My Day aka Chase. Cydney Gilbert will continue to event him, but should college conflicts cause her to miss a competition I may take a turn in the irons. We hope that some ground training, such as David O'Connor used with a similar horse (Fair Hill winner "E.T.") will pay off!

We have been VERY busy with projects around the property. The arena footing is holding up beautifully (it just poured rain for an hour straight, and there is not a puddle to be found!), and there is a bluestone walk in front of the barn which has eliminated the mud problem. A stone-lined ditch between the front field and the barn will help ensure that the barn area stays dry despite inclement weather, and may provide a nifty opportunity for a cross-country obstacle, and we are in the process of seeding the pastures. We have three working students who will be starting soon, and lots of projects including the water complex and more cross-country and stadium jumps!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIRD CHARM STUDENTS in 2001:

TTC Jumper Show, February 24th
Kerrie Thompson and “For Your Eyes Only”
Third Place, 3' Jumpers
Second Place, 3'3" Jumpers
First Place, 3'6" Jumpers

Paradise Farms HT
Meagan Wisniewski and “Starlite Sprite”
Fourth Place, Beginner Novice, 42 points

St. George's Quarters HT
Meagan Wisniewski and “Starlite Sprite”
Fifth Place, Beginner Novice

Diane Francisco and “Stryder”
Sixth Place, Novice, 44 points

Robin Richards and “Passing Fancy”
Second Place, Beginner Novice Rider, 41.25 points

Longleaf Pines HT
Meagan Wisniewski and “Starlite Sprite”
Third Place, Novice, 42 points

Fort Bragg HT
Cydney Gilbert and “Make My Day”
Fourth Place, Beginner Novice

Diane Francisco and “Stryder”
Fifth Place, Novice

Pinehurst Horse Show
Kerrie Thompson and “For Your Eyes Only”
Fourth Place, Ch/Adults Jumper

Sedgefields Horse Show, Jumper Division
Cassie Utter and “Baxter”
4th and 5th place

Richard Sexton and “In A Hurry”
3rd place

Robin Richards and "Passing Fancy”
2nd and 3rd

District 4-H Show
Andrea Giordano and “Beau Bar Hobby”
63%, 4th place--Intro Test I

Melissa Giordano and “Razzie”
Reserve Champion, Pony Division

Latta Spring Show
Sindi Giordano and “Beau Bar Hobby”
High Point Horse

Cardinal II Pony Club D/CT
Trina Hargett and “Axl”
63.1% Training Level I
62.9% Training Level II

Providence Hunter Show
Jordan Fedrizzi and “Painted Thunder”
Third Place, Equitation O/F
Jordan Fedrizzi and "Kildalton's Cross"
Second Place, Equitation O/F

Belfair Hunter Show
Jordan Fedrizzi and “Painted Thunder”
Grand Champion, Children's Hunter Division

Providence Equestrian Dressage Show
Diane Francisco and “Stryder”
Training Level Champion
Training Level I--62%
Training Level II--60%

Sedgefield Horse Show
Katie Bradley and Kildalton's Cross
4th Place, 2'6" Jumpers

Katie Bradley and Lose That
3rd and 4th Place, Ch/Adult Jumpers and Classic

Meadowbrook Dressage and CT
Barbara Summers and Rebel
Training Level One--68%, High Score Award

Reggie Summers and Dillon
Intro Level One and Two--3rd and 4th place

Diane Francisco and Stryder
Novice CT-Second Place

Tryon Riding & Hunt Club HT
Diane Francisco and "Stryder"
Novice Rider--Fifth Place, 44 points

Cardinal II Pony Club Dressage/CT
Steve Craton and Kildalton's Cross
1st and 2nd, Training Level
2 Third Places, Intro Level

Teri Manno and Pocket Change
2nd Place, Just Begun CT
63%, Intro Dressage

Diane Francisco and Stryder
Third Place, Training Level CT

NCDCTA HT
Diane Francisco and “Stryder”
Fifth Place, Novice Rider

2002 RESULTS:

TTC January Dressage Show
Steve Craton and “Kildalton's Cross”
First Place, Training Level I, 66.4%
Second Place, Trainng Level II, 65%
First Place, Training Level III, 63%

Forest Glen Farm D/CT
Teri Manno and "Pocket Change"
Maiden CT, Second Place

Sindi Giordano and "Beau Bar Hobby"
Introductory Test II, 4th Place

Students Receiving Year-End Recognition

Student Photos!