Getting ready for Can Am and dealing with mud

Luckily the footing in the sand ring is starting to dry up so we're riding and trying to stay fit before going to Can Am this weekend to ride with Beth Underhill!

Sabio is sporting his new clip and we're making the most of flat work with transitions and patterns because the footing still isn't  great to jump on.

The farm is a bit of a muddy mess right now but we're excited to make some changes this year after the arena goes up.

Let us know if you have any success or failure stories on dealing with mud. From Facebook comments it looks like recycled asphalt could meet our needs in the high traffic areas.

Showing and clipping

Today we went to Trillium. ...hunters.... and discovered Sabio needed a clipping because of how sweaty he got. The clinic with Beth Underhill coming up I thought he would appreciate being cooler for exercise.

James decided to help out - take a look.

Sabio did well at the show. 4, 5, & 5 in the hacks...and we only went so we could ride in an indoor ring (because really we're jumpers) with good footing ....we cant wait for our indoor ring!

This is the year Dreams come true

There is so much starting to happen at PHH now that the weather is warming up. If everything goes according to plan, this will be the last winter we need to survive without an indoor ring J

We are still awaiting final timelines, but it looks like we will have a 250x80ft indoor arena going up and we will give you details as they become available. It’s been a goal and dream of mine to have my own indoor arena, and I am super excited for the building to start.

Easter Weekend is coming up soon – and we’ll be at the Can Am Equine Show at the Markham Fairgrounds (http://canamequine.com/). I’ve been selected to ride in a demonstration lesson with Olympic Show Jumper Beth Underhill April 3-5 at the show. This is so exciting for me because I’ve been a fan of Beth’s since I was a little girl watching her win the Shell Cup Derby at Spruce Meadows many years ago aboard her 22 yr old gelding named Monopoly.

I was so inspired I even painted my Barbie horse like Monopoly – it is so exciting to be riding with Beth many years later. If you want to come watch you can expect to see me riding Sabio around lunchtime in the main ring all 3 days of the show.

For an exciting seasonal goal, I’ve purchased two off the track Thoroughbreds for the Retired Race Horse Project’s Throughbred Makeover Contest (http://www.retiredracehorseproject.org/2015-thoroughbred-makeover). This is a show that is hosted at the Kentucky Horse Park in Kentucky, US. This is also a dream of mine to ride at Kentucky Horse Park – I visited there on a family trip when I was younger. I found it an amazing place and can’t believe I’ll be showing there later this year! The show has over 330 horses entered already and is only accepting a few more – it is going to be a busy event!

The horses I will be bringing – Kahleesi and Cupid – have begun some natural horsemanship foundation training and are making great progress despite the challenges from weather. Kaheelsi is a super smart 8 yr old grey mare that I think is going to excel in jumping, and barrel racing. Cupid is a 7 yr old chestnut gelding that is super laid back and pokey… despite being purchased fresh off the track from Ohio in February. I think he is going to do well in hunters and trail class. Either way I am excited to take them to Kentucky and am so thrilled that several students have already booked their hotel rooms to come down and cheer us on for the events.

Learn more and see pictures of Cupid here: http://partridgehorsehill.com/Cupid.html

Learn more and see pictures of Kahleesi here:  http://partridgehorsehill.com/kahleesi.html

James helps with training :)

We have two new Fjord ponies in for training that I'm keeping busy with. James decided he'd help me out and take part in some training.
Check out this cute photo of James chilling with Kirk while he waits for his turn in the ring.
It certainly helps to have the next horse ready to learn, and while waiting Kirk got some quality non demanding time which is important for horses that get overwhelmed or think people always want something.

An unusual mouth

Cupid had a fun visit with the dentist this week!

Did you know a horse should only have 6  teeth on the lower jaw but somehow Cupid has 8!

We were just as surprised as you are and the vet even took pictures because she'd never seen it before.

We knew Cupid was special but didnt know he was that special :)

After some much needed dental work he is feeling and doing better....he is very happy to have been bought by PHH!