Cool Southern Winter and Spring

I don't think anyone can remember Aiken being this cold! Then there's been the wind and the rain every time you want to ride or compete, or rather it makes you not want to ride or compete.  I mean who wants to get up before dawn in sub zero temperatures to compete with torrential downpours!?  No I think I'm too old for that!  Anyway there's nothing better than being hunkered down inside with a cup of tea while some others have that fate awaiting.
But I've had a busy season in the sense of lots of horses here at 310 Boggy Gut Road.  Some 4 horses here on training board, coming and going at various times as well as my own 5, initially.  My Snuggles was sold to a great show hunter home where they love him and he is much more suited, though he is of course missed.  We have Baby Calvin, "Tiny" an OTTB at just turning 3yrs looks like he is still barely 2yrs who cuddles well and follows you like a dog!  He is already a proficient jumping pony, not knowing any fear of ditches, banks or water!  Although he does tire a little easily!  Anyway we are hoping he will grow, as he is a little small at 15.2h.  He was actually adopted from New Vocations in OH about which I cannot say enough good things, a very professional and knowledgeable organization.
So we are down to 4 horses now and just wrapping up the last few weeks here in the south.  All thoughts of t-shirt weather has been put aside, and we are just hoping that the snow will have melted in MA and it will not be too muddy!
Marissa is still on her quest to qualify for YRs.  It entails a ridiculous amount of documentation, money and reading USEF rules, NOT something a kid could have worked out themselves.  I'm still confused as to why the horse needs a $300 international FEI passport for a National championship, surely a $50 national one should do???  Have to love the audacity of USEF!!   She needs 2 CIC* or 1 CCI* to qualify BUT her stupid, sorry, inflexible, school won't give her time off so it looks like we'll have to trek back down to VA in May, only 10 hours.
The plan is, however, to do fair hill CIC* on the way north April 19 weekend, Bubbles will do the Prelim, not registering him for all that dosh!!
So yes Marissa owes me big time....
And if anyone knows of a great prospect for me let me know

Fall in New England

Fall in New England really is a wonderful season!  The cool nights dispel the bugs and the warm sunny days are delightful and framed by the spectacular foliage!
The horses love it too, there are less bugs and still some grass!!
The boys, Bubbles and Bebe, have finished their eventing for the year but may try their hand at the up coming NETSA hunter/dressage show Oct 7 in their sponsored TIP (TB incentive program) classes for which the Jockey Club has generously donated cash!! Alright so they are not hunters but they are TBs.....
Maybe Dobbin will join them, he will be looking to take a break from that trotting in place stuff or trying to remember why he needs to change canter lead every stride....
It is also the time of year to save those baby OTTBs so Suffolk Downs has been in my sights!  There has been so much more awareness broadcast this year over the retired racehorse needing new training and a new job rather than that wagon ride south or north to meet their maker, this is indeed progress!

Spring in New England

After an extremely dry and unseasonable warm start to the year it is acting more normal with rain and temps in the 50's Still we are not to complain as it will allow hay to be made!!
Baby Bennie found a perfect home down in Aiken, so is backing in the sun currently!So the other boys are reasonably glad to be back finding some tempting grass to nibble on! They continue their training and outings. 
Dobbin and I are back in training with Kathy Connelly and have just been invited to participate in the PVDA Ride For Life Gala performance! It is a treat but does involve preparing a routine to music, not just any old music some toe tapping fun melody with some advanced dressage moves and all in costume!! All to be decided upon and practiced by the 23 June!!
Meanwhile the smaller ones. mentally not physically, attended UNH horse trials, bringing home a 2nd, 3rd and 7th and a couple are off to King Oak this weekend.
Another exciting trip is one I am taking to Los Alamos, NM to teach a pony club clinic on May 18 thru 21, sure to be fun!