Farrah Made Chronicle Of the Horse!!

So ok, you probably can't read it here, but I am so excited I just had to put it up!  The article is in the Feb 4 & 11, 2013 issue of Chronicle of the Horse, in their Finish Line spread on the inside back cover.  Farrah and Lauren look marvelous in print :)

When I can post it to my website later today, I will do a proper link.

Go Pony!



Another Qualifying Preliminary Run for the RedHead

Lauren and Farrah had another successful weekend showing at Rocking Horse Winter 1 in that Farrah achieved her second qualifying score at Preliminary.  This time out Lauren thought Farrah was the most rideable she has ever been for dressage.  Apparently our dressage judge was not in agreement as Farrah received a 35 for the dressage phase.  Oh well, we were very happy with the test.

The stadium warm up was fantastic!  Then we had a long wait for some un-planned course rebuilding and as soon as they entered the arena, I could see we had a problem.  Pinned ears and a very unhappy looking pony took an uncharacteristic 2 rails in the stadium.  Lauren exited the arena and we both wondered "WHAT WAS THAT"???

Back at stabling we found two rub marks on Farrah from the girth.  Now, we know that she is a senstive redhead and we take precautions, but apparently not enough this time.  Live and learn, I went shopping and one lovely fleece girth later, we are ready for XC. (Farrah is ever shrinking as she gets more fit; Farrah is now down to a 40!!!)

Farrah succeeded in showing Lauren and I that she loved her new fleecy girth and romped around the XC only 3 seconds over time.  Due to the 8 fault stadium round, there didn't seem to be any need to make time, but it is nice to know that her comfort zone is right on it!

Farrah is enjoying a few days off before we look towards our next outing (maybe Rocking Horse II).  Once again, The Horse Pesterer got a little bit of Farrah action at Rocking Horse, so I leave you with a little clip below:

Farrah XC Rocking Horse I 

Countdown to Prelim at Rocking Horse

The countdown continues for Farrah's second preliminary event!  Rocking Horse 1 is next weekend (25-27 January) and Farrah has been letting us know she is quite ready and in her not so subtle way, either.  It is fantastic that Farrah is so very eager to go, but being prelim fit definitely gives both Lauren and I pause.

We have two lovely teenage girls who help us on the farm with fitness sets for the horses and so far, both have been able to do trot and canter sets on Farrah and her prelim barn mate, Cindy.   Last week it became apparent that this arrangement was just too good to last and now gallop sets are restricted to just myself and Lauren.  Farrah is way too exuberant in the canter sets (at least the first two of the three sets) for the girls and so it falls on me to make sure Farrah has the proper canter set without thinking she is the one dictating pace.

Farrah "Come on Mom, let's go faster."  

Me "Honey, I don't think this is what Lauren had in mind."

Farrah "Sure it is!  Why can't I just build speed as we go......it is so much fun WHEE!"

Unfortunately for Farrah, I do finally convince her that we can control the canter/gallop sets and she has to reserve her lovely gallop for the actual cross country.  Good thing it is only a week away, that means I have only one more set to survive :)

Video Cross Country from Ocala

So lets see if this works!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grkuDFS47ls
Thanks to Horse Pesterer for taking and posting the video!

National Qualifying Score Earned!

Farrah has one Preliminary under her belt and I would say it was a successful debut!  The little New Forest Pony had the following scores:

Dress Score	Dress Place	Stad Jump	Stad Time	To Date Score	To Date Place	XC Jump	XC Elapsed	XC Time	Final Score	Final Place

30.90

6-T

0.00

0.00

30.90

6-T

0.00

5:43

11.60

42.50

10

The dressage was amazing and even with a break in the counter canter, Lauren and Farrah had a steady test but lots of room for improvement....I can see where with more time, they can easily be in the mid 20's or lower.

Stadium looked plenty big and we saw quite a few oops and rails.  Farrah decided touching wood would be a bad thing!

Cross country we knew we wouldn't aim for time.  Not for her first preliminary!  Lauren's other ride, Cindy One, was tied in her division for 1st but same thing, didn't go for time either.  Instead Lauren focused on getting Farrah to the combinations and they will go for time after a few more prelims are under their belt.

Bruce Davidson commented on her lovely gallop, so nice to hear that!  We are looking ahead to 3 more qualifying rides and then a 1* in Ocala to finish the spring season!

Thanks for the lovely time, Farrah.....ponies rock!