Locke Meadows Horse Show Series - October 18, 2008

The Locke Meadows Team did well on their home turf today. There were lots of ribbons won by the team and everyone said this was the funnest show they've had all year.


Larry H. and Private Diamonds won the Model class out of 5 entries. This filly is such a lovely mover; I can't wait to get her going under saddle!

Chelsea H. won tons of awards today. She was the 2008 High Point Rider of the Locke Meadows Horse Show Series. She was also High Point Pony Hunter Rider and High Point Pony Pleasure Rider. Since this is her last year on Callihan Rose, she wanted to go out with a bang!

Chelsea H. has also been cleaning up the blues with IBA Blue Diamond. This pony is hands-down "the hack winner" and has a beautiful jump. He is really starting to jump around like a hunter and keeps bringing home the Championships!

Caitlin M. and Three Tricks were tied for Champion in Pleasure out of a huge class against some of the best Pleasure Horses in Virginia. They jumped around beautifully in the Open Hunters at 2' and we let him canter his first course at a show and he won the class!

Caitlin M. also showed Mustang Dolly and was Reserve Champion in the Green Pony Hunters against some pretty nice ponies. Dolly is a BLM Mustang and still rides very green. She's just started doing her changes and her flat work is finally coming along. Give this pony another few months and she's going to be pretty nice!

Dawn H. and Silver Masterpiece jumped around 3' today and did the real numbers. We've been having Maggie add at 2'6", but she did the step and made it look easy. Look at Dawn's position. It's hard to believe she's only been riding a little over a year!!

Kaitlyn H. and Dare To Dream were dead-on today. They won EVERY TRIP over fences in the Short Stirrup Hunter and Short Stirrup Eq. divisions. Although Dare To Dream was a little hot under saddle, she jumped like a million bucks!!

Elmington Farm - October 5th, 2008

Today was another typical Locke Meadow's Day. The team came together and rode their hearts out against some of the toughest competition they've showed against all year. Their hard work was rewarded.

I had to put two pictures of Dawn and Silver Masterpiece up. This was the best day these two have ever had. Dawn started off the day with a second place in Adult Equitation out of six entries. She then flatted in the Green Hunter Horse and walked away with the blue ribbon in the hack class out of eight entries (against some really, really nice horses)!! She ended up Reserve Champion against the pros, which blows my mind since Dawn has only been riding a little over a year. Dawn and Maggie also did the Working Hunters at 3' (this was only their second time showing at 3') and jumped around without scaring anyone and earned a 3rd out of 7 in that hack class.

We had to talk Stephanie T. into hanging around for the Working Hunters, as she she has not jumped 3' in ages. Her and Sophie put in two beautiful rounds and ended up in the top ribbons. They jump better at 3' than they do 2'6". Stephanie also won the Adult Equitation class and was 2nd and 3rd in Adult Amateur Hunter Over Fences. She won back more than half of her entry fees in prize money. Way to go Steph!

Kaitlyn and Daisy were great today. Daisy jumped around without a warm-up and only had one minor bobble. This pony is really learning her job and you can tell the hard work Kaitlyn has put into her. Daisy was 6th out of 14 entries in the Low Hunter Hack. When they called her number, I almost melted. There were some NICE horses out there with pros riding and here is Kaitlyn riding right along with them.

Miss Chelsea came for one class today; Pony Equitation. Right now, Chelsea is Number 1 with the VHSA Associate Program in Pony Equitation and she wants to keep it that way. Of course, she was at the top out of 8 entries. People often ask if Chelsea ever makes a mistake. If she does, I'm still waiting to see it!

Needless to say, this was one of the best weekends the team has ever had. The horses we showed against today were tough, which I was thankful for. The VHSA Championships are just a few weeks away and its nice to see some good competition at the end of the year.

Oak Hill Thoroughbreds - October 4, 2008

We were thrilled to have Larry our team photographer back this weekend. He always takes the best pictures! That was a good thing too because the team did very well!


Stephanie T. came out with guns a blazing for the Adult Equitation class. She hit every spot and the flat phase was right up her alley; lots of sitting trot, a hand-gallop, and a change of direction with a flying lead change. Needless to say, she took home the blue ribbon and rightly so! We also had a surprise in the Adult Amateur hack class - Sophie won! At 21 years old, Sophie no longer moves like "the hack winner" like she used to. However, today she went like a million bucks and the judge rewarded her for it.

At every show, I have people coming up to me saying how much Dawn H. and Silver Masterpiece keep impoving. They were second today in the Adult Equitation class and Dawn's flat work was picture perfect. That was the only class they showed in, so we were very happy with the placing.

Kaitlyn H. and Daisy had an excellent show. Kaitlyn won the Pony Equitation class and the judge loved Kaitlyn's flat. She also did great in Pony Pleasure with Miss Daisy. If you've been reading our blog, then you know this pony has been under saddle less than a year and that Kaitlyn has only been riding since March of 2007. It is amazing how far these two have come in such a short amount of time!

Chelsea H. and Callihan Rose again won everything under the sun. They earned three blue ribbons in Pony Pleasure and another three blue ribbons in the Pony Hunters. Chelsea was second in the Eq class to her team-mate Kaitlyn.

Chelsea and IBA Blue Diamond also had a fantastic day. Deno was second only to Rosie and rocked in the Eq class; complete with clean lead changes!

Locke Meadows Horse Show Series - Sept 27th, 2008

We only have a few pictures because our wonderful photographer Larry was home with a very sick baby. His daughter Kaitlyn and Caitlin M. took over his duties and we owe them a big THANK YOU for these pictures.


Dawn H. and Silver Masterpiece are moving on up. They are currently Top 10 with the VHSA Associate program in the Green Hunter and Working Hunter Divisions. Dawn is also Top 5 in Equitation! Today, they added even more points to their totals as they gear up for Lexington.

Caitlin M. earned three thirds out of 8 entries in Hunter Pleasure Horse and was second in the flat in the Low Hunter Division. Tricky is still trotting courses, but is honest and pretty fancy over fences. I can't wait to see him in a few months. This guy just gets better with every ride!

Chelsea H. climbed aboard a very, very green large pony and jumped him around as if he was made. This was his first time ever jumping "real" fences and he was a trooper. She then turned around and won everything she could with IBA Blue Diamond and then won Pony Equitation on Callihan Rose. I'm not looking forward to the day she out ages ponies.

Tori P. began her first trip with four beautiful fences. She then made a wrong turn and the rest is history. After their rough first trip, her and Springer came back and put in beautiful trip after beautiful trip. This was only Tori's second show on Springer, so we were very impressed with how well she rode the red-head.

Not pictured; Kaitlyn H., Stephanie T., and Natalie P. Kaitlyn was Reserve Champion in Low Hunter and did very well in Pleasure. Stephanie had a great day and again won the Eq with Dawn H. coming in second. Natalie and Spring Fling placed 2nd in Hunter Pleasure out of 8 entries. This was only her second time showing Springer, so we were thrilled at the outcome.