2008 Short Circuit Awards Banquet

What a day! The 2008 Virginia Short Circuit Awards Banquet was held at the gorgeous Arlie Convention Center outside of Warrenton, VA. The setting was perfect for such a prestigious dinner and the fellowship could not have been better. It was a day that I will not soon forget!


The Arlie Convention Center.


The final award for the evening will be the first award on our blog. The dissertation for the Distinguished Horseperson started off as many do; listing the positive attributes and accomplishments garnered by the recipient. As I listened to the speech, I thought to myself, wow, that sounds like a really neat person! Then, the MC began talking about how this person divides her time between training horses and riders and working as an RN in the Emergency room. At that point, I began to cry because I realized it was me they were saying all those nice things about! There is nothing like getting up in front of hundreds of people and crying your eyes out.


Chelsea also walked away with a plethora of awards and ribbons. Her pony Callihan Rose was the Reserve Champion Pleasure Pony and Reserve Champion Pony Hunter. Her other pony IBA Blue Diamond was Champion in the VPBA Division and Reserve Champion Large Pony Hunter. Chelsea was also the Champion Pony Equitation Rider and was the Short Circuit Best Young Rider for 2008. She will have several trophies to engrave this year!


Kaitlyn was Reserve Champion in the VPBA division and got to take home a beautiful ribbon and quarter sheet.

Dawn was Reserve Champion in the Green Hunter Horse division with Silver Masterpiece and 4th in Adult Equitation!

Stephanie was Reserve Champion in Adult Hunter with Sophisticated Lady and Adult Equitation.

Chelsea and her mom Jane having a mother/daughter moment.

Chelsea was also the proud recipient of the Real Estate Award for the best fall at a Short Circuit Show. Look closely at the picture; it was all caught on film!

Stephanie and Dawn won the Early Bird awards for sitting around at the Sandstone Farm shows all day and then having daylight run out before their classes went. They received neat prizes for their dedication.

2008 VHSA Awards Banquet

Each year, one of my favorite weekends is the VHSA Convention at the Homestead, in Hot Springs, Virginia. Although the trip is close to four hours each way, it is well worth the drive.

The main hallway at the Homestead.

Dawn and Kaitlyn having a mother/daughter moment.


Chelsea receiving her High Point Equitation trophy.

Chelsea and Rachael with the Pony Pleasure trophy. Chelsea was also Reserve Champion in the Small/Medium Pony Hunters and was 3rd in the Large Pony Hunters with IBA Blue Diamond.

Stephanie receiving her High Point trophy for Adult Equitation.

Stephanie and her 3rd place ribbon for Adult Amateur Hunters.

Dawn and the 5th place ribbon for Adult Equitation.

The Gang from left to right: Chris, Stephanie, Rachael, Hoss, Sandi, Jane, Caitlin, Chelsea, Kaitlyn, and Dawn. Larry is taking the picture.

The Girls from left to right; Chelsea, Caitlin, Rachael, Stephanie, Dawn, and Kaitlyn.

December Classic "A" Show - December 5th, 2008

Our first show of the year started off better than anticipated. IBA Blue Diamond or "Deno" made his "A" show debut in the Large Green Pony Hunters with Chelsea. After getting his permanent card at 14.1 1/2 without shoes (much to my relief), we waited for hours for his classes to go. Normally, I don't mind the wait at shows, but I was diagnosed with pneumonia the day prior and felt like someone had kicked me in the ribs. Luckily, Deno needed very little prep and walked into the ring without even a warm-up trip. The first trip, he earned a fourth out of 7, the second trip he pulled a 3rd, and the third trip he got a 5th. By the hack class, he was done and Chelsea could hardly get him to move forward. All in all, I was pleased as punch. I bred Deno. His dam was my Large Pony Hunter and I stood his sire at stud for seven years. It's neat watching a pony you've bred do well at an "A" show.

Sorry for the bad pictures. My husband was taping the trips and it was so dark the pictures didn't turn out well.