HELP Tamra Smith & Mar De Amor.....Closes to the Score Competition......

HELP TAMRA SMITH & MAR DE AMOR……

Enter Closest to the SCORE COMPETITION!!

We are very excited to announce the partnership of Tamra Smith & Mar De Amor as well as an exciting way for you to follow their road to the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico this October, 2011.

Though there are many hurdles to clear as they embark on this journey we invite you to join them….follow their progress and have some fun!

As you follow Tamra & Dinero at each competition, you will have the opportunity to bid on a Next Level Eventing Sponsor Basket valued at $500.00. The basket contains product from Fleeceworks, Professional’s Choice, Adeptus Nutrition, Heritage Gloves, and Soless Visors.

Simply donate a dollar amount equivalent to Tamra & Dinero’s dressage score. For instance, in

a horse trials competition you would donate what you think their score would be…..for example if you think they will score a 32.5 then you would donate $32.50.

If Tamra & Dinero score a 32 in the dressage, and you have the closest guess, you win the “NLE Sponsor Basket”! A basket will be awarded for each competition. So you can play each time!

If there is a tie, then whoever submitted their donation first wins! Remember if the competition is an International competition than the scores will be higher than a horse trials. This way you can “play at home” and not only have the excitement of watching them compete, but win some great prizes for yourself as well.

The closest to the SCORE COMPETITION will be held at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles California. Go to Tamra Smith’s website at www.nextleveleventing.com and enter to win the “NLE Sponsor Basket”!

Thank you to Fleeceworks, Professional’s Choice, Heritage Gloves, SOLess Visors, and Adeptus Nutrition for their support!

Galway Downs Recap........

It’s about that time to reflect and look onto the future………

Galway Down’s was a very good event….educational and an overall good performance from all of my horses. Of course I’m crazy competitive so I’m never completely satisfied unless it’s a 1^st place, however nonetheless, pleased!

John Camlin came to our farm and helped sharpen me up on my show jumping…..a smack on my elbow and my chin and I was sitting and looking up with good equitation pretty quickly. Of course everyone enjoys when they see me get reprimanded. I think it’s a good part of learning, both for my students and me.

 We headed off to Galway and I was able to ride with “The Captain” (Mark Phillips that is) since he was out for training sessions. The insight helped tremendously and I really felt that I made more progress with my riding.

Mar De Amor, affectionately known as “Dinero” or “D$” “Super D” or “Handsome” and the list goes on……of course every horse in our barn has multiple silly names, but it’s what we do.

So “Dinero” is a new ride for me and I’m thrilled to be riding him. Thank you Leigh Mesher!!! Galway was our first 3* together after a short 6 weeks. I am thrilled with the progress we made each day. It’s a process to learn about each other and to develop our trust towards one another but we are getting closer and closer each week. Dinero’s flat work is coming along. He is a very smart horse and has a whole bag of tricks up his sleeve. I think a new nickname might be Inspector Gadget! Nevertheless, Dinero put in a very workman like test and scored a 45.9. We were a little conservative but very obedient and would love to score that any day of the week. The show jumping was the afternoon of dressage and I’m not certain if it was beneficial to me or not having to jump the same day as dressage. I was trying to work out a few new techniques with Dinero so some of my round was very good, and some needs more work. I plan to go take some lessons from Hutch and hit a few jumper shows before we think about moving onto a CCI3*.  The cross country course was brilliant as always. Ian Stark builds a course like the horses he used to ride. Big and Bold! There hasn’t been a time that I haven’t had a blast riding around his tracks! We are very lucky to have an icon designing courses for us here in the United States! The track rode great. Dinero and I had a little miscommunication issue at the “A” element of the angled, skinny brushes; however we quickly regrouped and fixed our communication mishap. The rest of the course rode beautifully! I feel very lucky to be on such a great minded, talented horse. He improves everyday and try’s his heart out at every jump. If there is something that goes wrong it’s because he doesn’t quite understand……it’s very refreshing to be riding a horse that has Dinero’s heart and I’m very excited for the future!

The other horses I competed were Clark Kent and Fleeceworks Fernhill. Clark competed in the 2* and one too many lunges made Clark a little tired for his dressage test. We have worked on a strategy this spring and I just thought I had it down…..I just didn’t realize Clark would actually learn from the last show and be so ridable. A valuable lesson learned! The rest of the competition was brilliant for us as Clark jumped a beautiful double clear show jump and cross country! He really has grown up into a wonderful horse and I see a bright future for him.

Fleeceworks Fernhill competed in the 1* and although our dressage was green, she sure stepped up to the plate in the show jumping and cross country. Fern is such a good jumper and careful…..she really try’s her heart out and it’s so nice to go into the ring and know your horse is going to do her best to jump clean. I have to say that having a good woman on your side is hard to come by…..but when you find it…..it’s like nothing else! Each competition with Fern gets better and better and it’s been so rewarding producing this mare the last year and a half. She is really coming into her own.

I posted 3 pictures this time….Clark in the dressage halting and me saluting. That will be my salute to Scott Kulhman who will be taking over the ride to qualify for North American Young Rider Championships. Scott’s horse “Chex” unfortunately was injured and will be on a bit of R&R so Scott will take over the reins on Clark for the time being. I’m sure he will have the time of his life as Clark is much different than Scott’s current 2* horse, who can be quite difficult. I expect great things from them and although I’m bummed about not getting to ride Clark for now……I’m really excited at the same time for Scott! I haven’t met too many people as loyal as he and I would do anything he would do!

The other picture is of Fleeceworks Fernhill show jumping. Looking at her form over that oxer gives me goose bumps! It’s really been a lot of hard work from everyone and she is finally figuring it all out! That picture is what makes my job so fun! She has really come along way and I’m thrilled!

And the last picture is Dinero and I galloping! That gallop is what makes Eventing so special. The horse loves the gallop as much as we love it….and when you get to gallop a horse that knows how to gallop it almost brings tears to your eyes! Well maybe because you’re going so fast…..no it’s not! It’s because it’s an amazing feeling! We all have experienced it….either watching it or feeling it…..or even both. I plan on galloping around a lot of cross country tracks in my future…..and hopefully for my country!

Every year we start out with a plan…..hopes…..dreams…..and every year we sometimes fulfill them…..other times we over exceed them……and some years we don’t quite make them. I have my plans……my hopes…..and my dreams……and I believe that I can attain them. I hope I can this year…..and next year too. I hope that I over exceed them! It takes a lot of hard work…and I think some luck….or maybe a lot of luck……to have a sound and ready to perform athlete on the day that it counts. I hope you all have that and I sure hope I do too!

See you on the gallop lane! J

Tuesday, April 12, 2011