SUMMER OF 2005

 Local Rider Reports

From: Kelby Lusher

This summer has been the experience of a lifetime!!  I spent half of June, July and August in Canada riding with Mac Cone.  I started off in King City, Ontario at Southern Ways, the barn operated by Mac and Brenely.  After three weeks of training, we traveled to Ottawa for the Capital Classic.  Next, we were off to the International Bromont in Quebec.  After two weeks of competition, we traveled back to Palgrave, Ontario for the Caledon Summer Festival.  My last shows were in Collingwood, the Kubota Collingwood Classic and the Collingwood Festival.  What an amazing six weeks it was traveling and competing all over Canada!

I began competing on Filipen De Mareil, a chestnut Selle Francais, owned by Melissa Brown.  After the first show in Ottawa I was offered Matisse, a handsome grey owned by Sara Houstoun.  I now had two jumpers for the summer (lucky me!) and my parents had two bills (lucky them!).  I brought home 11 ribbons and a Reserve Champion for a Junior Amateur division in Palgrave.  My proudest moment was winning a Junior Amateur Speed class with Matisse against 38 competitors!

When  I wasn’t riding, I was watching the Grand Prix riders – Mac Cone, Ian Miller, Eric Lamaze, Beth Underhill, Ainsley Vince, Hyde Moffat, Erynn Ballard, John Pearce, Frankie Chesler, Chris Pratt just to name a few!  Dale Rochester was especially supportive of me throughout the summer.  He would always watch my rounds and give words of advice.  Every day was a learning experience for me both in the ring and out.  I had many opportunities to walk Grand Prix courses and most of the jumps were taller than me.  I know that someday I will be riding these courses!

It was an honor to have trained with Mac. He expected nothing but perfection and I worked and worked to further my jumping technique.  I am looking forward to returning to Canada next summer – if not before!!  I have only been back in Bermuda for one week and already I miss Matisse, Flip, Mac and my Southern Ways family.

I am so very grateful to the BHPA for their support through the Rising Star Scholarship and to the BEF for their support through the Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme.  These awards helped to make this summer possible and in future I hope many more young Bermudians will be able to experience international competition. Special thank-you to Catrina, Melody, Lauren, and Tally for their long distance encouragement. 

From: Alison Dyer-Fagundo

I was training in West Palm Beach over the summer with Doug Russell at Triple R Farm.  Doug is a former member of the United States Equestrian Team and winner of numerous grand prix classes both in an outside of the US over the years. He is the son of two time Olympian Colonel John W Russell of San Antonio, Texas.  Doug is a fabulous trainer and it would be an asset to Bermuda to have him come and give clinics.

I spent from January to March training and showing in West Palm with Doug, Susanne Dutt-Roth and Wolfgang Mickaelus.  Started off in the Level 3 jumper ring with Lani and in the dressage ring with Desi showing Fourth Level, Open Division.  The competition in the dressage was tough, but Desi rose to the occasion and was very good.  Got to show in the main grand prix dressage ring at this level in front of large crowds, which was exciting.  Desi was very good and took all in stride like she had shown at that level of competition for ever.  In the end, we didn’t end up with huge scores and I really felt small standing little Desi next to some of the big Grand Prix horses, but over 60% at that level, I felt was a huge achievement.  On a week off of showing dressage, I had her down at WEF with Lani and decided to take her in the hunter ring at Littlewoods.  She was non-thoroughbred champion at that show and never looked back.  The following weekend, we rode against the professional hunter riders - Holly Orlando and others , and were third in the baby greens at a rated show.  Needless to say, Desi is no longer in the dressage ring.  Clearly though, all the dressage training paid huge dividends in the hunter ring!!  Lani was, well Lani. Was fine generally, but had problems in the speed portions of the classes.  He got some decent ribbons, and by the end Doug showed him to allow me to concentrate on my new budding hunter!! Got the opportunity to ride for Margie Engel, which was a real thrill.  I rode her 6 year old mare that was the leading 6 year old jumper in West Palm at the time and jumped around nicely.  Got sent flying from the “amateur” horse that she had me on first, which was lovely, but she was very gracious about it – needless to say it was rather embarrassing!!

From: Michelle Kemp

Stephanie went out to Appling, Georgia for a month to the barn that (Sea of Options) Oliver is now stabled at. She participated in three shows while she was there. She did very well at the shows taking ribbons in almost all of her classes. She rode in the 2'6" equitation and hunter divisions, and she rode a pony and Oliver in the divisions. She rode 3 to 4 horses and ponies a day, as well as helping to muck, feed and groom. She travelled with the instructor/barn manager as far as Tennessee to try sale horses for a couple of the clients at the barn, she rode and jumped a number of them along with the clients until the decision was made on who to buy. I think she liked doing that the most. She had a great time, met a lot of new people, and is grateful to her hosts for her summer adventure.

From: Starla Williams

Cori spent 3 weeks with Carron Smith in Virginia at Paddington Farms, riding her horses as well as teaching 5-8 year olds in a one-week camp there.  And, she competed in the Warrenton, VA horse show, placing first in both the Green Hunter and Hunter Pony Divisons.  She also had the opportunity to attend, as a spectator, the Young Riders Championships in Lexington, VA and has dreams of the future!

Cori, Olivia Gracie and Jennifer Howard have all been chosen to compete on the Varsity Riding Team at Chatham Hall in Chatham, Virginia.  We understand the team consists of four members and Bermuda has three of those.  We wish them the best of luck and hope they will keep us informed of their results.

From: Heather Brewer

Mister (aka Caramel Crunch) the cute brown & white over sized paint has been semi retired on 170 acres in New Hampshire. He has a paddock the size of Vesey street and he baby sits an unsettled throughbred. The children across the street will use him for pony club ...What a life !!!!

From Helene Simmons

Vicki and Marlene Tucker spent two weeks this summer riding with Carl Catani at River Wind Farm in Pembroke Massachusetts.  While they were there they competed in two shows.  The second show was an A rated show at Fieldstone Farm and Vicki showed in the equitation divisions placing two firsts, a second, a fifth and an eighth.  From other showing during the year she accumulated points and qualified for the Massachusetts Hunter Jumper Medal Finals which took place on Saturday August 27th.  There were 68 qualifiers and it was a great experience for Vicki to be able to compete in this final.

From: Kelly Tucker
Marlena Tucker-Trip to Boston August 16th-28th, 2005.

Marlena traveled to Boston with Vicki Hart, and stayed at Yukie Banks house as a guest of Vicki's.  While there Marlena rode 2-3 horses/ponies every day, she had 2 lessons a week, with 3 different trainers from River Wind Farm-Abby Greer, Jordina and Deb (I'm not sure of correct spelling) While there Marlena had the opportunity to enter 2 shows. The first show was The Cape Cod Hunter Show on 19th August, 2005. She entered 3 classes (1 division) which consisted of 1 Flat and 2 over fences) She placed 5th in both of the over fences classes, but did not place on the Flat.  The second show was The Field Stone "A" rated (3 day) Horse Show on 26^th August, 2005. She entered a total of 6 classes (2 divisions which consisted of 1 Flat and 2 over fences) Maiden Hunter and Novice Hunter. In the Maiden Hunter she placed 2nd on the Flat and 5th & 6th place over fences. In the Novice Hunter, she placed 3rd in one over fences, but was excused in the other one and in the Flat.  This was a great experience for her to be able to ride several different mounts and being able to participate in and "A" rated show for the first time abroad. She is very grateful to Yukie Banks for her hospitality and to Vicki and her mother for giving her the chance to be able to have this wonderful experience.

I as a mother, I think Marlena did really well, I am very proud of her.