STONE BRIDGE FARM – SUMMER 2009 REPORT

Submissions By:  Ashley Gibbs, Azaria Smith, Jaeda Smith, Patrice Swan, Sarah Wight

Group Photo of Jaeda, Azaria, Patrice, Alex, Ashley, Sarah & Coach Lily at the Frank Madden Clinic; Lexington Virginia Horse Center

The Bermuda Equestrian Federation announced back in July that several junior members will be spending time abroad training and competing in Lexington VA.  Ashley Gibbs, Alex McMartin, Azaria Smith, Jaeda Smith, Patrice Swan, Marlena Tucker and Sarah Wight were amongst those juniors.  While at Stone Bridge Farm Summer Camp (Owner Katrina Weinig) they were under the tutelage of Teddi Ismond and Lilly de Sousa, two of the top coaches in the region.  The girls had riding lessons daily and learned the strict discipline that the sport requires, such as never leaving the barn without a well groomed horse, hoof oil, ear muffs, spotless boots, polo shirts tucked in, hair in a net and tucked up in your helmet and on your mount half an hour before your lesson. 

Ashley, Alex, Azaria, Jaeda, and Sarah showed off what they had learned in the short time at the first horse show, Stone Bridge Farm Show.  The girls placed in all of their classes and did their coaches and Bermuda proud.

Just in time for the Lexington Virginia Horse Show (Ashley & Alex left the day after the clinic), the girls were given some fine tuning by taking part in a clinic with Frank Madden, one of the top equitation clinicians in the US.  Frank hails from New Jersey, Beacon Hill Farm and teaches some famous students to the likes of Jessica Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen’s daughter!  The clinic was about discipline; effectiveness; and to always have guts and go for the glory, you have nothing to lose!  Frank also told the girls they always must have the following tools in their toolbox, spurs and a whip.  You don’t necessarily always have to use them, but you always should be well equipped when riding a horse, just in case! 

Ashley and Alex did compete with Azaria, Jaeda, and Sarah at the Stone Bridge Horse Show where they were inducted into classes of 15+ competitors and experienced high placing in the ribbons.  Patrice unfortunately took ill and was unable to compete.

The Lexington horse show, what an experience!  The girls headed out to the show grounds on the Monday before the show.  The horses were stabled at the show grounds from Monday to Sunday and the girls had lessons during the days leading up to the competition days of Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  They competed in Hunter classes as well as Equitation classes, with Patrice competing in Jumper classes.  They experienced competing against 25-30 competitors and they placed in every one of their classes, ranging from 1^st – 6^th placing.  Patrice competed in the jumper classes and really “competed” against 30+ competitors.  She also had a unique experience of riding in a large indoor arena called the Coliseum, what an experience!  Not only did the girls have to compete, but also sit and watch the equitation medal classes and the top equitation riders compete for end of year championships for the Virginia region.  Katrina’s daughter Grace was one of the competitors who the girls cheered on regularly.  They took some of the Bermuda flavor to Virginia by shouting “GO GRACE” when she entered and exited the ring.  Grace thought this was fabulous and by the last night of the equitation medals, they had converted a few of the locals!

Not only did the girls enjoy the horsemanship aspect of this trip, but became such great friends as well.  They learned a lot about each other like the fact that Ash actually “talks” and she has a staunch Bermudian accent and does a great rendition of, “EL KA, ITS YA FAULT!”  The girls were also “inducted” into Sarah’s secret club and Jaeda lived up to herself as only Jaeda could, the comedian/social butterfly!

Patrice and Marlena stayed on until the end of August while the other girls returned home on August 11.  Patrice traveled to Culpepper and she continued her stellar performance in the jumper arena at the HITS Culpeper Show during the second and third weeks of August.

This is what the girls had to say about their trip to Virginia this past summer…

Ashley Gibbs…

“This summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Stonebridge Farm in Virginia.  My expectation for this trip was to gain experience riding different horses and to gain hunter flat/jumping experience.  I had daily lessons of 1 to 1 ½ hours duration.  The instructors encouraged me to spend a few minutes during the warm up period to assess my horse.  All of the instructors stressed the importance of developing good flatwork.  Particular focus was spent on improving my position, as well as the balance of the horse.    Daily lessons ALWAYS ALWAYS incorporated riding without stirrups to enable the development of strong, quiet legs.  During my jumping lessons, I was directed to focus on identifying my distance and then RIDING it.  Once I had made the decision, I had to ride it!!   I was also introduced to the “crest release” and its importance in preventing a rider from interfering with the horse’s mouth when actually going over the jump.  I had a wonderful experience at Stonebridge Farm.  Katrina Weinig and her family welcomed me warmly into their home.   Lily DeSousa and Teddi Ismond were fabulous instructors who spend whatever time was needed to explain movements/exercises to me so as to ensure that I understood.” 

Azaria Smith:

“During the course of our three weeks I learned a lot of different techniques and tips to improve my riding our training initially was vigorous and quite tiring, but after a few days it became easier and more enjoyable.  It was a great riding experience and I would be blessed if I had the opportunity to do it again. Overall the experience was a real boost to my riding abilities and my skill set and in preparation for shows and even my regular lessons. I enjoyed this experience immensely.”

Jaeda Smith:

“I learned a series of new things but the most important thing that I learned was that you should always have your “tools” when you ride (Frank Madden clinic; Tools – spurs & whip). I enjoyed having the clinic with him. One thing that he always stressed to us that I found amusing was that your horse better be “praying to jump” and if he doesn’t want to jump, then “crush his ribs!” Some of other things I learned were to keep my leg strong and still because when your leg moves all around it may scare the horse or it may speed up. Teddi wouldn’t allow any of us to ride in spurs in the first week because she didn’t think we were capable of using them properly. By the second week I had been given spurs because my leg had gotten a lot stronger.  One other important thing that I have learned that I used to take for granted but have incorporated into my daily riding is to groom your horse for your lessons as if you were going to a show!  The turnout of horse and rider is so important because you not only represent yourself, but the barn and your coach.  I had a great time and I hope I am able to go back there or maybe even to another camp somewhere else in the world.”

Patrice Swan:

“Training every day was a great experience and Lily drilled us to the max in ‘no stirrup’ work for at least 20 minutes or more every day.  I found that Teddi taught similar to Mary Francis in that she was very strict when it came to flat work and tracking the jumps.  Being a part of the Frank Madden Clinic was an added highlight.   Jumping at the Lexington National Horse Show and placing first and second was great.   At the Culpeper Hits show placing Reserve Champion in the Child/Adult Low and performing in the Grand Prix Ring in the Level 1 competition was extremely exciting.  Culpeper Hits was a much bigger facility with lots of rings and competitions going on at the same time.  My jumper classes were large and I was pleased that I placed within the top 8 of all my classes.”

Sarah Wight:

“I really enjoyed the style of coaching from Lily and Teddi; the farm was really gorgeous, as was the Virginia Horse Centre.  Three things I learned at the Frank Madden clinic; how to properly handle a horse that refuses; ways to win medal/equitation classes; and how to catch the judge’s attention.  He was really easy going and funny which made the clinic enjoyable.”

Teddi Ismond and Lily DeSousa were pleased with the progress the girls made in just two weeks at the camp.  For more information on Stone Bridge Farm, please visit their website at: http://www.stonebridgefarm.net/

Thank you to Katrina Weinig, Owner of Stone Bridge Farm for the invitation and housing us in her home for the duration of our stay.  Thank you to Mary Frances Gaglio for forwarding the invitation on to the BEF in order for us to take advantage of this fabulous opportunity.  Thank you to our parents who afforded us the opportunity to attend.

Pictures taken by now the world famous Andy Gibbs!  More photos to follow, Thank you Mr. Gibbs for being our official international photographer!

Frank Madden Clinic with Coach Teddi Ismond looking on

JayLynn Hines – August trip to Southern Blues Equestrian Center, Collierville, Tennessee

This summer I went to the United States, Tennessee, for three weeks to train with my former coach and his wife, Christian and McKrell Baier. For three weeks, I had intensive training at Southern Blues Equestrian Centre, and during the training we worked much on the training of the horse and various new skills and techniques. Each day started at around 6:30 in the morning, and then riding around 4-5 horses each day, with two lessons intertwined in between the other horses that needed to be ridden. After riding all of the horses, I would help them clear out the ring, and build up new exercises for the next day. The training was very tough, but I learned a lot of new techniques and skills throughout the three weeks I was there. There were many different types of horses of different levels at the stables, even some that were just coming along from being off work and I was helping them to bring the horse back into work. It was a very different experience working out in the field, and riding over the small cross country courses.

After each day of work, I had to write a report/journal about every horse I rode that day, including describing and drawing the exercises that were worked on during that day. Also while I was at the facility I had the pleasure of meeting Olympic Medalist Melanie Smith-Taylor. Heidi Mello and Michael Rodrigues also came to visit and shoe horses while we were there so it was great fun to have them there and have some Bermuda locals present. While they were there, the Bermudians outnumbered the Memphians!

After Two weeks into the training, a girl from Sweden also came to Southern Blues to stay for three months as a working student. I had the pleasure of going to Memphis during Elvis week! McKrell was a HUGE fan of Elvis so we were exposed to Elvis all week, including going to two Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist competitions! Now I believe my Elvis education has improved DRAMATICALLY since this one week experience!

The last week was more of preparing for the A rated Alderwood Charity Horse Show, in Germantown, Memphis. The show was on very nice grounds, and a great quality of riders and horses. The horse I ended up taking to the show was a thoroughbred named Jim, a.k.a Rockabilly. We competed in the 3’0” – 3’9” jumping heights, and were successful! The show was a four day show, and each day I rode in one class or two classes.

JayLynn and  'Rockabilly'  with Christian & McKrell

 All together, it was a great experience! I would just like to thank McKrell and Christian for all their generosity, kindness and support throughout the three weeks! It was so nice to be able to train with Christian again, him being my former coach and learning new techniques from McKrell. They are both excellent coaches and they have taught me so much more than I knew already, and introduced me to new techniques and skills to help me with the horses I ride back in Bermuda, and how to train them and work with them. I have gotten to know each and everyone of those horses at the stables, and I miss all of them dearly. I rode older horses, more green horses, stallions and younger horses, all different in their own ways. Even though it was extremely hard work every day, it paid off and I loved every minute of it! We have set goals for the near future that I really want to achieve, including trying for the North American Young Riders Junior Championships. I would just like to say thank you once again, to everyone that helped me out during this trip, especially the Government for granting me the scholarship to pay for the trip expenses, and my mother, for putting this all together for me. The people were so nice in Collierville including McKrell’s parents and her Scout troop, and everyone at the horseshow and at the barn. The highlight of the end of my trip was coming second in the WIHS-NAL CH/AD $1500 Jumper Classic, which you can view on youtube, by typing in JayLynn Hines and Rockabilly, or following the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EIt2_I2u6s
 

JayLynn & 'Rockabilly' at WIHS Jumper Classic

Results:                        Class                         Position       Prize                  Horse                       Owner