| Rocky Start Stables **News** |
| March 1, 2010 I don't know about everyone else, but I am soooo ready for spring! The cold weather, snow, ice, and mud have made riding quite difficult. However, I'm pretty creative, and I seemed to have gotten things accomplished, one way or another. It's been 2 busy months since I posted last. Bug and Renn have been working very hard to get ready for the 2010 competition season. They both went down to Aiken for lessons with Kim Severson last month, and Bug went this month. I feel like I'm finally starting to figure Renn out a bit more, and I'm working to get back in sync with Bug. Also, they both had two wonderful XC schools last weekend. Bug was ready to get back in action, and Renn jumped around like a big boy. I was very happy with them both. This past weekend, Bug had his first recognized horse trials since the colic surgery. He was entered in the Preliminary Rider division at the Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials. He was amazing! He was soooo happy to be back at a show. You could see him grinning from a mile away. His dressage was on par with last year, and put him in 4th place. He jumped a double clear, though a bit exuberant, show jumping round to move us up to 2nd. I was thrilled. However, with the optimum time being 6:20 on XC, I didn't want to run him into the ground his first event. I made the decision to go a bit slow. Bug jumped around like he'd never had any time off. He listened very well, and went through every question like it was no big deal. I was thrilled. We were about 30 seconds over time, but I was so happy with him. Apparently, there were a lot of riders with time and stops, as we still ended up bringing home the 2nd place red ribbon! I am so proud of my boy. He's so incredible. **Special Thanks to Jodi Hemry and Marrinson Stables for allowing Bug and I to stable there while in Aiken, SC** Next stop....Southern Pines I Horse Trials in 2 weeks. January 12, 2010 I can't believe it's the new year already! 2009 flew by! I hope everyone had a great time with friends and family over the holidays. I know Jeremiah and I did. I'm hoping that 2010 will be a GREAT year for Rocky Start. Keep an eye on the 2010 show schedule and results! I'm going to try to keep that updated this year! The schooling show season starts next weekend for us. I hope to get the boys tuned up and ready to go for the recognized events that we're going to, starting the end of Feb. I hope everyone has a great year as well! November 19, 2009 With the holidays just around the corner, I take a look back at 2009, and I must say, there were a lot of ups and downs. I thank God for all of the help and support He brought to use this year! There's a lot to catch up on... Bug and I went to our first international CIC* back in mid-September. We arrived in Unionville, PA ready to take on the world. haha Bug passed the veterinary inspection with flying colors. We went on to perform one of the best dressage tests we've ever done. This placed us 11th, mid-pack. I was thrilled! We were in a field of over 20 riders, mostly upper level professionals. I walked the course with Kim Severson, my coach, and I was confident that Bug could answer all of the questions. The big question was whether we could make the time on the very hilly terrain. I was going to have to cut a lot of corners. I shouldn't have doubted Bug! He jumped everything beautifully, and only had 2 time penalties! I came off the course grinning from ear to ear. It was the best XC we'd had yet! This moved us up to 9th! Bug went into the vet box like he'd barely done any work. The vets were very happy with how quickly he recovered. Unfortunately, about 2 hours later, Bug started to colic. To make a long story short, he was taken to University of Pennsyvlania's New Bolton Center to have emergency colic surgery. Luckily, it was a pretty minor surgery, as far as colic surgery goes, and he was up and feeling better pretty quickly. This was the end of our 2009 show year, but the surgeon was very pleased with how well he came through surgery, and expected that he would be ready to go for the 2010 spring season. As Bug's season ended, my stallion, Fuerst Rendition's was just beginning! Renn has only been under saddle since April of this year, so the fact that he is even ready to event at all, is pretty impressive. He has completed 3 horse trials thus far, two schooling and one recognized. After each show, I can say that he came away wiser and more ready to take on the world! Don't tell Bug, but Renn has been getting a lot of compliments on how flashy and athletic he is. This could create a lot of brother rivalry! haha I am planning to start out the 2010 season in January at The Ark's Frostbite series with both boys. Renn will continue doing Beginner Novice until I feel he's a bit less green. Bug will probably do a slow Prelim run at The Ark, and then shoot to start his recognized season in February in Aiken, SC. Of course, I always have a plan, but if he doesn't seem ready, then the plan will be left behind. I'm very excited for the 2010 season with my boys. Also, Renn's two babies, Mia and Amore, will be making their in-hand debuts at some point in 2010! Happy Holidays to everyone! September 6, 2009 Wow, once again, time has flown by! This has been a very busy year so far! So far, the fall season is going well. We did the Fair Hill HT the first weekend in August and placed 7th out of 13. Bug was not very pleased with the sticky dressage footing, and he was a bit overzealous in SJ. However, he had a fantastic XC round. It was our first show back after a month and a half vacation from showing, and I think it got us back into gear. The last weekend in August, we headed down to Aiken, SC for the Full Gallop Farm HT. Bug put in a decent dressage test, was one of few double clear SJ rounds, and was a star XC. We ended up 3rd in a 16 horse division! I am very proud of my boy. We will be heading to train with Kim Severson again in a few days and heading from there to the Plantation CIC* in Pennsylvania. We will be competing against all of the big names in eventing. Renn did his first XC school a few weeks ago and is proving to be quite the eventing stallion! He loves to jump and is very brave. I am hoping to start his show career this fall. The babies are growing up quickly, and I can't wait to get them out on the Future Event Horse circuit next year! I have two yearling fillies of Mary Shell's Morning Glory Farm They will be making they're debut in the Future Event Horse world at The Ark HT in October. July 18, 2009 I hope everyone is doing well! It has been a pretty good month and a half for Rocky Start. Here are a few updates! 1. Bug and I WON the Prelim division at the Lost Hounds HT. He was amazing! The week of training at Kim's did wonders for us! Kim is an AMAZING instructor, and I recommend her to anyone and everyone! We were just back up there with her this week, and we have even more to work on. We are shooting for the fall season: Fairhill Horse Trials and the Full Gallop Farm Horse Trials doing Prelim the beginning and end of August. We will then head up to PA for the CIC* at the Plantation Field Horse Trials. After that, we are headed to KY for the Midsouth CCI* in October. I hope all goes well!! 2. Mia is doing really well! She is growing like a weed and as athletic as ever! She has turned into quite the sweet little girl. She loves to be brushed and patted. 3. The end of June, Renn's first colt was born! His name is Fuerst Love, aka Amore. He is very bouncy and happy with life! 4. I am happy to welcome Snider's Elevator and A Bit More Tack to my sponsors. I am still looking for any help that I can get!! It is greatly appreciated. I think that's about all for now! Happy Summer! |