Cricket Hill Farm
Academy and Gardens
Riders of all levels, half a dozen new to our clinic series, enjoyed two days with Shelly, showing their progress and learning training tips for the next level. We hoped Shelly would be able to come back in April… Sadly for us but happily for Shelly, she will be competing in Europe for the U.S. Team again. Good luck Shelly and see you back at Cricket Hill in October 2018!
A beautiful day brought in guests from five farms and brought out all our Academy Schoolmasters! First came the dressage, a YDF qualifier with Judge Katie Rocco:
Then came the Jumping: Kira, a.k.a. Dwight Yoakum, designed four different courses that accommodated beginners up to the more experienced jumpers.
And of course, what would our Fall Show be without the Costume Class!
Excellent weather, plenty of pressure, and lots of high spots! Lula’s goal for this show season was to qualify for and compete in the Regional Championships at Training Level. So it was a thrill to have been there along the way to see Lula grow into and meet her own challenge! Of course, Maddie had been perfect all season. Lula also picked up a qualifying score for 2018 and plans to return in Training Level and hopefully First as well!
Rio really settled into Third Level this year, consistently in the 70’s. At Regionals, in a class of 46, Rio and Kira were fifth with 70.4%, just a point and a half behind Michael Poulin who won it, which you might be able to read on the score sheet! The photos below, like those of Lula and Maddie, were taken at a show earlier in the season… the Saugerties pictures weren’t quite as good.
Christoff came along to his first Championship show at First Level. After the first few hair-raising shows, Christoff and Kira were well into the seventies throughout the season. He’ll show at Third Level in 2018 while Rio goes on to Fourth.
Lulu, a.k.a. Lighthouse, a.k.a. Lost Letters, happily joined our band of trusty school horses! A beautiful 11-year-old, 16.1 hand Thoroughbred, Lulu was a generous donation to Cricket Hill Academy by Drs. Woody and Saida Baxt, Beckenrah Farm. Lulu is a very calm, honest mare.
Lulu is a valuable addition to our riding program for adults, especially those who enjoy jumping. Very show-worthy, Lulu has taken adult amateurs to the ribbons at Hunter Jumper A-shows! Kira will brush up her basic dressage so she can be shown in both Dressage and Jumping, as well as go to some hunter paces. Like many Thoroughbreds, Lulu started her career as a race horse (Lost Letters is her Jockey Club registered name), actually won one of a handful of starts, and spent a few years as a brood mare. We can only imagine how cute her babies were!
Watch the eight riders in full battle dress help celebrate Cricket Hill’s 30th year!