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Members wrote their own dressage test, minimum of 10 movements, maximum 20. Leader Stephanie reviewed each to be sure it was a challenge for each rider/horse pair so the competition would be fair at the Members’ own organized horse show later this month. Great way to think about riding a test!

A great treat to have Lendon Gray return to clinics at Cricket Hill. We had a broad range of participants – young to older, both horses and riders!

Lise Gottwold and her 4-year-old Bastille just starting out, Paddy Rossback and 18-year-old Sienna working on 3rd/4th level! Wendy Luscombe and Lindsay had a workout on Koriakin and Quest. Jane rode Jose, Wendy’s Andalusian stallion that Jane showed at 3rd level last year. Two junior riders on Academy Schoolmasters enjoyed Lendon’s tips: Eleni Econopouly with Ricky and Beth Anne Vought-Jause riding Shakespeare. Beth Anne has competed at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival several times, and Eleni is planning her first trip to that prestigious show this summer!

Everybody went in and out of the viewing lounge for refreshments and to keep warm. Lendon taught straight through bundled up with her warmers in the indoor arena! Thanks for a great day!

Congratulations to Caitlin on meeting all the requirements for GoldStar II ! Caitlin is shown here with Frosted Bandit, super pony supreme, one of our best Academy Schoolmasters for building confidence.  Bandit took Caitlin to her first Youth Dressage Festival in 2008, which is where this picture was taken. As Caitlin moves on to taller horses and more success, Bandit will always have a spot in her heart.

A fun 6-week project going over the holidays! Members get a good idea of what it’s like to own a horse…with extra horse care activities like clipping, checking blanket fit, health check, and picking out the stall. Riding and handling goals are specific to each pair and help SC Members to improve their confidence and safety with any horse they handle. Assignments are Giulia-Robin, Tess-Sunny, Ruby-Mickey, Tasha-Beau, Lilac-Bandit, Allegra-Ray, Mia-Sweet Pea, Darian-Bridget, America-Ricky,Caitlin-Simon,Samantha-Topper, Allie-Patrick, Eleni-Paddy O’.

We’ll all remember this year’s celebration of Winter Solstice, a dance presentation, with 3 humans and 1 equine,  pictured above left! The whole day was filled with one excitement after the other. We started with our Equitation classes – something for everyone, from leadline to jumping. Then onto jumping and games, some of the winners shown here.  The food was delicious, mulled wine as always, festively arrranged in the lounge.

Lunchtime entertainment included a hilarious rendition of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”, Jane, Wendy and Lindsay all dressed in their bedtime splendor!

The Dressage Challenge was head-to-head Musical Freestyles all to holiday music. Paddy O’ Cognac took the first, with Stephanie up! 

Ever-popular block elimination came next, with Giulia and Ray winning the Kids’ and Lilly and Molly-B taking the Adult Division. Everybody got ribbons and lots of goodies…and to all a good night!

For quality prints of these, and any other of our photos, contact suebassin@aol.com

Click here for dates of other shows at Cricket Hill.

Stephanie took the Cricket Hill contingent – Giulia Cohen, Mia & Allegra Colman, Ruby Lang, Tasha Mitchell & Lilac Watt – with their trusty Academy Schoolmaster mounts – Bandit, Beau, Mickey & Simon – on the road in the big trailer! Everybody did fantastically, all getting ribbons showing against some stiff competition, both adults and children! Highlights: Mia took a 3rd & 4th on Bandit in Pre-Short Stirrup, her first away show! In the School Horse Equitation Division, Allegra garnered 2 4ths and a 5th with Bandit and Simon, and Lilac won Reserve Champion on the strength of her 1st in equitation and 2nd in crossrails! Tasha won two 3rds: 18″ crossrails with Simon and W/T/C in the Pleasure Horse Division with Beau. Ruby got a 4th in the same class riding Simon. Giulia took a 3rd on Beau in the second W/T/C class and impressively held her own in the Schooling Hunter Division (mostly adults on big horses) with a 2nd on Mickey! Congratulations to all. Thanks to Krys for all the help keeping the crew organized at the end! Everybody’s working hard to be ready for the next away show in March!