Deb Marsden has brought her very handsome 16.3 H Swedish Warmblood gelding to work with Kira at Cricket Hill! Welcome to both of you! Deb is aiming at Regionals at Second Level; the pair has shown at First Level there but never Second. Courante had some time off this winter and spring so the pair will be working hard to regain fitness and transition to a new way of going. Good luck and watch this space for progress reports!
horse board & training
Welcome Madison & Congratulations Lulu!
Congratulations to Lulu and the whole Levy family and a warm welcome to Madison, as he arrived at Cricket Hill today to start the next chapter of his life as Super Pony! Madison, a Welsh 14 hand gelding, took his first owner from lead line to FEI, and is ready to help Lulu move up, too!
Madison was the High Scoring FEI Pony at last year’s Youth Dressage Festival and went on to win Top 10 in the USA in the FEI Pony Division in 2013. He’s also won the high score trophies jumping in the Prix caprilli last year.
Lulu was on Cricket Hill’s 2nd place winning team in last year’s Youth Dressage Festival, and is moving up to Training Level this year. Even though it’s only a few weeks away, we’re guessing Madison will be Lulu’s mount! Best wishes to all!
Welcome Drum Major and Rebecca Saunders!
Drum Major is Rebecca’s young Hanoverian gelding. “We’re taking our time with him,” says Rebecca, “because we think he’ll go all the way!”
Drum Major was shown last season in Florida at Second and Third Level with trainer Gabriel Meyer, shown on the right with Rebecca and Drum Major. Rebecca plans to show him this coming year. Best wishes to all!
Maddie Arrives: Lula’s Birthday Wish Come True!
Lula had been wishing for her own horse for a long time… she started riding at Cricket Hill at age 6, and now she was about to be 10. So after Lula’s hard work and success at this year’s Youth Dressage Festival, parents Nell & John Langdon decided it was time …. but still a secret! Kira and Sue went on a hunt, and to avoid the natural disappointments of looking for a horse, kept everything secret from Lula until the last, final trip to PA for Lula to try this beautiful, talented Oldenburg-Sport Horse, Das Feiner Maedchen. “A Fine Little Girl”, a.k.a. Maddie is the product of a special dressage breeding program and is trained through 2nd level by an FEI trainer. She was competed successfully by a youth at 1st Level with scores 65%+, and although just 6 years old, has shown herself to be a reliable partner. Maddie arrived on Lula’s birthday to an eager crowd, was led down the ramp by Kira, and taken up to the main barn by Lula to settle in. “It’s my wish come true!” said Lula. “Better than Christmas!” said Nell. John beamed.
Main Barn Renovation: Follow the Red Brick Road!
The summer of 2013 will go down in history as the supreme victory of planning, coordination, outstanding teamwork, and cooperative weather as Cricket Hill completed a major renovation of the main barn! By design, all the improvements help both the horses and the people, clients and staff alike. It all started with redoing the indoor arena and adding high performance “TravelLight” footing. Then came the complete power washing of the structure inside and out, stalls and all. Painting the gigantic roof proceded at the same time. The two wash stalls were refurbished and all grooming bays rematted. The finishing touch was the biggest job of all: paving the two 150-foot aisles and entrances to the arena with rubber tiles. An excavator and roller squeeked down each aisle, cement sills were poured at each end and the tiles went down, see below. Phew!
Welcome Back Rio!
The day was bright and shiny – reflected in the bright and shiny van – -as Kristin McLallen’s talented 9-year Oldenburg gelding, Rendition, returned to Cricket Hill today! He was led off the truck by Leah, looked around, took a nibble of grass, and looked quite satisfied with himself. After some R&R, Rio will be in training with Kira.