Cricket Hill Farm
Academy and Gardens
“I was surprised and thrilled,” announced Deb Marsden after receiving the Gold Medal for Second Level AA at the prestigious NEDA Fall Festival. “It was only our third show this year!”
Deb brought Courante to Cricket Hill to work with Kira on May 1st after Courante had had a vacation over the winter! So it was really hard work for the both of them and they were improving every week the whole summer. Congratulations on your achievement! On to Third Level!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
