Cricket Hill Farm
Academy and Gardens
We set aside three Sunday afternoons for this year’s Winter “Pick-me-up”, a clinic series lungeing the rider. The goal is always to improve both the rider and the horse’s balance with a focus on straightness. Working without reins and/or stirrups helps the rider focus on their seat and body alignment. During the course of each ride, we could see adjustments being made. We worked the horses starting a month ahead to get them fit for the first clinic on February 18.
Please join me in welcoming Brian and Izumi Shepard to Cricket Hill! Both are devoted riders, interested in Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, and Hunter Pacing, and looking forward to improving themselves and their wonderful horses! Brian’s Bella is a 14-year-old Oldenberg mare that’s always ready to go. Neo, an 8-year-old warmblood-Morgan cross, is smart, a wonderful gentleman, and oh so well-loved by Izumi!
“We’ve been driving by and admiring Cricket Hill for years. We’re so happy to be here now!” says Brian. Brian told us he actually started his riding career years ago at Cricket Hill. Well, we are thrilled to have both pairs join the Cricket Hill family, in training with Kira, assisted by Becca.
Saddle Club was an exciting day today for Lulu and Paris – first the Nutrition Seminar, then riding, capped off with the award of GoldStar certificates! Lulu achieved GoldStar IV, and Paris GoldStar III, commemorated with mom Susan’s snapshot below! The two photos under saddle appear on the girls’ certificates. Each has a copy for home, and we have one on display in the lounge. Congratulations to both! Now, it’s on to the next modules! Both have signed up for ShootingStar, too, Cricket Hill’s jumping program!
We had a great opportunity to recognize these accomplishments at our annual Holiday Party and Show! Left to right below: Erin & Tate ““ GoldStar III, Lyla & Sunny ““ GoldStar II, Lulu & Madison ““ GoldStar III. These three girls worked through the summer and finished up the final bits this fall. They are the first to complete these modules in the newly revised GoldStar program!
Over the past 18 months, Kira and Jami have been revising both GoldStar for dressage and ShootingStar for jumping. In addition to adding a module to each program, making 7 in GoldStar and 3 in ShootingStar, the revisions improve these programs in important ways: added sections on contact, coming round, and “on the bit”; new discussion of straightness; whole new sections on horse behavior and veterinary topics; careful development of lateral work over the last three modules of GoldStar. Click here to learn more about this unique Cricket Hill program!
Joan, a New York and Ancram resident, is a certified practitioner of both the Alexander Technique and Yoga. She had many suggestions and exercises for using the body in a more healthy way for everyday living. Joan did her homework well and was able to draw parallels for the dressage riders in the group to develop their own “throughness” as they strive to develop this in their horses.