Spring is finally here! After a fun short season in Florida we are back to Ohio! Dutch and I were grateful to train under the talents of George Williams again this year. I have been lucky enough to ride with him for the past 8 years! Time flies when you are having fun....Dutch had just finished a ride in Global Dressage Show in Wellington, Fla. for this picture with Jack and George. This was our first show of the season and we (really I ) were a bit rusty! We both need some serious ring time. We look forward to this show season. George will return to Rockin K end of June when he returns from Europe working with the US Young Rider Team. He has quite the busy schedule jetting around the country giving clinics and working with the different USA teams. He and his lovely wife, Roberta have made Ravenna their home for the past 5 seasons.
While in Florida I got to spend some time with my good friends Janet and Mike Foy. Here we are at the Freestyles at Global. One of the few that Janet was not judging! Sitting next to Janet is such a blast at a show. She is gives a running commentary of what is going on in the ride. It is such valuable knowledge. As a 5* FEI judge she really doesn't miss a thing! Janet has just returned from jugging the World Cup in Paris.
Janet has been such a wonderful mentor for me in Dressage. Janet started out as a Rodeo Queen so we both have cowgirl in our backgrounds. I met Janet 9 years ago in Houston where I rented a barn to train for a couple months in the winter. My horses were both young and I didn't need to show...just ride in warmer climate. My son, Jake and his family live in Houston so he suggested I come there...what a fun time we had! I had just purchased Dolce and we were both very much a work in progress! Dolce was an inexperienced gangly guy. I had him really moving very nicely ~ for a hunter! "EEK! " Janet yelled at my first ride with her...."Why are you riding him in a hunter frame?!" And so it began....Lessons with Janet. She and I went to the Houston Rodeo together that week and have been friends ever since. Janet now comes to Rockin K twice a year to do Clinics.
Janet has been such a wonderful mentor for me in Dressage. Janet started out as a Rodeo Queen so we both have cowgirl in our backgrounds. I met Janet 9 years ago in Houston where I rented a barn to train for a couple months in the winter. My horses were both young and I didn't need to show...just ride in warmer climate. My son, Jake and his family live in Houston so he suggested I come there...what a fun time we had! I had just purchased Dolce and we were both very much a work in progress! Dolce was an inexperienced gangly guy. I had him really moving very nicely ~ for a hunter! "EEK! " Janet yelled at my first ride with her...."Why are you riding him in a hunter frame?!" And so it began....Lessons with Janet. She and I went to the Houston Rodeo together that week and have been friends ever since. Janet now comes to Rockin K twice a year to do Clinics.
I returned home from Florida early so I could coach some of the ladies of Rockin K. Lisa VanNieuwal, Helen Welch, Susan Lipstreau, and Vicki Ferrara competed in their first ever Prix DeVille at Lake Erie College the first weekend of April. Spring hadn't shown up yet so the morning snow showers made for some pretty "spicy" horses! However, these ladies worked together to win Reserve Champion of the Training and First Level teams. As you can tell by their smiles they were pretty thrilled to have competed. Two of the team had never competed in a recognized show! So very proud of their hard work and dedication. It looks to be a fun show season coming up! Let's just hope spring is here to stay now!
Two of our retirees enjoying the spring greens! Jan Hatch's, Leo and Ominous , owned by Jill Zuk are buddies in our retirement area.
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