Cant stop thinking about summer... :D

WOW! Sorry its been a long time sense my last post, seeing as how this is no longer a school required blog!
I have been busy, christmas was a blast, I got all the winter riding gear I need for my whole life, and I got a white christmas with my horsey. :D I was sick for most of our break, so I did not do much riding. Then I went off to NYC with one of my friends from Germany over new years, and that was SO much fun but I missed Lyra tuns even though it was only 4 days... shows my attachment. I got home yesterday afternoon, feeling a little excited that second semester is starting soon, and that summer is 6 months away!
I went out to the barn today, and rode Lyra for the first time in 2 weeks! She was so wonderful.... it was great! I love it when she feels like a million bucks! Also sense I have last blogged, I have started working out again, but not just running like I used to do, i mean REALLY working out. Going to the gym after the barn and before homework. It has been awesome, im getting stronger everyday, something I have missed. However, I have to say that working out is so boring I have no way to escape it, even listening to music does not always do it! I am so happy that I do a sport that is NEVER boring no matter what.
So, as you also know I am working all summer 2012 for Jessica Halliday at Highland Acres Equestrian Center, and I am SO looking forward to it. Jessica is currently down in Florida enjoying the winter riding and competing, something I can only dream of. Because school ends in 6 months, that means I have 6 months to make Lyra the BEST horse she can be, and the most prepared I can make her for her new job as a competing event horse. I cant wait to see what the winter brings, I hope its good :D
Sorry its been so long, talk soon!
-Ellie and her dreams of greener pastures... :D

Bad Jumping good Flat? what is this...>:(

I have to start out by saying that I had an amazing riding lesson on Lyra on Friday. She was SO SO good wow! We did Walk, Trot, Canter perfectly, and the whole lesson was just a huge success.
I left on Saturday morning with excitement in my heart, because Lyra had been good, and Isabel and I had Spring Tide horse show in MA that weekend! We stayed in a great hotel with a nice pool and had a great dinner of Polish food?! haha

Then the next morning we got to the show at about 7:20, watched the horses warm up, and so on. Then we got our horse draw, and I got a 14.3hh Morgan who did not like/want to jump or be there at all. I had a fine warm up on him, after the girl before me had almost fallen off because his jump was so funky! I went in, started my canter a little late, and got a decent chance and approach to the first fence. We got to it in the middle, and my position was prefect, and then he stooped, and crow hopped the fence! I lost both stirrups, and my nice position. The first fence was the first in a combination, so I jumped the second fence the no Stirrups! After that second jump, I was able to regain my balance and my stirrups, and we completed the course well, with only a early turn to the fourth fence. Because of our tuff ride, and that unfortunate draw, we did not place, which was crazy because I had never done worse then fourth... >:(

My flat class was much better however. I drew a wonderful paint horse that was a five year old, and he did a great job showing me off! We ended up second out of eight people, and I was so happy because not, after three shows, I have 9 points for Flat, and 7 points for jumping! I need to do well at our next two shows, but I think I will make it to Regionals this year! (: YAY! <3
tata for now(: -Ellie PS (I will have pictures later)

Volo Horse Show, and MeCTA Awards!

WOW! What a fun weekend! Isabel, Brit, my mom and I left for Jessica Halliday's Barn in Grafton MA on Saturday morning so that I could meet Jessica, and see the barn that I might be living at for the whole summer! It was way too much fun. I saw my favorite friends Zoe and Emily at the barn, and I rode a great OTTB that is going training level eventing.
After such a fun night, and afternoon, we woke up early for the Volo team IEA horse show at volo equestrian center. We had a great show. I got forth for the jumping, which was awesome, and sixth out of 9 people for flat which is pretty good because I stink at Hunter Jumpers so far HAHA!
Then when we got home I learned that our MeCTA team won second for the Team challenge and thats just so awesome! I am very proud of Jessie, Ashley, Grace and I for a great season and a wonderful team! (: GOOD JOB GUYS! <3

York Team and Friends... (:

WOW what a great weekend! On friday afternoon, Isabel, Addie, my mom, and I drove down to Portland to spend the night so that we could be 15 minutes from our first IEA Horse Show at Greystone Stables! It was a great night, full of fun and new inside jokes! But it was what came on Saturday morning that got me talkin' for the rest of the weekend.
We arrived at the barn at 7:00 sharp so that we, along with the rest of York Team, could watch all the horses warm up for what was going to be a great show! When we were watching the horses, we had to take mental notes of how that horse moved, how they may have to be ridden, and what there likes and dislikes are. There were many horses that we may or may not have gotten to ride that day, and I was so excited to here who I had drawn for our Jumping class. I am an Intermediate jumping the 2' class, because this is my first year on the team, and my first year EVER doing the hunters. At our team practice the Monday before, I had ridden a friends horse Mia, I totally loved her because she was another OTTB and, well, everyone knows that thoroughbred is my name and riding them is my GAME! So pretty much the entire night before the show I had been putting out "positive Mia vibes" because I really wanted to draw her for Jumping. (The left picture is my ribbens from this weekend!)
As it turns out, I got my wish, and Mia and I got to jump together! We had SO MUCH FUN! and Ended up 3ed in our division, and against many other riders! I was so happy because this was my first time, and with a 3ed, I got some points that I will need to qualify for Nationals this year. Next, I drew Xina for our flat class. She is a super nice mare who was from our barn (greystone stables) but I had never ridden her before. She was great, and we had a super ride, however my sturrips were too long, and it through off my position enough so that Xian and I ended up 4th our of the many riders in my class.
Over all it was SUCH a fun day, and our whole team did SO well, including Addie and Isabel! (^^Above to the right is a picture of Mia and her owner Abby, isn't Mia pretty?)

CONGRATULATIONS YORK TEAM! that was fun (:

Hopes, Dreams, Planing, and Disappointment

I wanted to blog about some things that have really been bothering me lately! Because of recent, and previous events, such as Lyra obtaining Lyme disease, I have been thinking a lot about what the two of as a team are going to do this winter for training, and what our summer goals and plans may look like!

Currently, Lyra and I are at a beautiful farm in Appleton Maine, it is a beautiful place! However, their are parts and pieces of boarding and training there that I don't like so much. I do have to say that we have  everything an eventer needs besides a indoor arena, which is totally necessary for Maines winter months. I also feel as though I am not supported by my trainer in my decisions, or hopes with Lyra. All I want at the moment is to be at a barn close by that has an indoor riding arena where I can train through the winter, and to have a trainer that really wants to work with me, and have ME to her training, and not pay for her to be trained by someone else. I would also like a trainer that would support me with training this tricky chestnut thoroughbred mare that I call Lyra!! Somehow I don't seem to have anything close to this, and I feel so stuck! Sometimes I feel like I am just being a drama queen, but is it to much to ask to want someone to support you and your wanting's with riding? Hopefully, some miracle will surface for us, and Lyra and I will be able to get something done this winter, training wise. Of course that would be after she gets home from New England Veterinary Hospital.

I hope that whatever comes with spring is a happy horse and rider, who have been working there tails off all winter to improve themselves! My only goal for the spring months is to get Lyra to a place where she can Walk, Trot, Canter,and jump in a controlled, and safe mannor. Also where we are both happy and not so stressed out when we are riding. I hope that this hard work would lead to a wonderful week at GMHA Junior Horsemanship Clinic for us. I learned SO much last June when I went, and I feel like if Lyra and I can go down with a good bace, we could learn SO much, and have those great experiences prepare us for a overwhelming summer of fun! After camp is over next year, I would love to go streight home with my friends from last year to board, and work for Jessica Halliday at Highland Acres farm in Grafton MA. This is a wonderful boarding, and training facility where my friends from GMHA board and train there event horses! I have heard nothing but wonderful things, about Highland Acres, and I think it would really benefit both my training, and Lyra's training if we were in a place with other fun riders and friends that are doing the same things that we are, and also with a younger, more fun and advanced trainer like Jessica who wants to work with me and Lyra to achieve our goals JUST as much as I want to work with her! The comforting part of this dream, is that my mom is finally totally down with my ideas! So it is nice to feel like I have someone on my side about my goals! I think this plan would be so much fun to cary out for the rest of 2012 summer. It would also give me a break from the Maine training and eventing world, because like it or not, there is greener grass on the other side of the boarder (: (:

My loving friendship with the doctors at New England Veterinary Hospital

So, I am sorry that this first blog post has to start off with bad/sad news, but after having a wonderful horse named Blaze die at New England Vet Hospital this past June, I am totally not looking forward to taking my OTTB mare down there for 3 weeks to get her Lyme treatment. Yeah, totally stinks that Lyra has Lyme... especially because I have this fly spray that has TICK repelling qualities, and still Lyra managed to get bitten. I have to say that I am not just pissed that she has Lyme, but also that I am used to seeing her everyday, and riding her as well, and this is going to be a three week set back for us because we have the BN goal for next year! Anyways, I will be able to go and visit Lyra on the weekends and ride her at New Englands round pen, but that is totally not enough for me! Hopefully with the support of best friends, I will keep my cool these three weeks, and remain in a positive state. (That is Lyra at the Right ---> )


On a happier note... I had a wonderful Weekend with the amazing Ashley Shaffer! We did all kinds of FUN things, but when I arrived at her house on Friday evening, we attempted to bath, and braid Duellsa and Ryn in the poring rain... It was totally fun, and worth it in the end because both mares looked amazing at the Infinity 2-phase! Ryn won second in then Elementary division, and Duellsa obtained fourth in the Beginner Novice devision! YAY PONIES! Then, upon arriving back at Ashley's house, she gave me a wonderful riding lesson on Kieko who is her BN packer who got second at Snowfields HTS this year at BN! YAY! It was a great lesson, and I totally appreciate everything Ash has done with that fine mare! After a early to sleep night, we woke up to the morning of the Stewart Pittman clinic at Peppergrass farms. Again, Duellsa and Ryn were going, and Ashley had two great lessons that were SO fun to watch! I just wanted to say THANKS SHAFFER for a fun filled weekend (: (: (That is a picture of Duellsa at Right ----> )