2005 SHOW TEAM REPORTS

FIRST COAST HUNTER JUMPER ASSOCIATION OPENER

GREAT START IHE!  IHE started the show season along with the FCHJA on February 12th at the Clay County Agricultural Center.  New student Brandy Darling started the day right with a 4th place effort in the Model Horse class.   This was soon followed by Priscilla Davis' first show with IHE.   She and Petey turned in a great performance which earned her a 4th place in Adult Eequitation - and Priscilla was worried she was going to "lock up!"  The BIG WINNER of the day was Devyn Downs, who's 4th place in equitation, and 2 first place ribbons in the childrens' walk-trot classes earned her and Mojave a DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP!  Shaun finished off the day with some spectacular rounds in the 2'9" Stepping Stone hunters with Tallly and Mae - their first efforts in hunters at this height!  Their rounds were spectacular - Shaun and Mae took 4th place in the hack - but the over fences were not placed until the end of the show.  We decided not to wait, and we'll just assume the best... ribbons for both our Big Hunters!  Next stop February 20th - Shaun and Mae's first dressage competition in Florida

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Well, Shaun and Mae's Dressage debut turned out as FANTASTIC as hoped!  Despite somewhat challenging conditions (lots of nearby RVs rolling up horse-eating canopies and blowing out lines), Shaun and Mae rolled to a FIRST PLACE in Training Level and a SECOND PLACE in First Level. Quite an auspicious debut for a team that garnered many praises from the judges!  Thank you North Florida Dressage Association!

May28, 2005.  North Florida Hunter Jumper Association.  Porsche and Alex absolutely blew away the competition in the adult amateur classes - winning the jumpers by 10 seconds - not bad for their first show together!  Maddie and Yasmine showed a lot of promise in their second jumper show together.  Maddie was just coming off her breeding with War Admiral, and we are confident that these two will be burning up the jumpers at shows like they do at home VERY SOON!  Talley put in some VERY impressive schooling rounds in the jumpers, and Petey carried Priscilla to some 2nds and 4ths in equitation AND hunter, and also took Sarah to some 4ths in crossrails!  Finally, Devyn and Triton also did very well in the walk-trot division.

November 26, 2005.  First Coast Hunter Jumper Association.  IHE is, as usual, a virtually unbeatable force in the jumpers.  Alex and Zelda, Yasmine and Petey, Shaun and King, all took the top 3 spots in nearly every class at the 2'9" and 3' levels!  Shaun even got Mae into the action, and her future as a big-time jumper is looking more promising than ever.  Congratulations go out to Alex and Zelda for their Reserve Division Championship.  Yasmine and Petey looked fantastic - perhaps even smoother than Yasmine and Maddie (we eagerly await Maddie's foal - sometime in April 2006), and seem to be only beatable by "unforced errors."  Watch these two.

In the hunter ring, Amber and Cherokee, as well as Leigh and Dusty all performed very well, earning ribbons in some very competitive classes!  In fact, Sarah and Mojo looked fantastic, but despite some of the smoothest lead changes around,  they were awarded no ribbons ... this time!  Devyn and Moolatte shook off some practice round crossrail jitters.  Trotting around didn't seem to suit either of them, and once they decided to canter the course, they looked like professionals.  Moolatte even got horse strides down the lines, and also gave some graceful flying lead changes!

Of course, the big story was our beginner hunter riders, as Judith, Jennifer, and Bernadette all put in stellar rounds which belied their relative newness to competition.  Bernadette and Tator walked away with some fantastic ribbons, and Jen and Merlin even won the Division!  Judith and Sebastian looked tremendous - really improving and showing they have as much potential as any one of our new teams.

All in all, a very satisfying outing for Team Iron Horse.  Just as satisfying was the camaraderie after the competition at the "El Potro" for some Mexican buffet and Margaritas!  Next up - NFHJA in December and then NEXT YEAR!

Rush Management "A" show - Newberry Florida.  What a weekend!  COLD - WET - BLUSTERY!  It all added up to a tough first day - IHE was shut out of the ribbons in level 2 (Petey) and 3 (Tally and Bally) despite being heavily favored to do major damage.  Shaun regrouped on Saturday, where a 4 fault performance in the level 2 jump-off was enough to win the blue.  That should tell you how tough the weather was and how tough the jumps were - all heights and spreads were MAXED out!  In the end, Petey was level 2 division champ again!  Petey and Tally did well in the level 2 Mini Prix - 3rd and 7th respectively.  It was Tally's first real weekend as a jumper, and he did very well, and learned a lot (especially about W-I-D-E oxers).  We also learned that Petey doesn't need spurs (he probably would have won the Prix if Steve had noticed Shaun was wearing hers)!  Finally, Bally had a pretty good weekend - placing 6th in his first level 3 class on Saturday, but pulling a tough rail in the Prix on Sunday.  He is jumping better than ever, though, and moving fast.  The weather - having just been body clipped - played a major part in his placing.  Bally right now may be IHE's best level 3-4 jumper - watch him go.

January - here we come.  Here's hoping everyone a great holiday season.  Merry Christmas.

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