NEWS

Elkton, MD
Oct 15, 2008   

Monday afternoon we packed up at Kate’s and moved the horses down to Fair Hill.  We had the barn set up and the “in-barn” veterinary inspections finished rather quickly and the rest of the evening was left to grazing, walking, and otherwise fussing over our horses. 

Tuesday most of the competitors arrived and the peaceful barns and grassy fields turned into a hustling, bustling, sea of people and trailers.  As is often the case, much was unfinished when it comes to the event organization and we just today were able to get our competitor numbers and barn credentials.

This afternoon we had the first jog out.  Finian trotted up very well and earned a few admirers for his looks too.  I’m off to walk the course for the first time, and then we have the grooms party this evening.  My mom is still in denial that she’s grooming for me, which I don’t understand since she does a pretty good job.  Maybe she’ll admit it by the end of the week.

Amid her many other talents and projects, my mother has been working busily on a website, www.tianacoudrayeventing.com   Not many are so lucky as to have a groom, secretary, web designer and mom all in one.

Finian got a fairly early number draw, 29 out of 82 entries, so we’ll be doing dressage tomorrow.  Then we have Friday off before cross country on Saturday.

Let’s hope for a relaxed and supple test tomorrow.

Cochranville, PA
Oct 11, 2008   

Today I took Finn out hacking with Kristi and planned to just see how he was feeling.  One of the pasture horses got excited as we walked by and galloped over to see us.  This was all the enticement Finn needed to be off like a kite, leaping and prancing and snorting like an Arabian.  At that point I decided that Dougie had done his job well and Finn was fit to do a little work in the ring.  He felt the best he has since he arrived here, much stronger, straighter, and more adjustable.  I’m thrilled that we were able to sort that out with such a quick fix.  Tomorrow I think we’re planning to do another breeze up the hill and then Monday we will move the horses down to Fair Hill.  The weather has been exquisite the entire time I’ve been here, so I’m hoping it will hold out through next weekend.  That may be asking too much of an East-coast October.

Cochranville, PA    
Oct 10, 2008

This morning Finian seemed a bit bothered by life and was in quite a bad mood, which for mister congeniality, means something is wrong.  I had a little jump school out in the field and he was jumping fine, but with none of his usual brilliance.  Dougie Hannum (Equine Physio-therapist) came out to the farm later in the afternoon and worked on him.  Immediately Finn became more pleasant and back to his curious, goofy self.  I think all the traveling stress had finally caught up with him and he was extremely tight.  Last night Weslee arrived from Texas with her horse, Oliver, and Kristi Nunnink came in from California with her mare, Rosie.  Both seem to have traveled well and were happy to be on solid ground.

Cochranville, PA   
Oct 8, 2008

Today we hauled to a nearby hill so that I could take Finn for a little gallop.  I use the word hill loosely because this was something else.  We parked at the end of a dirt road and started hacking down a beautiful grassy lane that was perfectly mowed.  And we kept hacking, and kept hacking, all the while it was just a steady slope downwards.  After a while I realized that this 20 ft wide, golf course quality, turf lanne was the “hill” we were going to gallop up.  I thought about all the hours I’ve spent doing gallop sets in an arena and became very jealous of everyone in this part of Pennsylvania.  It turns out this is a pretty famous “hill” on which many famous event horses have conditioned.  If ever I win the lottery, I’m going tlo build me a galloping lane like that!  One can dream.

Cochranville, PA   
Oct 6, 2008

I’m happy to say that Finian successfully traversed the country and arrived fresh, fit, and in good order.  He’s had a few easy days to settle in and meet the neighbors, and he wasted no time with either.  He’s quickly become the source of entertainment for everyone at the barn.  We’re staying at Kate Ditchy’s farm and, as I’d expected from knowing Kate, it is immaculate.

California   
Oct 3, 2008

If it isn’t packed now, it won’t fit in the bags anyway.  I’m heading to the airport for a red-eye flight to Philadelphia.  Ringwood Magister left on a van several days ago.  We will meet up at Kate Ditchy’s farm in Pennsylvania and stay there until we move down to Elkton, Maryland, for the Fair Hill International CCI**.