Polestar Farms

I am really excited about a new horse who just came into the barn. His race name is Cochlear, and he is from Ireland. I got him through Shirley Aronson, who is well known for picking lovely sporthorses from the race world. The real mystery here might be how in the world I trusted someone to send me up a horse that I have not seen, but there you go.  Trust I did, and so far (granted I have not ridden him yet) I like him a lot.  Cochlear raced in Ireland under Tommy Stack, a well know flat and steeplechase jockey and trainer. Cochlear raced 24 times under Mr. Stack’s guide, and was listed as one of his exciting 4 year old winners in 2008. He won just shy of $150k, and he went through the sales in October 09, and was not sold with a bid of $42k.

The real mystery is how is it that he is not a successful racehorse here in the US? He came to US, and was presumably bought for more than $42k. And Im going to assume that he was ready to start racing in California in early 2010. He has no starts here stateside, and I dont know who he trained with, but Shirley said that the trainer called him “God awful at running.”

How does that happen? How does a horse with that good steady record in Ireland come here and flunk out so supremely?  I gave him a shallow vetting yesterday and he was very sound on the longe, longeing on the hard rocks, and the worst his flexions were 0.5/5!!!!  I have not had that good of a vetting for years!  So possibly, this speaks for Mr. Stack’s training. Cochlear was run only once per month, and in August of each year he ran twice. He had all winters off, presumably on break in a field? Anyway, if anybody is in Ireland and knows Mr. Stark, can you ask him about the horse’s  details? Who was the trainer here in US who tried to run him? Diaz, are you out there? can you sleuth down the answers?

Just as I pressed “Post” for that last blog, I also got an email from Jeannie Gregory with some photos in it. Both photos are of Mckena and Abby! I was wishing that I had photos of them after I just sung their praises. Thanks Jeannie!!

Thankgod it is a rainy day today, I seriously needed a break. So at this very moment, I am making pesole soup and Toll House cookies. Delicious! While the cookies bake, Im going to update yall on the weekend.

The Derby was a total success! We had 70 people (or thereabouts) entered and hadconstant rounds throughout the day on cross country. Lots of people used the course as I intended, to help train riders and their horses. I encouraged trainers to let their students take second rounds and try moving up to a different course as student’s confidence improved. We also had new jumps, Mark has been motivated to make a few new ones that were beautiful out there. But outside the horse part, the most obvious  improvement were the concessions: El Rey taco truck and also an espresso cart. I partook in both. The beer garden was a success as well, I imagine that next year the word will spread and we are going to sell tickets.

I was the jump judge all day long and I love that job. I get to see all the rides and enjoy watching the riders and horses have fun. Watching a little girl on a beautiful horse who knows his job and takes care to be safe…. is priceless.

The Don Sachy clinic was fantastic. He motivates me as a teacher not only because he is very knowledgeable and experienced, but mostly because he loves his job. Im pretty sure that he wakes up every day and says how lucky he is to have this job. I have to agree, but sometimes its nice to have someone else refresh my love of horses and teaching. Jordan and I had great lessons on two green horses, Kat and Arnie. Both are very inexperienced and he gave us exercises to help the horses become “bird dogs” in their view of jumps. They were both hunting the jumps down with joy, AND getting lead changes!  That was exciting. The horse’s owners were there for both lessons and I think that they were having as much fun as Jordan and I were. I am really looking forward to watching two riders at Aspen, Mckena Knott and Abby Schatz. Both girls ride with Jessica Heideman and they rode in the clinic. Don gave Mckena huge advice on how to help her small strided horse bound around Prelim show jumping, which he finds challenging. And Abby has a talented horse who has a challenging personality. I wish them both luck at Aspen HT!

So, dont freak out and start worring about the Derby on Saturday. The rain is going to make our already good footing, even better! This photo is of our Southern Pines NC home during a deluge…. and we were under water in less than 15 minutes. This is to help you put this little sprinkling happening here in perspective.

Phew!  This weekend was amazing! I wish that I had photos of us to show you, I will eventually, but not just right now. I had a great weekend. I decided at the last minute, with help from Jordan and secretary Christina Gray, to move Taco into his first intermediate class at Caber Farm HT. It was a bit nerve wracking for me to go intermediate after a 3 year hiatus, and I certainly noticed the size difference. This weekend did teach me a lesson: that I really only give a little bit of myself for the lower levels…. Im not proud of this fact and I’m admiting it. Going Int. proved to me that I am a better rider at the upper levels, I focus better, have a clear plan, walk courses several times and execute the ride better. I am making a pact with myself to change my approach to the lower level rides and ride them as well as I do at the upper levels.

Ok – there, my confessional is finished. And now the details of the weekend: Taco had what I thought was a very good dressage test. Apparently, the judge thought differently. We placed 10/20, but I was happy with him… Taco, not the dressage judge. We had a clear xc and had a fantastic water jump. He had two green moments at the road crossing and the coffin – both jumps where a ditch thingy surprised him while he was in the air of the A element. Both times I reverted to cowgirl riding at its finest and Taco waltzed away a better, more educated horse. It was super fun to feel him gain confidence from each tricky combination. He was perky and acting up later that night during our walks, so apparently he thought he was some hot s#i*!

Show jumping was TRICKY! I was attempting to get a forward canter for him to approach the jumps with (he tends to love the quiet, underpaced canter)…. and encountered some rideability problems that I had not felt at prelim. He jumped me out of the tack at least 5 times, he jumped some jumps fantastic, and two were Bowling for Onalaska. Ive always been taught to let the jump be your hand, ride foward to the deeper distance to help the horse develop their own sense of self preservation. Not this guy – I rode him forward to the deep distance twice and had pick up sticks! Fortunetly, show jumping is almost my favorite phase, so I am motivated to get him rideable.

We have a busy week because we are getting ready for the French Creek PC Derby.. should be a ton of fun and we hope some of you, out there in internet-land, are going to come enjoy.

I finally have a few horses up on that sales page! Im keeping Tor up there because he is just so fun to look at, but there are three new horses that I love!  Jordan has been very busy with Cricket and Tigger, both of whom are getting great training with her. Tigger has been surprising me lately with his eager attitude to jump big jumps. They go to Caber Farms at BN this weekend and I think it will be a blast. Me? Im entered at Prelim, but maybe I should have moved up to intermediate with Taco. It might be a little late, but we shall see. Check out the horses and we have a few new boarders in the barn, Lisa Adape and Nash, and Joanne Silburner (of famed NPR) who is horseless at the moment.

Ok, so I was extremely negligent in my reporting from Rebec. Sorry! I think I was irritated that I forgot my bike to get around the facility on, and already had to walk so much, the office was sooooo far away…. There. that is my excuse.

In a nutshell: Dino had a great trip to Montana. He was top 2 in his conformation score, top 3 in his jumping score…. and dismal in his dressage score. Sadly, he was wound up from the atmosphere and I showed off his best tense trot. But otherwise, I was thrilled with him. (more…)

All week I have been thinking about my friend Meri Hyoki. In fact, I think that every time I go to Rebecca farmsevent, I will think of her. See, three years ago, unsuspecting Meri agreed to assist me as I moved across the country from North Carolina to Washington State. I, courageously, believed that the event would be a good mid-way stopping point and destination after 3 days of driving.  And so long as I was driving that way, I may as well ride a few horses, maybe the novice, training and heck, why not the CCI** too.
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Well, I hope so. Because it is fast approaching. I am predicting to see many of our local trainers brushing up their students on our course this weekend… sorry I cant dye the water jump blue! That would be the ultimate in customer service.

Joann is taking Olievia to Rebecca in the training division – she has had a typical last week for an adult amateur…. juggling family obligations, job, riding and husband. Its quite a task for even the most organized, like Joann. She is the sort of student who sends me checks directly from the bank ahead of time with a clear list of lessons she has taken. She is one of the goodies because not only is she dedicated to her horse, but she is also a great customer who supports and is thankful for the job that I do (Although, I am pretty lucky that we dont have a single lemon in the barn). Today, she got on her horse after quite a few days off due to work, and had her last-minute- xc lesson before Rebecca. And it was FANTASTIC! I warmed her up (more…)

A very good article was written last week by Dr. Kent Allen. Dr. Allen is a consistent presence on our US team selections and he is helping our athletes at every important event in the east. He has amazing experience and I am linking you to his article because I think it is very important for everyone to read.

And here is a little story to go with it, grab a beer and read: (more…)