HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA 2009

Cricket Hill’s annual party and show was better than ever with new faces joining in to start their own memories. Before lunch, we had dressage equitation - for all ages - jumping - with the snake-line competition especially exciting this year - Giulia & Cachez won with 17 jumps in 60 seconds! Introductory level dressage and even an obstacle course Grab-Bag race!

After a sumptious lunch came the Talent Show…wonderful rides to holiday music, certificates for best choreography, costumes, funniest, you get the idea!

ERIC HORGAN clinic

Welcome back, Eric! November 15 and 16 were opportunities for dressage and jumping riders to get his suggestions for their winter program. Over the two days, 12 rides were dressage, from Training Level up to Intermediare II. The other 11 rides were jumping or a combination of dressage/jumping. Always a treat when Eric comes, we all enjoyed a sumptious pot-luck dinner at Jane & Andrews’.

SADDLE CLUB - Travels to Dressage Schooling Show

Trainer/Instructors Marisa Melby and Meaghan Maynard took 7 Saddle Clubbers and a bunch of Cricket Hill Schoolmasters to a schooling show at Cedar Crest in Pine Plains. The weather was not cooperative, and everybody got wet warming up. But happily, the tests were ridden indoors.

In Novice Test A, Katie took a 3rd on Graphike at her first away show! Lilac was 4th on Ray. Training Test A had 11 riders. Ruby was 4th on Ricky with 61.5%. Caitlin’s 61% on Ray took 5th. Giulia, Tasha & Tess showed Robin, Brown & Graphike. First Level Test 2 was won by Giulia on Ricky with 65.2%. Tess came in 6th with Graphike.

Reports were glowing…riders did great, horses were wonderful all day! 

LANDSMAN KILL HUNTER PACE

This hunter pace was Cachez’ debut at the sport, ridden by Marisa. Stella Goulet and her very successful event horse Giselle, were the escorts and mentors. After a bit of nerves at the start, once going the pair was fantastic, picking up a 2nd out of 26 teams! Congratulations to all. Yay Cachez!

MILLBROOK PONY CLUB HUNTER PACE

Fall is definitely hunter pace time! And a 1st place went to our own trio at this outing - Eleni Econopouly rode her horse May, Giulia Cohen rode Schoolmaster Simply Simon, and Marisa Melby, a Trainer/Instructor at Cricket Hill, rode Schoolmaster Quincy. A great time was had by all!

SPRING SHOW ENJOYS GREAT WEATHER

Although the trees were still leafing out, the grass was green and it was shirt-sleeve weather!  12 enthusiastic jumpers vied in “Take Your Own Line”. Amazingly, Giulia on 14.2 Simon tied Lise on 17.0 Ali! The bonnets were very inventive this year, and the egg races brought on the usual cheering section. Three GoldStar certificates were awarded for work over the winter: Caitlin- GS III, Giulia and Tasha- GS IV. For the first time, we offered a Parent/Child obstacle relay race and had three heats:

Caitlin & father Tom, Allegra & mom Bridget, Tess & mom Anne (shown here), Stuart & daughter Dani (pictured with Anne), Stuart with other daughter Paige, Alexandra & dad Nick. Tess and Anne just beat out Allegra & Bridget for the blue! Dressage was popular, too, and Palmer had the chance to show her new talented Hanoverian mare, Wizzi, for the first time. Sofia received the Horsemanship Award; even with a broken arm, she was busy all day, managing the ribbon desk and cheering everyone on, shown below awarding her twin sister Alexandra, her own blue ribbon. 

GOLDSTAR AWARDS to Caitlin and Ruby

Congratulations to Caitlin on achieving GoldStar III, and to Ruby who just completed GoldStar I! Both are members of Saddle Club, where they can work on their GoldStar program every week. Now, it’s on to the next module - have fun! Click for more on our GoldStar program.

GOLDSTAR IV awarded to Giulia and Tasha

Congratulations to both Giulia and Tasha who completed all the requirements for GoldStar IV ! These are the first two students to have passed this Dressage module. In addition to the first four GoldStar modules, Giulia and Tasha also completed ShootingStar I, the first of two modules for Jumping, during Horsemanship Camp last summer. Keep up the good work!

GOLDSTAR II AWARD to Susan Friedlander

A recent new rider here at Cricket Hill, Susan as jumped right into the GoldStar Program, quickly moving through the first and second modules. ” I love to frame my certificates for my desk at work”, says Susan.  We bet her co-workers are as thrilled as we are with Susan’s accomplishments. Now she’s on her way to GoldStar III. Congratulations!

JUMP FOR JOY - Holiday fun

The indoor arena was bustling from 10 to 2 the day after Christmas. 20 riders of all ages and stages jumped 35 rounds to win ribbons and enjoy a delicious hot, pot luck lunch. The classes started with ground poles, went up to 3′ and even included some speed and power events! Cachez had a great day - 3 different riders, 2 blues and a third. Bridget Colman, only her second ride on Cachez, won the Christmas Jumper Stakes with a clear round in 23 seconds! Eleni and Simon were 2nd in 21 seconds with 9 faults. Bandit and Mickey, shown below, also had big days with their different riders in Cross-rails, block elimination and 2′9″. Even spectators were jumping for joy!

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Lots of food, fun and prizes at this year’s Party and Show! Participants flow from the lounge to munch and the boardwalk to watch, every once in a while hopping up for a class or game on horseback.

Three equitation classes  - Walk/Trot: 1-Emily, 2-Katie, 3-Dani, 4-Paige. These riders all did so well, they joined the Ribbon Committee with Alexandra! Placings in Jumping equitation: 1-Giulia,  2-Allegra, 3-Eleni, 4-Caitlin, 5-Tasha. Walk/Trot/Canter Dressage Equitation: 1-Giulia, 2-Eleni, 3-Caitlin, 4-Tasha, 5-Allegra, 6-Mia.

The Musical Dressage Challenge brought out the biggest cheering section to enjoy the holiday music and costumes. Everyone won an award: Eleni-Most Correct Dressage, Giulia-Harmony/Fluency, Leah-Most Interesting Pattern, Tasha-Best Costume, Caitlin-Best Music.

Two GoldStar Awards were presented. The new 2009 Calendar was on display with all 8 Photo Contest winners featured throughout. A good time was had by all!

GOLDSTAR I AWARD to Susan

A milestone in the GoldStar Program! Our first adult certificate awarded! Congratulations to Susan! Even though she can ride only a few times a month, she is very determined and well on her way to GoldStar II. Stay tuned…

FALL FUN - Show at Cricket Hill

The weather was perfect for our first Fall Fun Show! Dressage, Jumping, 8-obstacle Trail Class and, of course, the most wonderful pot luck lunch! The inimitable pair of Giulia and Ray handily cleared 3′6″ to win the Youth elimination round. Shakespeare took the honors in the Adult division with Andrea up. Shakespeare also did  well in dressage, shown to the left with Sarah at the final salute.

The Trail Class was held in perfect conditions, sunny, just enough breeze to make the streamers shimmer, and dry, so the steep slopes that were part of the course offered sure footing.

The Fall Fun Show proved to be a great way to give riders a leg up for trail riding in the Spring!

INTRODUCTION TO HORSES - An Experience at Cricket Hill

10 Fifth Graders from the All Saints Episcopal Day School in New Jersey spent a wonderful afternoon at Cricket Hill. For most, it was the first time they’d been close enough to pet a horse, nevermind get an introduction to horse care, walk on a horse, and learn to lead a horse through an obstacle course with a buddy aboard!

Cricket Hill was asked to provide this session as part of a 3-day program, “Animals in Service” coordinated by the Horse Institute here in Ancramdale. We learned from the teachers how impactful the visit here was - nearly all the children’s description of Memorable Moments were activities with our Academy Schoolmasters…”meeting Mickey”, “Leading/riding/playing with Bandit”, “getting licked by Topper”. Most rewarding was the comment of one little girl… “overcoming fear”. How many ways these wonderful horses contribute!

GOLDSTAR II to Allegra

Congratulations to Allegra,  shown here with Simply Simon, her “Main Man” , i.e. trusty Academy Schoolmaster, for this module. Allegra completed all the requirements of GoldStar II just before heading back to school. Well done!

HORSEMANSHIP CAMP produces new GoldStar grads

Riders at this year’s Horsemanship Camp were busy! Nine campers passed a total of 13 modules from GoldStar I, II, III and ShootingStar I! GoldStar is Cricket Hill’s modular achievement program for Riding and Horsemanship. Click here for more information. While riders work individually with their instructors throughout the year on GoldStar, Horsemanship Camp is a great opportunity to concentrate on their skills development in a fun atmosphere with others.

Friday afternoon’s production highlighted everyone’s new skills for the admiring audience of parents and friends. Passing GoldStar I were Katie, Emily, and Kylie:

Martha, Meg and Julia completed GoldStar I and II:

 

Julia went on to finish GoldStar III. Tasha, Willa, and Giulia received certificates for ShootingStar I:

YOUTH DRESSAGE FESTIVAL - Saugerties NY

Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival is always action-packed. Team members are named in the winter and spend months honing their knowledge & skills. Last minute study and practice are concentrated in our Dressage Workshop just the week before. With their strong relationships of mutual support and sportsmanship, this team’s showing at the competition made us all proud!

Each competed in her own age-level division, with 3 scores for the dressage test, equitation, and written test. This year, for the first time, every team member won a ribbon in her division - even first timers Eleni and Caitlin! The team placed 4th in its division, another accomplishment.

Eleni and Giulia also showed in Prix Caprilli (jumping) with Ray, and Caitlin and Bandit handily negotiated the obstacles in the Dressage Trail Class. Behind the scene, parents pitch in to help Jane & Sue keep the production smooth and flowing, and a good time is had by all!

SHOW - Dressage Day at Cricket Hill

The weather held out for a very successful Dressage Day at Cricket Hill. The schedule was quite full, with 40 rides and a Dressage Seat Equitation class of 7! In addition to our Cricket Hill contingent, we had competitors come from four different barns, all  enjoying themselves and complimenting show management. Classes were pinned to 6th place, and special awards were provided by Horse Leap, Amenia NY. Click here for results.

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