Page 2 - February

February 1	This morning I rode in the arena across the street and Mary Austin came over to watch. This ring belongs to Havensafe but sometimes other people ask permission to ride in it. Today there was a woman riding there whom I did not recognize. She seemed friendly enough but was a very "loud" rider, lots of whip and passage and one tempis and not much else. She introduced herself as did I and then she asked me with whom I trained. I told her that I worked with George and I asked her the same question. She seemed a little offended and said that she was a trainer, but that if she did need help (the implications was that this was very rare) she worked with Lars. Well for heaven sake who isn't a "trainer" down here! Cupido and I tried to avoid her but wherever we were she seemed to be too. I did my work as quickly as possible and then went out for a hack in the field. I rode Camillo in the covered arena and then left the barn to run errands for a while. Surprisingly the horses needed shavings and grain again (I can't wait until I have to buy hay at 18 dollars a bale). I think that it was good for me to get away from the barn for a while. When I am there the horses think that they need to eat constantly. Cupido nickers hopefully every time he seems me even if his mouth is filled with hay and he has two flakes in his stall.
February 2	Every Wednesday night at the Players club, the local restaurant and night club where all the fabulous people hang out, they have an event called Dressage Under the Stars. It is a freestyle demonstration competition with celebrity judges. The riders have to perform in a grass ring right next to the patio where there is a bar and everyone is drinking and hanging out. The warm up is on a dark racetrack and then the arena is lit with those tall lights on portable generators, very loud and scary for the horses. I was planning on going to watch tonight but there was a minor change of plans and I ended up filling in for someone who could not ride. Yes, I rode at the Players Club! I am not fabulous enough to go there for drinks and Q and I are certainly not up to providing live entertainment, but that is the way it worked out. Poor Q was horrified that I was braiding him when it was almost time for night check. When he got in the trailer he was even more suspicious, but when we unloaded him into a dark parking lot of a nightclub where there were no other horses, he knew something wasn't right. Eventually two other trailers arrived and at least there were other horses but Q still thought I was nuts. This function is intended to showcase A list riders and their Grand Prix mounts so Q and I were feeling a little overwhelmed, but the organizers had begged me to fill in for the girl who could not come so I tried not to be a "weak sister" about things and just do the best I could. We warmed up on a dark racetrack and then headed in to do our Tequilla freestyle. I tried not to notice that the riders before and after me were introduced with very long bios about Olympic long lists and Pan Am appearances while I was introduced as Sarah from Ohio. Q was wonderful and I felt very grateful that if I had to do something like this he was the one I was riding. With people yelling and the loud lights most horses would have run for the hills but Q and I pirouetted the night away. After my ride the celebrity judges, Jane Savoie, Tami Hoag (mystery author and rider), and Carol Grant, made few comments. Then, after a glass of champagne we took Q home. He was so relieved that he did not have to stay overnight at Players.
February 3	Cupido really deserved a trail ride after his big night at the Players! I called Mary Austin and she agreed to join us with Dali. Cupido and I walked over to Mary Austin's barn and picked them up for our trail ride. We had a great time going around Cindy Circle the horses loved the break from work and we were not even chased by dogs, a good day. We saw Chrissa Hoffman and her student Geena as we went by their farm so we stopped and talked for a while. Once I got back to Havensafe I rode Camillo who was a little tired from having George ride him for part of our lesson yesterday. Camillo could not even bring himself to spook at Princess when we went for our walk. I felt like I deserved a little down time myself after MY big night too so, after feeding lunch, I took a couple of hours and sat by the pool at my apartment. I know it is not healthy but I feel that I crave sunlight so much after living in Cleveland the rest of the year. It was very quiet at the pool, just a few lizards and myself. We all found hot and sunny spots and let our blood warm. The lizards do little push ups all the time to help the warming process but I feel like I get plenty of exercise cleaning stalls so I just remained motionless and let the sun do it's work. While sitting by the pool was wonderful it was soon time to go back and feed the horses. A quiet evening for me tonight!
February 4	Three lessons in one week for poor Camillo. George wanted to ride him again so he was the unlucky candidate for the lesson this afternoon. I think that he is beginning to get suspicious when I tack him up! Despite Camillo's reservations it was a good lesson. George worked a lot on getting him lighter through the shoulder and then I got on at the end to feel where he wanted him. Camillo seemed to remember the work from Wednesday and got there a little faster, hopefully a sign of good progress. Being down here really makes you raise your expectations with the horses. When I think that everything is good and harmonious it is probably not expressive enough. Even the lower level horses look pretty spectacular so it really raises the bar. My lesson was later in the afternoon so by the time we were done and got back to the stalls Cupido was about to faint from hunger. No matter that he was standing on a mountain of hay, if he didn't eat in the next thirty seconds he wasn't going to make it. Sadly, he had to wait while I untacked and bathed Camillo, but he nickered the whole time just so I would not forget. Poor Cupido, he was so worried that he had wrinkles over his eyes! Of course I have never forgotten to feed him but he so looks forward to his meals that it is his overwhelming concern in life. Oliver arrived for a two day stay today so now it is time to think of a couple of non-horse related things to do. It is always surprising when people are not content to watch or talk about horses all the time. What else is there?
February 5	Oliver is in town for a couple of days so I tried to get everything done early today. The barn was really quiet this morning so I was able to ride Cupido in the front arena all by myself. The first year that the front arena was re-done we rode in there all the time and there was a very loud pump that would turn on just as you rode by in one corner. Cupido remembered that pump and was immediately wary of the corner. That was three years ago, how does he remember that! He was very good, clearly on his best behavior lest I punish him by riding him under spot lights in the middle of the night again. By the time I got Camillo tacked up things were getting going in the front ring so I rode him in the back. It was just George riding Don Bailey at the same time so not too busy. Camillo seemed to remember about George riding him and became concerned when he saw him but when I got on Camillo was pleased. He was really good, clearly on his best behavior fearing I might have George ride him again. I cleaned stalls for a second time and fed lunch then left the barn. I asked a friend to feed them dinner and now I feel guilty for not being at the barn. It is time to get a life! Tonight we are meeting Mary Austin and Nancy, who is in town for a week, for dinner.
February 6	The horses had the day off so I grazed each of them for about an hour this morning. Cupido was allowed to have a day without a bath, a rare thing for him, and enjoyed sporting his manure stains all day. The barn was still busy because most people and horses have Monday off, so while the horses grazed I was able to watch lessons. I always feel like this is a win win situation because the horses are happy to stand around and eat and I get to observe lessons, hopefully improving my own teaching techniques. Cupido is usually content to eat wherever he is, but Camillo is always trying to drag me around to grass he thinks if better. He seems to feel that the grass growing between a fence and a truck looks tasty and gets very annoyed that I don't think it is safe. The plants that grow under the mounting block look good too, even better when you stick your head in there and then get it stuck on the way out. With both horses getting back to the stall involves unceremonious dragging and begging on my part. After I took Oliver to the airport this afternoon I came back to feed and get the horses our for yet more grass. Nancy is in town and a group of us are going out to a new restaurant for dinner, should be fun.
February 7	It was a typical quiet Monday at the barn. Even George was not there riding! I am sure that he must really relish a day without horses and students. Since my little darlings had yesterday off they had to work today. Camillo was a little frisky when I took him for his hand walk this morning but he was all business when we went to work. I think that he has seen how serious all of the horses are about there work and is taking his cue from them. Well, maybe not but he was a good boy. We worked on all of the exercises from last week's series of lessons. Just as I was finishing with Camillo Nancy and Mary Austin arrived, ready for Nancy's lesson on Cupido. Q was thrilled to see Nancy, someone who feeds him and does not make him pirouette (or go dancing at the players club) when she rides him. Nancy had a rare treat of riding in the fabulous covered arena all by herself. The rest of the week we will have to share the ring or work across the street. Both Nancy and Q did very well and were stars at the canter. This afternoon I took some paperwork to the pool at my apartment. Even though the complex is really busy, I never see anyone by the pool (I think that the permanent residence take the sun for granted, can you imagine). The water seemed cold but it was warm in the sun. I actually got a lot done and got some color on my pasty white legs at the same time. On the way back to the barn I stopped at Publix to buy carrots (no food for me notice, just carrots for them). Tonight I will go out with Mary Austin, Nancy, and the rest of their group. I am so social down here!
February 8	A little cooler today with a high of only 69. I know, I know cooler is a relative term. Nancy and I took Cupido across the street for her lesson today and got to ride with our passage and one tempi friend from the other day. I have begun to think she waits to ride until I appear! I rode Camillo and fed lunch quickly so that I could go across the street to watch Mary Austin ride with Jaun Matute at one thirty. Dali and Mary Austin looked great. Dali looks like like a passage power house! Juan's English is fabulous, I wish I could communicate in a foreign language, but some things still sounded like Spanish to me. If I closed my eyes he sounded a little like Miguel. Some of the interesting exercises were: going in and out of passage while riding renver, traver, or half pass and riding passage in the rising trot. Juan helped from the ground while schooling pirouettes. You can tell that Juan is very fond of and good at in hand work. After watching the lesson I ran errands, including my weekly trip to Red Barn where tattooed convicts load your shavings and grain. I have a lesson tomorrow and am hoping that George will think that we have improved since last week.
February 9	I had my truck washed yesterday and I almost did not recognize it this morning because it was so white and clean. I love that you can wash a car down here and it is not covered with salt by the time you get it home! The guy at the car wash kept trying to get me to buy a total detailing package and when I kept refusing he tried telling me that I had pretty eyes. Does that ever work? There is a guy in my apartment building who tries to flirt with me and told me the other day that I am directly from Central Casting for a WASPy horse rider, isn't that kind of insulting? Does that ever work? Camillo and I had a lesson in the later afternoon so I lunged him a little this morning so that he could stay loose. He had about 50 bucks to get out so it was probably a good thing that I did lunge him. Nancy had another good lesson this morning on Cupido. Q seems to be enjoying a week without half passes, but he did throw in a change or two today just to spice things up. I had a few hours before it was time for my lesson so I watched a couple of rides. One lady showed up for her lesson with George with Bo Jena in tow. He is a famous Swedish rider who might actually be their Chef Dequipe. Finally it was time for my ride. George rode for a little while in the beginning and Camillo was really good. I got on and I agreed that he was really good and easy today. It must have been the lunging! This afternoon I watched Quadrille practice. This is just the third practice so things were still a little rough. This year the six riders are George, Betsy Steiner, John Zapatti, Bill Warner, Jim Koford, and Pam Goodrich (who is still the one screaming TURN NOW in the loudest voice possible). I will wait a few more practices and then watch again, hoping for a big improvement!
February 10	There were threatening storm clouds all morning and the day started very muggy. The rain did hold off while Nancy and I rode but in the afternoon we had a couple of downpours. By that time I was at the Jim Brandon show grounds where there is a big CDI starting this weekend, today being the warm up and the jog. Fortunately, when the rain started all the riders and trainers were able to work under the big covered arena. There were many nice horses and riders. Oded Shimoni was there schooling Tuni Paige and Juan Matute was helping Sommerville Harris. If I was a horse and I saw Oded with his very long legs and severe demeanor standing on the side of the ring I would piaffe and passage for a 10 every time! The Jog was scheduled for three but the weather still seemed questionable so they moved that to the indoor as well. Jogs are always terrifying. While most horses behave well under saddles they are generally not so good when we are on the ground with them. First they had the jog lane next to the area where caterers were setting up tables for a party tonight. Snapping tablecloths and jingling silverware did not make for quiet, well behaved horses. After a couple of the horses nearly took out the entire ground jury, the jog lane was moved to the other side of the arena. This arrangement was better until a banner at the far end of the arena let loose from the rail and began flapping wildly in the wind. Though I left to feed about this time I assume that eventually the horses settled.
February 11	Cold and rainy, rainy and cold. That is about all that can be said of the weather this morning. I felt terrible for everyone who was showing. The footing was getting worse by the minute and the riders looked miserable as their breeches became transparent and they clung to wet slippery reins with wet slippery gloves. Nancy and I were there and we watched a few friends show but were very happy to get back in the dry car and turn on the heater. By the time we got back to the barn there was a little break in the rain so Nancy took her lesson and then we watched rides for a while. I was freezing, but the horses seemed to enjoy the break in the heat. There was a lot of head shaking and a little leaping from many of our little equine friends. I had a lesson in the afternoon. George rode for a few minutes first which I find really helpful. He gets the horse right were he wants him and it is nice for me to feel that so that I can re-create it more easily on my own. We worked on creating a more expressive trot and a more collected canter. Camillo was very good and seems to be understanding all of what we are asking of him. After our lesson Camillo and I went on a little hack around the property with Jesse and her horse Indy. We had a nice walk with I think was a nice reward for a good lesson.
February 12	It was still cold and rainy this morning. I felt terrible because Lauren was coming today and I hated to think that she was coming all the way down here and was not going to have warm sunny weather. Fortunately, by the time I picked her up from the airport the sun came out. It was still a little cool but it probably felt like a heat wave to her. We picked Nancy up at the barn and headed to the horse show. We arrived just in time to see George ride his PSG test on Wilhelm. They had a good test and ended in second with a 68 percent. Even though the sun was out, the footing was a horrible sloppy mess. I felt very bad for the horses and riders working in the slop, especially those who were in the CDI. The CDI warm up was virtually under water and had to be closed. Nancy and I sat by the main warm up, the only one open at this point, and watched a lot of really nice horses. Tuni Paige, Todd Flettrich, Ashley Holzer, Marco Bernal, and many others were out there with lovely horses. After the show we went back to the barn to feed and give Lauren a chance to say hello to many people. Lauren and I had a casual dinner of great pasta, garlic rolls, and wine at Sal's then we headed back to the show to watch the freestyles. The top three rides, Tina Konyot, Shawna Harding, and Jim koford, were particuarly good. Tina uses Big Black Horse in a Cherry tree as part of her music which is fun and fits well with her big black horse, Calecto V.
February 13	Today started a little warmer and a little sunnier, heading in the right direction. I fed, cleaned stalls, walked and grazed the horses, then I picked up Lauren and brought her to the barn. I love having guests who need to get coffee because it gives me an excuse to get a hot chocolate at Starbucks! We had a wonderful morning of watching George work Betsy's horses. Lauren kept watching while I taught Nancy on Cupido in the early afternoon. We took a quick trip up the street to see Chrissa Hoffman at her farm on Cindy Circle. We were able to watch a couple of her horses working before it was time to run back to feed dinner. Tonight Lauren and I met Chrissa at the local Mexican restaurant and had a really fun dinner. We had a wonderful time gossiping. Unfortunately we ended up gossiping about someone who was sitting at the table next to us. Thank God the restaurant was so loud. Hopefully we learned our lesson, but probably not!
February 14	Happy Valentine's day and Happy Birthday Meaghan Spann! Finally we had some really warm weather for Lauren to enjoy. Too bad it is her last day. Nancy leaves tomorrow as well, but I am expecting that they will both scrap their plans to head back to Ohio and stay in Florida (apparently pronounced Flarda if you are a real Floridian). I had a lesson on Camillo this morning. Monday is usually George's day off but he rode a few horses and taught me, not exactly a day off. Nancy came in the afternoon and had her lesson in the covered arena which we had all to ourselves. Tonight a bunch of us got together at Betsy's house for a little get together. It is always fun to catch up with everyone. About half of the guests were recovering from this terrible cold which turned into bronchitis for many or them, so there was a lot of coughing. I have been crossing my fingers that I don't catch this while it is going around. Lynn Noyes, Laura's mother, was also there with a fractured leg from a skiing accident but neither illness nor injury prevented us from eating tons of guacamole, pasta, and cupcakes. Lauren and I went back to my place to get a few hours of sleep before getting up before four so that she could catch her 5:50 flight. The horses will be thrilled to eat breakfast a little early but I will be tired by the end of the day!
February 15	I felt like I was at a horse show when the alarm went off at ten to four this morning. Surprisingly, there were very few cars on the road at that hour on our way to the airport. The lack of traffic did not, however, prevent all the lights from turning red when I was just about to get to the intersections. I was sorry to see Lauren leave but I know that she will come back again soon. The horses were confused and sleepy when I arrived at 5 to feed them. Cupido was laying down but was happy to get up to eat. Originally, I had planned to feed, do stalls, and just carry on with my regular day but I realized that it was so early and was too dark to do much of anything, so I went back home and slept for another hour. When I got back to the barn Cupido and Camillo had completely forgotten that I had been there to feed them earlier. They both nickered and and stared at their feed buckets. It took a while to convince them that they had eaten. I rode Camillo fairly early then took him on a short hack. Then, I worked Cupido in the arena across the street after a long walk in the field. Q was shocked that it was me and not Nancy and he was not entirely sure that he had to do more than lengthenings and leg yields. While I was riding I saw Mary Austin riding in the field at IDA and we stopped to chat of a while. I had to make my weekly run to Red Barn for shavings and grain and then I fed the horses a little early. I am just a bit tired from my early morning. I think that I will do night check early tonight!
February 16	I washed Camillo's sheet this morning and when I cleaned out the machine I found a dead lizard. I have felt terrible all day! Poor little lizard was probably just looking for a nice warm place to sleep. He probably saw the sheet all warm, hanging in the sun and thought that he would climb in and get warm. Then poof tsunami and he finds himself in the washing machine. I am always looking for a warm place myself so I feel particularly bad for the lizard! I had a lesson in the late afternoon so I ran some errands after doing chores this morning. I went to the grocery store and was amazed to find that it was nearly empty. I don't think that I have been grocery shopping in the middle of a weekday in years. It was wonderful, no crowds, no lines. I rode Q for the lesson this afternoon. He was good but had to work really hard. He even had foam under his bridle. I am sure that he will sleep well tonight.
February 17	Another beautiful day in paradise. Weather in the upper seventies with a light breeze, so nice. I worked Camillo and Cupido early. Q had an easy day as he was a little exhausted from his lesson yesterday. After I fed lunch I went over to IDA to take care of Mary Austin's horses. She left today to go home to Tennessee for a few days so I am in charge of her little darlings. Riviera and I had a nice hack and then I rode Dali in a lesson with Juan Matute. Mary Austin has been working Dali with him so it was really helpful to get a lesson from him. His accent was a bit of a challenge at first but Juan patiently repeated things when I did not understand. We worked on keeping a slow rhythm and an active hind leg in the trot. In the canter we worked on keeping the horse up in the shoulder as we asked for collection. Dali was very good and the lesson was fun. Once I had Mary Austin's horses settled I ran back over to my barn to do stalls and feed again. The farm was busy as everyone was getting ready for the afternoon quadrille practice. Tonight the weather was just perfect. The temperature feels the way you would love a swimming pool to feel, warm yet cool enough to be refreshing. I hear that there is a big warm up going on at home too. Maybe Spring will come to Ohio yet!
February 18	I had a very fun and busy day. I was back and forth between my barn and IDA. First I rode Cupido and then I ran across the street to IDA and took Riviera for a hack. While I was riding Helen arrived so I waved her down on the road and had her follow me back to IDA while I finished with Rivi. I figured that it would be easier for Helen to watch rides at my barn so we headed back there and I got her settled by the arena. I had a lesson on Camillo and while Helen watched I got tacked up and then come back to the arena for my ride. George rode Camillo first and then I got on. Today we focused on having Camillo listen to my weight in the half halt. After a few failed attempts he really seemed to understand. By the time I had Camillo washed off and put away it was time to run back to IDA so that I could get Dali ridden before they fed dinner over there. I had planned on just hacking Dali, but Juan was there and he said "you are working him today, yes". This was not a question so there I was working in the ring while two people rode and Juan worked one horse in hand. Since I realized that I was going to be there for a while so I called Helen and she came over to watch. While I was cleaning tack and giving Dali about a million cookies, Helen watched Juan working more horses in hand. Going back and forth between the two barns it was very obvious just how different they are from each other. Havensafe is very clean, quiet, and organized. Dogs are on leashes, people and horses walk on paths and everyone picks up manure. IDA, on the other hand, is fun and wild and a place where anything goes. Dogs are everywhere, never on leashes, and people and horses go everywhere. I think that it is good to be able to ride at both places. IDA feels like a perpetual horse show while Havensafe provides and quiet place to train and refine.
February 19	Helen came to the barn again today and I think that she had a good time sitting and watching rides and lessons by the arena. Since she seemed pretty happy on her own, I just continued on with my regular day. I started my rides with Q, working in the big field across the street. I was working on our one tempis when a couple of hunter riders rode by on the street. They thought the changes looked cool and started cheering when I would do them and counting them as I went. It was actually pretty fun and helpful and I managed to get more changes than usual. I might need to take these people to shows with me! Next I rode Camillo and took him for a short hack. Camillo was delighted that Betsy had her golden retrievers by the arena. He loves them and always goes to see them. After finishing with my horses I went across the street to work Mary Austin's horses. Riviera and I had a lovely time in the field. Dali was great today and really fun to ride! I worked on some of the exercises from my lesson with him on Thursday. We practiced our head to the wall leg yeilds in trot and canter (as Juan said like a jumper - pronounced yumper) and passage in the rising trot to keep the back up and soft. I gave them all of their treats and prepared their grain then went back to my barn. When I arrived Helen was still sitting by the arena watching Julie Taylor's lesson so I headed over there. Julie has a few young girls from her barn at home in town for the weekend. They are very fun and giggly and are fascinated with George, they think he is very cool (who knew that being president of the USDF makes you like a rock star with teenage girls). Julie's students were watching her lesson while sitting in the wonderfully comfortable patio furniture by the arena. When I walked up they were all sound asleep, heads off the the side mouths open. It was very funny! Apparently dressage is not exciting enough to keep them awake. Tonight a group of us are going to Kontiki, an asian fusion restaurant for dinner. It will be a good group and hopefully will be fun for Helen.
February 20	One more day with four horses to ride. I will miss having a couple more every day. Two is a perfect number to take care of but I would love to have more to ride. I rode Q then Dali and Rivi before taking a lesson this afternoon on Camillo. I was afraid that Camillo would be offended about having a lesson on his typical day off, but he did not seem too unhappy when I put tack on him. George rode him first and he was even a little fresh, shaking his head and looking around. By the time I got on he was not so frisky but he still felt very energetic. We did a lot of counter canter, starting with three loop serpentines keeping the same lead then we moved on to going on the full arena doing walk, canter, walk, counter canter transitions first one way then the other. At the trot we also schooled some shoulder in work and did a few exercises for the medium trot. After our lesson we went for a walk around the property with Julie and her horse Will. Julie still has her teenage girls here and today they were fascinated by the breeches George was wearing. "What kind are they? I want some exactly the same!" They thought that his breeches, which had pockets on the back (really exciting right), were the coolest thing they had ever seen. I told them that I would ask George for them so that they could stop staring at his pants. I asked him and told him why I was asking. He said "Do they know that I am 54 years old?" Well, I don't think that they have noticed and I am not going to tell them and burst their bubble. In case you are wondering, he was wearing Pikeur breeches. I was also wearing Pikeur breeches but surprisingly nobody wanted to wear what I was wearing!!
February 21	Today was a day off for all of us. The horses spent extra time eating grass this morning. There was not much to watch because most of the barn was off today as well. It did, however, seem to be a big day for blacksmiths and vets. There were many farriers working on shoeing the horses and as always the regular parade of vets. Down here vets do not come individually but rather in droves. In fact, they arrive in motorcades of SUVs with tinted windows. When the vets pull in I tell the horses to freeze. I dare not let them take a step for fear of a vet thinking that he sees something that needs to be injected about a million times for about a million dollars. When no vets were around, I got the horses back in their stalls, fluffed their bedding, gave them lots of hay, and turned on their ceiling fans before leaving the barn for a while myself. I went home and spent a little time cleaning and doing paperwork before heading out to the pool for an hour of sun. I know that their is a big ice storm at home today so I feel very fortunate to be sitting outside on a sunny 80 degree day! This afternoon I picked up shaving and grain and also ordered hay to be delivered. Paying almost 18 dollars a bale for hay takes a little getting adjusted to!
February 22	Today the horses and I went back to work. After our typical morning routine I rode Cupido and then had a lesson on Camillo. Today we focused more on lateral work. The exercise we did most was shoulder-in down the long side at the trot, walk before the corner, make a half turn on the haunches around to a renver, straighten and trot on, repeating on the other long side. In the later afternoon I watched a couple of lessons and the beginning of quadrille practice before heading home. Tonight I am meeting Mary Austin and the rest of the Tennessee crew for dinner at Kontiki.
February 23	There were many goings on at the barn today. For the past couple of days Dr. Hillary Clayton has been doing a biomechanical gait study using many of Kathy and Ryan's horses up in the front arena. Each time I ride up that way I see a horse covered in sensors being videotaped. They seem to be looking at the gait while jogging, hand walking, lunging, and riding. The horses seem to take it all pretty well and don't appear too upset by the sensors, wires, and recording equipment. It will be interesting to read about this study sometime in Dressage today. This afternoon Betsy hosted a cocktail reception for Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center. First there was a catered reception by the covered arena. We all drank and munched on appetizers while George, riding Wilhelm (today was Wilhelm's birthday by the way), performed a musical freestyle. They did a great job and the music, jazz and big band, made it very fun to watch. After the performance we all headed back up to Betsy's house for more food and drinks. Betsy's patio and pool area have been remolded and look wonderful! I learned a lot about Fieldstone's program and met a bunch of very nice people. There were a lot of Clevelanders and former Clevelanders to chat with too. Betsy Rebar Sell brought her father, John Giltinan. He is formerly from the East side of Cleveland, and told us all how he loves living in Florida year round now. Jeff Gogul was there to represent all of the Ohio hunter jumper riders.
February 24	February 24 - 27 Home to Cleveland........Big Blizzard!!!!!
February 28	Back in Wellyworld! It was a beautiful day, 80 degrees and sunny. I don't think that the horses missed me all that much because Mary Austin took care of them and they probably liked that better. Q welcomed me home by covering himself in manure overnight so that I would have something to wash off this morning. I rode both of the horses in the covered arena, which I had to myself both times. Mary Austin told me that Camillo was a little wild over the weekend so I was a bit worried that I was going to have a crazy ride but fortunately he was good. Q was a little reluctant to go back to work but eventually I convinced him, sort of. I made a trip to publix to pick of a giant bag of carrots and two huge bottles of shampoo for Cupido - just the essentials. Tonight I am going to have dinner with the Tennessee group.