Liberty Hill

Liberty Hill starts up the fall schooling show series last weekend. Deb/Apollo went to try to calm their show nerves, and they were very successful. Good rides! Jessica took Jazz to some intro classes and did some great rides, forward and relaxed! Earned them a reserve champion in that division. New boarders, Matthew and Syndey took their horses Radie and Tiffany to win big also in the training divisions.
Great show everyone!! Congrats!

Shirts

Diana and Kim are getting together an order for polo shirts with the logo on it. Very useful for the upcoming shows.
If you are interested in getting a shirt - or anything else, they also do sweatshirts, jackets, saddlepads, and more - contact Kim or Diana. Be quick about it as we'd like the shirts ready before the October show.

Rain

Finally!! some rain. An inch Saturday overnight - another 3/4 an inch Sunday night were really welcome. This second round of rain has left the dressage arena sloppy, so check it before you ride - possible the jump arena dries first now.
Ground is loving the rain so much, it's soaking in fast. So the horses are all getting out.

Birthday Party

The first birthday party at Kinswood organized by Diana was a great success. Diana enlisted the help of SaraBeth and Lauren to help with the kids. They all got to groom, ride and then paint the school horses. Cedric and Tucker took it well it seems. Lucked out with the weather - rains the night before kept it cooler and no dust!
Another scheduled for next weekend.

Day 3

Day 3 started early with the stadium rounds. Sarah and Archie cantered thru the course like it was easy!

Finished up with no jump penalties and no time penalties. They ended the competition in 16th place... finishing on their dressage score!

Well done, congrats and yipee! Great show.

After all was packed up and Archie on his way home, the rest of us drove down the road for a little sight seeing of Georgia. We were directed to Newnan.. and found the town closed up for Sunday. Oh well, the courthouse here was worth the drive. Pretty impressive building.

Maybe we'll be back next year...

Day 2

Day 2 was bright and sunny, perfect for a cross-country ride. Sarah and Archie booked thru the first few fences without a problem. Galloped in good form....

And jumped down into the water like the champions they are!

They had a perfect cross country ride, and rose in the standings place 23rd.

Late in the day, Mr. Sprayberry took us off roading on the golf cart. We went off on the back roads to see the woods, much different than here; and the lakes, which were abundant. Saw some wildlife, Canadian geese, several kinds of herons, ducks. And flowering plants. A trip across the hay fields gave us several good views of the Chattahoochee River. Quiet and peaceful out there - and just beautiful.

Day 1

First day of AEC competition for Sarah and Archie was the dressage test. 71 competitors in her division. This facility ran 7 dressage arenas at once! Sarah had a great ride, scored 40.5 and came out happy with the test. That score put her in 33rd place. The scores were VERY close in the middle of the pack.. any mistakes could tell! Afternoon brought Sarah and Kate out to do the course walk - again. Many times to walk this course so you can be sure not to make a mistake.

Sarah's ready for the cross country now, she's figured out the course and how to do each individual fence for the best ride on Archie.

AEC

AEC - American Eventing Championships... in Fairburn, Georgia, just SW of Atlanta. Sarah and Archie qualified and traveled the long distance to compete. Many of us from the barn went also, as spectators to this big wonderful event at Chattahoochie Hills Farm.

Weather couldn't have been better, sunny and a good 15 degrees cooler than our Texas home! Here's the main barn. Pretty fancy.

Coming over the hill towards the show grounds that first morning was breathtaking. The show stabling was mostly permanent barns, looking much like the main barn. And a few tents stabling as well. Other tents held the food booths, and vendors!! Fun shopping for sure.

750 competitors! Lots going on all the time. This show hosted levels from Advanced to Beginner Novice, all had to qualify to participate. The cross-country course was entirely in big open hay fields. You could watch the lower levels compete the entire course from a hill. Very handy for us spectators. And green, it was all so nice and green.

Catching up

Lots of changes at the barn!
Kate not able to teach lessons anymore with school starting up. Diana Morgan returns to teach! Kids have been having fun with Diana, she's been very interactive with them. It's been good, she's teaching them to ride while having fun. Going back to some basics that slipped thru and finding the weak spots of the riders.

Lesson schedules have changed a bit too with school in session. There are some evening spots still open, but they are closing fast. This will get tighter as the days get shorter - and we'll have to move up the lesson times as it get dark earlier.

Kate is riding a new horse. Someone gave her a 'loaner' horse for now, Aston - he's a big tall guy, and not as trained as Nate, but he's been real good about learning here and improves daily. Hoping to take him to some schooling shows and have some fun with him this fall.

Looks like new horses coming into the barn this weekend. We welcome the new family and will enjoy riding with them.