My event starts tomorrow.It is raining and I have a broken neck and can't do a darn thing. As far as I am concerned we are ready. Everyone has done a great job. We were happy.
Then the phone starts ringing off the hook and the computer is on fire. The threats start rolling in. UGH can't anything go right?So get out the fire hose and start problem solving.
The riders are furious ,because the times are not up on the website.They are threatening they will never come back to such a disorganized event. They can not plan their lives and help and travel plans. I understand all that as I have a competed a bit in my day.But I have never threatened or been rude to the staff of an event.
Is the event REALLY run over three days?Are you kidding me? Did you just figure that out I say to myself?Well I never saw that. Can you give me special times so I can accommodate your event into my schedule?(Times 300)
My horse threw a show. My truck isn't working,my great aunt twice removed has a broken leg,my chickens have an infection.I am an Olympic rider ,trainer ...can I have my money back?
I am terrible on the computer and try very hard to hire people that are better at my shortcomings than myself.I know better than try and be a secretary for anything.Yet sometimes,things go wrong even with the best of help.And chaos ensues.It is always a small error ,usually exacerbated by miscommunication that can end in tragedy.
People get very mad because they are worried or threatened about their own circumstances. We are all overextended financially and none of us ever have enough time.My super event team have made some mistakes in not putting up the times early enough. That is a BIG ERROR!That has made many problems for people.And I am VERY VERY sorry for ANY problems incurred by the error of my staff. At the end of the day it is a huge reflection on Paradise Farm.I desperately want to keep going and make everyone happy.But the other side of the coin is NOTHING has been done intentionally and no mistake made needs to be taken personally. There is is still time for everyone to get here and enjoy all that Paradise has to offer.
Another gigantic glitch that happened this morning is the stable manager at Buckleigh (where I ave been sending the stablers for the event for years)doesn't want people camping in their trailers. Oh my God a HUGE problem.WHHHHHHAAAATTTTTT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOW???????????Why didn't I know this beforehand?I personally stay in my trailer to be near my horses at all events. This is not the time to get such a change in plans.Fortunately it has been worked out this time. This again has nothing to do with Paradise Farm Horse trials but it sure effects it!I beg the competitors to abide by the rules of our hosts at Buckleigh for their kindness to allow us to use their facility.We do this ,to give our riders more room at the event.We may have to go back to the temporary stables to resolve some problems and then solve the new ones that will entail.Once again we ask you to bear with us.
When we as organizers go to the annual meeting to schedule our dates in June we begin the commitment to our next years events on our properties.The wheel of organization is an everyday thing.Riders want amenities not all organizers can produce.
Permanent stabling with rubber mats and hot and cold water and electric are VERY expensive as it state of the art footing and concrete parking lots and major roadways through the farms.
I was once an interational competitor with a lot of my big time eventing spent in Europe.I rode with the best in the world. Blythe Tait,Ginny Elliot,Andrew Dreamboat Nicholson,Ian Stark you name it.We rarely stabled over night.One was always stabled at a private location or racetrack.One took what one got.We parked in farm fields and were pulled out by tractors most of the time.We rolled with what we got.
The anger and hostility from the competitors is scary.We (the organizers and secretaries and general personell) want things to be pleasant and trauma free.Well wow this morning was anything but that.
We are also contemplating running the event as a two day rather than the three,but we had it as the three as we turned over 100 entries away for the past two years.This year we are actually down in numbers. People are unhappy about the three day format due to time and cost.we would appreciate any feedback regarding this issue as well.
We want people to be happy and have fun. Paradise Farm is a great place for an event. We will always try to make things better.We hope the riders will come because of the quality and be able to forgive people when non life threatening mistakes can happen.We hope people will understand that we cannot always give monies back ,or that when there is a charge it is not meant to hurt the competitor but maintain the sport itself.Communication is the key.We all need to keep our heads up and look ahead and foresee problems and issues as far in advance as possible.
We always want to hear back from people that read the blog or come to the farm.Please use this to express your needs and we will do our best to accomodate. as alkways thank you all for reading.
Kick on, sit up and ride better!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Horse Trial Organization
My event starts tomorrow.It is raining and I have a broken neck and can't do a darn thing. As far as I am concerned we are ready. Everyone has done a great job. We were happy.
Then the phone starts ringing off the hook and the computer is on fire. The threats start rolling in. UGH can't anything go right?So get out the fire hose and start problem solving.
The riders are furious ,because the times are not up on the website.They are threatening they will never come back to such a disorganized event. They can not plan their lives and help and travel plans. I understand all that as I have a competed a bit in my day.But I have never threatened or been rude to the staff of an event.
One thing that makes the schedualing so very hard is taking entries so late. We want to take as many as we can to help with the costs of the competition.People are entering later and later. we get phone calls the day before,even the day of,can we still enter?So schedualing gets put off till the closest possible hour. This makes it very hard to contact all the volunteers,produce the program correctly and get the the times out for everyone.There are so many people involved in an event it is hard to get to everyone. Believe us we all try!
Is the event REALLY run over three days?Are you kidding me? Did you just figure that out I say to myself?Well I never saw that. Can you give me special times so I can accommodate your event into my schedule?(Times 300)
My horse threw a show. My truck isn't working,my great aunt twice removed has a broken leg,my chickens have an infection.I am an Olympic rider ,trainer ...can I have my money back?
I am terrible on the computer and try very hard to hire people that are better at my shortcomings than myself.I know better than try and be a secretary for anything.Yet sometimes,things go wrong even with the best of help.And chaos ensues.It is always a small error ,usually exacerbated by miscommunication that can end in tragedy.
People get very mad because they are worried or threatened about their own circumstances. We are all overextended financially and none of us ever have enough time.My super event team have made some mistakes in not putting up the times early enough. That is a BIG ERROR!That has unconvinced many people.And I am VERY VERY sorry for ANY problems incurred by the error of my staff. At the end of the day it is a huge reflection on Paradise Farm.I desperately want to keep going and make everyone happy.But the other side of the coin is NOTHING has been done intentionally and no mistake made needs to be taken personally. There is is still time for everyone to get here and enjoy all that Paradise has to offer.
Another gigantic glitch that happened this morning is the stable manager at Buckleigh (where I ave been sending the stablers for the event for years)doesn't want people camping in their trailers. Oh my God a HUGE problem.WHHHHHHAAAATTTTTT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOW???????????Why didn't I know this beforehand?I personally stay in my trailer to be near my horses at all events. This is not the time to get such a change in plans.Fortunately it has been worked out this time. This again has nothing to do with Paradise Farm Horse trials but it sure effects it!
When we as organizers go to the annual meeting to schedual our dates in June we begin the committment to our next years events on our properties.The wheel of organization is an everyday thing.Riders want amenaties and convience that not all organizers can produce.
Permanent stabling with rubber mats and hot and cold water and electric are VERY expensive as it state of the art footing and concrete parking lots and major roadways through the farms.
I was once an interational competitor with a lot of my big time eventing spent in Europe.I rode with the best in the world. Blythe Tait,Ginny Elliot,Andrew Dreamboat Nicholson,Ian Stark you name it.We rarely stabled over night.One was always stabled at a private location or racetrack.One took what one got.We parked in farm fields and were pulled out by tractors most of the time.We rolled with what we got.
The anger and hostility from the competitors is scary.We (the organizers and secretaries and general personell) want things to be pleasant and trauma free.Well wow this morning was anything but that.
We want people to be happy and have fun. Paradise Farm is a great place for an event. We will always try to make things better.We hope the riders will come because of the quality and be able to forgive people when non life threatening mistakes can happen.We hope people will understand that we cannot always give monies back ,or that when there is a charge it is not meant to hurt the competitor but maintain the sport itself.Communication is the key.We all need to keep our heads up and look ahead and foresee problems and issues as far in advance as possible.
We always want to hear back from people that read the blog or come to the farm.Please use this to express your needs and we will do our best to accomodate. as alkways thank you all for reading.
Kick on, sit up and ride better!
Then the phone starts ringing off the hook and the computer is on fire. The threats start rolling in. UGH can't anything go right?So get out the fire hose and start problem solving.
The riders are furious ,because the times are not up on the website.They are threatening they will never come back to such a disorganized event. They can not plan their lives and help and travel plans. I understand all that as I have a competed a bit in my day.But I have never threatened or been rude to the staff of an event.
One thing that makes the schedualing so very hard is taking entries so late. We want to take as many as we can to help with the costs of the competition.People are entering later and later. we get phone calls the day before,even the day of,can we still enter?So schedualing gets put off till the closest possible hour. This makes it very hard to contact all the volunteers,produce the program correctly and get the the times out for everyone.There are so many people involved in an event it is hard to get to everyone. Believe us we all try!
Is the event REALLY run over three days?Are you kidding me? Did you just figure that out I say to myself?Well I never saw that. Can you give me special times so I can accommodate your event into my schedule?(Times 300)
My horse threw a show. My truck isn't working,my great aunt twice removed has a broken leg,my chickens have an infection.I am an Olympic rider ,trainer ...can I have my money back?
I am terrible on the computer and try very hard to hire people that are better at my shortcomings than myself.I know better than try and be a secretary for anything.Yet sometimes,things go wrong even with the best of help.And chaos ensues.It is always a small error ,usually exacerbated by miscommunication that can end in tragedy.
People get very mad because they are worried or threatened about their own circumstances. We are all overextended financially and none of us ever have enough time.My super event team have made some mistakes in not putting up the times early enough. That is a BIG ERROR!That has unconvinced many people.And I am VERY VERY sorry for ANY problems incurred by the error of my staff. At the end of the day it is a huge reflection on Paradise Farm.I desperately want to keep going and make everyone happy.But the other side of the coin is NOTHING has been done intentionally and no mistake made needs to be taken personally. There is is still time for everyone to get here and enjoy all that Paradise has to offer.
Another gigantic glitch that happened this morning is the stable manager at Buckleigh (where I ave been sending the stablers for the event for years)doesn't want people camping in their trailers. Oh my God a HUGE problem.WHHHHHHAAAATTTTTT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOW???????????Why didn't I know this beforehand?I personally stay in my trailer to be near my horses at all events. This is not the time to get such a change in plans.Fortunately it has been worked out this time. This again has nothing to do with Paradise Farm Horse trials but it sure effects it!
When we as organizers go to the annual meeting to schedual our dates in June we begin the committment to our next years events on our properties.The wheel of organization is an everyday thing.Riders want amenaties and convience that not all organizers can produce.
Permanent stabling with rubber mats and hot and cold water and electric are VERY expensive as it state of the art footing and concrete parking lots and major roadways through the farms.
I was once an interational competitor with a lot of my big time eventing spent in Europe.I rode with the best in the world. Blythe Tait,Ginny Elliot,Andrew Dreamboat Nicholson,Ian Stark you name it.We rarely stabled over night.One was always stabled at a private location or racetrack.One took what one got.We parked in farm fields and were pulled out by tractors most of the time.We rolled with what we got.
The anger and hostility from the competitors is scary.We (the organizers and secretaries and general personell) want things to be pleasant and trauma free.Well wow this morning was anything but that.
We want people to be happy and have fun. Paradise Farm is a great place for an event. We will always try to make things better.We hope the riders will come because of the quality and be able to forgive people when non life threatening mistakes can happen.We hope people will understand that we cannot always give monies back ,or that when there is a charge it is not meant to hurt the competitor but maintain the sport itself.Communication is the key.We all need to keep our heads up and look ahead and foresee problems and issues as far in advance as possible.
We always want to hear back from people that read the blog or come to the farm.Please use this to express your needs and we will do our best to accomodate. as alkways thank you all for reading.
Kick on, sit up and ride better!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Aftermath
So the good news is I am on the mend.Fingers are much better though definately want to stay undercover of gloves. Neck is great. No pain. Some stiffness. The collar keeps it from moving around.I am confident I shall have a good recovery.
I can manage dressing,eating,typing,writing with a pen,driving and telephoning.I have had a ton of support from family and friends which has been so helpful.
When we are riding full time and very goal oriented with the horses we miss a lot of what happens in the other non horsey world. Being sidelined gives a different perspective.Though it requires some restraint and hard swallowing I can deal with missing out on this years spring season.I have lots of plans directed mostly towards upping my education in course design and training of horses and riders. Since I will not be aiming my entire life on competitions as I have done for the past 20 years,it will be a change and a challenge to carry on in a different way.
I am looking forward to meeting new people ,also with different perspectives.Keep on keepin on they say.
Being injured has many sides.None of them are great but getting support from friends and family is always great.People can be so terrific at times. They can also be ridiculously stupid and unkind.When people get hurt,it is not necessary to gossip and expand upon things they are not 100% involved with. Rumours are unkind,hurtful and very very unnessary. I heard everything from I was riding another wild young horse to I was on life support,cut my face open the entire legnth. etc etc.Why was I riding such a bad horse?Why do I ride young horses period?At my age? And that I never listen to Drs.I just rush and do whatever I want.The event is cancelled.
I ride for a living. I teach for a living . And I preach saftey on a daily basis.There is nothing safe about working with horses.I was paying full attention when this happened.This was a lovely young horse that I was honored to be given the ride on and if my back was better I'd ride it again.I ride at my age cause I have a huge mortgage and I love it.I bet I am fitter than most young people and spend a lot of time staying that way.Every Doctor that has ever seen me comments on my fitness.And my desire to get better.
I have spent a great deal of time studying anatomy and how to repair,rebuild and strengthen myself and my horses.IU have produced 10 horses to the advanced level of eventing. Peter will be 11.From scratch.I am almost ready to bring my third horse to PSG in dressage from scratch.And am jumping 140 in show jumping.
I believe in my drs. and I do not believe in wasting time. I know about pain and fear and I think that makes me a better teacher.I have a gift for course design because I think like a horse.I do what people tell me.(If I respect and trust them....few and far between)
Spreading rumours about the horse trials is just plain cruel and stupid. Especially when it comes from people that are in the business itself.we are honored to have a place in the USEA omnibus and offer a great competition.All one has do do is come here and see the conditions and you will know we know what we are doing.
I have trained with the best in the world ,all over the world.And I look forward to lots more training. We must never stop learning.
So go out there and learn.Keep yourt mouth shut and your ears open. Love your horeses and your sport for as long as you can no matter what. I know I do.....Sit up,sit back and Ride Better!
I can manage dressing,eating,typing,writing with a pen,driving and telephoning.I have had a ton of support from family and friends which has been so helpful.
When we are riding full time and very goal oriented with the horses we miss a lot of what happens in the other non horsey world. Being sidelined gives a different perspective.Though it requires some restraint and hard swallowing I can deal with missing out on this years spring season.I have lots of plans directed mostly towards upping my education in course design and training of horses and riders. Since I will not be aiming my entire life on competitions as I have done for the past 20 years,it will be a change and a challenge to carry on in a different way.
I am looking forward to meeting new people ,also with different perspectives.Keep on keepin on they say.
Being injured has many sides.None of them are great but getting support from friends and family is always great.People can be so terrific at times. They can also be ridiculously stupid and unkind.When people get hurt,it is not necessary to gossip and expand upon things they are not 100% involved with. Rumours are unkind,hurtful and very very unnessary. I heard everything from I was riding another wild young horse to I was on life support,cut my face open the entire legnth. etc etc.Why was I riding such a bad horse?Why do I ride young horses period?At my age? And that I never listen to Drs.I just rush and do whatever I want.The event is cancelled.
I ride for a living. I teach for a living . And I preach saftey on a daily basis.There is nothing safe about working with horses.I was paying full attention when this happened.This was a lovely young horse that I was honored to be given the ride on and if my back was better I'd ride it again.I ride at my age cause I have a huge mortgage and I love it.I bet I am fitter than most young people and spend a lot of time staying that way.Every Doctor that has ever seen me comments on my fitness.And my desire to get better.
I have spent a great deal of time studying anatomy and how to repair,rebuild and strengthen myself and my horses.IU have produced 10 horses to the advanced level of eventing. Peter will be 11.From scratch.I am almost ready to bring my third horse to PSG in dressage from scratch.And am jumping 140 in show jumping.
I believe in my drs. and I do not believe in wasting time. I know about pain and fear and I think that makes me a better teacher.I have a gift for course design because I think like a horse.I do what people tell me.(If I respect and trust them....few and far between)
Spreading rumours about the horse trials is just plain cruel and stupid. Especially when it comes from people that are in the business itself.we are honored to have a place in the USEA omnibus and offer a great competition.All one has do do is come here and see the conditions and you will know we know what we are doing.
I have trained with the best in the world ,all over the world.And I look forward to lots more training. We must never stop learning.
So go out there and learn.Keep yourt mouth shut and your ears open. Love your horeses and your sport for as long as you can no matter what. I know I do.....Sit up,sit back and Ride Better!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Big Crash
Well,everyone's been asking.....here's the story of the big crash.
Life was going along really well at Paradise. Horses were training properly,we had a super group of people coming for lessons,the spring horse trial was filling up and it looked like 2012 was going to have a smooth start.
It was about 4.30 on Tuesday afternoon,when I told a great friend Sallie Perry,I'll just trot this mare around for twenty minutes or so while you get tacked up for your lesson.She smiled and off I went on this lovely Irish filly.I walked around my barn and out into my sand arena.It was a beautiful day and I was looking forward to my ride.I walked across the arena to the other side and began gathering up everything to go into a trot ,when WHAM,she put her head straight down and I torpedoed off her front end like a missile straight into the ground ,face first.I hit square on my forehead,did not see stars, but instantly knew I had cut my face as I felt the blood and the separations in my top and bottom lip.I did not try to move at all. I knew I had done my spine.I knew I had concussed my spine and knew better than to mess about.
Instantly I felt tingling pins and needles right down the length of my back,both arms and legs.I knew what day it was. I knew what had happened. I knew I could breath. And I knew I had feeling in my fingers and toes,so that was all good.
Sallie saw the filly run off back to the stable(fortunately unhurt) and expected to see me come puffing around the corner ready to get back on......But I was nowhere to be found.I saw her looking for me and tried to call out but I could not make a sound loud enough for her to hear.She looked over to the ring and sprinted right over.Poor Sallie ,by then I was a real mess.I assured her I was alright it was just my lips bleeding ,that I had feeling etc.She could not make my phone work so she ran back to the barn to get Barbie's phone.I called 911 and mumbled into the phone my location.
Sirens came very shortly afterwards.Backboards,straps and velcro started flying about
everywhere.I was packed up like a sausage in seconds and off we went to MCG (Medical College of Georgia) sirens and lights a blazing.
I asked Ray the ambulance man to turn on the AC full blast,which he did. You could see your breath in the meat wagon by the time we got there. But it made me feel much better.I kept counting out loud,"one,two ,threee......." over and over again,while Ray set me up with heart monitors and IV'S."why are you counting?"he asked.I replied,"to keep the rythm and not think of you with those damn needles!"
As we flew down the road,the usual medical jargon flew and radio talk,then the drivers started yelling,,,"Oh my God,Look at that,Oh my God!!!!!!!What is she doing?"
I knew exactly what was happening......"Is the car light blue"I asked with a bloody smile?
Good old Nanu (My super mother)was in hot pursuit,right on the bumper of our screaming ambulance!God help the cop that try's to stop her I thought. I have never been prouder of my mommy.No one stops Nanu.
The doors flew open and I was the main actor in an ER episode.Trauma status gets you in there fast. Off came the clothes with 4 people each weilding those geat scissors that cut anything.Out came more monitors,Ivs bright lights etc.
After the initial acessment, I had x rays and Ct scans,then came back for about 30-40 stitches.Mom and barbie were allowed in after I was sewn up.I was very concious and awake. My hands were turning into small claws by then and the pain was excruciating.There was some swelling on my spinal cord that was creating this pain.Nothing they gave me touched it.
I am a good patient and unfortunately have a lot of experience at being hurt.I knew that all I could do was lay still. And I just kept counting. Over and over.You have to put yourself in a zone where the pain does not rule you. You rule it.
I was sent upstairs to a room about 2.30 am.in stable condition.Poor mom and Barbie went home.I slept on and off,stayed in my no pain zone as best I could till 6 am then got drugged up for an MRI.Fortunately the valium worked and I didn't panic in the wretched tube.Even more fortunate was the fact that little showed up on the scan.
I was released that afternoon to go home to chateau Nanu.I have been here over a week already. I may never leave.My mother is without question my best friend. We have had a wonderful time in these crazy circumstances.
So I have about 5 fractured vertebrea and one broken rib and a broken bone in my hand and a few stitches.My hands are getting better each day.Thanks to everyone for their good wishes.
Barbie ands friends are running next weeks horse trials. Yikes.Stay tuned.All is well.....
Life was going along really well at Paradise. Horses were training properly,we had a super group of people coming for lessons,the spring horse trial was filling up and it looked like 2012 was going to have a smooth start.
It was about 4.30 on Tuesday afternoon,when I told a great friend Sallie Perry,I'll just trot this mare around for twenty minutes or so while you get tacked up for your lesson.She smiled and off I went on this lovely Irish filly.I walked around my barn and out into my sand arena.It was a beautiful day and I was looking forward to my ride.I walked across the arena to the other side and began gathering up everything to go into a trot ,when WHAM,she put her head straight down and I torpedoed off her front end like a missile straight into the ground ,face first.I hit square on my forehead,did not see stars, but instantly knew I had cut my face as I felt the blood and the separations in my top and bottom lip.I did not try to move at all. I knew I had done my spine.I knew I had concussed my spine and knew better than to mess about.
Instantly I felt tingling pins and needles right down the length of my back,both arms and legs.I knew what day it was. I knew what had happened. I knew I could breath. And I knew I had feeling in my fingers and toes,so that was all good.
Sallie saw the filly run off back to the stable(fortunately unhurt) and expected to see me come puffing around the corner ready to get back on......But I was nowhere to be found.I saw her looking for me and tried to call out but I could not make a sound loud enough for her to hear.She looked over to the ring and sprinted right over.Poor Sallie ,by then I was a real mess.I assured her I was alright it was just my lips bleeding ,that I had feeling etc.She could not make my phone work so she ran back to the barn to get Barbie's phone.I called 911 and mumbled into the phone my location.
Sirens came very shortly afterwards.Backboards,straps and velcro started flying about
everywhere.I was packed up like a sausage in seconds and off we went to MCG (Medical College of Georgia) sirens and lights a blazing.
I asked Ray the ambulance man to turn on the AC full blast,which he did. You could see your breath in the meat wagon by the time we got there. But it made me feel much better.I kept counting out loud,"one,two ,threee......." over and over again,while Ray set me up with heart monitors and IV'S."why are you counting?"he asked.I replied,"to keep the rythm and not think of you with those damn needles!"
As we flew down the road,the usual medical jargon flew and radio talk,then the drivers started yelling,,,"Oh my God,Look at that,Oh my God!!!!!!!What is she doing?"
I knew exactly what was happening......"Is the car light blue"I asked with a bloody smile?
Good old Nanu (My super mother)was in hot pursuit,right on the bumper of our screaming ambulance!God help the cop that try's to stop her I thought. I have never been prouder of my mommy.No one stops Nanu.
The doors flew open and I was the main actor in an ER episode.Trauma status gets you in there fast. Off came the clothes with 4 people each weilding those geat scissors that cut anything.Out came more monitors,Ivs bright lights etc.
After the initial acessment, I had x rays and Ct scans,then came back for about 30-40 stitches.Mom and barbie were allowed in after I was sewn up.I was very concious and awake. My hands were turning into small claws by then and the pain was excruciating.There was some swelling on my spinal cord that was creating this pain.Nothing they gave me touched it.
I am a good patient and unfortunately have a lot of experience at being hurt.I knew that all I could do was lay still. And I just kept counting. Over and over.You have to put yourself in a zone where the pain does not rule you. You rule it.
I was sent upstairs to a room about 2.30 am.in stable condition.Poor mom and Barbie went home.I slept on and off,stayed in my no pain zone as best I could till 6 am then got drugged up for an MRI.Fortunately the valium worked and I didn't panic in the wretched tube.Even more fortunate was the fact that little showed up on the scan.
I was released that afternoon to go home to chateau Nanu.I have been here over a week already. I may never leave.My mother is without question my best friend. We have had a wonderful time in these crazy circumstances.
So I have about 5 fractured vertebrea and one broken rib and a broken bone in my hand and a few stitches.My hands are getting better each day.Thanks to everyone for their good wishes.
Barbie ands friends are running next weeks horse trials. Yikes.Stay tuned.All is well.....
Monday, November 28, 2011
Paradise Fall Horse Trials
Another month has come and gone my my.Zoom Zoom.
Today is the 28th of November.I have really slowed down on my writing.But we haven't slowed down with anything on the farm.
My Horse trials ran perfectly smoothly ,thanks to the great team we have here at Paradise.Karen Kelly's abcense was huge.I can't believe I made it through an event without her. But Marcia,her best friend kept Karen o the go and she handled the volunteer coodinating and ,fence judge placements from afar.Keeping all the volunteer stuff organized is a huge job as the names seem to shift constantly.Communication is always the key. We like everyone to be notified way in advance but the way eventing has evolved,things seem to really pile up at the last minute which always adds to the stress.
We had a beautiful day and all the courses looked great as we had a ton of bright green brush on many jumps and restained lots of fences to make them have an upgraded look to the course.We added stabling this year and had 23 stablers. I hope the added onsite stabling will help increase interest in this nice event.We started 83 horses.75 horses breaks even. The man hours of labour and the hours I lose riding my own horses and teaching hardly makes the event seem worthwhile.Putting on a competition is a huge effort.The spring event here is a gas to put on as we know we have entries on an early date. Therefore we can put money into the event and hire the proper labour necessary.When an event runs on a complete shoestring due to lack of entries it is a sad state of affairs where everyone knows there can be no improvements done or additions to the event.We keep going as we want to support the sport. We just wish more riders would support the event.Paradise farm Horse trials has excellent footing I challenge anyone anywhere to contest the quality. We have super technical show jumping courses and state of the art dressage rings.We do not have permanent stabling with rubber mats and electricity but neither do Fair Hill International,Burghley or Blenheim Horse Trials.
So the Horse trials was in fact not the great positive I had hoped it would be.But it's now gone to bed and we are already working on the next one.I wish there had been funds left over for my next project here but now that will have to wait.I can assure all riders if you help us by entering this great competition we will not dissappoint with great additions to the courses!SO COME AND ENTER PLEASE!
Today is the 28th of November.I have really slowed down on my writing.But we haven't slowed down with anything on the farm.
My Horse trials ran perfectly smoothly ,thanks to the great team we have here at Paradise.Karen Kelly's abcense was huge.I can't believe I made it through an event without her. But Marcia,her best friend kept Karen o the go and she handled the volunteer coodinating and ,fence judge placements from afar.Keeping all the volunteer stuff organized is a huge job as the names seem to shift constantly.Communication is always the key. We like everyone to be notified way in advance but the way eventing has evolved,things seem to really pile up at the last minute which always adds to the stress.
We had a beautiful day and all the courses looked great as we had a ton of bright green brush on many jumps and restained lots of fences to make them have an upgraded look to the course.We added stabling this year and had 23 stablers. I hope the added onsite stabling will help increase interest in this nice event.We started 83 horses.75 horses breaks even. The man hours of labour and the hours I lose riding my own horses and teaching hardly makes the event seem worthwhile.Putting on a competition is a huge effort.The spring event here is a gas to put on as we know we have entries on an early date. Therefore we can put money into the event and hire the proper labour necessary.When an event runs on a complete shoestring due to lack of entries it is a sad state of affairs where everyone knows there can be no improvements done or additions to the event.We keep going as we want to support the sport. We just wish more riders would support the event.Paradise farm Horse trials has excellent footing I challenge anyone anywhere to contest the quality. We have super technical show jumping courses and state of the art dressage rings.We do not have permanent stabling with rubber mats and electricity but neither do Fair Hill International,Burghley or Blenheim Horse Trials.
So the Horse trials was in fact not the great positive I had hoped it would be.But it's now gone to bed and we are already working on the next one.I wish there had been funds left over for my next project here but now that will have to wait.I can assure all riders if you help us by entering this great competition we will not dissappoint with great additions to the courses!SO COME AND ENTER PLEASE!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Spelling
I am very sorry. I do not have control of this blog. Sometimes it lets me correct things and other times it won't. So sorry. I do try.Thanks for your patience
Aiken Hunter Trials
We had the MOST beautiful day on October 1 for our third annual Hunter Trial. This yearwe shortened the outside course and made it much easier with fewer hills.This not only decreased the degree of difficulty but let riders go a bit quicker,to avoid endless waiting around. The new jumps and the new system worked well.
The Hunter Trial really should be aimed at Fox Hunting horses but it is my intention (having learned in England) that these trials are incredibly valuable to all to have a nice slow go round over excellent fences and JUST SCHOOL AND BOND with one's horse.
All courses and jumps were open to school the day before. Most people that came to ride in the Hunter Trial came and schooled to familiarize themselves with these more open courses. They all had a great time. AS schooling was only $15.00,One can not get a better opportunity anywhere to school such beautiful jumps.
We also had a hunter ring that started with cross rails and then went to more substantial courses with gates,walls ,roll tops from 2'3 to 2'9 and then culminated with a three foot Hunter Derby. The course was fabulous with a mixture of hunter show jumps and a few cross country jumps and a ditch.
The riders in all classes were amazing and I have to say that this is what Paradiuse farm is all about. EDUCATION! These people came out here and rode WAY out of their element and had a fabulous time.
Paradise Farm offers the most perfect venue for horses with a huge variety of jumps and terrain and PERFECT footing but also A venue whereby owners trainer,parents and all supporters can stand on a hillside and watch every step of their horse.
My heart sings with joy to see these people realize their own huge accomplishments.This is not about high powered eventing or high powered anything. I am just so happy to be able to offer an INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL facility for these people to learn about themselves and their wonderful horses.
The dog show was a HUGE hit with 20 in the prettiest eyes,16 in the best wagger and 6 costumers.To see the children have so much fun was almost as good as winning ROLEX. (Not that I really know what that's like)
I have to Thank out loud my dear friends,without them,none of this would have happened. Barbie,Antonio,Nanu,Mimi(cook)Barry Doss(cook),Penny Kaster(painter ),Marsha Styger(painter)Bob Shellhouse for his trailer,Rose Hill as a class sponsor,Our great judges Susan Timmerman and Grace Vance,Anne Kinney,Betsey Minton,Lynn and Joe Kramp. A Huge thanks to Mike Sharp for being our announcer again!
I want to THANK EVERYONE that came to support Paradise farm. It was SUCH a fun day.Laura Hall brought all the children. We need MORE. WHERE WERE YOU GUYS?
Paradise offers a very unique opportunity and it is our wish to give this to the horse community here in AIKEN.WHERE WERE YOU GUYS? We miss you and hope you will come next year. You are quarantied fun and a great day.So put on your calanders for next year the first saturday in October. See you then
The Hunter Trial really should be aimed at Fox Hunting horses but it is my intention (having learned in England) that these trials are incredibly valuable to all to have a nice slow go round over excellent fences and JUST SCHOOL AND BOND with one's horse.
All courses and jumps were open to school the day before. Most people that came to ride in the Hunter Trial came and schooled to familiarize themselves with these more open courses. They all had a great time. AS schooling was only $15.00,One can not get a better opportunity anywhere to school such beautiful jumps.
We also had a hunter ring that started with cross rails and then went to more substantial courses with gates,walls ,roll tops from 2'3 to 2'9 and then culminated with a three foot Hunter Derby. The course was fabulous with a mixture of hunter show jumps and a few cross country jumps and a ditch.
The riders in all classes were amazing and I have to say that this is what Paradiuse farm is all about. EDUCATION! These people came out here and rode WAY out of their element and had a fabulous time.
Paradise Farm offers the most perfect venue for horses with a huge variety of jumps and terrain and PERFECT footing but also A venue whereby owners trainer,parents and all supporters can stand on a hillside and watch every step of their horse.
My heart sings with joy to see these people realize their own huge accomplishments.This is not about high powered eventing or high powered anything. I am just so happy to be able to offer an INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL facility for these people to learn about themselves and their wonderful horses.
The dog show was a HUGE hit with 20 in the prettiest eyes,16 in the best wagger and 6 costumers.To see the children have so much fun was almost as good as winning ROLEX. (Not that I really know what that's like)
I have to Thank out loud my dear friends,without them,none of this would have happened. Barbie,Antonio,Nanu,Mimi(cook)Barry Doss(cook),Penny Kaster(painter ),Marsha Styger(painter)Bob Shellhouse for his trailer,Rose Hill as a class sponsor,Our great judges Susan Timmerman and Grace Vance,Anne Kinney,Betsey Minton,Lynn and Joe Kramp. A Huge thanks to Mike Sharp for being our announcer again!
I want to THANK EVERYONE that came to support Paradise farm. It was SUCH a fun day.Laura Hall brought all the children. We need MORE. WHERE WERE YOU GUYS?
Paradise offers a very unique opportunity and it is our wish to give this to the horse community here in AIKEN.WHERE WERE YOU GUYS? We miss you and hope you will come next year. You are quarantied fun and a great day.So put on your calanders for next year the first saturday in October. See you then
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