Welcome Adult Riders!

Let's make 2012 the best year to get out, get involved, join together, and compete.  We had a mild winter and a lot of folks went South early in the season so I hope everyone is warmed up and ready to go.  Whether you are just schooling, competing unrecognized or recognized, Area 2 has something for everyone.  I hope to see lots of you at the Area Championships this year, to be held at Morven Park on October 6-7, 2012.  And don't forget to start making plans to attend the Cronicle of the Horse USEA Eastern Adult Team Challenge this year at Virginia Horse Trials November 2-4, 2012.

2012 Eventing Season has started! Area 2 Year End Awards Program is now open, go ahead join and tell a friend! 

We had great time at the Fork this weekend. Many of the YRs were riding more than one horse, which made taking advantage of any of the free YR Advancement activities difficult for some. On Friday, three riders took advantage of shadow scribing in dressage. This is becoming very popular as the YRs learn what is important in riding their test, or what their judge prefers to see, while also getting to practice scribing. 

Friday night we set show jumping with Sally Ike, and once again those who did got around with a double clear. A few parents, signifcant others, and grooms, came up to Show Jumping on Saturday when they had time and assisted with jump crew to reset the courses from Intermediate, to Preliminary, to Training.  Who ever the volunteer gate keeper was for Intermediate was FANTASTIC. 

• APRIL – AUGUST, 2012   IN BERRYVILLE, VA
• DATES: Wednesdays  4/11, 4/25, 5/9, 5/23, 6/6, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29
• LEVELS: 12” (x-rails), 18”, 2’, 2’3, 2’6”, 2’9”, 3’, 3’3”, 3’6”
• TIME: 4 PM until dusk.
• COST: $10 per round. Non-competing horses pay a $10 facility fee.
• LOCATION: Red Moon Farm, 2001 Senseny Rd., Berryville, VA 22611
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The DRHT, May 5-6, will be offering starter divisions for those seeking a fun and safe introduction to Eventing for horse and/or rider.  Jumps will be 2', and will feature a newly designed starter cross country course.  The Beginner Novice through Preliminary divisions will also have new cross country tracks this spring.  The HT will continue to offer individual Tests of Choice in dressage, stadium jumping and cross country, at all levels.  

And new this year, ALL the courses will be open for schooling from Monday, May 7 through Sunday, May 13.  The schooling fee is $50 per horse/rider.
See the DRPC website or Frying Pan Park website for more information.

The Bakers - l-r Sugar, Jim, Suzy, & Sally. Daughter Sarah took the photo!It began with a love of horses.  I am not sure, but I believe there are not that many families which event together, outside of mother/daughter combinations.  Collectively we have 5 active competing family members consisting of 2 sisters, my wife, daughter and me.  When we all compete at the same event, it is a fun sibling/family rivalry.  We compete from Intermediate down to BN depending on the horses we have at the time, filling out the lower levels of eventing which do not get much press.   

My sisters and I grew up outside Warrenton,Virgina where there were always horses around.  Our first pony was a gift from Ian and Neva Montgomery when I was 6.  The stubbornness of the Shetland was probably a good lesson in the early formative years.  Our father fox hunted and we all began with a lead line in the hill toppers.  At opening meet this year, it will be 50 seasons for me from that first lead line in a hunt field.

My next younger sister, Suzy Baker Gehris, always had the “horse bug” and was gifted with an innate ability to relate to horses.  Her ability to communicate with them gives her an advantage and almost always ends high up in the ribbons.  Memories include her at age 5 galloping a pony bareback, blond pigtails flying, doing laps around the house in the yard; much to the chagrin of our mother (did I mention it was hot so she had taken off all her clothes, Lady Godiva at age 5?).  Another was a single rail, bareback, jump off contest when I was in my college years home for a visit.  We stopped at something over 5 feet due to darkness, neither one of us willing to admit defeat.

My youngest sister, Sally Baker Muncy, had better access to better ponies and hunter/jumper riding.  Her form remains to this day technically accurate, graceful and probably the most beautiful rider of us all.  We were fairly typical of the 2-horse-tag-along-behind-the-station-wagon, barn-in-the-back-yard people.  We had a series of horses that were gifts (remembering never to look one in the mouth) or inexpensive or cast offs, never anything significant.  So we all learned to make the best of what we had. Lessons were each of us helping the other. 

Join us at the beautiful Highlands at Loch Moy Farm, Adamstown, MD

Daily lessons will include: Private Dressage: Show Jumping and Cross Country lessons in pairs. Levels: Intro; Maiden; Beg-Novice; Novice; Training; Prelim/Training

Sponsored by Point Two Air Jacket

South Woodstock, VT- March 13, 2012:  The Green Mountain Horse Association announces it is accepting applications for its premier eventing clinic for young riders age 9-17 at the South Woodstock, VT location to be held June 24 to July 3, 2012. 

All participants have two mounted and two unmounted lessons daily, and are responsible for the care of their horse or pony that they bring to the JHC clinic with the help of our experienced staff.  Small group lessons in dressage, cross-country, stadium and the use of the brand new X-C course will be a highlight. Unmounted instruction focuses on building knowledge and experience in horse care and stable management with daily classes, demonstrations and practice sessions.

Suzi and Jim Gornall are the lead clinicians overseeing for the sixth year the instruction of all students. They are both "A" Pony Club graduates and have competed through the Advanced level of eventing.  Suzi continues to compete and coach while Jim is an USEF "R" technical delegate and course designer.