Meet the 2011 Year End Awards participants

Preliminary YR/jr

Julia Ennis & Walstraed - Champion

Intermediate YR/jr

Jules Ennis & Walstraed - Champion

Jules Ennis & Findhorn – Reserve Champion

Seventeen year old Jules Ennis of Queenstown, Maryland, had a great year with her two horses, Walstraed and Findhorn. After a successful spring season at the Preliminary level, Jules moved both horses up to the Intermediate level at Fair Hill in April. With a little work in dressage, Walstraed and Findhorn soon proved that they were competitive at Intermediate coming in second and third at The Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials. The highlight of Jules’ year was winning the fifth place ribbon at Plantation Fields CIC** riding her eight year old Dutch Warmblood, Walstraed. Jules looks forward to further refining her dressage on her sixteen year old thoroughbred, Findhorn, and hopefully moving him up to Advanced next year.

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Intermediate Adult Amateur - Champion

Victoria Long & Roxy Heart

Roxy Hart is a 13 year old thoroughbred who I have owned for the past 9 years.  She has taught me a great deal over the years and she has taken me to my first preliminaries and intermediates.  This past spring, we started out the season at preliminary at Sporting Days before running three intermediates.  Unfortunately, in May I started my clinical year of veterinary school and I did not have the time to keep an intermediate horse fit and showing, so my season ended relatively early.  Roxy spent the rest of the year with another rider running training and going for a ‘B’ Pony Club rating.   Currently she is fat and fuzzy out in the field waiting for spring!

Photo credit: Michaela Mulhare

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Intermediate Open - Champion

Courtney Cooper & Who’s A Star

Who's A Star, 8 yo homebred ISH/NZ Sport Horse.  "Tag" had a great year winning at Intermediate and we are looking forward to him moving up to Advanced in 2012

Photo credit: GRC Photography

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Intermediate Open – Reserve Champion

Rider/Owner: Helen Hayn

Horse's Name: Aqua Tom

10 yr old Holsteiner gelding bred by Kathleen Kirsan

Tommy and I have a long history together since the day I bought him as a young horse.  I trust him and he trusts me, so we get the job done.    My favorite event with Tommy would have to be Plantation Fields CIC2* with the exception of dressage when Tommy disliked the big tents flapping in the wind.  With the help of Jan Byyny, I had a great time with Tommy but it took a lot of dedication to the conditioning work.  A lot of hard work in necessary for next's years big move up but I know that we both can do it.

Photo Credit: GRC Photography

Preliminary YR/jr - Reserve Champion

Marissa Hughes & Odie aka Otis, Odie –man, spotty horse, polka dot horse, and the little quarter horse that could Breed/Age/Sex - Odie is a 9 year old 15.2 hand Quarter HorsePaint. Odie is a one of a kind quarter horse paint that is totally and utterly convinced he is a warmblood/golden retriever mix.  He will lick you all day long if you let him but he is not a snuggler.  He has a jump that would make any thoroughbred jealous and always scores in the upper to lower 20’s in dressage.  After a stellar 2010 season including a win at the 2010 AEC’s, Odie and I successfully moved up to Preliminary and even won our first event! We have had a very educational season and even completed our first one star at Stuart in New York.  A big thanks so everyone who helped us get this far. We never imagined we could possibly get this far especially since both of us started elementary Eventing just four years ago! A big thanks to our trainers Silva Martin, Sally Cousins, Judy Thayer – Farrier and vet Paul Rollins, and Mary Griffin; and other supporters Bonnie LaMonte and Puddle Duck Creek Tack and Apparel…couldn’t have done it without you guys!

 

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Preliminary Adult Amateur – Reserve Champion

Ann Baumgardner & Mick Dreamy

Photo Credit: GRC Photography

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Preliminary Open - Champion

Cassidy Sitton & Subway Prophet (Thoroughbred) Prophet and I began our partnership 7 long years ago, 3 days after his last race.  After years of getting some of his health issues managed (he has a slight swallowing paralysis that makes it difficult to feed him!), and having to play second string to another upper-level ride, he's now moving his way up the levels.  He successfully completed the IP in Tryon this Fall and will hopefully make the move up to Intermediate in the Spring! Funny story.... earlier this spring, we were having a run around the Prelim at the Longleaf Horse Trials (Carolina Horse Park), and one of my owners graciously rented the helmet cam option from the photographer.  It's an awesome video, except at about fence 8 where I see a great spot to ride up to at the trakehner (and I see the spot about 6 strides out -- score!!!)... Prophet spots the deep ditch about a stride out and side steps... I accept the fact that we're going to run out, as there was no way I was forcing him over this fairly substantial jump from a standstill... but... Prophet apparently just needed a second look, and proceeds to launch the sucker at which point, I loose both stirrups, he lands and *goes* like I've taught him to do after he 'sticks' at a fence, and my ultra-lite carbon stirrup gets stuck between my leg and the saddle.  After galloping through half the field haphazardly, we finally get everything re-organized and proceed on to have an awesome course... all of which is caught on the helmet cam (along with my annoying 'clucking'. :)

Photo credit: HoofClix

 

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Preliminary Open – Reserve Champion

Mardi Herman & Go Gilda

Go Gilda. She is a 7 yr old ISH/ TB cross. Her dam is a full sister to my mare Zoe who won this award last year and her sire is Carrig View. She is quite a character and has an amazing jump. My thanks to my trainers Sally Cousins and Phoebe DeVoe-Moore who have been so patient with us.

Photo credit: GRC Photography

 

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Preliminary YR/jr

Julia Ennis & Walstraed - Champion

Intermediate YR/jr

Jules Ennis & Walstraed - Champion

Jules Ennis & Findhorn – Reserve Champion

Seventeen year old Jules Ennis of Queenstown, Maryland, had a great year with her two horses, Walstraed and Findhorn. After a successful spring season at the Preliminary level, Jules moved both horses up to the Intermediate level at Fair Hill in April. With a little work in dressage, Walstraed and Findhorn soon proved that they were competitive at Intermediate coming in second and third at The Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials. The highlight of Jules’ year was winning the fifth place ribbon at Plantation Fields CIC** riding her eight year old Dutch Warmblood, Walstraed. Jules looks forward to further refining her dressage on her sixteen year old thoroughbred, Findhorn, and hopefully moving him up to Advanced next year.

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Preliminary Adult Amateur – Champion

Sandy McCormack & Aphrodite

I started riding at the age of five doing Hunter Shows.  As an adult I foxhunted, and was a whipper in for four years.  My husband was always worried that I would get hurt galloping in a herd, across fields with ground hog holes.  At 35, I told him about this great sport called eventing.  The horse & rider’s go one at a time over the fences in fields that have been checked for holes.  Until 1991, I was living in Brookline, MA happily competing at Novice.

We moved to McLean, VA for a job opportunity.  I soon discovered that the Mecca of eventing was one hour west of our new home.  I started taking weekly lessons with Jim Wofford.  In 1993, I found a lovely mare to allow me do Training & Preliminary.

In 1994, I became very active with River Bend Pony Club, where I was the District Commissioner for several years.  Every year for the past 15 years I volunteered at the annual fund raiser combined test.

Over the years, I have worked with many different instructors and my goal has been to do a CCI*.  I have qualified five horses over the years but something always happen to prevent me from competing in a CCI*.

In 2004, I went to Southern Edition Farm to board and train with Stephen Bradley.  Stephen is not only a fabulous rider, he is an excellent instructor.  Stephen does not over face the horse or rider.  He builds their confidence and makes sure they are overly prepared before telling them they are ready to move up a level.

In 2006, Stephen gave me the opportunity to travel with him and Joshua for the 2006 World Game Selections.  In 2007, I became a Board Member of CDCTA, where I do many hours of volunteering to enrich the sport of eventing.

I have had several horses while being with Stephen that I competed at Novice & Training level.  Knowing my goal to be going Preliminary and to do a CCI* Stephen found me a horse that is safe and more than capable of allowing me to fulfill my goal.  In 2007 Aphrodite, my lovely grey mare, allowed me to meet my goal of completing and placing in a CCI* at the age of 53.

In 2009 Aphrodite and I were sixth at the AECs in the preliminary Adult Amateur division.  We were Reserved Champions at the USEA Area II Preliminary Rider Division.

In 2011 Aphrodite and I were ninth at the AECs in the preliminary Adult Amateur division.

I am looking forward to many more years of riding Aphrodite at the Preliminary level, with Stephen as my coach.  We are ready for the 2012 competitions to begin.

Photo credit: Brant Gamma Photography

Training YR/jr - Champion

Rider: Andi Lawrence
Owner: Paul Lawrence
Rider's age: 17
Horse: Armani IV ( George)

Armani IV (affectionately known as George) is a 11 year old, 17.1, grey, American thoroughbred.  George is an off the track racehorse sired by Darn That Alarm.  George started eventing approximately at the age of 6.  He was previously owned by my trainer Erin Sylvester who took him up the levels of eventing to a 3*** but he was not mentally ready.  He was named intermediate horse of the year in 2009 with Erin and also has experience at level 5 show jumpers.   I purchased George in January of 2010 and it was the best Christmas present I could have asked for.  George and I have had a great year getting to know each other moving down to the training level and being very successful.  Our biggest accomplishment this past season was finishing second at the GMHA Training Three Day Event in Woodstock, VT with long format endurance.  There George won the Joe Silva best conditioned horse award.  We also earned a Blue Ribbon certificate and a Silver Medal award from USEA.  George is the love of my life and has the best personality.  He is game for anything I want him to do and loves doing his job.  I look forward to taking him to college with me in NC and having great and successful seasons moving up the levels with him.
 

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Training YR/jr – Reserve Champion

Meredith Thomas & Miss Julia

Meredith and her mare Miss Julia had a great time moving up to Training this season, and look forward to trying Preliminary next spring. Julia is a 16.2 hh chestnut Holsteiner x TB who lives for treats. Meredith is a 10th grader at St. Catherine's School in Richmond, VA who rides with the Deep Run Hunt Pony Club. Meredith thanks everyone who helped make this eventing season such a success!
 

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Training Adult Amateur - Champion

Susan Gehris & Happy Fellow If anyone has been in a warmup area and heard a squeal as if a pig is nearby, you may have been near Happy Fellow.  Who knows if he was influenced by them where he was born in Wyoming, yet his "joie de vivre" can be heard most anywhere and usually followed by a short buck.  He is aptly named and loves to event.

(I can add more if you need - i.e. he recovered from a scary muscle injury from being cast in a stall just about a year ago and was the perfect patient standing for weeks with gorilla-taped-ice-bags over his whole hind end - croup to hock; inside and out. His disdain for jumping clean in stadium is hopefully history as seen in this photo; he jumped clean his last two outings (Waredaca T3D and Va HT T Ch).)
Photo credit: Brant Gamma Photography
 

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Training Adult Amateur – Reserve Champion

Lindsay Berreth and my horse is Oh So Extreme. He's an 11 year old off-the-track TB (Private Terms-Plum Thicket). He raced until he was 7 and had about 40 starts and perfectly clean legs when I bought him in 2007. According to the woman who found him at the track, he was very thin and not in good condition. His next stop might have been the meat truck.

He's the first horse I've brought up the levels myself and this year at the Virginia Horse Trials in October we made out prelim debut. He's always been a bit tense in dressage, but he jumped around the cross-country easily, which is the important part! He's also my first OTTB, and as frustrating as he can be sometimes in the dressage, when it all comes together, it's pretty amazing. I've never had a bond with a horse like I have with him. We think alike and he just lives for cross-country. He looks for the flags, and would jump off a cliff if I asked him to.

My goal for next year is to compete at prelim and maybe finish on our dressage score. A one-star isn't out of the question either... :)
Photo credit: GRC Photography (I also work for them when I'm not riding)

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Training Open - Champion

Vicki Reynolds & Chub Cay

I was given Chub Cay at the end of his 4 year old year from Denise and Mr. Entemann as he did not want to be a race horse. His breeding says Derby, but he said no! My greyhound didn’t want to race either! It is to my pleasure that I have both of these beautiful animals! Chubi can jump and jump he does! Several professionals have shook their head laughing after watching him go stadium. In their words, “he jumps each jump higher than the last because he can!” After one stadium, I didn’t know who was laughing more-me or him! I could feel the fun he was having and the sparkle in his eye as he jumped each fence higher than the last with some fun little bucks for good measure in between! He feels so good over a fence with his great bascule! He now loves to gallop as he has gotten stronger and loves X-C and the fun of the different questions. We will be moving up to Preliminary this year and it will be interesting as a PT I did this fall started the over jumping all over again, but now over jumping 3’7”! I was asked if I got a bloody nose from high altitude! I told someone that as he came in the ring and saw a 3’7” oxer for the first fence, he smiled and said sweet and jumped over the standards! Coming into the triple, he threw me so high over the first jump that I said I was talking to people that had been dead for 50 years and didn’t come back down on him until he jumped out over the 3^rd fence on the triple! I was embarrassed, but he could have cared less! Chubi loves to lick me in the face like a dog with his eyes closed and loves carrots and beer! Thank you Wendy Smithson, Bobby Costello, Dave Richards and Dr. Bri G who has enabled Chubi and me to compete and all my friends who support me!  Thank you!
Photo credit: Hoof Clix
 

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Training Open – Reserve Champion

Cherie Chauvin & Katchi Kapshi My horse, Katchi Kapshi, and I finished in 2nd Open Training and 3rd Open Prelim.  You can post our info in the Training section as that's where the award is a bit more deserved!!  :)

Here's a little about us...

This has been a great year for Katchi and me!  Katchi is a 10 year old OTTB, whose name, "Katchi Kapshi" is Korean for "we go together."  We've been going together 5 years now, and things are finally really falling into place for us!  After a great spring season at Training level, we ended the year with 2 good runs at Prelim and a heck of a ride in the Training 3-Day at the Kentucky Horse Park!  There have been some tears along the way (less this year than other years!), but overall this year has been FUN FUN FUN!  And we can hardly wait to see what 2012 has in store for us! You can follow our adventures at www.golightlysporthorses.blogspot.com

Photo credit: GRC photography

 

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Training Young Horse - Champion

Courtney Cooper & Neveah
Nevaeh, 5 yo Unraced TB mare.  Nev as she is called at home is quite a sweet girl and always trying...trying to be in your pocket for carrots or one of her favorite places trying to swim in her water trough.  2011 was a good year for her as she moved up to Training and also placed in the Young Event Horse classes.

Photo credit:  GRC Photography

Novice YR/jr - Champion

Skyler Decker & Nickels and Dimes

Rider/Owner:  Skyler Decker

Horse Name:  Nickels and Dimes aka Nicki

Rider & Horse Age :  13

Hometown:  Mt. Airy, Maryland

Sex:  Mare

Breed:  Clydesdale/QH Cross

Nicki and I started out the 2011 eventing season at the novice level.  We had an AWESOME competition year and for the second year in a row we qualified for the AEC’s and Area II Championships this year at novice level.  Just before writing this my Mom got an email that said Nicki is also the USEA Novice Horse of the Year and I can’t be more proud of her…she has come so far.  During this season, we competed at more weekend events where we discovered that Nicki has an obsession for Fruit Loops…she demands that we have them available and lets us know when she’s ready for them by banging on her door.

Nicki and I have a lot to be thankful for…especially the privilege of training with my longtime trainer Linda Dean, and Dona Ruth who are forever patient, knowledgeable, understanding, encouraging and supportive even when I’m having a bad day.  And, for my Mom and Dad who continue to provide me with the best that they can to help me realize my passion and dream.

Photo Credit: Linda Dean

 

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Novice YR/Jr 4^th

Heather Johnson & Manx Man aka “Toby” is a 10yr old, 16.1 hand thoroughbred. I bought him in May of 2010 in hopes of starting to Event. We evented for the first time as a team this past spring and Toby and I have come a long way since then! We started out in Novice. After several successful Novice events, Toby and I won Seneca Valley Horse Trials, where we qualified for United States Pony Club championships in Lexington, KY ! We had a successful run in the Kentucky Horse Park. It was an unforgettable experience! In September we moved up to Training. We had two great Training events before we ended our season. Toby has taught me so much just this past year and we’ve had so much fun! I can’t wait until competition begins in the spring!  Special thanks to my family and my coach, Erika Gonzalez, for all your support in making this season a success!

 

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Novice YR/jr – Fifth place /Training YR/jr – Third place

Rider/Owner Name: Sara Vitkus

Horse's Name: Season O' Reason "Nike"

Age/Sex/Breed: 13yrs/Gelding/TB

I am a 16 year old junior, who attends school at Loudoun Valley High School as well as at Loudoun County's magnet school- The Academy of Science. When I'm not riding, I am usually hanging out with friends, or busy working on my research project on Gold Nanoparticles, which is a collaboration program with my research partners in Singapore.

Nike and I had a fantastic season this year, beginning with our first Novice together at Morven Park. One of our achievements this year was competing at the AEC's at Novice, which was an amazing experience! Going into the year, I was hoping to be campaigning at Novice, but after 4 Novices, we decided to move up to Training at Fair Hill. Fair Hill was great and we finished our first Training with a 2nd place! After the AEC's, we competed in 3 more Training levels, which all were successful- I was ecstatic to have done so well in only a half-season at the higher level.

Next year, Nike and I will be competing at more Training level events, in hopes of doing a T3D and possibly even going back to the AEC's- this time at Training! We have already qualified for both at the Training level at the end of the 2011 season. Hopefully Prelim is also in my future- I know it's in Nike's!

Lastly, thank you to my parents for supporting all of our endeavors this year and to my trainer, Martha Wunder, for all your help and coaching this season!

Photo credit: Hoofclix

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Novice Open – Champion

Heidi Wardle & Little Gem

Little Gem" is a purebred Irish Draught mare whose primary career up until 2010 was a broodmare for her owners Larry & Michelle Robbins, Kilronan Irish Draughts.  I started riding her in the fall of 2010, and by the time the spring of 2011 rolled around we had really figured each other out and had a great start to the season.  Gem won her first 3 Novices of the season, all with scores in the 20's.   As the year went on, she really  became solid in all three phases but is strongest in the dressage - she seems to know when she's performing in front of the judge and she makes riding a dressage test fun and pleasant; I can't help but have a smile on my face when we make our final salute.  After a successful year in which she moved up to training and then finished by competing at Novice at the American Eventing Championships, she will now continue competing next year with her Amateur owner.  I'm pretty sure I will have just as much fun watching her teach her owner as I have had teaching her how to be a champion event horse.

Photo credit: Emily Daly

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Novice Young Horse – Reserve Champion

Courtney Cooper & R Star

R Star is our 3rd oldest homebred (of 7), and the first one that we actually foaled by ourselves.  As our first filly out of "Faith," we nick-named her "Hope."  After backing her as a 2- and 3-year old, we bred her, and she foaled "Grace" when she was 4.  She started competing as a 5-year old and had a great year, finishing 1st and 2nd at Novice as well as 4th in the East Coast Young Event Horse Championships. 

Photo Credit: GRC Photography 

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Novice Adult Amateur Reserve Champion

Kindell Billingsley

 Keeneland aka "dolly" is a 17 year old American warmblood.  Up until two years ago dolly spent the last 9 years making beautiful babies and living the retired life.  I have been very lucky to have the opportunity to ride and compete her over the last two years.  She has taught me a lot and I have enjoyed every minute of our time together.  This mare has definitely made me step back and take a better look at the saying "Never judge a book by its cover". As you can see she is not shy about showing off her heritage, or the fact that she is a girl. You probably would not guess but she is the most graceful, elegant moving horse I have ever sat on.  Her greatest accomplishment outside of the show ring is getting herself stuck on a dutch stall door at a show. She tried to jump through the top opening but got stuck on the lower part of the stall door.  Luckily after much questioning of how she could have possibly accomplish such a task, calm dolly escaped with just a few scratches.  Dolly is also known as the "princess" in the barn, she is the only girl and man does she make that known.  At Dressage at Lexington this year the princess won Best Tail!!  This season was a great learning, fun experience for dolly and I.  Many successful shows, completing the AEC's, as well as trying out the fox hunting world of hunter trials.  We look forward to a fun and exciting season this year!

Beginner Novice YR/Jr - Champion

Danielle Klein & Waiting For Me, aka Fergie, is a 16.2 grey Thoroughbred mare. She came off the track as a four year old and was three legged lame because of a severe abscess in her right front. After countless X-Rays and Vet calls, she became sound. We started her slowly, not wanting to push her past her comfort zone and shatter her confidence. Our slow but steady progress was measured in months, even a year to get a consistent right lead canter. We were polishing off the rock that encased this diamond. Finally, under the watchful eye of our coach Debbie Wilson, we started to event her. Dressage tests of 5’s and 6’s turned into 7’s, 8’s and even 9’s as we molded her potential into something great. Our eventing career has only just begun, after our successful 1^st year at the recognized Beginner Novice and Novice levels, hopes of going Training level are in our near future.
 

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Beginner Novice & Novice YR/Jr – Reserve Champion

Tayler Stewart & Strictly Business

My name is Tayler Stewart and I am 12 years old from Damascus, MD. After about six years of the A and A/A hunter show circuit with my aunt and trainer Kim Stewart, I decided to try for a little more excitement and started eventing in 2010!  I started out with my large pony, Tayhill Glass Slipper aka Cinderella in Beginner Novice with good results…until she got kicked and broke her splint bone in May of this year.
 
While I was waiting for her recovery, I looked around on the internet and happened across Strictly Business 'aka' Biz:  A grey, 15.2 h, 13 year old gelding with a freckled pink nose and one blue eye. He is not the most handsome horse but his movement is unbelievable.   After one week I took him to his first horse trial at my own Seneca Valley Pony Club in Beginner Novice.  When we got out of dressage with a 26, we were so excited – too excited and had massive speed faults!  We got it under control at the next one at Loch Moy and won our first event!  We were soon qualified for the AEC's and Area 2’s after only three beginner novice horse trials and we moved up to novice. We won our first Novice event at Fair Hill and after that we never placed lower then second at any novice horse trial.  When we went to the AEC's me and Biz were 3rd out of 67 entries after dressage and XC! The last day they ran show jumping in reverse order of placement and the pressure was on!  Biz and I had a nice clean round so we had done our job and all we could do was watch the last two competitors.  The second place horse was looking a little unsteady but  was going clean…until the very last fence and after the rail dropped,  I moved up to be Beginner Novice Junior Reserve Champion!   It was amazing coming this far after only three months with Biz!  Soon after returning home, with a couple more local wins, we decided to enter the Area 2 Championships at the Novice level to keep it interesting.  Biz had his best dressage round yet with a score of 27.5, just a half point behind the leader, Perri Fisher on Futurama.  The next day after the snow melted, we went clean through XC and moved into the lead!  Biz and I finished it off with a great stadium round and we took home the Area 2 Junior Novice Championship.  In our short 5 months together, we finished up the season 2^nd on both the Area 2 JBN and JN year-end points, 2^ndplace USEA Novice Horse and 5^th place USEA Junior Novice rider.

Biz and I have done so well in a short time and I am so proud of him and myself.  I would like to thank my aunt Kim Stewart for getting me into horses and building a strong foundation for my riding career.  I would also like to thank my eventing trainer, Packy McGaughan, for teaching me to be an effective rider and everything else I know about eventing.  I would like to thank Judy McGaughan for giving me all those painful dressage lessons that have taught me so much about my horses and me and Seneca valley Pony Club for teaching me all about horsemanship, hosting great events, and for being the best pony club ever. I would like to thank my Parents for giving me love and support -  if it weren't for them I would not be here.  Lastly I would like to thank all the horses and ponies that have made me the rider I am today.  
Photo credit: GRC Photography
 

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Beginner Novice Adult Amateur Champion

Anne Huberth & Legend
Legend is a 14yr old, 16.1, OTTB like so many good event horses are. Being a Thoroughbred, he has the courage and stamina the breed is so famous for. To watch him Trot is breathtaking. I formed my partnership with Legend in the early winter of 2011 and haven’t looked back. He is an amazing competitor and yet, at the same time, will happily & quietly walk through the woods for hours. And just to show me any everyone else he’s in control, he’ll allow you to try and catch him in his paddock. Sometimes you win…sometimes he does!

Photo credit: HoofClix
 

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Beginner Novice Adult Amateur Reserve Champion

Judith Lamb & Plaza Time aka Eloise
In spite of some quite bad behavior, Eloise has become a great horse. She has her quirks, but is a true athlete. I learned to wear a watch when we came in with only 2 seconds to spare from getting speed faults. It really didn’t feel like we were going that fast, but apparently the little mare motors on with ease and can jump from speed. We hope to breed her next year and build our own eventing machine. I never thought I would find myself praising Eloise’s attributes, but here I am. Although she has her quirks, Eloise has gone from a rank, nasty little mare to a horse I trust on a xc course and an almost assured double clear in stadium. Not a super mover, she also seems to have that something that catches the judges eye in dressage and she tries hard. I guess the expression "attitude determines altitude" is applicable for Eloise.
I’m not sure this applies to every horse or every situation, but it took me 3 years to get where I am with Eloise and if there’s one thing I learned was "if I think I’m right about a horse, I probably am." I always saw something inside and outside of this little mare that gave me hope, so for the last 3 years I’ve been riding with hope. Almost every horse has a job, you just have to find out what it is.  We plan on breeding her in the Spring, but then continue competing in a year or so.

Thank you Eloise, we love you.  And thank you Marcia Carabell, we couldnt have done it without you!

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Beginner Novice Open - Champion

Also, 2011 TB Special Award winner, generously sponsored by Judith Lamb
Major Kelly Dobert & Austin Miller

I am but super busy as am working night shift (and day shift it ends up turning in to) in prep for deployment next week.  Oh, and I am still managing to fit in eventing on the weekends somehow...anyways, I am really to busy to write up a story but Austin Miller's Sire is Old Faithful and Dam is Contrary Secretary.  Austin is a Great-Grandson of Secretariat.  I have owned him since he was 5 and he is now 19.  He is NOT an OTTB but I did race him at an invitational charity race at a Kentucky Derby Party at Back Bay Farm in Pungo in Virginia Beach in 2004.  We won the first lap but he didn't see the need for the second lap and we came in dead last against the fit polo ponies.  As fit as he is now, I wouldn't expect him to let any horse ahead of him if we raced again.

Photo credit: HoofClix
 

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Beginner Novice Young Horse – Champion

Erika Gonzalez & That’ll Do The Trick
Horse Name: That’ll Do The Trick aka “Trick” or “Trixie” is a 16.3 hand, 6 year old registered Thoroughbred mare that comes from Phone Trick and Clever Trick lines. She started her career at Charles Town Race Track in West Virginia. She was successful as a racehorse, but was not the “stakes horse” her owner was looking for, so she left racing at the age of 5. Trick had a few months to get a solid foundation with her previous owner Holly Leasor until I purchased her just this past June as a project horse. She has been a credit to the Thoroughbred breed with her bravery and athleticism, especially going X/C, since she had never seen any of these obstacles before.  Within this short 5 month period and 4 recognized events, with her first event ever in September, she has really proven to be a quick learner and to love her new career as an event horse!
In the barn, Trick is not mare-ish at all, but would rather have you cuddle her head and smother her with attention. She has a funny habit of grunting when you ride her, but only at the times when she’s trying to figure things out… as if grunting helps “the wheels” turn. Trick has the right attitude and talent to move up the eventing levels quickly. I plan to start her out at Novice in the spring and possibly move up to Training in the fall. She’s certainly going to give her “older brother” (my upper level event horse, Copper Dancer) a run for his money!

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Beginner Novice Young Horse – Reserve Champion & Novice Young Horse - Champion

Rider: Helen Hayn
Owner: Thomas McLean
Horse's Name: Cozmic Star (aka "Cosmo")
5 yr old Holsteiner gelding bred by Acorn Hill Farm

Cosmo and I had a rough start from the beginning but now I'm enjoying the ride.   He's a bit of a "bullish" warmblood with tons of power, and loves food a bit too much.  Hopefully he will have a successful move up to training next year with me and continue excel in eventing. Maybe even get out to some jumper shows, like his sire.

Photo Credit: GRC Photography
 

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Beginner Novice Young Horse – Third place

Michele Lobsinger/Glenlara's Pride
Grey Irish Daught/Connemara Cross gelding bred & raised by Lesley Arnold
5 yrs old.  Purchased from Leslie in Nov of 2010 after retiring Able Sportsfield 2 months prior.  Funny story is that I actually flew into Dulles for that Sunday to see another Connemara gelding that I was 99% sure I was buying that was located about 3 miles from Leslie, who had contacted me the day before and so I felt I had to go see him only out of respect to Leslie and all the effort she was putting into getting him ready for me.  I left the other Connemara's place after riding him and excitedly, had almost sealed the deal. Very little time to get back to make my flight. Stopped by Leslie's to see Pride (then Spike) and was pretty sure he wouldn't be anything compared to the other horse. As I drove in, he poked his head out of the trailer as if to say....."Hey lady, check out this Irish boy's forelock!" The last thing I wanted was an ISH Grey gelding. However, I am a sucker for a kind eye and especially for a fluffy, pony forelock and his was adorable. Sat on him for about 15 minutes and that was it. Felt I could point him at any size fence and he gave me the feeling, "I got it lady, don't worry."  Pride has been a wonderful young horse for me and I am doing my best to start him very correctly and safely with Lauren's help.  He has already taught me so much and I hope we have many more years together.
Photo credit: Brant Gamma Photography