A New Year....

Well, apparently I am a horrible blogger since the last/first time I "blogged" was almost a year ago. Seems appropriate to start over now seeing as its New Years Eve, so here we go:

So many changes since my first blog! 2012 was a huge year for myself and CSS. CSS has finally found a place to call home on a 20+ acre farm in Preston, MD. It is humble but professional and a good work place for where I am now in my career. The farm has 9 stalls, 6 in the main barn and 3 in an attached lower barn. It has a huge outdoor lighted arena that we have split up to house both a standard dressage arena and a full stadium course! We have a large 7 acre field that is slowly turning into what I hope will be a nice cross country course! We are currently accepting training clients and consignment horses (shameless plug).

I have changed my career goals and pathways as a rider here lately thanks to a large push from Nancy Toby! Because of the goal she had set for her mare that is in training with me (USEA YEH) I have found my way back into the equine triathlon that is eventing! Although the YEH didn't go as we had planned, it was the push I needed to try my hand back in this sport; it also turns out that my horse is really really good at it! Big Gandy infact has a USEA record with Advanced Event rider Laura Candervliet who it turns out actually started the big guy under saddle, I couldn't be more honored to have a horse who was started by such an amazing professional in this industry! We did 1 Beginner Novice starter trial where we finished 2nd, missing first by only 0.5 points! The following month (November) we bumped up to Novice and finished fourth on a big tough course (with SO MANY HILLS!!!) after an unfortunate rail in stadium. The plan is to do Novice for half of next year and then bump up to training level! The great thing about going into this with an older horse (can't believe he's already 14!!) is that we can move up quickly as we progress through the levels and feel comfortable. This horse will always be my once in a life time, I don't know that I'll ever have another as amazing as him, even this early in my professional career! Our biggest goal for 2013 is to qualify for te AEC's in Texas.....we shall see! One of our most exciting accomplishments of 2012 was the addition of our first sponsor, CWD Sellier! Gandy and I can't wait to get our custom saddle in 2013!

I have had some opportunities to ride some pretty amazing horses this year! Briar Rose belongs to Nancy Toby and is who sparked this eventing adventure! She is a pretty little mare who really wants to please, I can't wait to see how far she comes this spring and summer! Nancy has been working hard with her daily on the flat, focusing on "calm and relaxation" as we push forward with her training. Rosie could really go in any direction but she seems to excel in dressage! We are currently placed 2nd in the LKM/Breezy Run Dressage Series for Intro and hope to move her up to the Training division next month. When she is relaxed and focused she really is lovely to watch- we have even received 9s on our movements! Rosie is for sale, as most of them Are, and would be an ideal YR dressage mount!
Nancy has also recently (less than a week ago) purchased a really cool little pony for her twin daughters! Belle is a lovely little paint pony that we basically pulled out of an icy field and brought home. I have only ridden her once since she's been home because of the weather but if that one ride was any indication I'd say she has a bright future ahead! It was blowing about 20 mph with my jumps falling down around her and she didn't bat an eye!
Abbey is another really neat little mare I had the pleasure to work with this year! She is a Freisian Sport Horse by the Freisian stallion Onassis, out of a spotted draft mare. She belongs to Joe and Cat Dorcak and came to CSS with about 10 rides under her belt. In 2 weeks we brought her up to Full Moon Farm, less than 30 days under saddle, to win te Elementary Division on her dressage score!! I was so proud of her! She loves to please and definitely tries hard. She is a fast learner and enjoyed being on the "fast track" learning program while at my farm. She is back home with we owners now however we hope to get her back for the spring to play some more!
I some how got involved and ended up with a big 17 hand TB mare named Sugar. She is sort of a mental rehab as I think she's been a little mishandled in the past. Her past is foggy and I haven't done much with her yet as I am working on her just settling in and learning the routine of the farm.


I have to of course take this time to thank my awesome clients! Without them I would't have been able to have the year I have had! We are a small group but it's slowly becoming a tight nit family! The Toby's have been with me for over a year now, through 3 different barns, 2 different ponies (and now their own), countless shows, a few road trips and lots of lessons! Morgann is a long lost childhood friend! It is so nice having someone from "back in the day" in the barn! She bought an amazing horse from me named Hunter and he has turned out to be a stellar horse for her family, even 4 year old Carrie, her daughter! The Scott's have been lessening with me for a few months now and while I only see them once a week (they have their own farm), I love working with them and their horses! Hannah has really been growing in her riding and has goals of moving up to her D-3 this year! Cat is another client who has her own farm, in Salisbury. She is a wonderful person and has quite an amazing collection of horses, mostly TBs! I love traveling to her farm to work with her and her horses! She is in the process of building a new barn on her farm and we hope to grow a lesson program there as well!

Well, dinner is almost ready and this is long winded- happy new year to everyone and best wishes for 2013!!