Team Harvest View had a really good day at the LAPS Benefit Show at the Lebanon Fairgrounds on Sunday. Emily and Sarah rode Rigbie and Griffin in the Shortest Stirrup and Short/Long Stirrup Divisions and brought home some nice ribbons. Tammy and Rigbie did a lovely job in the Adult Rider division, as well as Modified Hunters. Bry and Patrick were Low Hunter Champions and Handy Hunter Reserve Champions, and Bry won the Medal Class. (Go, Bry!) Kayley and Griffin also did very well in their first outing together, winning the Schooling Hunter Division Championship, and reserve in the Junior Equitation Division, along with placing third in the Medal Class. 

Great job, everyone, including the very tired ponies who earned a day off on Monday.

Meanwhile, as the girls were getting ready for the LAPS show, Alexis and Domino were practicing for this weekend's competition at Burgundy Hollow. We went to Stonewood Farms, where she popped over some fences in the ring before heading out to the cross-country course. Here they are jumping Alexis's favorite fence, the bench.

Our weekend started out with a Friday afternoon and evening of jump repair and painting, along with a cookout with lots of yummy noms. Many of our jump rails needed to be scraped and repainted, so we spent lots of time with wire brushes and scrapers getting them prepped for their new coats of paint. Dave replaced the rotted wood on the wishing well gate, along with some wobbly feet on some standards. We have a lot more work to do, especially on the jumps we bought last summer, but we're well on our way to getting some fresh-looking jumps in our outdoor ring and in the jump field. Thanks to everyone who helped out!

On Sunday, we headed back out for the Blue and Gray Horse Show hosted by Hunt Cap Horse Shows at South Branch Farms in York. Bry and Patrick (Dunlaoghaire) had their first competition together and came home with the Open Hunter Championship. Since Bry is using Patrick as her 4-H project horse this season, we suggested she do the 3' option, and they made it look easy. Patrick loves Bry, who rides him beautifully.

Erin and Brownie (Dark Roast) were also out for their first show together, and Erin's first show, and came home with a reserve championship in their Blue and Gray Equitation Division. Special thanks to Abi Dolmetsch for hopping on Brownie in the schooling ring for us. It's nice to have an experienced pony wrangler to help work out the kinks! Erin did a super job with Brownie, who although a horse show veteran, still had a few pony moments. It was definitely a confidence-building day for her.

Tammy and Rigbie (Birthday) also had their first outing together. South Branch is Rigbie's old stomping grounds, so he was right at home there. They did the Beginner Equitation Division and finished in second place in all of their classes, which reaped a division reserve championship for the pair. The two of them look beautiful together, and the hours of scrubbing on Saturday made Rigbie blindingly white. Even a few days later, he is still looking very clean!

Congratulations to all of our riders who went out and competed this weekend. This coming weekend, we'll be heading to the L.A.P.S. Benefit Show at the Lebanon Fairgrounds. Please come out to cheer for our riders and to support L.A.P.S.!

On Saturday, we traveled to the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club to participate in one of our favorite events of the year, the Elkridge-Harford Pony Club's Round Robin and Starter Trials. It was our first event of the season, and all three of our riders did a great job, and came away excited and ready for more.

Wende and Cheer jumped clear in the show jumping and the cross-country phases, and had they gone through the finish flags in the show jumping, would have finished in first place. Despite the technical elimination. we were thrilled with how well they did and look forward to the next outing at Burgundy Hollow on the 24th.

Alexis and Domino (Like Night and Day) had a very nice dressage test and went around the show jumping and cross country with a few stops. They are forming a new partnership and are figuring things out and looking forward to a great season together as they solidify their relationship. Despite a few blips, Alexis was all smiles when she came through the finish flags after cross country. This was their first time going out on a big course all alone, so it was a huge accomplishment for them!

Alyssa and Buoy (Harbor Master) improved their dressage performance tremendously, and rocked around both show jumping and cross country with no penalties for a fifth place finish. These two are a great pair, and we're looking forward to seeing them progress this season. Buoy would rather run and jump then spend any time in the dressage ring, but Alyssa's hard work over the winter paid off with a good test. We're excited for them!

Orion is spending the month of May boning up on his dressage work with Kristin Severson at M&M Equestrian in Honey Brook. Yesterday Kristin rode him in a clinic with her trainer, the great JJ Tate, and he did very well. Kristin is hoping to give him more confidence and strength as she works with him throughout the month.

The facility is beautiful, and his care is top notch, so we're excited to see how he progresses in his training. If yesterday was any indication, he'll have another upgrade installed by the time he comes back home!

If you are interested in riding with Kristin, you may want to sign up for her clinic at HVS next Friday afternoon/evening. Ride your horse or one of ours. You can find more information here.

Last Sunday, we headed to the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club for a great afternoon of cross-country schooling in preparation for the EHHPC Starter Trials this coming weekend. Wende, Alyssa, Jolynn and Alexis will be competing in the Baby Beginner Novice Division, and all of them have been working hard on their dressage and show jumping. This was the opportunity to get out over some XC fences and to preview the lay of the land for the competition.

We wish all of them the best of luck on Saturday. Stay tuned for photos!