Recent Important News

Hello all! I have some recent updates I thought you should know about:
First and foremost, it has been announced that Frodo and I made the short list for next year's olmypic games in Hong Kong. Being on the winter training list, as I have heard, entails a lot of hard work and determination which is right up Frodo's and my alley! The clinics for the training list will start at the end of January prompting my boys and I to head down south a little earlier than expected.
Secondly, I am so thrilled to say that my deceased equine star, the apple of my mother's eye, Eight Saint James Place is going to be honored at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** every year by naming the trophy to the three star winner the Eight Saint James Place Trophy. In addition to that honor, a tree and gravestone have also been planted at the Horse Park of New Jersey that oversees the water fence thanks to the great people at the horse park of NJ, Ann and Troy Glaus, Wendy Bebie, Kristen Bond and Buck Davidson, Darren Chiacchia, Jess and Matt Kiener, and Carl and Cassandra Siegal. Also, Brendan Furlong and Associates gave a grant of money in Jamie's name in research to study anurisms in horses and the reasons for their happenings. I cannot tell you amazing it feels to have your horse loved not only by myself and my mother, but by the whole eventing community as a whole. Jamie's legend will live on forever because of what these eight groups of people have done. For that, I am so greatly appreciative.
Finally, the end of the year rider rankings from the USEA were published and because of Frodo's excellent standing at Fairhill and Alex's phenomenal showing at Ocala and because of my horse's consistency throughout the whole year, they helped me to finish 12th in the overall rankings and 7th in the woman standings in the whole nation, which also includes foreign riders riding in our country! What a feat!!! Stay tuned for more!

Remembering Eleanor

As I sit here typing on my phone and reminisce about the past month my mind is sent into a vast whirlwind. Fairhill ended up with the results I have always longed for: a position in the eyes of the us selectors.

Not slowing down, I took alex to rubicon to hop over a prelim course before the two star in Ocala, where he performed effortlessly and won with flying colors. Driving down to Ocala was a long and tedious pilgrimage but nevertheless proved to be a fruitful and gratifying experience when al came 6th and we finally got a a qualifying result at the two star level. On a sadder note, a fellow competitor and close equine comrade, eleanor brennan was killed in an accident going xc which also took her horses life, mister barnabus. Her death has effected not only my morale, but also the morale of the eventing sport as a whole. Although I do believe our course designers are doing fantastic jobs of fabricating safer courses, I believe as riders and endorsers of this grueling sport, perhaps we should take a step back to put things in perspective. Eleanors and barneys (her horse) deaths will not go in vain. We as competitors need to find a more innovative way of protecting our younger equine and human athletes. Eleanor is survived by her loving mother, cristine and her younger sister isabel, both of whom are horse lovers. With my highest respects, I send them my condolences during such a traumatic and gruesome time in their lives. Eleanors 4 star horse, bailey zwei, passed earlier this year so I know now she has been reunited with her long lost equine partner. I love eleanor and will deeply miss seeing her illuminating smile and contagious cheery attitude at all the events. Until next time, be safe, and give your ponies a few extra carrots for me!