Summer Season

Once again I'm starting my blog off apologizing for the delay. Summer time has proven to be really busy here in Middleburg, Va. Last time I wrote it was after the eventing community received word regarding the tragedy that Boyd Martins barn suffered through. The eventing community has pulled together and raised a lot of money for him and those affected personally by it. It is nice to see that our community is so strong.
I had mentioned before that my parents had flown out from CA to attend Chattahoochee Horse Trials with me. Chloe rocked around that advanced like it was a beginner novice course and honestly did not look at anything twice. They had some tough questions and she responded like an experienced advanced horse. Unfortunately, we had a Technical elimination for missing a jump. This was obviously know one elses fault but mine and I sent the fourteen hour drive home and the majority of the following weeks beating myself up for it. I promise you that mistake wont be made again. It was a costly mistake seeing as how I needed that to run a three star. After beating myself up profusely I took a step back and realized maybe it was a blessing in disguise. I am not in any rush to push this horse to the top. I know she has it in her and I know we will get there but what is the harm in running a few more advances and waiting until Fall to run a three day. So for now that is the plan! I still walked away from that show so proud of my horse and how solid she has become.
After that show we had some down time Chloe had a few days to relax and I flew home to CA to surprise my parents for their 30th wedding anniversary. Shannon Lilley so kindly made that possible for me to do and I must say it was so awesome to be back home. I not only saw all my family but I got to sit on my moms new horse who seems to be quite nice! When I returned home Chloe and I were back to business. I decided to run her around Surefire intermediate since she had not been out in a while and I heard it was a very challenging track! It was a one day which can prove to be somewhat stressful unless you are ridiculously organized. It is funny to wake up in the morning and think that you will be done with a whole competition at 2:00 pm that day. I am still used to the west coast! Chloe and I did dressage at nine thirty and it was a packed division. 34 starters and that included the likes of Kim Severson, Allison Springer, and Will Coleman. Dressage has proven to be our biggest challenge. Although Chloe has all the movement it is sometimes hard to keep her relaxed. I feel like day by day I am slowly mastering it and it showed at Surefire. We walked out of the ring in fourth on a 32. Chloe was so relaxed and really came to play. I love that feeling. Next was show jumping and although I felt I did not have enough studs in her shoes she jumped a beautiful clean go despite some slipping. This moved us up to second. From show jumping we went directly to cross country. This leaves you with enough time to maybe get a gallop warm up fence, then your off. The course asked all the right questions. It was technical and terrain played a big part in it. Chloe left the box feeling fresh but was a bit spookier then normal. She is usually best after about the third fence when I can really get her going in a steady pace. With all the terrain I struggled a bit to find that good pace and this unfortunately led to some costly time penalties. I was pleased with how she responded to all the questions though and with any situation you have to walk away finding the positive. We came in fourth place and in a huge division like that I was pleased. With out the time we would have won and seeing as how prize money was involved that would have been nice. But as my mom said "clearly we are not in this sport for the money, we are in it because we love it and the horses." And I do. Everyday I ride I get more and more excited for Chloes and my future and every time I enter a horse show the count down to it begins. Chloe is back in dressage boot camp and we will run around Millbrook Horse Trials in the advanced division at the beginning of next month. This gives me plenty of time to perfect those lead changes!!
Aside from the horses I find myself grooming for polo games frequently. I have met a lot of awesome people that way and walk away with some cash too, not bad!
Allison takes off to Montana with Arthur at the end of the month and although it will be hard not having her instruction I look forward to riding all the horses in the barn!!
I hope everyone had an awesome and safe Fourth of July and all of you going to Montana, good luck!!

I currently don't have a strong enough internet connection to post pictures so those will come tomorrow!! But for now you can copy and paste this link to see Chloe at
Surefire :)

http://www.redhorseimages.com/2011HorseShows/2011-Surefire-Horse-Trials/pugh-kelly/17786695_twnV8g#1358971115_L4Xgsz7

Once again, thanks for reading guys!

Xoxo
Kelly, Chloe and Buckleigh