Joanie's Blog

As someone who has grown up posting the trot, finding distances to the jumps and holding one rein in each hand - how could I possibly turn down the opportunity to ride a reining horse at the NRHA Derby?

I'm hooked.

I have US Team Reiner Pete Kyle and his son Reed to thank. Reed served as the flag bearer before NRHA Derby No-Pro Finals, and his wonderful horse served as a school pony for me- for the five minutes before that.

Slightly intimidated in boat shoes (I did thankfully and accidentally wear a pink shirt and it was 'Think Pink' day at the Derby, so I had that going for me) I climbed aboard Reed's horse and went for a spin.

Literally.

I can't tell you how trained and agreeable these horses are - Brad Ettleman (show manager) calls them the Labrador retrievers of horses and he couldn't be more correct (as is per usual).

I didn't feel like too much of an idiot, short of struggling to get him to pick up the left lead - apparently i didn't have my left foot far enough forward (I was really focusing on not falling off) - but let me tell you about spinning.

I made myself quite dizzy as it wasnt until afterward that I asked Pete where I should look (at the outside ear), but with the slightest cue I found myself whipping around at mock 100. If you had told me I had gone around 9 times I would have believed you. I think it was only two in each direction. The only time I have been on horses that spin like that - it is definitely not on purpose and they certainly don't stop when you say "Whoa."

Reed now wants to learn how to jump and I have been promised more time in the western saddle when I come back in two weeks for the Open Reining National Championships.

Aside from those four minutes - I mostly followed Brad around - did some paper work and tried to make myself useful. There is a lot to learn at a 1000 horse horse show and Brad has an amazing way of managing people. So I attached myself to him and off I went. He said he was happy to have a new face after a week of being here and I am always happy to learn.

They live stream to 15,000 people on the internet - so their production is quite complicated and extremely well planned.

I have to run and pick up some flowers for awards.

More after the class.

I spent last night stuck in Orlando and then Charlotte before finally getting home well after 2 am. Tornadoes ripped through North Carolina and there were a lot of stranded people. It was very encouraging that it was all over the news in the airport.

I could have been stuck in Ocala at my lovely friend Max's house. She was kind enough to let me stay while I was at Live Oak, she works for Karen O'Connor, and lives on their wonderful farm, so I had it pretty good for 5 days. I paid for it by spending 12 hours trying to get home.

The weekend has been great despite the stuck-ness (I like blogs because you can use words like stuckness). The driving at Live Oak was phenomenal, the US drivers have upped their game and all the FEI classes the level was really superb. Jimmy Fairclough raised his game to a-whole-nother-level (again, love the blog…) with his newly leased leaders: Splash and Uniek. He survived a hairy moment today when he got stuck on the bridge in the cones, but he never wavered in his execution.

Jimmy and Chester both had the option to delay their start in the cones as the weather deteriorated rapidly. They both drove on – in some horrific conditions.

Chester and his crew at Live Oak outdid themselves.
I talked to him for a long time at the end of the competition - about training, competing at home and horses.

He is a thinker in a way many horsemen (and people for that matter) are not.

He wrote a two page plan of attack for the cones yesterday and by the looks of it, he executed it perfectly. When things get really hectic or start happening fast, the best athletes have the amazing ability to think really slowly. When he was hung up on the hazard on Saturday, when Jimmy got himself in a pinch at the bridge Sunday, where most people would panic, they thought it through and prevailed.

He runs a world-class event at his farm in between winning a national title and he considers that a disadvantage.

“Life doesn't stop, people think it gives me an advantage, but I will come to their house to show.”

His horses, if somewhat confused as he imagined, didn't show it – but they were having to put in world-class performance in their backyards.

They delivered.

“I sometimes think it is an advantage when I go to Europe, the phone doesn't ring for half the day, I can focus.”

I know what he means, despite the hours we kept at the 2008 Olympic Games – we were at least 12 hours removed from our lives at home. The WEG this fall in Kentucky will prove challenging for us all in that sense. Staff and athletes.

Watching all the horses at Live Oak really made me realize how amazing horses are. All shapes and sizes, from Fjords to fancy Dutch horses, trotters to Connemaras – they have all found their niche and a way to excel.

I hope their trips home were easier than mine, except for Boy, Grumus, Para, Horace and Rolex – that is the one upside about being at a competition at home, Chester's horses were just steps from their stalls at the end of the competition.

Arriving in Florida is always an adventure. Despite running laps between Lexington and Wellington this year, this was my first trip to Ocala, which of course means flying into Orlando.

Which of course meant that I was the only person on my flight and in the airport without Disney World on the brain.

Ocala and Lexington are locked in a fierce battle for bragging rights over which one really is the horse capital of the world. There are farms of every possible variety when you drive around this place, Paso Finos next to Niall Brennan's two-year-old operation, around the corner from the O'Connor Event Team. It seems to be never ending and steep on variety – more so in Lexington, but the volume in the bluegrass is astounding.

Who knows – bring on the Horse Census.

I went riding this morning with my friend Buck Davidson before heading over to driving land at Live Oak. This place is so beautiful, but like everywhere they have had more than their share of rain.

My rental car, which looks like an overgrown Tic Tac, threatened to not make it up a 1 degree incline on damp grass this morning. It was fiercely over exaggerating if you ask me.

After watching singles and ponies this morning and then going around some of the hazards with Chef d'Equipe Ed Young and Lizzy Staller, we are now watching the fours go. It is great to see some new names and faces here as well as most of the usual suspects.

We went bowling last night: Team O'Connor kindly adopted me as I am staying on the farm, and we beat a very tough Longwood Farm crew - Joanie 'Inconsistent' Morris wouldn't have been an essential team member...

More from the lovely land of Live Oak a bit later.

Ok, this is the beginning of the marathon day – 2 pm Selection Trial followed 7 pm Nations Cup.

Fast and furious and my hand are already freezing. For the record: it was warmer at my parent's house in Maine at some point yesterday than it was in South Florida. FYI… for those that think I am making up. The tomato crops are in grave danger and the price for tomatoes is through the roof. So cherish your caprese salads. Those things are going to be valuable.

Just walked this afternoon's course, technical and spooky – a change from the question of scope Guilherme asked on Wednesday.

He does such great job – and his assistant Mauricio is so nice – Guilherme is currently sporting the Road to Kentucky jackets that our USEF Marketing coordinators are hawking at the USEF booth. They are selling out quick – if you're here, get one, if you're not, don't forget to watch the live final USEF Selection Trial as part of the $150,000 CN US Open on the webcast on www.universalsports.com (shameless plug).

Ok, so 24 hours later, I am still working on this. Yesterday was a crazy day – I was at the venue from 8.00 am to almost midnight. The Nations Cup was great – tons of atmosphere and plenty of rowdy fans.. Unfortunately for the US, the wheels fell off a little bit in the second round. Casadora spooked badly at some raucous Mexican fans behind a white gate and stopped – very uncharacteristically. She had the rail at the second attempt. The US camp was disappointed – Lauren Hough more than anyone. Canada looked good, and will continue to be a Tour de Force heading to the World Games.The Mexicans and US-based Irish team looked great and really stepped up in the second round.

We didn't field our strongest team because of the selection trials running simultaneously but the up and coming horses look great. Apache and United both look very promising for the future.
I am tired of typing, I have a bowed tendon in my left hand which has now resonated up my arm into my shoulder – so I am stopping typing, going to a meeting. No promises of more until tomorrow.

Currently watching Canadian veteran Ian Millar jump in the $25,000 ESP Jumper Stake. He really is a legend.

Its still cold in Florida. And when there is no where to go inside – it's not entirely pleasant.

CSIO week is underway, the Welcome class is going on now in the International Arena and currently SRF Dragonfly is in the ring. The chestnut gelding jumped like a stag in 2008 in the Selection Trials for the 2008 Olympic Games for Nicole Shahinian Simpson and he is now representing Brazil.

With 11 teams in the Nations Cup, Friday's class promises to be a good one, there are some of the best in the world here to jump for honors. I went to the Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old sale yesterday st Calder to try to round up more fans for the US team – the problem is, most of my racing friends aren't American. I think I shamed them in to coming anyway though and waving the American flag.

I spent more time in the car than I did at the sale, the Florida Turnpike or Florida's Turnpike as it says on the sign, as well as a certain police officer who kindly reminded me that I was driving a little quicker than he would like, and I are all friends after that adventure.

I also saw a Distorted Humor colt sell for more than $2 million. The story, trust me this is the abridged, third hand version goes something like this: two friends spent $200k on a yearling, first try they took at pinhooking a Thoroughbred, and parlayed it into $2.3m less than a year later.

Nicely done.

Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable, LLC (of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra fame) signed the ticket – and perhaps he has a third legend in the making. Fasig-Tipton's website has the results for anyone interested: http://www.fasigtipton.com/.

It poured with rain Florida style yesterday, pouring one minute, sunny the next – rain the next… etc. I helped Lizzy Chesson deliver stuff, thankful for the golf cart as the puddles and sand made it some dirty work. Then made sure the rest of the USEF crew get organized and gave them the 10 cent tour of the venue, they are selling great USEF Selection Trials merchandise for the rest of the week right across from the Tiki Bar – if anyone here is looking for some retail therapy, you can find Road to Kentucky gear at the USEF booth.

They whole selection Trials contingent moves across Southshore today for the third trial on the grass in the Stadium. Should be great to see the horses in a new venue, Hillary Dobbs leads the 33 remaining in the Trials with one fault on Quincy B. That class goes at 3 PM. More later.

See: http://www.clubequestrian.com/photos/gallerylistbyuser/Sailorthedog/2275.aspx for photos, can't get them in the blog for some reason.

The level of jumping continues to be extraordinary in Florida. Cedric and Quick Study are certainly in a class of their own last night but there are many, many others just one stride behind.

The amazing thing about coming to the Winter Equestrian Festival is the total immersion in some of the best horses in the country. Even if you are just sitting at the deNemethy ring watching the Junior classic or hanging out by the warm-up of ring seven. Even those horses are some of the very best of their kind at what they do. I like watching the best horses do what they do. Whatever that may be.

I caught the beginning of the 1.50m class today and was hugely impressed by Alaska, Todd Minikus sure does ride well – and he really can show off a nice horse. I mean, he used to ride bulls, so a nice jumping horse really makes him look good. I then watched the USA v. Canada hockey game. Holy (enter expletive here)! That was amazing too, I had the incredible misfortune of watching it with Canadians… but it was good sport nonetheless.

What else is going on here?

Crossgate Gallery is set up at WEF with all of their unbelievable sporting art. They are donating 10% of everything they sell to the USET Foundation… go be amazed if nothing else.

I hope you have all played the WEG Pick 8, it took some doing but it was a great team effort on behalf of the USEF staff to get it live and they deserve all the credit… fantasy horse sports? Yes please.

I found out today by way of facebook that a marvelous horse I sold to an Adult/Amateur from Kentucky last year just arrived in Wellington, I will have to go give him a scratch on the head – what a wonderful racehorse turned show horse. I mean you wouldn't find a more fun horse to gallop down to a jump on even if he didn't want to jump into the water on the cross country – he has found a job where he truly is a movie star.

I have to move out of my wonderful digs in the Polo Club (thanks to a great friend) and go to Del Ray for two days… the commute will be worth a glimpse of the beach.

I AM SO SAD THE WINTER OLYMPICS ARE OVER!

I'm sure Bode will find a way without me.

I know half the country is again paralyzed by a blizzard, but it was cold in Florida yesterday.

Seriously.

Winter hats, gloves, scarves, jackets – for some reason (even though I didn't check the weather) I managed, in the most unorganized packing effort ever, to pack warm clothes. And my gloves were in my purse – sheer luck.

The jumping in the first round of the USEF Selection Trials was awesome. 13 clear rounds was a surprise to everyone. If it is any indication of the level of jumping in the US then we are in great shape. This means in the trials standings all 13 are tied at the top.

The price I paid for three glorious days in the Florida sunshine was a snow covered car and 22 degree temperatures in Lexington when I returned this morning.

It was worth it.

GLORIOUS

Seeing Ravel and Steffen Peters win the grand Prix at the Exquis World Dressage Masters was well worth the harsh reality of home. Ravel has grown up, improved and changed since I last saw him in 2009. He looks fantastic and just romped through the Grand Prix with ease for Steffen leaving two of the very best (Salinero and Satchmo) in his wake.

Friday was a day of meetings and wandering around at the horse show before the USET Foundation Party where I saw Bruce Springsteen and almost died of happiness. It was also fun to catch up with all kinds of friends I haven't seen in ages. Georgina Bloomberg, Phillip and Evie Dutton, Kevin Keane were all in attendance, the Foundation threw a great party – they raised plenty of money and everyone had a lovely time at the International Polo Club's elaborate tent. Jenny van Wieren and I debated buying WEG Dressage Discipline Manager Lloyd Landkamer the WEG Dressage Package in the silent auction (FREE ON SITE PARKING) in his absence, when we informed him over text messaging he didn't see the humor… we thought we were hilarious. People with far deeper pockets than us bought the packages and our teams look to be on the right track with the beginning season and their fundraising effort.

Plans for 2010 NAJYRC are well underway and everyone in Florida seems pretty pumped. Allyn Mann – our most enthusiastic supporter from our title sponsor Adequan – was there because they are sponsoring this week of the horse show and it is hard not to catch Allyn's enthusiasm.

Saturday morning started with a phone call from Evie who was stranded because the Philadelphia airport was closed due to the blizzard. We got her fetched from the airport and then all met at the horse show where we watched Leslie Morse win in the Grand Prix Special, in a much improved effort from Thursday and then next door watched Cedric – the hugely popular diminutive Gold medalist from 2008, jump to second in the 1.50m class. Laura Kraut gave him a great ride and he looked brilliant in his prep for the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games which get going at the end of the month.

Standing in the sunshine never felt so good.

Leslie and Tip Top Strutting Their Stuff

Work, work, work around the horse show (I think I spent 12 hours there yesterday) and then a quick snack before the Grand Prix Freestyle started.

Ravel returned to the ring in all his glory, very fresh and the crowd went wild. Some little mistakes didn't take away from a brilliant ride but Anky and Salinero were pretty perfect and even Steffen's one-handed changes weren't enough to sneak by the reigning Olympic Gold medalist. Steffen, as always handled the entire thing with class and dignity. Isabell Werth was third – the three of them were the classiest of acts.

Hopefully everyone got back to their respective places... but there are way worse places to be stuck than in Wellington.

Back to the grind tomorrow – the grind just isn't as fun when its freezing.

Sue Stickle and I Having Some Fun

It's getting to the time of year when everyone is reflective. How could you not be? It's a non-championship year (Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, and Pan Ams all took the year off) but it seems like we have had a remarkable year of achievement anyway. There were plenty of great moments: personal and professional for many of us, but it's my blog so you get to hear about mine first…

First there were the things that gave me goosebumps.

The Rolex/FEI World Cup Final:

Ravel rewrote history and never, ever blinked his 11-year-old eyes in the face of incredible competition and pressure. Steffen Peters was rewarded for uncanny sportsmanship in the face of disappointment in 2008 – with the year of his life in 2009. Ravel went on to be the first US horse to win the CDIO Aachen (something deemed nearly impossible) and just continued, somehow, to improve. His win, in front of his home crowd at the World Cup Final changed history.

Ravel

Sapphire continued to jump through the pages of the history books, a couple of 1/10ths of seconds kept her from being the champion behind the fleet-footed Shutterfly at the World Cup Final, but she didn't make one jumping mistake throughout. She is a legend – one that we are getting to witness first hand. She is part of McLain's family and Lee and Erika McKeevers family. The McKeevers have looked after her since her very first day in the US. She is a pet, the sweetest chestnut mare I have ever met – until she gets into the ring, then the gloves are off and she jumps better than anyone. Her wins at Devon, the Hampton Classic and the Spruce Meadows – which George Morris still touts as one of the best jump-offs he has ever seen – are the things people dream about. She literally out ran Hickstead, the reigning individual Olympic champ to win the $1m class.

Sapphire Flies in Vegas

Rodrigo Pessoa even got to shave McLain's head as the result of a longstanding bet after the Spruce Meadows win.

The week after the World Cup Final we were back in Kentucky where My Boy Bobby was best for the US with Buck Davidson. He jumped around Mike Etherington-Smith's course like an open hunter. But it was Headley Britannia and Lucinda Fredericks who took one for the girls (and Australia) at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** - the tiny chestnut mare paved the way for another first for the girls: Rachel Alexandra bringing down the house in Maryland winning the Preakness Stakes. Mine That Bird proved that his longest-shot-on-the-board in the Kentucky Derby was no fluke, he was gamer than game, but found the fastest three-year-old in the country a bit too hard to catch.

Not to be outdone by the four-footed ladies, Ashlee Bond jumped clear rounds for sport over the biggest European courses with Cadett. Ashlee is so lively and enthusiastic, she makes friends everywhere she goes and has certainly lived up to the hype.

Ashlee Bond became a houshold name with Cadett 7

Jersey Fresh provided a highlight, when Titanium jumped up into the top 10 in the CCI*** - again for Buck. Personal for me because I sold him to Buck off the racetrack. I'm demanding owner credentials if he comes to WEG!

NAJYRC never ceases to amaze me, those kids are just awesome. For as maniacal as the weeks surrounding that were, the end result was something to make everyone proud. Vaulting and endurance were well represented – a hint of things to come I hope, their non-championship divisions were well subscribed and competitive. There are too many people to thank, but i will start with these three:

Hugh Kincannon and Robby Murphy Recieve the High Five award from Howard Simpson

Saratoga provided the respite I needed after my first go round as a competition director, I saw some great friends and great horses – it is heaven on earth that place. I saw Rachel in her stall, but it was two weeks later that you could hear them all the way in Ballston Spa cheering her home to beat older horses (colts and geldings) in the Woodward. She was belly to the ground, you've never seen a filly try quite like that, she set a ferocious pace and then somehow held on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrTMpHvew0U

RUN LIKE A GIRL was the order of the year.

The Hunter Derby Final was quite the experience for me, I haven't spent that much time watching hunters in my life but it proves my theory: watching good horses do anything is awesome. These certainly were the best, and the course, at the main arena at the Kentucky Horse Park was to die for. These were real hunters, jumping four foot easily over solid fences.

The fall brought some of the highlights.

First I damn near died at the KY Cup Driving Test Event with an infected root canal. Rescued by the kindness of strangers who have become friends, I missed Chester Weber's record breaking 7^th National title on Sunday. But I can say that the hazard driving on Saturday was phenomenal. Larry Poulin retired from the sport with a classic performance, the gap he left will be very difficult to fill:

Larry Poulin

Personally, my little racetrack project materialized into a real event horse at the Virginia Horse Trials. Polo Grounds (Henry) still has a for sale sticker on his neck, but he proved how hard a horse can try. In work since April – he did little off-the-track horses proud showing up in the ribbons at jumper shows and events with an ever-increasing improving ability to steer.

Henry

Rachel didn't turn up for the Breeders Cup (through no fault of her own) and Zenyatta (who has always been my personal favorite) ran her unbeaten streak into the record books becoming the first mare to win the Breeders Cup Classic. That stretch run still gives me chills. Her ears pricked the entire way, Santa Anita will never be the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-88DTxeYs

Last to first with a thundering rush to greatness.

Her trainer, John Sheriffs won the Ladies Classic the day before with Life is Sweet.

No doubt it is.

We took a six of our best athletes to the AQHA World Show where Bobby Murphy, Kathy Meyer and I did our best impressions of cowboys. Phillip Dutton, Will Simpson, Holly Bergay, Valerie Kanavy, Mike McLennan and Pete Kyle brought down the coliseum at the State Fair.

Holly Bergay and Grand Ballerina

Holly Bergay showed the poise of a seasoned veteran in an electric atmosphere, the 17-year-old represented Dressage and ParaEquestrian – putting on a show that brought the crowd to your feet. Everyone delivered – but when Pete and Will switched hats and Will climbed aboard Gimme More Bucks to the tune of Should've Been a Cowboy, the crowd at the AQHA was won over.

100%.

Will Simpson Reining Star

The Carolina Horse Park's Celebrity Bareback Puissance provided a fitting end to a Thanksgiving weekend. Six very game riders, from Grand Prix show jumper Jeanne Hobbs to Olympic eventer Bobby Costello, went to task at 3'3” in very good humor. The mood changed to fear/focus when the wall approached five feet and Costello jumped 5'3” before bowing out. Hobbs then cleared 5'6” for the win. 19-year-old Antigua (who represented the US at the 2006 World Equestrian Games) came out for some fun.

Jeanne Hobbs and Night and Day 8

I'm not ready for next year. But for all the hassle, headaches and paperwork, comes moments like those. Thank you to everyone that made it happen.

Bring on 2010, but first: a nap.

Photos courtesy: Shannon Brinkman (3), Flashpoint, Picsofyou, Joanie Morris, the AQHA, USEF Archive, Meri Hyoky

Eventing horses have a tough job, they are the triathletes of the horse world and have to excel in three very different phases. They have to remain calm and focused in the dressage, brave and fast on the cross country and careful and strong in the show jumping. Amazingly they tend to have very long and illustrious careers.