It is 2015. I can't believe how time flies.
2014 was a fabulous year for Liz Lund Eventing.
We attended many horse shows with great results! Looking back we had a very busy, fun year!
May:
Spring Otter Creek
May Daze & KY Dressage Association Show at the Kentucky Horse Park
St Croix Classic
June:
Lainey clinic at Schweiss
Becky at Otter
Fox River Valley Horse Trials
Betsy Steiner Clinic
July:
Roebke's Run Horse Trials
Alpine Dressage
August:
Catalpa Corner Horse Trials
Otter Creek Summer
Lainey Clinic
Richland Park Horse Trials & Steepleview Horse Trials GOT DENVER THIS WEEKEND!!!
September:
Roebke's Run Horse Trials
RF Convention in Atlanta
Otter Creek Fall
AEC's at the Texas Rose Horse Park
October:
XC Schooling at Schweiss
Regional Dressage Championships at Kentucky Horse Park
Midsouth Horse Trials and CCI1* - Emily Shirley and Raptor Force won the YR CCI1* Champion title while Sam Kelly & Someday Never Comes won the Reserve Champion. Emily finished 2nd overall in her division and Sammy in 3rd.
Heritage Park Horse Trials
November:
Jon Holling Clinic at Carriage House Farm
Yves Clinic at Trinity
Dressage Clinic with Judy Walker at RDE
December:
Betsy Steiner Clinic
Holiday Party at Gearhart's
January 1 - depart for Florida.
It all seems so simple when written down, but as you all know there is so much time, work, and preparation that goes into going to each show, clinic, lesson and more! I first want to say I appreciate everyone's help in organizing and coordinating this all and am already anxiously awaiting our first area show!
Student Update:
I have so many great students! Everyone had great results this year whether it was moving up a level, achieving qualifying results for a future goal, learning to ride a new horse, or just having great lessons and enjoying their 4 legged friend.
Heading into 2015 we are busy setting goals, making plans as to what we need to accomplish and work on before the show season hits us in full force. I have been lucky enough to spend the winter in Florida at a lovely farm right in the heart of Ocala. I am traveling home a lot to teach my students at home as well. Everyone is working hard towards improving their riding, their horse and the partnership together. Two of my girls are aiming at the 2015 North American Junior Young Rider Championships at a the CCI1* level to represent Area IV. I couldn't be more excited and proud of those two, Emily Shirley & Sam Kelly.
Minnesota Bound aka Milo was sold the day before leaving for Florida to a local lady to be ridden in Dressage. She absolutely loves him and I couldn't have asked for a better new home. Marcia is still riding her friend's horses and lessoning on a regular basis.
Emily Shirley & Raptor Force had an amazing year. They solidified their Prelim runs to qualify for the Midsouth CCI1*, and all while competing her horse Raptor, she was being my amazing groom keeping all my horses in top condition, allowing me to coach and compete. None of this last year would have been possible without all of her hard work! Not only did the get their qualifications for the Midosuth CCI1*, she went down there and killed it! She finished 2nd overall in her division and was the Young Rider CCI1* Champion! Her hard work and dedication sure pays off and it will continue too, as she has her sights set on the 2015 NAJYRC Area IV Team!
Sam Kelly & Someday Never comes also had a stellar season. They had many top finishes including wins at Fox River Valley, Roebke's Run, Otter Creek Summer, Otter Creek Fall and third place finish at the CCI1* in Kentucky in her division and Reserve Champion CCI1* YR. Looking forward to great things in 2015, already starting the year off with a win at Rocking Horse in the Preliminary division! Sammy's mom, Heidi, is also riding her fancy draft cross Mon Cherie!
Claire Henneman & Emma's Wish had a great season, making the move up to Training level with many top finishes. They were 1st in the Novice division at Fox River Valley and 2nd at Roebkes Run in July. They finished 2nd in their first Training level at Catalpa Corner and qualified to compete in the Training 3 Day at Midsouth. They had a successful run at the three day, learning a lot and really enjoying the full format. Claire has her sights on perfecting the training level and moving to preliminary when ready!
Lily Geelan & Boo Ya had a great year too! They made a successful move up to training level at Otter Creek Summer and finished off a great year at the training level, almost always finishing in the top 8. Unfortunately Lily has grown quite tall and we are looking to sell Boo and find Lily a new, larger mount! Exciting things will come for her and a new horse in 2015!
Olivia Shirley & Lady Hannah B. No bias here, but definitely the best horse in the barn! Olivia loves Hannah so much, it really means a lot to me to watch a lovely young girl take in my horse as her own. They had such a great year, reaching many of her goals! They moved up to Novice and have their sights set on Training level this year! They had a 2nd place finish at Otter Creek, the first show of the year, 3rd at Otter Creek Fall at the novice level and a 4th place finish at Heritage Park to top the year off! Looking forward to exciting things for Olivia & Hannah in 2015!
Mariah Luksan & Midnight Starbuck had a great year, completing a lot of shows at the Beginner Novice level, she has her sights set on Novice for 2015. They finished the year with a win at Beginner Novice at Otter Creek Fall. Mariah's riding has improved so much over the year and continues to each time I teach her, I am impressed with her dedication and drive to further herself as a rider!
Maitland Luksan & Curbside Appeal rocked in, never finishing outside of 3rd place! They are working hard to move up to Novice this year, and that little horse has springs! They took 3rd at Otter Summer & fall, and finished 2nd at Roebke's Run. Look out for this kid as she is on the rise to become a very competitive young rider!
Maura Tierney & The Artful Dodger had a great year despite a hiccup at the end. Maura is back in the tack and ready for 2015. They competed all over at the Beginner Novice level and are ready to get going for this year! I have really enjoyed working with Maura & Artie and watching their partnership grow.
Maddy & Jennaea Gearhart have been having a blast with A Simple Twist of Fate aka Dylan! Maddy did her first horse trials last year and had so much fun! She can't wait to get back out there this year! Jennaea has been working hard at home, she has started over some poles and will be back jumping later this year!
Niamh O'Mahony is riding Tracy's pony Taco, and really enjoying him! He is such a great little teacher it is fun to continue to teach student after student on him. She will be getting ready for her first show of her career this year!
Deb Stern & Oliver are back and ready to show! Deb had some time off due to knee surgery and her daughter's wedding, and son's baby being born. Now she is ready for another show season! Her and Oliver are a competitive pair and are looking to come out strong this year.
Dana & Lisa Kellenberger are back in the barn with Melody and their newer horse Magnolia. They have been great friends for many years it and it is so fun to work with them! Their new horse is a cute mare that is ready to teach them more. It is so great to have Lisa living back in Minnesota too!
Osa & Frida have been back at lessons. They have made huge improvements in Frida's gaits, her trot and canter is a lot stronger. Osa is a fun rider to work with as she understands the technicalities of dressage.
Isabella & Eliana Schmidt are a mother daughter team that ride Dressage. Isabella's horse O'Neill came in later this summer. He is a blast to ride but can be a bit lazy, which has been great to teach Isabella how to ride him forward! They had a few successful shows this fall and are looking forward to getting out and competing at 1st and 2nd level and possibly even 3rd level this year! Eliana is leasing Ty, she is a walk/trot student right now and has her goals set on becoming more comfortable in the tack and cantering!
Morgan Chapman & Prove Em' Wrong aka Logan are down here in Florida working hard! Morgan & Logie did their first starter even last fall at Otter Creek and are now getting ready for their first beginner novice! Morgan is a working student, she works hard to keep my horses healthy and ready to go for me!
Catharina Ardakani & Classic's Coutura made the trek to be a working student down in Florida too. Cat is also owner of Custom Fly Veils, my ear bonnet sponsor. Her & Morgan work hard to keep the barn running! Cat & Lily are going to be doing Training and then moving up to Preliminary later this year.
I am picking up a new working student today, I will be headed to get her shortly, so once she is settled in I will have to update you on her!
There are many new and exciting changes coming for 2015, the first of them being able to winter the beginning of the year in Florida. I can't repeat how lucky I feel to be able to have this opportunity! I so thankful for Tracy and Elysium Farms, for allowing me to be able to come back quite often and still teach my Minnesota crew!
Roxy and Lucy are thoroughly enjoying their FL time! Both working hard, Roxy has her first show in the beginning of February at Ocala and Lucy is working hard to get her piaffe and passage, as well as her 1 tempis. She will be competing at the end of February.
I have ridden Lucy with Gunnar Ostergard and he was very helpful working on minute details and reminding me to ride every single step and be completely focused while riding. I will be riding Lucy with British FEI Judge James Burtwell soon and have been riding Roxy with Philippa Humphreys, Lainey Ashker and Jon Holling.
We have already been over to Longwood a number of times and Sam Kelly competed at her first horse trials at Rocking Horse 1, winning the Preliminary Rider division.
It has been fun down here. My good friend Jordynn Sahagian from Barrington, IL is living with me too. She is working with and for Will Coleman while she is here. It has been great to have her around.
So since this is a 2014/2015 blog I am going to wrap it up, with high hopes of writing another blog soon...but until then, heels down, chin up and have fun!
