Preparation

After a long cold winter of putting in our time, we are finally starting to see the payoffs of the dreadful winter. Spring is right around the corner which means shows are just around the bend!

A week from now I will be on the road with some close friends and clients heading south to Lexington, Kentucky for our first show of the season, Spring Bay Horse Trials. This will be the earliest I have shown in the show season, so I hope all of my preparation and training will pay off. Since this is the earliest show I have done, we had to begin conditioning work earlier in the indoor arena. Trot sets started early and I am now up to where I would like to be and have done a few gallop sets, weather permitting. We are hoping to have seen the last of the snow but you never know in the unpredictable midwest!

I will be debuting the 2009 season atop Lady Hannah B in the Open Preliminary division. This weekend the 28th & 29th I will be doing some last minute preparation with Eric Dierks as he will be at Trophy Hill Farm for an eventing clinic. We hope that Spring Bay will be a friendly opener for us and allow us to get out off of the farm and out on the cross country in order to help prepare for our CIC* at Otter Creek Farm at the end of May.

Traveling with me to KY will be my long time student Maria Filsinger and her new mount Peter. This will be their first recognized event together and they will be starting out at the Beginner Novice level. They have put in countless hours of training and preparation all winter also. Also attending and debuting her 2009 season will be long time friend, client and vet Jen Johnson and her horse Loose Cannon. Cannon had tie back surgery last fall and recovered well, this will be his first test out on the cross country. Kendall Torrell will also be joining us on our long journey to KY and riding in the Preliminary Rider division in order to prepare her for her first CIC* at Otter Creek Spring HT at the end of May.

Not only will it be a great kick off to the 2009 show season but I also look forward to seeing my coach Philippa Humphreys (formerly Richards) and some of her students that I had a chance to grow close with while training in Michigan with her in 2008.

So far we have no set in stone plans for the season but hope to attempt the move up to the Intermediate level later this fall. I am in no hurry as I am a full time student at UW-Stout and still have 2 years to finish out my degree. I want to learn and get as much experience as I can a top my mount Lady Hannah B while she is still in the prime of her career.

I have been accepted into the American Horse Trial Foundation and look forward to finding support from clients and fans from all over. I am also proud to say that County Saddlery has picked me up as a sponsored rider and have held on to my long term sponsorship with Kaesen Farms out of Bastrop, Texas.

I look forward to seeing everyone as the weather warms and we all crawl out from underneathe the blankets. Pleaes check in periodically as I will be updating my blog more consitantly with the warm weather and exciting prospect of a new show season. I wish you all the best of luck this show season.

Untill next time. Ride on.
Liz Lund