Monday, August 30, 2010

The Final Day at Richland

Running Order jumped well, we had an unfortunate rail at the 2nd fence but finished in 6th in the CIC***. Pretty damn good for his 3rd advanced. I can't say enough about how good he was this weekend. Slick was also very good on XC, he finished the weekend up in 7th.

Click here for Running Order's Helmet cam video from Richland's XC

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Correction

RO is actually in 5...I forgot about Will with Palow.

-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

The final walk...



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Richland Day #4

It was another spectacular day here at Richland Park. In general the day ran smoothly without a significant amount of trouble on course. Time was a factor, being that the scores were so close even a couple of points could make a big difference.

Running Order was nearly foot perfect for the entire round. We had one small hickup that was sorted quickly at the corner combination. He handled all of the other combinations as if he'd seen them 1000 times before. We were well within the time and moved up to 4th!

Nate is still in the lead with a clear round, Boyd is second and Selena in 3rd. Tomorrow will certainly be putting everyone on edge.

We have the jogs at an obnoxiously early 7:30 tomorrow so after the competitors party not a whole lot of sleep will be had...but certainty with it in the end.

-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Friday, August 27, 2010

Richland Day #3

It was a very unusually slow day for us, considering its Friday at a big competition. With two horses in tow we didn't quite know what to do with our free time. Slick was the only horse competing and he didn't go until nearly 1 pm. We had a leisurely morning which included breakfast, walking to dogs/horses and generally hanging out with the 400+ riders and horses here this weekend. Richland certainly has a big stage feel, always a bunch of activity and with 4 rings going the warm up was packed all day.

I rode Running Order first, just doing a bunch of stretching etc. Nothing too strenuous, but enough to get his blood flowing and muscles warm and loosened up. Slick was next. I rode him twice to see if it might help. I have to keep in mind how few events he's ever been to in his life. I might as well take advantage of the opportunity for him to experience all of the atmosphere here.

So with my dressage time coming soon, I decided to review my test once more. I logged onto the Usea's site, typed training B into the search box and learned my test. I did think it was a bit weird. I've had nearly 100 starts this year and didn't really recognize the test. Oh well...must be different than most events I've done recently. Yeah...it was different. I hadn't done this test in a while being that it was the 2006 vintage rather than the 2009. So the test actually starts off identically, all was good until the first canter. Then 1 whistle...wrong letter for the depart. Then 2...wrong circle. I obviously realizes something was drastically wrong...asked the judge what test we were doing...training B correct? Yes...but not the same training b. Long story short, learned the test quickly, I've done it countless times, and we finished with 6 pts in errors. He was actually very good and finished in 7th with a 38.

I walked the *** course again, actually twice more. All is looking good. I think its a very good course. Should be challenging, but I feel prepared and will certainly make a go of it tomorrow.

The day finished up with a riders meeting with the judges, safety, medical and other officials. They made some quick changes to the time schedule, but essentially the same for our horses.

Slick gets to do show jumping tomorrow and XC on Sunday. The sj course looks good, it will be challenging and will have its share of rails. Lucky for me Slick is a good jumper and shouldn't have too much trouble. Again keep your fingers crossed, anything can happen!

We had one other very funny thing happen. Were staying a friends place about 10 mins from the show grounds in a guest cottage. Last night a bunch of us were certain that on display were a bunch of African instruments. Knowing us it soon became a contest of who could play them better. In order to get a good tune we had to play them like trumpets. All was well and good. Fast forward to tonight. We went to dinner with Sallie our host, they came up in conversation. Turns out their actually a collection of yarn spools that have been turned into candle sticks which happen to be candleless at the moment!!! We were laughing so hard we were crying.

Were off to bed...and looking forward to XC tomorrow!!

-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Richland day #2

Richland Park is certainly living up to its reputation. The facility is great. The rings, warm-up and XC all are in near perfect condition. The entire course is being irrigated as we speak. While were on the subject of xc, I can't wait until Saturday. Ian Stark's course is very inviting and certainly will encourage and reward forward positive riding. I'm sure there will be a fair about of problems...hopefully were not among them :).

Running Order did dressage today. He had his best test to date. We're sitting on a 52.2 in 7th place. I'm very happy especially considering the field he's in. He's less than 2 pts back from Karen O'Connors Mandeba and just ahead of Buck and Ballynocastle RM! Both horses should be bound for the world games in a month. Nate Chambers is currently winning with Boyd Martin close behind. All is quite close so I'm sure we'll have a very exciting Saturday.

Slick is going tomorrow right around mid day...so check back for updates!

-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Bacon at the bar at the last!



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Bacon again



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Dressage

Running Order was great scoring 52.8 currently in 5th!

-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Bacon on the course walk



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Another Air Vest Article

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/25/1405940/airbag-vests-offer-equestrians.html

-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Slick



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Running Order



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Richland Blog Part I

Richland Park is still seems a figment which only exists in my GPS at the moment. We left NJ this morning just after 3:30am. The trip should take just under 11 hrs, getting us there mid afternoon with plenty of time to set up and get the in barn inspection complete in time for dinner, and of course the world revolves around the consumption of food! I would expect this story is not uncommon amount the hundreds descending on Richland, well with the exception to my dependency on food :)  

I'm looking forward to a light weekend. We've got two horses on board. Running Order, owned by Patti Springsteen, is going in his first CIC***. Hopefully all goes well and we'll be qualified for the Fair Hill CCI*** this fall.

While we've got time I figure we'll give a brief history of the horses. Running Order is an 8 yr old Irish bred Tb. He started as a steeplechase horse. Actually he was a cross-country racing to be more specific. Enda Bolger a very well know jockey and now trainer started him. I was lucky enough to visit Enda last year after Fair Hill and got a first hand view of what its all about. So XC racing is more or less hunting at racing pace, and all the stories you hear about Irish hunting are true. We jumped banks, ditches, gates, walls, hedges and wire. Often times a combination of two or more of the above. I instantly understood where RO learned to be so quick on his feet. Darwin at work...he's still here and he's exceptionally good. There isn't a horse I'd rather be on when walking in that start box.

After his lack luster racing career ended, he made the trip over to the US to Patti's beautiful farm. He made a brief stop in jumping land. That too wasn't his cup of tea. Just over 2 years ago he arrived at my place. He's certainly found his niche. He won the full format Va CCI*, he was 2nd last fall at the Fair Hill CCI**  and won the USEF young horse championship. He was then named to the Developing Riders list.  2010 has been equally as good winning the OI at the Fork. He moved up to advanced at MCTA, again winning then 5th at the Stuart CIC** and most recently 4th at Millbrook advanced.

Where do we go from here? Well in an ideal world Fair Hill this fall, maybe Rolex in through spring. Then London 2012?!? Just keep your fingers crossed...that's a long way away.

Slick...well Slick's story is just beginning. He's a 9yr Tb who again had a limited racing career.  I bought him just a few months ago. Richland will be his 5th event ever. He is still confirming his jumping style but is showing great promise. He was 3rd at Waredaca just a few weeks back in training. The tentative plan is for him to be at prelim by the end of the year and see what happens.

So that covers the horses. Megan and her dog Baloo are along to help. Without them I'd be in deep trouble. Last and certainly not least is Bacon, my dog.

So why Richland? I've heard from all who have attended that is a truly world class facility. In addition to the facility, Tue field should be quite strong. Nearly all of the WEG horses from the US and Canada should be competing. It's also a PRO tour stop. For all who don't know about PRO yet, we're an organization of riders which have come together to bring to sport of evening to a new level. Not only in the quality of competition, but also increase participation of competitors, sponsors and fans alike.

Dressage is tomorrow for the CIC horses. Upon arrival I'll get some more detailed info on who's here and what all is happening. Until then...back to driving...

-Doug

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Richland Park bound...



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Monday, August 23, 2010

Frolic is famous...in the NY Times!

The times came out to the farm a week or two ago to take a few photos etc and to talk about the Hit Air vest I use...I was just notified today that he's officially published. Click here to view

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Wet end for Briarwood...

We were lucky for most of the day. Charlie Blues did the level 1's. He was great having only 1 rail in all three rounds winning two of them. He was also awarded champion for the level 1's! (Side note, CB is for sale...check him out on the for sale page)

Next up was Leo and Courage in the level 3's. Leo did both classes, he was great. We won the first class, and might have won the second had I not been so ambitious with an angle I took in the jump off. It unfortunately resulted in a rail, but he really was great.

Courage did the second level 3 class, winning it, and then on to the level 5's. At this point the rain became torrential. Our plan was to do both classes in the 5's, but due to the rain, I just did the first class twice. The second round didn't count for scores, but was good experience. We fixed a few rough spots of the first round.

We're off to Richland Park for Running Order's first CIC*** this week. It's going to be another 3am departure to get out to Michigan before the in barn inspections are closed. Slick will also make the trip for his 4th training. Prelim is on the near horizon for him...it'll be interesting to see how he handles all of the atmosphere at Richland.

Today's Results below:
· 1st Briarwood Farm - Level 5 - Courage -
· 1st Briarwood Farm - Level 3 - Courage -
· 1st Briarwood Farm - Level 3 - Talisman -
· 3rd Briarwood Farm - Level 3 - Talisman -
· 1st Briarwood Farm - Level 1 - P/S - Charlie Blues -
· 1st Briarwood Farm - Level 1 - Charlie Blues -

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Waredaca...

We had a very long day...left the barn at 3am to make an 8am ride time at Waredaca. All finished up well, Slick in 3rd and Bunny in 5th...then back to NJ by 4...

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sunday Update from Millbrook

Show jumping was influential at all levels, all of my horses jumped very well. Most moved up from their XC placings. Thanks again to all of the organizers/volunteers at Millbrook for putting on a top class event!

Final Results were as follows:

· 4th Millbrook HT - A - Running Order -
· 9th Millbrook HT - T - Simon Slick -
· 6th Millbrook HT - T - Reginald McDougal -
· 8th Millbrook HT - P - Fernhill Frolic -
· 8th Millbrook HT - P - Shining North Star -
· 2nd Millbrook HT - P - Crown Talisman -
· 1st Millbrook HT - N - Two is Better than One -

Waredaca next weekend with Slick and Bunny.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Running Order bored in the barn



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The farm fox was joining us this morning...



-D

Doug Payne
DPEquestrian LLC
PO Box 179
Pottersville, NJ 07979
908.399.9112
DPEquestrian.com

Millbrook tomorrow...

Running Order has dressage just after 2pm in the advanced. Everyone else goes Friday. Prelim: Tali, Simon, Frolic. Training: Beckett, Slick, Reggie. Novice: Virgil

Sunday, August 1, 2010

NJ Horse Trials was today...

All of the horses again were very good. Kilcannon Pride was in the training, but being that she's just getting back in shape we didn't run XC; however, she was winning after SJ with a 26 and a clean round. PJ finished up 3rd in the novice and Virgil finished 2nd in the BN, his first event ever!