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2010 was another exciting show year for the students of Laurel Springs Farm as they achieved new heights in their riding careers! We are immensely proud of the progress of all of our students this year as each and every one worked very hard, whether they choose to formally demonstrate their acquired skills in the show ring or not.
Leah Childress continued to enjoy 4H and fun show competitions, often accompanied by her sister Kate. Leah excelled at her first Pony Club rally as a rider and publicly wished it did not have to end. Leah, Kate, Allie Whitten, Sarah St.Jeans, and Austin Skeenes made the annual pilgrimage to the wildly popular Halloween Fun Show. They were delighted to bring home some very good ribbons amidst very stiff competition. LSF Solid Citizen triumphantly returned to the show ring for this event. Austin, Ellie Wade, Hannah Elias and Laurel Gates competed on the Blue Ridge Horse Force (BRHF) local hunter / jumper circuit. Austin earned his first blue ribbon at the BRHF Championships no less, and placed in both of his divisions. Ellie placed second in her first jumper competition at the BRHF Finals. Hannah was Champion of the Intermediate Hunter Rider division, and Reserve Champion of the Hunter Pleasure Division amongst other placings. Laurel won the Pony and Hopeful Jumpers as well as the Baby Green Hunter divisions for the year. LSF Zamboni, LSF Napoleon, LSF Little Ricky, and LSF Oberon partnered with our students to bring home these accolades. Ellie aboard Napoleon and Laurel upon Bo competed at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, bringing home ribbons in the Pony Hunters and Pony Medal divisions. Hannah, Napoleon, Austin, Oberon, Laurel, and Bo competed at the heavily attended July House Mountain Hunter Jumper show at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. Austin skillfully maneuvered Oberon to survive being the smallest child on the smallest pony in perhaps the largest flat classes while performing admirably. Hannah and Napoleon captured Reserve Champion in a huge short stirrup division and Laurel and Bo swept their Jumper division, garnering the Championship. Ellie and Hannah joined Laurel in eventing competition this year. Hannah and Napoleon amassed enough points to finish third in the Blue Ridge Eventing Association’s (BREA) Cross Rails division, competed successfully in the Green division, and had a blast schooling cross country jumping for the first time. Ellie and Napoleon also discovered the thrill of jumping cross country, finishing double clear in Ellie’s first horse trial and tying for second place with Laurel and Ricky, also competing in their first horse trial together. Ellie, Napolean, Laurel and Ricky finished at the top of the BREA’s Green division. Laurel and Ricky started the year competing in the cross rails division and accumulated enough points to win the Championship before moving on to the Green division. Ricky and Laurel also earned the highest scores at the Old Dominion Region Pony Club’s Dressage Rally in the Introductory and Training level divisions. Laurel and Bo competed at the Beginner Novice level to allow the Roanoke Valley Pony Club to field a team in the Beginner Novice Division at the Carolina Region Eventing Rally. Laurel finished second in a field of 30+ in her division. Laurel then finished third at her second qualifying event, the Virginia Horse Trials and was selected to serve as Capitan of the Old Dominion Region’s team at the United States Pony Club’s East Coast Championships. The Old Dominion team won the Championships and Laurel and Bo placed third individually! While qualifying for and competing in the USPC Championships, Laurel and Bo also qualified for the United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) Zone II Championships and the American Eventing Championships (AECs). They were thrilled to place at the Zones and to complete the AECs with a respectable score and no jumping penalties. Bo’s point totals earned him a third place finish in the BREA Beginner Novice Division and a top spot in the Novice division. Both Laurel and Bo were USEA Bronze Medal recipients for their performances at the beginner novice level. Bo and Ricky combined to allow Laurel to repeat the honor of being named BREA Junior Rider of the Year. | ||
Sarah, City, & Allie |
ARGHHH!!! |
Austin and Bo |
Austin Skeenes and LSF Lady |
Austin Skeens and LSF Oberon |
Butus and Holly |
Ellie & Napolean, Allie & City |
Hannah and Bo |
Laurel and Bo |
Laurel and LSF Little Ricky |
Leah and Kate Childress with Skye |
Laurel and Bo |