We had a good winter in Florida. It was great for the horses to stay in consistent work and be ready to get back into the show ring. The same for the riders who were able to compete. Any sport requires practice time along with competition time to stay sharp. We are ready to go here.

After Garden State, we will head up to HITS Saugerties at the end of May. We will keep you posted.

First of all, riding is not really a cold weather sport. This winter aside, the Northeast does not lend itself to riding whether inside or out. It usually is better for practicing one’s winter sports like skating and skiing. As a result, competitive horses are not able to work on a consistent level if the temperatures are below freezing day in and out. One of the real benefits of being in Florida is that the horses stay in a training program and continue to progress. It is especially beneficial for younger horses as it has been for ours this winter. I also think that horses pick up on the relaxed atmosphere and tropical temperatures, the same ways so many senior citizens are drawn South for these reasons. Horses are able to preform and learn better if they are relaxed and happy. The same goes for the rider. Florida seems to make that happen.

It is also beneficial for the show horses to get in the ring. It keeps a competitive edge for both horse and rider.  I know that when I take a long break, several months, from showing, it is hard to regain the rhythm.  I also think that it is beneficial for a rider to compete.  It makes riders take on new challenges and rise to higher expectations than if riding at home.

I understand that not everyone can or has the desire to head South in the winter time. This winter has proven that you can stay home and continue to ride while still feeling your toes!!  I feel lucky that I have been given the opportunity and my horses and I have been able to benefit.  I will keep you posted.  Until then, enjoy the warm temperatures and keep riding!!

As many adult riders do, as they get older, I have struggled to have the same level of confidence I had when I was younger. Yet in many ways, I have more skill now and much more experience. I also have the confidence of being able to ride amazing horses. I am very thankful for what my horses do for me everyday. I feel that the partnership a rider has with their horse is one of the most important aspects of riding. I am very lucky that I have that partnership with all of my horses. We have a deal in which I take the best possible care of them at the barn and they take the best possible care of me in the ring. It works well and has given me back such a great deal of confidence and most important, the ability to have fun.

I am also thankful for all of our boarders and clients who come to La Luna to ride. It is a great group of people to be around on a daily basis and I am always happy to be at the barn. I hope that everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday season. Although winter is a time for some horses and riders to have off, others are preparing to go to Florida in January. I am really looking forward to competing this winter and hope that you are too.

The work of the farm could not be done without the amazing people who work at La Luna. Thank you to Paul for all that you do to train both the La Luna horses and the client horses. You have a gift and I feel very lucky that you are here. Thank you also to Paul Jr., Peter, Domingo and Julia for all of the hard work that you put in everyday. You make this farm run and we could not do it without you.

So as all of us riders reflect back on the year, remember to give your horse an extra pat and a thank you for all that they do to enrich our lives.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at La Luna Farm!!

Here is a picture of Nick jumping.

In the Nick of Time

We chose two that will be a great addition to La Luna. One is a mare who is will mature into a great jumper. The other is a young gelding who will be a very flashy equitation horse. We are hoping that both are here by the end of the month or early November.

Fall is the perfect time to ride as the weather has been perfect with cool nights and warm days. It is also a good time to practice whatever needs to worked on after the summer season. It is one of my favorite times of the year.

This week the weather has not been as cooperative. We have had rain every day since Monday and no horses have gone in the ring yet. We are hoping for a dry spell for the rest of the week so that we can finish out the season without so much mud. The horse shows are rewarding in that they keep us working towards our goals and help us constantly improve.

This Sunday, September 11th is the HITS one million dollar grand prix. It is a really exciting class to watch and anyone who is interested in show jumping or would like a fun afternoon, should come up to watch.

After HITS is over, we will be back at our barn in New Paltz attending some local shows. Our barn will be down in Wellington, FL for the winter season and then back home when the weather warms a bit. We look forward to seeing you either at the show or at the barn.

We were back at the barn in late June and then we headed to the Vermont Summer Festival in Manchester where we spent a very successful week with amazing weather and many ribbons to hang up. Congratulations to Natalie Meyer and her pony, Nicely Dun, on their Reserve Championship in the beginner equitation division. Also congratulations to Jen Thietje on her successful return to the show ring after time off.

Now we are up at HITS summer series in Saugerties, NY. There are 1700 horses at the show this week with a lot of competition. Still riders from La Luna have been successful. Tara Corr and La Luna’s Angelina made their debut in the show ring in the Performance Working Hunter division this week and did a great job. We have one more week at the show and then the barn heads south to the Sussex County horse show in NJ for one week. We will be back up at HITS Saugerties for the final two weeks of the season. Hope to see you at one of the shows!

Lance and Kelsey showed in both the big equitation and the hunter derby and got better with each round. Alana showed Jolly in the pre-children’

s equitation in their first show and did a great job. It was a really big class and they shined and finished in fifth place. Natalie and her pony debuted in the walk, trot division. They did great. Everyone thought that they would split the classes but they all stayed in and Natalie did an amazing job as did her great pony. The figure eights were especially fun to see. Big Tom continues to do his job well and I had a lot of fun once I got in the ring!

Many thanks to Paul, the boys and everyone else who helped to make it such a fun and successful show.

See you next week at Saugerties where we will be at HITS for the next three weeks.