Happy New Years!

2012 has come and gone and the days seem to be going by even quicker as the departure date to Ireland approaches. Less than 3 weeks from now until I arrive in Enniskerry. A mixture of excitement and fear as there is lots to do in the next few weeks. I spent Christmas day with family, after a brief visit to the barn to check on the horses in the morning of course. The days before and after filled with lessons, packing, and planning. A riding camp at the barn this past New Years week, and trying to catch up with friends before the big move, time is flying by. I hope everyone had a happy, healthy holiday!
Cheers,
Meg

New Adventures!

NEW ADVENTURES:

2012 seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye. I've been horrible at keeping blogs and websites up to date, I'll attempt to be a bit better in the upcoming year.

I've always lived my life as an adventure. Never wanting to look back and have regrets, I'm no stranger to travels and new experiences. Having spent some time in Ireland in the past (horse shopping trips and vacations), it's always been a fantasy land for me. This great combination of horses and colorful, friendly people, always seems to take hold and each time I visit I never want to return home.

After a difficult business year, its become clear that I need to make some changes. I've got to break out of my comfort zone and push myself, as a rider, teacher, and a person. I'm in a great position to take a leap of faith and last night I took that leap. I booked my ticket!

I've tried hard to maintain connections over the years, both with friends and fellow horsemen. When I first began this quest to find a position overseas I relied on those connections to direct me and sure enough an opportunity arose. I will be riding with Melanie Ashe Eventing in Enniskerry, Wicklow! I leave in late January and return in early April.

The new adventure beings in just 7 weeks and there is a lot to do between now and then. I need to sell my horse, pack up my house, and arrange temporary housing for my pup. I'm not sure where I'll land when I return. I'm open to anything and am going to enjoy the ride.

More updates to come...
Meg

2011
It seems as though there is never enough time to keep things updated! Blogs, websites, facebook, the list is endless. 2011 is more than halfway through. It's been a relatively quiet year with just a handful of events for the THF team. In June, we made the trek to Corvallis, Oregon to attend the Inavale Horse Trials. With just 2 horses in tow, this was the first event of the season for Izzy ("Cimply Spot On") and the second event of the season for Oliver ("Rendition"), with his owner in the irons. His owner Cynthia purchased Oliver last fall as a late 4yr old. He's a handsome grey Hungarian warmblood gelding that was unbroke to ride when he came to us. It has been a delight to watch his grow through the past year.

Both horses put in solid performances at Inavale with no jump faults to finish on their dressage scores! Izzy and I were 3rd in the Open Novice on a 28.3, while Cynthia and Oliver brought home the blue! A wonderful weekend.

Most recently, we attended the Woodside Summer HT (August 12-14th) with 4 horses. I rode Oliver in his first Novice where a solid dressage, a clean x-c, and just 2 rails in sj, put us 8th in a very competitive division. Fellow THF rider Catie, and her lovely mare, Mamma Mia (previously owned and trained by me) had a phenomenal dressage. A 26.5, a clean x-c, and just a handful of time penalties in stadium to finish 2nd in the Jr. Novice. A new eventer, Anne, competed in her first event with 3 solid phases in the Beg. Novice and finished 8th as well. Lastly, Jordan and her horse Everett were sadly forced to withdraw after the dressage due to a hot nail. Jordan and Everett have worked very hard this summer and I'm looking forward to their next event.

The next event on the schedule is Woodside in Oct, where I hope to finally get Izzy back out on the competition scene. Until then....
-Meg

October

I'm not sure how it is already October. Where did the summer go? 2010 has flown by! The summer has been spent teaching lessons and summer camps at California Riding Academy, a lesson program based out of the Portola Valley Training Center. I am teaching there for those students who do not own there own horses. In addition, I'm happy to report that I am teaching and training several clients at Portola Pastures. Please contact me for more information on lessons or training at either of these places or at any other facilities in the bay area. I am willing to travel!

The summer show season had it's ups and downs. I was fortunate enough to take my young horse, Izzy, to Inavale (Oregon), Rebecca Farm (Montana), and Woodside. We began the year with a 3rd place at Ram Tap in BN and finished the year with a 3rd place at Woodside in the TRAINING HORSE division! Needless to say, I am very proud of my young girl. Izzy is now enjoying a winter break in Washington state where she's in pasture with her mom and baby brother.

A big congratulations to all of my students for a great Fall Woodside. Becky and her mare were 3rd in their first ever event, Tricia and Somer 4th (also their first event), with Pam rounding out the BN in 5th, and Cynthia making her Novice debut with a clean x-c.

Additionally, Cynthia purchased a new horse just 2 weeks ago. A 4yr old Hungarian Warmblood who I'm very excited to work with. This young horse has only been ridden a handful of times so the winter will be spent establishing solid basics. He will be one to look for in the show ring next year.

Congratulations to all on a successful season.

- Meg

Clermont Equestrian Center!

Now offering lessons at Clermont Equestrian Center! They've got plenty of lesson horses and ponies plus summer camps and horses/ponies for lease. Covered arena, lights, mirrors, big paddocks, pasture and MORE! Very excited about this new opportunity!

Check it out www.clermontequest.com

General Updates...
Just a few quick notes on the happenings at Tally Ho Farms. Spring is well under way and while rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, it's already May and the Woodside Horse Trials are just around the corner.
THF took a trip the first weekend in May to Twin Rivers for a hunter/jumper show on Saturday, followed by x-c schooling on Sunday. All the horses and riders were great and there are plenty of pictures and videos posted on the Facebook page, be sure to check it out!
3 THF riders are entered in the Woodside HT, Inavale is less than a month after that, followed by Montana! I don't know where the time goes but I am excited about the new group of horses and riders and there is more in the works...
If anyone is looking for lessons, training, needs horses ridden, conditioned, you name it, contact me.
Enjoy the sun!
-Meg

Ram Tap Recap!

Izzy competed at her first event this weekend at Ram Tap in Fresno, Ca. Friday's dressage was better than I could ever have imagined. She was so relaxed and steady in all her gaits, gave me the best free walk to date, earning us several 8's in our test. We finished the dressage with a 33 to put us in 1st!
I was most worried about stadium, as Izzy has had very little arena jumping in her very short career. Leading up to the weekend we'd not even done a whole course. I was lucky enough to get some help from Heather Bailey (of Phoenix Farms) and she helped us both relax in the warm-up, giving Izzy lots of confidence. Once on course Izzy was all business. She never even looked at the fences! We had fence 3 down, got in a bit deep and I picked at her, taking her focus away. I should have just let her do her job :) The rail down dropped us to 3rd.
X-C came soon enough and Izzy happily galloped around the course like a champ. She thought nothing of the fences, went through the water bravely, and made the jumps all feel easy. The grin on my face could be seen for miles as I crossed the finished. I have finally brought along one of my own from birth to competition and couldn't be happier. Looking forward to a FUN summer of showing. I know Izzy will keep surprising me with how much she already knows.
- Meg