October 7, 2012: THE THORNRIDGE "RAT-PACK" Shines at MDA Finals Show, even though it was cold and rainy!!!!!!

Congrats to Ali Riggle & Keely for taking

GRAND CHAMPION SECOND LEVEL YOUNG RIDER!

Congrats to Jackie & Her own Keely for taking

GRAND CHAMPION SECOND LEVEL MUSICAL FREESTYLE and

RESERVE CHAMPION THIRD LEVEL OPEN

(Wow, that Keely was busy accruing neck sashes!!!!)

Lizzy Loundas and her own Dreamy for taking

GRAND CHAMPION TRAINING LEVEL YOUNG RIDER

(And for making their First Level debut at 1st-2 with another deserved WIN!)

Congrats to the "Thornridge Rat-Pack" for another successive year of clean sweeping the MDA Championships at their Finals Show!!! 

Additionally, Lizzy & Dreamy were HIGH SCORE YOUNG RIDER with their 69+% Training Level ride and Phoebe & Prince were HIGH SCORE SENIOR RIDER with their 72+% Second Level ride, the only score out of two rings that was in the 70% range.

Please check out our Current news tab of the website (that I am working on getting current, hah) to see how well the following matches, representing Thornridge, performed.  What a fine Rat-Pack this is:

1) Suzanne & Country

2) Lizzy & Dreamy

3) Michelle & McKenna

4) Loretta & Wally

5)Scott & Freeby

6) Jackie & Keely

7) Ali & Keely

8) Claudia & Whimsy

9) Phoebe & Prince

A DIVA, I AM NOT!!!!

Since Prince and I are heading off to BLM to compete Second Level 2, I decided to take him to the MDA Finals Schooling Show last weekend to get another feel of how he is in the ring.  This would mark only our third ride together at a show and well, only a total of 17 rides together in training.  I was tired and did not have enough caffeine to wake myself up that early am -- only to have the rains come, and attack, for my 9 am ride....but, Prince and I made the best of of it, together.  Oh, did I mention that Custom Saddlery provided me a new saddle for Prince -- and, yes, this show marked only the 5th ride in this saddle!!  So, the odds were against us, but we rallied to covet the highest score of the day, the only score given that day, out of a two ring show, only score in the 70's.....a 72+%.  But trust me, I am certainly not a diva, as I was just there to prepare for BLM -- actually, as I was going by the Thornridge Gang.....all dozen plus that were getting shelter in the ringside gazebo to watch Prince and me. I made funny faces to them.  I thought for sure someone in that gazebo would break out in hysteria once they saw my face -- nope, I never saw a reaction!!!  So, when I finished ride and all dozen friends from Thornridge had something nice to say to me, I was of course obsessed by whether they had seen my purposeful funny faces --- NO, NOT-A-ONE PERSON SAW ME make those faces!!!!  So, it has been a source of great fun all week to hoot and holler about how I made the faces every time I approached the gazebo.  And let everyone know that I was going to post those "priceless" pictures, so that everyone could, hopefully make fun of me!!!  Most people know what FIND WALDO means, so I challenge you to FIND FUNNY FACES -- there are two of them here.  If there is a time in my life when people think that I am taking myself too seriously....please TELL ME as I NEVER WANT TO BE KNOWN AS A DRESSAGE DIVA!!!!!

Chuck & Phoebe invite You to share in the THRILL of OUR 2012 Dressage at Devon SUCCESS 2012.......

Where to begin?  Devon 2012 was an incredible experience for Thornridge Manor.  Our friends came out in large numbers to support us and our horses earned high scores and many ribbons.  We invite you to view the next 6 Blog postings of our DAD Experience.  In addition to many results and pictures that we have on this Blog, please view more photos on our ThornridgeManor Face Book Page and our updated Website Sales page for both Whisper EFSH and Veronica.

Within a day of Heirloom's GRAND CHAMPION East Coast for Foals, Eurodressage had his information in print.  Not long after their news posting, most breed organizations and national dressage sites followed suit.  But, most notable is the Vinca News Release on ISR-OLD/NA site that has all of Heirloom's wins and several photos posted.  This breed organization is also working on an article that will go into print for their next newsletter. 

Please enjoy our Devon 2012 experience!!!

Thank you to all of our supporter. Fondly, Chuck & Phoebe

Phoebe's WHISPER EFSH Shines at Devon With Great In-Hand & Undersaddle Scores!!!!

Whisper under the nitetime lights in the Dixon Oval -- She qualified for the East Coast Finals for Fillies at her first breed show in Aug, with not just an 81% but also with a Reserve Champion Mare Placing.

Whisper's quality of walk undersaddle is equally as good as when she is free -- scoring as high as an 8.5 this season.

Whisper's trot keeps getting better and better -- only a few months undersaddle with Wanja, her suspension and reach are truly improving with strength.  Another eye catching gait for Whisper!!

I was so impressed by her complete focus and uphill balance in the DAD 3 YO Materiale Mare Class that I knew she would do well in her score.  So, it was truly surprising to me that she only ribboned 10th with a 73.2%.  I went and checked out her score card at the secretary booth and was appalled that the judge killed her average score by only giving the canter a 6.8.  OMG -- look at this canter, it is amazing for only a few months undersaddle!!!  Although she has 3 super gaits, her canter in this class was absolutely her BEST gait!!!  I cannot express enough how fantastic this 3 yo mare is -- She has such a bright future in the dressage ring.

Whisper has a wonderful eye and expression.  Very regal.

The choice to team Whisper & Wanja has produced great success.

Scoring an 8.3 on conformation in her age group, the judge wrote "good future for dressage."

I love that this Hanoverian mare gets under herself -- the hind leg is always motivating.

Whisper was the first 3 yo to be presented from her class.  She scored a whopping 80.2% to ribbon 4th place in her 3 yo filly age group.  I'd say that Whisper certainly started off a great score for Thornridge at Devon in 2012.

Little did we know that our 80% range scores would continue to carry thru for the rest of our horses!!!!

Phoebe's HEIRLOOM (Vinca x Technique) WINS DEVON GRAND CHAMPION East Coast Finals for Foals!!!!!

The "Great Tomato" made a splash in his showing debut at Dressage at Devon 2012!!!!

Tomato was 2nd out of eighteen 2012 colts in his age group -- score of 80.0%. 

So, we went ahead and entered him in the East Coast Finals, a prestigious class that runs late into the evening under the lights of the Dixon Ring.

In the past several years, Chuck and I have shown only Windsong FV, Wallstreet Prince and Dressed To Kill at Devon Breed Show -- all three of these quality horses has qualified and shown in the East Coast Breeder's Finals at DAD.  This year, we had both Whisper EFSH and Heirloom that we competed and AGAIN, both horses qualified for the East Coast Championships.  What an incredible record for Thornridge to boast about -- all of our horses have qualified and competed in the Championships!!!

Now who does this look like? Like sister, Veronica, this Tomato gets some beauty rest between his classes.

I was happy to have made it into the East Coast Finals with a qualifying score of 80% at Tomato's first show.....imagine my excitement that he went in and creamed the class, winning GRAND CHAMPION EAST COAST FINALS FOR FOALS.  He is destined to follow in the footsteps of his sister, Veronica -- both are showing superstars.....

On Thursday, Chuck and I were the ring handling team for the Oldenburg NA Individual Breed Class -- and, I'd say we did a fine job together as a team.  We had fun no matter what just spending time together with our Tomato.

Yeah for the Tomato -- he again WON the IBC ISR-OLD/NA Class.  In this class he had to compete against all ages from his same registry.  Tomato scored a 78%.  What is interesting about this score is that particular judge only gave out one score higher then the 78% range for the entire day -- so, in keeping with her methodology, Tomato was one of the highest scoring horses presented to that judge that day --How awesome!!!!

Chuck and I are looking forward to weaning Tomato soon and bring him home to Thornridge.  Thanks again to Flower Farm for his great care and love that has been given so far.  And way to go Vinca x Technique -- great babies are strutting their stuff from this match!!!!

Phoebe & Ginger Parker/Flower Farm's VERONICA: Another Undeniable Superstar Youngster from the VINCA x TECHNIQUE Match

Although Veronica was overwhelmed by the electric-environmnet of her Thurs DAD 4 YO class, she is allowed to be -- afterall, she is still just a 4YO that has not even been undersaddle for a calendar year!!!

Our Thurs late afternoon ride was exhilarating to me -- my favorite to date!!!  Between her "scared-y-cat" moments, she was absolutely brilliant!!!  Scott and I chatted about her ride and we were both in agreement that if you do not have the "AH-HA" moments now, as a baby, then you will not have it later in life.  Veronica showed me that she has what it takes to shine in the GP arena on Thurs -- I do not care about her final score!!  After our ride, I came out of the ring BEAMING and I said to Chuck that "we need to go to the bank  today and buy this awesome mare!"  He, thankfully, did not remind me that we could not afford her GREATNESS!!!!!

Veronica truly tried her best for me............

..................and, on Friday am, we went into the same ring again.  Notice the floppy ears??  My ever so dependable Veronica was back and absolutely 100% submissive.  I guess that is good as she needed to make a recovery from her unexpected-baby-ness the nite before???

Even though she brought her Amateur-Rideability back to the plate on Friday, I still covet our Thurs nite ride.  This mare is so exciting to me -- that is why I bought her full sibling, 2012 Heirloom!!!!!!

On the Mon after DAD, I received a really nifty email from friend, past scribe and clinic attendee, Aneesa Romans:  " I just wanted to offer you my congratulations!!  Baby Heirloom is very handsome and I know Ms. Veronica is going all the way to the Grand Prix!! Oh, and can you share your boot polishing secret with me, pretty please :) You definitely won 1st place for Best Dressed in the classes I watched!!"

Phoebe's reply:  Aweee, Thank you Aneesa!!  I bought Heirloom specifically because I believe in Veronica!!  She is the The BEST in more ways then one.  And, those boots, are patent leather, but if looking for good shine, check out URAD polish, it is the best that I have found.  Your email certainly put a smile on my face and I will kiss both Veronica and Heirloom, on your behalf, to let them know how special they are!!!!! 

Flower Farm's FIORELLO: Another Vinca x Technique SHINES at Devon

Don handled Fiorello into a 3rd place 2 yo age group ribbon with a score of 78.6, qualifying him for the East Coast Championships for Cots/Geldings.

Foirello & Ginger Parker/Flower Farm (and Jake & Don) took home another huge score:  Fiorello was RESERVE CHAMPION East Coast Finals for Colts/Geldings!!!!  "Jack," as he is affectionately known is so easy to work with and keep his trot tempo with extreme expertise for his entire tour. This is one reliable youngster...........

Fiorello is another perfect Vinca x Technique that is offered for sale by Flower Farm.  This 2 YO gelding is registered KWPN.

Here is Technique and Chuck.  This KWPN dam is bred to the nines and is an awesome producer matched with Vinca.  There are multiple full siblings, including Veronica (for sale) and Heirloom (sorry folks, he's all mine)!!!!!!!!!!!!