Solo’s first show of 2008 will be ‘Ocala Winter ll’ at the Florida Horse Park on the middle weekend of February. He is six years old this year and we have greater expectations for this season. So far he has been to Bruce Davidson’s “Chesterland South” to school; he hopped cheerfully over everything. Yesterday he went to Rocking Horse Winter ll, not as a competitor but as a companion pony; and so that he could get a taste of the show atmosphere. Selena took him out when she had a break in the day and rode him around. He was fabulous, obedient and happy to be there. Excited at the ongoing cross country, but not losing track of his job through his excitement, isn’t it lovely when they finally grow up…?
As a lead up to his first event he will go cross country schooling on one of the lovely Ocala courses, he will have a Bruce Davidson lesson and maybe a Leslie Law lesson, a Darren Chiachia or perhaps a David O’Connor lesson – it’s hard to choose between all the international riders and coaches that are available in Ocala. It’s like Disneyworld for horse people, I never get over how mind boggling the whole Florida thing is. All those fabulous horses and riders from every equestrian sport you can think of, wintering together in Florida.
Ocala Winter ll will be the first of his two Novice trials, all going well he then upgrades to Training which is very exciting. We have not made the training level entry yet, but we are all very excited that our boy is going to upgrade. Mr. and Mrs. Sean Dennis, Solo’s owners, will be traveling down to Florida to be Solo’s cheering section for his Training debut.
We have seven horses in Florida at the moment and another two left this morning to go down for one month. It’s very busy during the Florida show season, Selena got there on a Monday morning, showed two horses at HITS on the Wednesday and Thursday, the following week she showed three horses at HITS on the Wednesday and Thursday followed by an Open Intermediate and a Prelim ride at Rocking Horse on the weekend. And so the weeks progress, HITS and team training sessions with David O through the week and eventing on the weekends. It’s a tough life but someone has to do it…….
I hope to have lots of new photos from Florida soon and maybe some video of him when he goes to his first competition, I will keep you posted.
