Team MP Carmel Valley Fundraiser

I don't even know where to start in order to explain how FANTASTIC the Carmel Valley fundraiser was on May 16. I guess I should start by thanking the "Team MP Committee" for all their hard work and time spent pulling off such a great day. All we had to do was drive in, meet our supporters, ride for them and then go head home. The CV fundraiser committee included: Nancy Bareilles, Katy Peterson, Julie Culver, Susan Baxter, Erin Branson, Susan Rowland, Elizabeth Pasquinelli, Margaret Robinson and Andrea. These ladies are go getter's to say the least. And they know how to throw a party!


The setting

When we arrived everything was set up and the setting was unbelievable. The Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club is like a park, tucked into the mountains. Its lush and green and very low key so the atmosphere was very relaxed. The Committee had decorated all of the tables, serving areas and silent auction coral in red white and blue. Everything was so darling and perfect!



The event started at 2 pm with cocktail hour, silent auction opening and was followed up with tri-tip and the works! Every detail was attended to...even down to tin plates and red, white and blue wrapped silverware!




After the mid-afternoon lunch, the demonstrations began. First, Tiana Coudray, a top US Three-Day Event rider, rode a young horse over fences and on the flat to demonstrate the skills of three-day horses. She and the horse were beautiful together, there were many oh's and ah's from the crowd. Next up was me and MP with our freestyle. For whatever reason, riding in front of this crowd was the most nervous I've ever been on a horse. We started with a little warm up from Ellen, in which Katy P was able to talk the crowd through some of the movements required in dressage. Then our freestyle to the Can Can, Cabaret and the Stripper. We showed off some of the new freestyle moves which debuted without a hitch.

The fundraiser was more successful that we ever imagined. It was just perfect. There is no other way to explain it. We had a wonderful time and the event put us over half way to our fundraising goal. As I said before, the group of people that pulled this off for us are amazing. We couldn't ask for a better support team. Thank you Team MP!!!

LubriSyn Sponsored!!!

Its official! I'm a LubriSyn sponsored rider. We have been using LubriSyn as part of Moneypenny's program for three years now. We've been so happy with it that we've put all of our competitive horses on it. Thank you LubriSyn! I'm proud to be part of your team!

I have become a terrible blogger!

Okay, okay, I know I suck at blogging. But if you saw my schedule you'd understand why. I work on natural resources issues in the California State Senate and I happed to work for a wonderful Senator who is deeply passionate about CA water policy and the Delta. Soooo, long story short (I'm sure you've see the national press on CA water issues) we've been a little busy.

So my carrer life has taken over my horsey life for a little while, but I'm here to tell you that I'm still riding, still training and motivated more than ever to launch myself into the world of international para dressage.

First a few updates - Championships went well. I placed 5th overall at 4th level for both USDF Region 7 and CDS. Which means we won a little cash. Wohoo! Final was a champ and tried his heart out. Sometimes we weren't trying for the same things (I like clean flying changes, he likes to be early with his front feet to show off his pretty toes), but all in all I'm very happy with our show year. And I'm so grateful to my friend Eva for letting me ride him while she was busy baking Izzy. By the way - don't show 4th level, Eva, it stinks. PSG is way better.

Moneypenny is back in full training. We're working on building her stamina and top line so she won't be pulling out the tricks quite yet, but she is looking FAB! Better than ever. We are both prepping for our training session with Steffen Peters at the end of Nov, so while she is trotting for 30 mins in the Eurociser, I am running around the State Capitol. SEVEN MORE LBS, SEVEN MORE LBS!

Amigo is hanging out halfway on the back burner because of work and MP's schedule, but I'm still hoping to get 4 days a week on him through the winter so we can prep him for the FEI 5 year old classes next year. He's a total ham and now lives full time in the barn, so his life is pretty good.

Verite has also been half way on the back burner, but she too will go back to full time training as the plan is to show her 1st and 2nd level. I'd like to get both Amigo & MP qualified for State champs just incase we don't make the WEG. I always love a good back up plan

Horse show husband is also back in the saddle - or back in the wheelbarrow to be more accurate. He's been picking up a few of my chores to relieve some pressure.

Whats next? I'm going to start blogging again as if this is my horsey journal, so expect to see blogs every few days with photos of the farm, and our life happenings and of course updates on the horses.

Almost to ulcer stage!

The pressure is finally setting in. So much to do and so little time. I have spent the past two months pining over how to get MP to IL for champs. I think I have finally reached a resolution which requires me to send a binding contract and fat check off to Fast Freddie of Freds Pony Express horse transport. I got Fred's info from our good friend Anke who has assured me he's the best. Knowing Anke, I'm sure he is. While I'm at it I may as well plug Anke's operation too - if you need a nice horse, contact Anke at Royal Oaks Farm. Thanks Anke, and thanks Fred for wheeling and dealing! Just no wheelies with our ponies!

And we have half of a freestyle! Diane of Center State Musical Freestyles came last weekend and worked the kinks out of our trot choreography. Now we just have to iron out the canter and we'll be ready to boogy! The plan is to show the freestyle for the first time on March 8th. I think after I show it once my blood pressure will subside. At least I hope.

And then we have all of the rest of the stuff to get done by May 11th - like qualifying scores and plane tickets and coggins tests and health certificates and Illinois permit entry and hotel rooms and car rentals and so on and so on and so on. And the biggie - I need $3500 pronto. I've raised $6500, but I still need more. STRESSFUL!

At least Ellen's coming this weekend. That always brightens my day!

A long, long time ago.....

It has been so long! I am such a bad blogger. And I have photos and video to upload but I just can't seem to get it together. I swear I will try!
I had my first "day off" the other day. It has been a year since I have had a day off from work AND horses. Crazy! I'm trying to steer clear of burn out syndrome so I'm going to try and take some time for myself this fall which isn't proving to be easy. BUT if I don't do it now, it won't happen for a long time. There is so much going on and so much to come and prepare for next show season that I am excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. So I promise to get back on track with the blogging!

Here's the latest and greatest in Para-Equest land:

Ellen was just here....
Ellen came two weeks ago and really started to iron out the big trot! My abs are getting the workout of a lifetime! Ellen's lessons always center on feel which you can't get from anyone else. The horses always feel so good which makes the rider feel good. MP was finally able to sit & go for the extensions which has been a sticky point in our training. This move has seemed to unlock her and her ability to spring off the ground at the trot. Yippee!! I hope to have video soon.

Off to Seattle!
I leave on Sunday for the US Para Dressage Team training session in Woodinville WA. I'm not able to take MP this time because of weather concerns, but I will be able to ride a borrowed horse for the session. I'll post either from the session or on the way home.

New Freestyle....
I have a new freestyle in the works that I will debut in January. It is super fun and very international. It has a cabaret theme and brings MP to life! Diane Kernodle with Center Stage Musical Freestyle is working on it as I type and I hope to start working out the choreography soon.

More horses!
I feel like I'm riding lots of horses right now, but I guess I'm just riding more than one so it feels like a lot. My good friend Eva is now with child (wahoo!) so I'm riding Final until she gets out of the exhausting/sick phase. Final is an incredible horse but is tricky to ride so I have really been gaining some good riding experience from him. In fact I think I'm riding MP better now because of some things I've learned from Final. And he's also shrinking my waist! Its wonderful to have two top quality horses to ride and I really enjoy how different they are and what they both have to offer. Maybe I'll get to show the two as well!
Amigo is also under saddle now. He's still young and won't be out on the show scene for a year or two, but I think we can expect great things from him. He has top notch gaits and has been a blast to work with. I'm also riding three other horses here and there. My friend Jen's Lustitano, Paloma, Tessa's movie star horse Davingon and Barbara's new mare Catella. All three are unique, but tons of fun and they are teaching me new things. It is so good to ride multiple horses! I'll try and get photos of them to post in the future.

Whats next?
Show, show, show. I'm working out my show schedule for 2009 and it will be a doozy. It starts in the end of January and rolls right on through to Championships in Oct. I'm planning on going to the Para Champs in May and I'd like to try and make it to at least one, maybe two international shows in July and August. We'll see!

More soon I swear!

A very long siesta, Hans Moeller scholarship, freestyle and more

It's been awhile since I've last posted, but that's because Moneypenny and I have been on a very long siesta! I've been to Tahoe with Scott and MPs been in a villa overlooking the Bareyessa hills. It's been great but I'm ready to get back in the swing of things in preparation for the state and regional championships in October.

I'm very excited to announce that we received the Hans Moeller Scholarship from California Dressage Society this year! The scholarship is for $1500 towards training and showing. This means we'll be able to finish out 2008 with a bang! Thank you CDS Scholarship Committee!

The freestyle coordinator came last night and I believe we have finished the freestyle! Just in the nick of time as I will debut it this weekend at Dressage in the Almonds. It is super fun. It's a collection of quirky ballroom songs.

Dennis Callin will be here this weekend to offer us some training. He comes all the way from Germany, so it's really great to have him. I'm sure to post with some pictures after the clinic. He will also warm us up at the show on Sunday. And help fine tune the freestyle.

That's all for now!

The Susan Treabess Para E-Quest Fund

It's official! The Susan Treabess Para-Equest Fund now exists through the Golden One credit union. But it isn't charitable, so sorry, I can't be a write off! It was too complicated to get all of that together. You may have noticed the handy-dandy "Donate" button at the top of the blog on the left. That button is a link to the fund through PayPal so people can help Moneypenny and me towards our Para-Dressage goals. And with a credit card too!!! If you don't want to use PayPal, just email me and I'll let you know how to donate directly. And yes I know, purses and shoes won't help me make the team so I will be sure to spend those pennies wisely.