The Maryland Horse Trials - July 19 -20, 2008

Kerry Blackmer & Casey, Open Intermediate - 10th

Kerry Blackmer & Maris, Open Training - 7th

Amanda Bossong & Nick, YR Open Intermediate - 4th

Chelsea Eldridge & Mooney, Open Novice - 5th

MaryBeth Jaffee & Treasure, Open Novice - 16th

The Maryland Horse Trials - July 12-13, 2008

Kerry Blackmer & Casey, Open Preliminary - 8th

Chelsea Eldridge & Buddy, Open Novice - 4th

Chelsea Eldridge & Slim Jim, Open Novice - 6th

Chelsea Eldridge & Hemmi, Beginner Novice - 5th 

Trey DeRamio & Ash, Open Novice - 7th

Harper Dine & Chopin, Beginner Novice - 7th

MaryBeth Jaffee & Treasure, Beginner Novice - 8th

Surefire Farm Horse Trials - June 28-29, 2008

Amanda Bossong & Nick, Open Intermediate -  6th

Kerry Blackmer & Casey, Open Preliminary - 15th

Chelsea Eldgridge & Buddy, Open Novice - 9th

Trey DeRamio & Ash, Open Novice - 11th

Kerry Blackmer & Maris, Open Novice - 5th

Maryland Horse Trials - October 13-14, 2007

I am very happy to report that we finally had the perfect horse showing weather (although some rain would be nice to soften up the ground a bit)!  Everyone had a fantastic weekend.  Kerry and Gizmo competed in the Open Preliminary division - they had 2 rails stadium but a double clean XC round.  They finished 9th - clearly Gizmo is already a professional prelim horse!!  Kerry also competed Casey in the Open Preliminary division - this was their first prelim together.  They had a great dressage test and only 2 rails stadium.  However, Kerry opted not to run him XC as his sensitive self did not so much appreciate that the ground seemed to be made of concrete!  Amanda and Rock A Bye also competed in Open Preliminary division - they too had a great day!  Not only did they get a qualifying score but they also had a double clean show jumping round.  With only a few time faults XC, the pair finished in 10th.  Chelsea brought both her new guy Slim Jim and Buddy to compete in the novice divisions.   This was Slim Jim's first real outing - he was awesome!  He had only one peak at a fence in stadium and he needed a second look at the water (you know to make sure there were no alligators) on XC but over all he was such a good boy.  We are not sure how Chelsea stayed on though, as he jumped everything like it was set at the top of the standards and then some!!!  Buddy was also a very good boy this weekend.  He was double clean in both show jumping and XC!  He finished 5th in his division.  Trey and Ashford competed in their first Novice this weekend (after being the baby novice champion so many weeks in a row, this pair was clearly ready to move up).  They also had a great day with only 2 rails stadium and a double clean XC.  The pair finished in 7th.  Julie and Moon Bar also competed in their first Novice this weekend - they were great!  Double clean show jumping and XC rounds had the pair finishing in 7th!  

All in all Miles Ahead Farm had a great showing at the Maryland Horse Trials.  All the ponies are happy and competing well.  We'll be off to Waredaca the weekend of the 27th - the ponies would like to request that everyone who reads this post does a rain dance - they would like some softer galloping ground!!!   

Kerry with Gizmo and Casey

Amanda and Rock A Bye

Chelsea with Slim Jim and Buddy 

Trey and Ashford

All Smiles!!

Marlborough Horse Trials - September 22-23, 2007

OK so really this was hopefully the last unbearably hot weekend!  On Saturday Kerry headed out with Gizmo and Casey.  This was Gizmo's first Preliminary and he was awesome!  With only a few time faults XC, he finished in 3rd.  He is officially a big bad prelim horse!  Casey was also a super star this weekend.  He finished on his dressage score of 35.8 which put him in 2nd place.  Judging by his enthusiasm out on XC, he is definitely ready for prelim at the MD Horse Trials!

Kerry and Gizmo

Kerry and Casey

On Sunday we headed back out - thankfully it was not quite as hot and humid.  Congratulations to Trey and Ash for winning first place in their Baby Novice division.  This seems to be a trend with this pair!  They had only a few time penalties but an otherwise perfect SJ and XC.  Angela and Bonanza had only a few time faults both SJ and XC, however the pair still finished in 3rd place in Baby Novice!  Julie and Mooney had a great all around day and with only a few time faults, they finished in 6th place in Baby Novice.  Elizabeth and Spice also had a great day competing in the Baby Novice division and are showing big improvements in the dressage ring.  Chelsea and Buddy competed in the Open Novice division - Buddy is doing great and also showing big improvements in the dressage ring!!   

Seneca Valley Horse Trials - September 8-9, 2007

This weekend we headed off to Seneca Valley and boy was it sweltering HOT!!  A bit unexpected for September but hopefully we have seen the last of the heat.  On Saturday Kerry headed out with Casey and Gizmo both in the Training divisions.  This was Kerry and Casey's first event together as a new pair - they did fantastic, finishing in 10th!!  Casey was double clean in both SJ and XC.  Casey turns into a XC machine when he comes out of the start box......he says "hold on, I got this!!".  Kerry and Gizmo also did very well finishing in 4th place in the Training Horse division.  Giving Gizmo a day off before the show and leaving him in at night seemed to help his energy level......there was no sleeping through this horse show!!  Gizmo was double clean both SJ and XC - good boy because in two weeks he makes his big Prelim debut! 

On Sunday we headed out with all the young riders for the Novice and Baby Novice divisions.  Chelsea and Buddy were coming back into action after a long and well deserved rest this summer.  Buddy was his usual enthusiastic self!!  Both are looking forward to a great fall season.   Trey and Ashford were the big first place winners in the Jr. Beg. Novice division!!  What and great and well deserved weekend for those two - all their hard work has paid off.  It will be exciting to see how they progress throughout the fall season.  Angela and Bonanza also competed in the Jr. Beg. Novice division and finished in 7th place!!  They had only one rail in SJ and double clean XC.  Hailey and Leroy finished 11th in the Jr. Beg. Novice division.  This was their first show back after and nice break during the hot summer months.  Jasmine and Hemmy finished 12th in the Jr. Beg. Novice division.  This was their first horse show together, as Jasmine has only owned Hemmy for about 2 months.  They had a double clean SJ round!!  Looks like we have a great partnership in the works.  Elizabeth and Spice finished 10th in the Jr. Beg. Novice division.  They had a few rails in SJ but a double clean XC round!  All the young riders did a fantastic job this weekend!  Their goal over the fall season will be to work on polishing up all three phases.

MCTA Horse Trials - May 4-6, 2007

This weekend Kerry and Maxwell, Chelsea and Star Bar and Amanda and Nick all headed to MCTA to face the very challenging course full of woodland creatures!  Amanda and Nick competed in the Open Intermediate division - this was their second show competing in the Intermediate division and both did very well.  They had one oopsie at the corner, Amanda decided to hop off for a few seconds but the pair was quickly reunited and finished the course.  They had an awesome jump in and out of the water complex!  They finished in 15th place.  Congratulations to Chelsea and Star Bar for winning the Junior Young Rider Training division!  They were in second after dressage and had one of only 3 double clean show jumping and XC rounds of the day.  Go Star Bar!!  Kerry and Maxwell also did very well this weekend finishing in 7th place in the Open Novice division.  Maxwell jumped the XC like an old pro!     

Iron Bridge Hunt Pony Club Start Trials - May 19, 2007

This weekend was the first outing for many of the Young Riders Club members.  All the horses and riders were very well turned out for the first show of the season.  This was Buddy's first time competing in the big bad novice division.  He was very enthusiastic and excited the entire day!  Chelsea and Buddy finished the day in 4th place.  Julie and Mooney had a successful first outing together in the baby novice division.  Mooney was very well behaved for her very first event.  They went double clean in both XC and show jumping and they finished in 4th place.  Elizabeth and Spice also had a great first event with double clean rounds as well putting them in 3rd place.  Hailey and Leroy picked up right where they left off last season.  They had an excellent dressage test and finished in 5th.  Angela and Bonanza also at their first event had a great time.  Bonanza is proving to be a cross country machine!!  The pair finished in 2nd!     

Virginia Horse Trials- May 24-27, 2007

We all headed out to our favorite horse show on Thursday morning.  Going to the VA Horse Trials is like a little vacation for us - we love it there!!  Amanda and Nick competed in the Open Junior Intermediate division.  They had an awesome show jumping round in the coliseum and although cross country day was a bit warm they also did very well.  They finished in 3rd!  Congratulations to them for another successful show.  Kerry and Maxwell also had a great weekend. Maxwell put in a stellar dressage test, scoring a 27.4. They continued to have a great weekend with an excellent show jumping and cross country round putting them in 5th place.  We had a great weekend - the weather was awesome and we discovered that there was a Dairy Queen right down the street....yippie lots of ice cream that weekend!!  

Waredaca Horse Trials - June 1-3, 2007

The weather was not on our side this weekend.  Saturday was hot, hot, hot and Sunday was rainy and freezing cold.  Despite the bad weather Chelsea and Star Bar finished in 2nd place in the Junior Young Rider Training division.  This pair is on a roll!!  Angela and Bonanza also had a great day finishing in 5th in the Junior Baby Novice division.  Again, Bonanza was a fantastic jumping bean!!  Tajana and Knox also had a great day finishing in 10th place in the Junior Baby Novice division.   

Rubicon Farm Horse Trials - June 9-10, 2007

We had great weather on Sunday....not too hot just perfect!!  Angela and Bonanza finished in 10th and Tajana and Knox finished in 12th and Julie and Mooney finished in 16th place in the Junior Baby Novice division.  Everyone had great show jumping and cross country rounds.  Our focus for the rest of the summer will be fine tuning those dressage skills!! 

Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials - June 16-17, 2007

The weather was HOT and MUGGY this weekend!!  Chelsea took Hemi in the Baby Novice division - this was his first event and he was awesome!!!  Hemi is currently for sale and will make an awesome event horse for a junior rider!  Angela and Bonanza finished 7th and Hailey and Leroy finished 4th in the Baby Novice division.  Chelsea and Buddy finished 6th in the Open Novice division.  Buddy is really starting to relax and get the hang of this!  All the horses were great at the very scary water complex that seemed to look a bit more like a tar pit than water!  We only have a few shows left and then we are taking a break from the heat!  

We are pleased to announce the arrival of Arnie!

Arnie is our new miniature horse!  Why did Kerry buy a miniature horse you ask, well you see it's really very simple - Chelsea and Trey wanted one......seems perfectly reasonable right??!!  Really I mean who cares why Kerry bought him....WE LOVE HIM WITH EVERY INCH OF OUR HEARTS (and you will too once you play with him)!!!  Arnie is the smallest, furriest, kindest and most lovable creature you will ever meet!  Trey and Chelsea think that he is their dog so quite frequently they will "take him out for walks"!  If you have never heard a mini whinny it is the cutest ever.......melts your little heart!  Arnie is adjusting well to life on a farm with BIG horses.  He does not so much care for the stall as he cannot see out and that upsets him!!  Make sure that when you are out at the farm you stop by and give Arnie lots of hugs and kisses ~ he loves to be played with!!       

Kerry's new famous line - "Don't ask for anything else, I already bought you a mini!!"

Full Moon Farm - Pipe Opener - Saturday, March 24

On Saturday we took 9 horses to Full Moon Farm (despite the fact that it rained on Friday and drizzled some on Saturday morning) for the Pipe Opener which is basically cross country schooling.  It was cold, dark and gloomy all day long!!  Welcome to the spring season!!  The footing at Full Moon was pretty slippery but everyone managed to do a good job.  

First out on course was Tejana and Knox.  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures because she was out there and done before I had a chance to snap any photos!  Anyway, it went great this pair is really getting to know each other and it should be a great season for them. 

Next out on the course was Kerry on Taz and Chelsea on Buddy.  This was Buddy's first time ever jumping XC fences and he was awesome!!  It is pretty clear that he is going to have an awesome galloping stride....might need a little more than a rubber snaffle!!!  Razzle was also a very good boy, it turns out that he does remember XC!  Next out on course was Trey on Auddie.  They also had a great run!  After being stuck in the indoor all winter long, it was clear that Auddie was very happy to be out on the XC course again!  Next on the course was Jasmine on Oreo and Angela on Bonanza.  This was Bonanza's first time experiencing XC.  Both had an awesome time and did fantastic!  Jasmine and Oreo had a clean round (and Jasmine stayed on the whole time!) - YEAH go Jasmine - that was well deserved - congratulations on all your hard work!  For some reason I don't seem to have any pictures of Angela and Bonanza but they did awesome!  They also went clean their first time out.....looks like a great start to the season for them!  Next we had Julie on Mooney and Elizabeth on Spice out on course.  This was Mooney and Spice's first time going XC.  They were both great!  Julie and Mooney & Elizabeth and Spice - sorry no jumping pictures - I think my hands were frozen at this point!  Both had great rounds and were very proud of their horses!  The last pair of the day was Katherine and Molly.  They both did great - Molly is a little XC machine!!  All in all everyone had a fantastic day!  For many of the horses it was their first time out on a XC course.  All the horses proved that they are ready and willing.  It should be an exciting season as everyone brings along new horses.  Be sure to check the news page regularly to keep up to date with their progress.  We are all keeping our fingers crossed for a not so soggy spring season!

Kerry and Amy in Florida - 2007

For those of you that can't resist the nostalgic feelings you get from reading the blog, please feel free to click here and read anytime the urge strikes you!! 

** Visit our blog and stay up to date with Amy and Kerry in Florida!

We wanted to post a quick little follow up to wrap up the FL trip!  We had awesome weather for Rocking Horse HT and every horse was perfect for Kerry!  We could not have asked for a better weekend to end our trip.  Final standings are as follows; Star Bar finished in 10th, Gizmo finished in 7th and Maxwell finished in 6th!!  What a bunch of awesome ponies. 

Our trip home proved to be uneventful and sad :(  It's no fun driving into the cold....talk about depressing!  All the ponies traveled well.......oops I guess Razzled BeDazzled was a little upset on the way home....it's only because he can't actually see Roni on the trailer!!!  After we dropped Gizmo off we put him in the box stall and he was much happier there.  I am convinced that he and Roni spent the rest of the trip gazing into each others eyes!!  Alas, we made it home at the wee hours of the morning......jeez oh pete my butt was sore the next day!!  You would think it would be easy to sleep after driving for 18hrs....nope not so much.  Let's see at about 10pm we stopped for gas and I got a big'ol coffee, chocolate chex mix and sweet tarts......I know not the best combination of things but I was trying to stay awake.  I believe Kerry got a mountain dew and a red bull.  Needless to say when we actually got in bed, we both laid awake trying not to puke all night!!

Anyway, I am positive that I had the time of my life in FL - there is nothing like spending your day completely obsessed with horses!!  What I miss the most.....seeing my little Roni first thing every morning :)

Congratulations Chelsea!! 

 Miles Ahead Farm is proud to congratulate Chelsea Eldridge ~ she is ranked 4th in the country for Junior Training Rider!