Training Camp

Now that our whole team is in one location, we are finally posting our first blog for the exchange. Our training camp began on Monday. Jenn Price and Ema Klugman had their first lesson with team coach, Janna Ritacco, in the afternoon on two lovely preliminary horses. Fugitive, owned by Tayler Stewart, and Stafford Place, owned by Barbara Werther, both helped us practice the dressage test we will perform in Canada for the Maple Leaf Challenge. We focused on the movements that were newer to us, such as the transition to walk across the diagonal and the giving of the inside rein in canter, which are not in the USEA tests that we are used to riding. 

Ema and Fugitive

On Tuesday, Nicole Ligon arrived from Pennsylvania! We started our day with some more dressage practice on Bendigo, owned by Ema, Tayler Stewart's Fugi, and Barbara Werther's Stanley. We all switched around to practice the test skills with different horses-- Stanley was extremely excited to show off his trot lengthen across the diagonal, so it took a bit of convincing to put in a walk transition at X like we do for the Canadian test! Fugi and Ben danced around for some extra practice before we made a quick switch to another mount whom we had not ridden. In the afternoon, we reconvened for a brief jump school in the lower outdoor at Ema's farm on Fugi, Stanley, and Ema Klugman's Joker's Win. We practiced an efficient warmup that helped us sort out our new mounts while still conserving energy for the switch ride later. The arena was relatively small and rounded, so we were able to practice a twisty course while maintaining proper balance and energy through the turns. 

In the afternoon, we visited Will Zuschlag--a former student of our coach Janna--who is a working student at Raylyn Farms in Frederick, MD. He gave us a fantastic tour of the farm. Overall, it was a very productive day! 

At Raylyn Farms with Will Zuschlag

On Wednesday, we borrowed three lovely horses from Jenny Barnhard, a member of Potomac Pony Club. We had a jump school with these three horses-- Maverick is an incredibly well-schooled horse who was tons of fun to jump, and Ari was a greener 6 year-old, but Jenn and Ema helped him gain some confidence on the flat and over fences. The third horse we were going to borrow fell through, so Jenny brought out her old quarter horse, Teddy, who ended up being everyone's favorite because of his enthusiasm and awesome jumping style! 

Lunch!

Teddy and Jenn

After our rides, we headed to the Klugman's beautiful home in the suburbs of Washington, DC for a swim and some lunch. Allyson, Ema, and Nicole ventured into the city to take a look at The White House, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. Along the Mall, we stopped by the Mounted Police Stables to envision where the USPC Barn Plan Contest would come to life. We also had some time to explore the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum. One of the cool parts about the DC attractions is that they all offer free admission. Allyson and Mrs. Klugman picked KC up from the airport after she arrived from California, and we had a lovely evening swim and dinner with our entire team together at last!

Nicole and Ema sizing up the Washington Monument

On Thursday, we had a cross-country school with Packy McGuaghan. We rode a wide range of horses in terms of experience--the lovely four year-old A Capella, owned by Judy McGuaghan, the green but willing mare named Lucy, owned by Jamie Rees, the experienced preliminary horse Stafford Place, owned by Barbara Werther, and the talented thoroughbred Fugitive, owned by Tayler Stewart. Packy discussed theory behind cross country riding and we had a fabulous time riding on the Banbury Cross Farm cross country field. Jamie Rees generously created a video of our jump school, which you can view here. 

 A photo of the girls wearing our generously sponsored IRH helmets

Left to Right: KC, Jen, Alyson, Nicole, and Ema

Stanley made quick work of the angled log question, but he also had a sense of humour. Our Chef d'Equipe Allyson's shorts ripped when he rubbed his itchy face on her leg.

In the afternoon, we flatted Kevin Bowie's horses. KC rode Lily, Ema rode Bo, Jen rode Ali and Nicole rode Shrimp. We all got a chance to ride our dressage test in front of the very talented Kevin Bowie, a National Examiner with USPC.  We focused on correct geometry and Kevin gave us some last minute strategies on catch riding our Canadian mounts.  We are now back at Snowy River Farm getting ready to enjoy some Australian BBQ before we head to Canada tomorrow!!!

After a productive flat school with the one and only Kevin Bowie!

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Next stop, Canada! GO USA!!!