’09 Show Season Kick-Off

Chestnut Hill kicked-off the ’09 show season with a spectacular bang at Rancho Murietta’s Northern Winter Classic I.  Competitors brought home six championships, five reserve championships and six medal wins!

Chestnut Hill’s championships were in the First Year Green, Junior, Children’s Pony, and Pre-Adult Hunter divisions, as well as the Pony Equitation and Equitation 36+ divisions.  Reserve championships were captured in the Adult Amateur Modified, Low, and Short Stirrup Hunter divisions, as well as the Equitation 15 – 17 and Short Stirrup Equitation divisions.  Medal riders brought home blues in the Horse and Hound Junior/Amateur, USEF Pony, National Children’s, PCHA Adult Horsemanship, NorCal Pony and Horse & Hound Pony classes.  Red ribbons were awarded in the PCHA Horsemanship 14 & Under, WCE Junior/Amateur and Horse & Hound Pony Medals.  

A great start to the show season, and congratulations to all competitors, as well as their horses! For a more complete listing of awards, check out the “Results” button in the navigation bar.

New Pony – Bridgette

Congratulations to Chestnut Hill on the recent acqusition of Bridgette, an aged 12.2 hand Welsh pony mare.  This very fancy lesson pony is eager to introduce little kids the joys of riding.  Trainer Beverly is accepting new lesson clients, and Bridgette will be their mount!  Thank you to Marnye Langer for this wonderful addition to the barn.

Chestnut Hill Posts OutstandingYear-End Results

Chestnut Hill riders and their horses earned terrific ’08 year-end awards from USEF, PCHA and Nor Cal. At the recent NorCal banquet, riders (from left to right in photo above) Gwen McLaughlin brought home a Championship in the Small/Medium Pony hunter division with Mercury, pro Katharina Coleman collected a Reserve Championship in the Pre-Green division with Kat Taylor’s horse – Kingsford, Kelley LaFond hold a Championship ribbon for the Equitation 18 – 35 division with her horse Sporting United, and Grace McLaughlin displays her Reserve Championship in the Childrens Hunter division with Olympic. Check out all the year-end results by clicking on the “Results” button in the navigation bar above. Congratulations to all!

Legendary Bernie Traurig Returns to Chestnut Hill

Cited by Victor Hugo-Vidal as “one of Littauer’s last well-known pupils,” Bernie Traurig returned to Chestnut Hill for a two-day clinic. Traurig – the only rider to have competed on all three United States Equestrian Team squads – challenged the small groups of riders to expand the limits of their knowledge and ability through work over a variety of flat and jumping exercises. Traurig continually sought to provide riders a “visual” of what he wanted done by offering ground as well as mounted demonstrations. His instruction was tough, technical and exacting as well as fun and encouraging.

New Horse – Emerald City

Congratulations to Dina Smith on the purchase of Emerald City, a 9 year-old 16.2 hand warmblood. “Toto” has been at Chestnut Hill since August and is adored by everyone, including his recent lessee, Ligeia Polidora. Look for Dina and this lovely horse in the Long Stirrup and Low Adult divisions.