Springtime friends

Chlarissa and all the horses are getting out to graze on the spring’s glorious grass.  It’s the height of the season, and wildflowers are everywhere.

Reggie is also enjoying the spring grass, and he likes having a next door neighbor.

Reggie wishes he could open the gate!

Chlarissa is curious.

Reggie turns to his pasture-mate, last year’s lamb, Clark, to get advice on how to proceed.

Hmmmm….

By this time, Chlarissa is busy grazing again.

Bernie Traurig Clinic

Legendary rider, trainer coach and founder of the on-line learning system, Equestriancoach.com, Bernie Traurig, returned to Chestnut Hill for a fantastic two-day clinic. Bernie reached the top of the sport in all three of the International Equestrian Olympic disciplines (Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing) was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in 2009, and is a master teacher and clinician.

He worked tirelessly to connect with each rider, and identified what each person already knew how to do well, so he could build on those basics. He then calmly and with great enthusiasm and encouragement introduced flat and jumping exercises and classic teachings to boost riders’ confidence, and ultimately, their abilities. He also gave numerous mounted demonstrations to provide riders a visual of the points he was stressing.

This was Bernie’s fourth clinic with Chestnut Hill, and he gets better and better every time. Everyone benefitted greatly, and we can’t wait to have him back.

NEW HORSE: Twist n Shout

Congratulations to Sidney Conroy on the lease of fellow-rider Madison Bradshaw’s horse, “Twist n’ Shout.” Look for Sidney and her lovely new mount in the Adult Amateur Hunter and Equitation divisions this year. That’s “Quinn” above with Sidney’s daughter Kelly in the irons, and Quinn standing below with Sidney on the ground and Kelly.  Good luck to this great new team!