Angel's Show Goals for 2011

I thought it would be exciting to establish some show goals for Angel for the 2011 Show Season. I've thought long and hard about it and I think I've come up with a good list:

• Lead Changes--Angel needs to consistently get her changes. Why are they so hard for her????? She's getting them now about 70% of the time, but that needs to go to 100%. She'll get them; I have faith.
• Consistent Pace--Angel is easily getting the steps these days but sometimes her pace is a bit inconsistent. She can get very quick when she's "up" so, she needs to work on keeping that lopey pace all the time
• Straitness--I know, lead chages come from straitness and Angel has gotten a lot better but she needs to be strait all the time. No more wiggle worms in 2011!
• Ribbons at A shows--Angel needs to pin better than 7th at an A show; she gone 7th a lot but I am gready and I need more--6th or better this year, please
• Win Year End BHSA points--Angel needs to be Champion in a division for year end points, please??!?!?!?!?!??!

The 2011 show season starts with a BANG!

Well, it's upon us, the 2011 show season has officially started here in Virginia. The first show was last weekend and it was great. Angel went 4th, 2nd, & 1st and was Reserve Champion in a combined Pleasure Horse Division, which was great. This year, at VHSA Associate shows, Angel can compete in Working, Schooling, or low hunters for her jumping division. Angel competed in Schooling Hunter, which was supposed to run at 2'9", and she did wonderfully. She went 1st and 2nd over fences and won the hack and wound up Champion of the division! The show was really nice and it ran fast so, although it was frigidly cold, it wasn't too bad. Angel will have a break over Christmas from showing but will be back at it come January. Hope to see you at the shows!

I wanted to take a few minutes to post some more pictures of the devine Miss Angel. So here they are!!!!

Show Season Wrap Up

Well, the 2010 show season is now officially over. How'd it go, you ask???? GREAT, if results are anything to do with it. Angel ended the Season 8th in Green Hunter and Adult Pleasure Horse for the VHSA. For our local show assocation, the Battlefield Horse Show Association, she wound up 4th in Pleasure and 3rd in Green Hunter and we are thrilled. That means she'll get ribbons at the year end banquet. Isn't that Awesome? I think so!!!! The winter 2011 season starts December 12th, so we'll keep you posted as to how it goes! Angel should be making the move up to the Working Hunters so that should be exciting.

Angel ribbons in Hunters at Rose Mount Farm Spring Show

Great news to report: This morning at our local USEF AA Show (Rose Mount Farm Spring Horse Show), Angel took 7th place in her first trip in the Local Hunter Horse division! She went in the ring cold, having never schooled the fences, and put out 2 great trips. More importantly, she got a FULL LEAD CHANGE in her first class (landed on her leads in the 2nd o/f class), which was rewarded by a 7th place ribbon. I am thrilled to death by this. The local division here is REALLY competitive and there were a lot of big name horses galloping around. What a thrill! Hearty congrats to Kelly & Angel on this great performance...I am certain many more will follow!

Winter Season Updates

Hi All! It has been an exciting winter show season for Ms. Angel In Disguise. Although there was so much snow that there wasn't a lot of riding for several weeks (or school, or work, or anything), Ms. Angel did get some showing in and the results were FABULOUS. Angel competed at several VHSA Associate shows over the winter in Green Hunter and Adult Pleasure Horse with Ms. Kelly. She had numerous "clean sweeps," winning all of the classes in the respective divisions and even won some end of series awards. Over the TWA winter series (Ms. Gigi Winslett runs this series and she puts on fabulous shows...we adore her) Angel was Series GRAND CHAMPION GREEN HUNTER HORSE and GRAND CHAMPION ADULT PLEASURE HORSE. We are so proud of Angel's accomplishments! She won several pretty plaques and got called into the ring to accept her trophies. She was thrilled and so were we!

Lately, Angel and Kelly have been diligently working on getting changes. Changes are really hard for Angel but she is starting to get them consistently...she's even gotten multiple changes in the show ring...WAHOO! What we have noticed is that she is using her big, beautiful butt more so that seems to be helping the changes along. Angel and Kelly have now mastered the "steps," and Angel's stride has lengthened beautifully. What I find most pleasing is that, because Angel is on the "small" side, her pace has to be a bit forward for her to make the distances. Ultimately, this leads to a lovely, forward round that, I find, quite pleasing to the eye. Now, mind you, Angel isn't fully galloping, she just has a pace that you can see keeping up with the hounds. It truly is a sight to behold.

Now, on to points...Angel is currently 2nd in VHSA Associate points in Pleasure and Green Hunter. I truly hope she keeps improving because I can just see the year end awards in her future! On our local circuit, the Battlefield Horse Show Association, or BHSA, Angel is currently 1st in points in Green Hunter and Adult Pleasure Horse. She is such a trooper. We'll continue to keep you updated as the season progresses and hopefully, we'll have some exciting news in the near future. Until then, please continue to LOVE THE SPOTS!

OOPS, I forgot to mention Lexi...

Although Lexi didn't go show with us today, she did go two weekends ago. Ms. Sydney rode her in the small pony hunter division and she was CHAMPION after she pinned well in the hack and WON BOTH of her over fences classes. Ms. Sydney was so thrilled that she let Lexi wear her Champion ribbon all day. She's such a cutie! Ms. Olivia rode me (Angel) in the student equitation division. Although the classes were HUGE, we ended up getting a 3rd place over fences. I was really happy with that and was rewarded for getting all of my leads for Ms. Olivia. I think she was pretty happy with me and I was thrilled to see her do well!

Horse show updates from Ms. Angel!

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I posted an update but I've got some great news for all of you. I've been showing the past 2 weekends and I've done super. Last weekend, I didn't do too well in Pleasure, I mean, I pinned 2nd & 3rd, but for me, that's a bit low. I did a really good job, I just don't think the judge particularly cared for me. My mom says that's why pleasure is cruel...I agree with her. So, next I went into my Green Hunter classes. I did so great! I got a 2nd in the hack and WON BOTH of my over fences classes. I jumped so good...I got the steps and made it look easy. I was CHAMPION of the division!

The show I went to today was super, too! I was Reserve Champion in Pleasure (I went 2nd, 2nd and 1st) and CHAMPION IN GREEN HUNTER. I won every single class in the division, the 2 jumping classes and the hack. I was such a good girl. I wasn't even bothered by the new horse that went with me to the show. He's a HUGE T/B and he's really green. I didn't care though, when Kelly rode him, I stood by the rail and slept. I was really happy, too, because a lot of people were cheering for me when I finished my jumping trips. My mom thought I looked perfect and Ms. Kelly was really happy with how I did. I'll keep updating you as the show season progresses. Until then, enjoy life and be good!

You should meet Angel's "brother," too!

Angel's "brother" is Honor. They aren't really related--at all--but they're both a part of our family so, in my book, they're related. Honor is a BIG boy. He's right around 16.2 hands and he could still grow a bit. He came home to us last May and wow-we, was he ever hot. He's an appendix registered QH, but he's quite a lot more TB than you'd expect...and he acts like it too! He can be saucy and LOVES to go. I think he's quite elegant, though, and he has a wonderful personality. He'd sooner lick your face than do you any harm and that's just fine with me. Kelly has been working with him and she thinks he'll be ready to show this spring. She's taught him how to work in a frame and he seems to be getting it. In fact, Kelly said he was wonderful when she rode him yesterday so I see definate progress! He'll be a winner, I just know it! Here's a picture of Honor. It was taken several months ago so he's got more weight and muscle now...but isn't he handsome...not quite as cute as Angel, but close!!!!!

Meet Angel's Show Buddy!

When Angel goes to shows, she is usually accompanied by her friend Butterfly Kisses, aka "Lexi." Lexi is a 12.2 hand welsh cross. She jumps everything and loves to do her courses. Sometimes, she is ridden by one of Kelly's students. Last year, Miss Olivia rode Lexi through most of the show season. They did great! Miss Olivia moved up from short stirrup to the regular hunters and Lexi brought her right along. Miss Olivia even discovered that Lexi loves Twinkies! Unfortunately, Miss Olivia has gotten too tall for the little Lexi so this year she will either be shown by Kelly or Miss Sydney, one of Kelly's other students. We keep hoping Lexi will grow, but it doesn't seem to be happening! Kelly and Lexi started the 2010 show season off in great style; they were Champion in the low hunters, winning all of their over fences classes!

Winter...fewer rides, yucky weather & puddles!

Happy New Year and welcome to our blog! Unless you live in a warmer place, you're suffering just like we are. Angel & Kelly were supposed to have a lesson with Miss Erin at EKG on Thursday but the threat of icy roads led to cancellation. Fortunately, the ring at Meadow View Farm is now snow free--but for the puddles--so Angel and her friends have gotten some work in lately. Even though Angel hasn't been ridden much, she's been pretty good lately. Angel really likes to work and I think she gets depressed when she isn't ridden every day. She likes a routine and when the routine is interrupted, she isn't happy. I think that's true of Kelly, too, who can't stand not being able to ride; had the snow not left the ring, I think she would have gone stir crazy. There is good news though...Angel, Kelly & Lexi may be going to a show on Saturday. It will involve a long trek South, but I think the opportunity to ride in a big covered ring is a siren call that the girls simply can't ignore! We'll keep you posted as to how the results go and hopefully the victories will keep mounting in 2010!