Monday, May 7, 2012

Spring Combined Test!


Course Brook Farm’s annual spring combined test was held Sunday, April 29. We offered pre-elementary through preliminary divisions as well as dressage-only and extra jumping rounds. The beautiful weather, smiling faces, and a herd of palomino ponies in the elementary division made the day an enjoyable one for everyone involved.

Starting the day off as the sole competitor in the preliminary division was CBF’s Paige Garson and her lovely horse Sam. They may have been guaranteed the blue ribbon, but they put in a great dressage test for a 33.9 and then pulled only one rail in show jumping for a solid final score of 37.9. 

In the training level division, Jeanie Clarke and her elegant mare Summer Solstice won the dressage with a score of 30. A green runout at the fan jump in stadium turned the round into a schooling session, and by the end of the second optional jumping round, the pair were looking full of confidence. The division was won by Grace Pilkington on Hershey with a score of 39. Second place went to Anna Billings riding Hastening Rue (45.4), and in third was Corey Mordas with his big bay gelding Soto Marino (47).

Mary Lee didn’t have much competition in the novice division either, but that didn’t stop her from putting in a steady show jumping round to finish first in her division of one on her dressage score of 40.

In the beginner novice, Anna Billings led from start to finish on Ben There Done That, winning on her dressage score of 35.7. Second place went to CBF's Brett Piercy and The Rooster with a score of 39.5. No one believes that Rooster is only 4 years old! In third was Erin Cheever on Tameeko (41), followed by Katelyn Dudley riding Headliner Chas, who scored 46.1 to finish in fourth place. Bella Sovrano, ridden by Bethany Jubert finished out the division in fifth place with a score of 60.

The elementary divisions were a blur of palomino ponies. Elementary division A was dominated by CBF’s own Jennifer Chong on Julliard, who finished on a score of 31.5. Second place went to Sonia Williams and Winston with a score of 45. The yellow ribbon went to A.L.F. Aumara, ridden by Jessica Schabert (47.5), and Emily Pip Block and Candee finished in fourth on a score of 48.5.

Eliza Santin won Elementary B on Peter Finnegan with a score of 36. Jamie Lance rode Marlines Magic to win the red ribbon with a score of 39. In third was Michele Foland with Chestah (41), and fourth went to Katie Santin on Dietz (45).

Top honors in the pre-elementary division went to Emily Young on Elliot G.S., with a score of 39.3. In second was Does Her Justice, ridden by Jocelyn Pierce. Third went to Lilah Whitcomb riding Junkyard Treasure (41.88). In fourth place was Happy Meal ridden by Audrey Weyler, also on a 41.88. Fifth went to Mary Bovaconti riding Immortal Honor (47.5).

In the dressage-only division, CBF-ers Jennifer Harrison and Anything Goes (aka A.C.) as well as Marian Bourgeois riding Liam put in excellent tests!

Stay tuned for photos...

-- Casy