Stephie Baer on Burghley, Victorian literature, and overindulging in bridles

Stephie and Roo tackle the monster elephant trap at Plantation

Today I’m reviving the getting-to-know-you questionnaire, turning the spotlight on Stephie Baer, one of CBF’s two primary trainers/instructors. For most people who have been involved in eventing for more than ten minutes, Stephie requires little introduction, but here are some of the essential facts about her career:

Stephie is an advanced-level international event rider. She has competed at Bromont (Canada), Mexico, Rolex Kentucky, and Burghley (England).  She was short-listed for the 1998 U.S. World Championship Team. She has been teaching beginners through advanced-level riders for 35 years and has trained countless horses through the levels. She has been a member of the Course Brook Farm family for at least 15 years and has been a huge part of developing the facility into what it is today. She teaches seven days per week at CBF and her lessons are $95/hour. 

 

Dreyfus

For any of you who are interested in riding with Stephie, she will be teaching her annual Memorial Day cross country clinic at CBF on May 27. More information can be found here.

Stephie was kind enough to answer my hybrid horse-person/Proust questionnaire for this post.

1. How old were you when you first started riding? Five. My grandfather said to my mother, “Here’s some money, get that kid some riding lessons.” He was in the cavalry.

2. What is your greatest extravagance? Bridles.

3. What other talent besides riding would you most like to have? More athleticism.

4. What do you consider your greatest achievement (riding or otherwise)? Being short-listed for the World Championships in 1998. 

5. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be? A spoiled house cat that can go in or out.

6. What is your most treasured possession? My horses Dreyfus and Prudential.

Dreyfus at Rolex Kentucky

7. Who are your favorite writers/artists/riders? Writers: the historical novels of Anthony Trollope (probably because I had a great teacher in Victorian lit.) and Tolstoy. Artists: Michelangelo, Degas. Musicians:  Joan Baez, Pete Seeger. Riders: Bruce Davidson, Buck Davidson, Phillip Dutton, Lucinda Green.

8. What is your motto? Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

9. Have you ever ridden sidesaddle? Yes, as a kid without a sidesaddle.

10. What is your favorite riding moment (competition or anything else)? Going to England for five weeks with Dreyfus.

11. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Right now, here. Probably in England if all my family and friends could be there too.

12. If you could do any job besides teaching/training, what would it be (doesn't need to be realistic). Be an architect or an engineer.

Thank you to Stephie for her insights, her incredible contributions to Course Brook Farm, and for the fabulous photos that she contributed for this post, including the one below of the infamous ditch and brush at Burghley. No big deal...

--Casy

April Combined Test Wrap-up

Photo by Lauren Murphy.

Sunday, April 21 we hosted the first in our spring series of three combined tests. The day started chilly, but by mid-morning the sun was out and it began to feel like spring. The show had thirty-two entries from training level to pre-elementary and featured adorable kids and ponies as well as lovely green horses beginning their eventing careers.

First of all, a huge thanks must go out to our wonderful volunteers! We are so lucky to have such committed boarders and friends and truly couldn't do it without you. A BIG thank you also to Lauren Murphy, who provided all of these wonderful photos!

Jan Conlon (R) was the dressage judge. The show jumping course was designed by CBF resident instructor Erika (Hawkes) Hendricks, who made an appearance despite having had her appendix removed last week! Erika said, "I try to design the courses with the parameters of recognized events in mind while keeping the courses flowing and easily adaptable to all levels."

Allie and Chloe finished second in the training division. Photo by Lauren Murphy.

In the Training level division, CBF’s own Allie Kohlberg and her elegant mare Clover Hill put in a polished test to score a 29 in dressage. A clean stadium added no penalties and she placed second, just behind Debbie Carlson and Carlingford Knight, who finished on their dressage score of 24.

Novice was the largest division of the day with eight competitors. Sandy Niles and her eye-catching Black Tie Affair led from start to finish with a score of 30. Daun DeFrance riding Quite the Casanova held onto second place with no jumping penalties, finishing on a score of 34. Victoria Wilson and Quarter Note jumped clean to finish third on their dressage score of 36.5.

Organizer Nici Hornblower sets the novice course. Photo by Lauren Murphy.

In Beginner Novice A, a junior division of two, Katie Santin and Finnegan pulled two rails in show jumping, but won the class with a score of 41.33 after Catherine Grenier and Dancin’ suffered an unfortunate elimination in show jumping after scoring a 33.33 in dressage.

Alyssa Carpenter and Future Perfekt led Beginner Novice B (the senior division with four competitors) from wire to wire, finishing with a score of 37.14. Both Amanda Teft (riding Lacy Lu) and Michelle Fotev (on Urioso) ended on a score of 42.38, but the tie was broken by collective marks in the dressage and Amanda took home the red ribbon.

 CBF trainer/instructor Stephie Baer walks the BN course with Ari Cora. Photo by Lauren Murphy.

The junior division Elementary A featured seven riders. The class was won by Hannah Donovan and Big Time Rush, who were in second place after dressage on a 37, but moved up to first when Dorothea Callen and High Tide pulled a rail in show jumping to add four penalties to their dressage score of 35. Third went to Carlie Cichocki riding Sillygoose with a score of 41.5.

The senior division Elementary B was won by CBF’s own Jennifer Harrison and the lovely paint Cherry, who finished on a 30.5. Second place went to Laura Tracy and Olive Grove, who jumped clean to score a 32. In third was Brenda Casey and Killian’s Irish Red, who scored a 41.

Pre-elementary was split into two divisions, junior and senior, each with one rider. CBF’s Elizabeth Gill and her adorable pony Sweet Dream earned their blue ribbon in Pre-Elementary A with a 38.13 and senior rider Melissa Restifo scored a 47.5 in Pre-Elementary B riding Norma Jean.

 Elizabeth Gill and her pony Sweet Dream won PE-A, as well as the spectators' hearts! Photo by Lauren Murphy.

The full results from the show can be found here. 

The next combined test in the series is May 19 and entries are now open. We are also accepting entries for our annual Memorial Day clinic with Stephie Baer. More information can be found at CBF's Shows and Clinics page. As always, we could use some volunteers for the May 19 show, so if you're interested please contact us at info@coursebrookfarm.com. See you there!

-- Casy