Pleasant travels to Children's Benefit Horse Show brings successes back to CT!

Congratulations riders! We are returning from a wonderful trip to Quentin PA for the 19th annual Children's Benefit Horse Show.



Elizabeth McCracken debuted Mr. Rockefeller in his first Country Pleasure drive against the best of competition, garnering a top 3 ribbon and a Reserve Grand Championship- already a stunning combination with only a few short weeks together.

Annie and DB earned top 3 finishes in the show's largest and most competitive division with a reserve tie in the Open Adult pleasure divisions to boot. Go Annie!



Patti and Hero earned two blues in the Saturday morning Academy divisions- you can't miss this combination (or Patti's radiant smile), great job!





We happily motored thru the countryside when we weren't inside the ingate on the stonedust of the beautiful Quentin Riding Club's show ring- the great hospitality of the show committee and the bounty of that Lancaster County has to offer made it a great trip.

In honor of the upcoming Olympic Games! LOL Olympics!

more cat pictures

A fun show!

We just completed a fun, local weekend show at Falls Creek Farm in CT. We had a great time and everyone got some good practice that is close to home. It is so nice to try something different once in a while and it's a day where everyone shows on the same day (in multiple classes!) so it's a great opportunity to get to see how everyone's coming along and support one another. Thanks to everyone who came out to cheer, support and help, it really was a blast!

Annie and DB are a blur, still kind of a cool picture! The only thing NOT a blur was the show schedule! Check out the clock that it's rounding 4:30 and the day is long from being over!

Lib and Willy
"Open up and say Ahhhhhhhhh" We found out that Brooke from FL via Boston via Waterford not only is the helper w/the mostest but an MD too? Thanks for the fun Brooke. Shiloh you are the best behaved Jack Russell I've ever met and you're welcome in my aisle any time!

"Which way is everyone else lining up?"

2 buddies who were riding 2 horses who are buddies!



Erika and Al are all business in their in hand class!
Kate in the winners circle on her wonderful horse!

VHF Tiffany swept the Morgan Division with 3 blues debuting under Kim's beautiful guidance-congratulations to both of these special girls!
Youbefine, Julie McCoy, Portay and Stalenalena Schlink. A lineup beyond description.

Still smilin' at the end of a long day!

Bobette and Mr Rockefeller debuted with 2 blues and a third in three (defensive) driving classes in a large Open Pleasure driving division that featured everything from soup to nuts to 2 carriages that had nothing on Ben Hur- roaring, chain clanking, thundering honestly it sounded like a tornado crashing by! Congratulations to Nicholas and Bobette to getting this team in the ring so quickly and effortlessly.

Ahhh the fun of of a one day show!

Hello bloggers~ we're home from a one day show today (i.e. read: dark-thiry to dark-thirty) and what a fabulous day: new beginnings for young and young at heart, well earned ribbons for the veterans and tons of joy, support for barnmates and lots of laughs-Thanks to ALL you are a wonderful team. More blogging to come on this one but I'm off to find 2 advil and a big glass of water!

Here is a happy photo of Kate and Lauren getting a final strategy session railside in anticipation for their late afternoon classes (with a first and second place respectively on the Wonder Twin Morgans!)

The Eagle has Landed-Mr. Rockefeller's arrival

Mr. Rockeller arrives! (My camera was in the truck quite by accident so this was extra fun!)

Note the little tiny new mom (on the left) intently watching Nicholas deliver the package as gently as it's a dozen eggs!

Sam helps by holding the door...

Nicholas and Elena smiling or a Jerald ad?

This is all a bit Neil Armstrong-like...

"Hey? Wait a minute, I smell root beer barrels!!!!!!

"No, I get to take him for grass tomorrow...
OK I can take the holiday...Wait wait I want Sunday!!! "

A Happy Day for everyone!

Congratulations Bobette!!

Nicholas Villa Stables is thrilled to announce Elizabeth McCracken's purchase of "Mr. Rockefeller!"

Mr. Rockefeller aka "Nelson" is a son of the wonderful Talent Town (sire of CH Mr. Snuffleupagus, CH Polo Town, CH Candle Dan, CH Ramses etc) and out of Sultan's Candy Kisses who is by Supreme Sultan and was bred by Ruxer Farms. As the former trainer for Ruxer Farms Nicholas worked with Nelson's sire and dam and started many colts from those lines.

We congratulate Bobette on the acquisition of this game, sharp horse who is no stranger to the winner's circle with an outstanding record in the Northeast as one of the winningest Country Pleasure horses around as well as ribbons at Louisville.

Thank you to former owner Patti Bartsch and former trainers/agents David & Kristen Cater of Cater Stables in Dunbarton NH in helping us to find this grand horse.

Watch the pleasure driving divisions for this fine gelding with Bobette on the lines.

This is maybe the 2nd coolest German Shepherd dog in the world, 2nd only to sweet Hil'

see more dog pictures

I promise to update the blog soon with a big announcement! Meanwhile, have a Del's on ME! And a have a swell 4th of July! Don't play with fireworks (wink)...

Out for a Sunday Drive

NVS Favorite Things CONTEST (Oprah's got nothing on us)

As described in the June 12 blog- PVP Iodine Ointment is a favorite thing and a horseman's best friend! It's my best kept secret product, we're big fans.

I'm announcing a fun summer contest in honor of one of our favorite things!

OK, (come out all you blog fans!) all you have to do is write us a guest blog about anything related to the farm, horses or riding. The winning entrant gets their very own shiny new container of PVP Iodine Ointment! Don't own a horse but still want to blog? No problem, I'll donate yours to Saddlebred Rescue. If you do own a horse, you get one AND we'll donate one to Saddlebred Rescue*.

Either way SBR wins!

Join the NVS Favorite Things contest!

*Visit http://www.saddlebredrescue.com/ for more information on how to GIVE SO THEY LIVE!

From the Book Depository or the Man on the Grassy Knoll?

The latest theory on Big Brown's disappointing run in the Belmont. Interesting.




A still shot. Starter waving the cord (that cord is attached to a button which when pressed starts the race and opens the gates), Big Brown's ears possibly up a bit (a good sign of a spook?). The conspiracy theorists are having a field day with this one!

A best kept secret!

Or from the "Our Vet is a Genius" department (And a master fisherman to boot!)

Every barn has favorite products and remedies and I figured I'd share them once in a while. The best product you are probably not using for bumps, scrapes, abrasions and minor boo boos is.....

Dionne Povidone PVP Iodine Ointment

We like the properties of iodine, and this surpasses the duration of an iodine scrub treatment alone. The PVP ointment has the consistency of a thick vaseline. It stays on longer while providing a beneficial moist healing against the skin which is ideal with many abrasions especially those in hard to treat areas. It won't drip or run off in areas where gravity is not your friend. It also keeps a longer lasting barrier against more germs invading the site.

How does it work?

Povidone iodine belongs to a class of antiseptics known as iodophores. These chemicals exert their antiseptic effect by slowly releasing iodine. It is also used for the treatment of fungal and bacterial skin infections and pyodermas and in the treatment of infections in decubitus and stasis ulcers (bedsores and leg ulcers). In the presence of blood, serum, purulent exudate and necrotic (dead) tissue, its action persists while the colour remains.

The American Saddlebred-a horse for EVERY generation

Midnight "Willy" Eclipse mugs for the camera with his loving owner Bobette McCracken at Twin State Saddlebred Horse Show 2008........Sam pitches in while Willy's hoof black dries.

HAY 'SUP

more cat pictures

Big Brown travels via UPS Ground?

In case you missed it!



Great thanks to Northgate Stables, Miscoe Meadow and Rocking Horse Farm for hosting their annual fabulous Belmont Stakes party at the Twin State horse show. The food was delicious and they drew a large appreciative crowd. Nicholas sends his compliments to the ribs chef!!!!!!

The remarkable thing I witnessed, after watching this race, was the collective casual reaction of the large group of very experienced horsemen at the party, who at the end of the race had the same quiet grin and a shrug of: "Well, that's horses!" Sometimes, that's just the way it goes. You play this game for the love of the animal and the joy of putting your heart into the best performance you can. It's definately about the journey not the destination!

It was on with gusto for the battle of the barns and the kids ramping up for the jog cart races: Julius Fairfield Caeser versus Pirates of the Carr-RMD-ibean!

TWIN STATE WAS GREAT IN 2008

Gone Country!

Congratulations Bella Dahl: Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Champion and Grand Champion & Midnight Eclipse Country Pleasure Driving Reserve Champion and Reserve Grand Champion.

Great job Elena and Bobette!



more cat pictures

The Devon Horse Show

One of our favorite horse shows of all time- Devon. Even we relax for a moment a two-taking in the beauty, tradition and history!



Devon is a very special place. Please put it on the calendar for next year already, the ASB and pony divisions need your support. Thousands of volunteers work the Devon Country Fair giving it a very special handmade homespun feel. There is a small midway for the children. Small touches are everywhere-that cater to the exhibitor, the spectators, the children, the horses. On Thursday night this year, attendance topped 40,000 people. Louisville, Penn National, Devon these are the places to show in front of a crowd, it's electrifying. There is no show ring more beautiful than the Dixon Oval.

"Seen & Herd"

DEVON CLUB! The often imitated, never duplicated...the original! 5-7pm

BICYCLE ZONE

The short horse trainer called to a warning to the tall horse trainer as he biked away:

"Watch out- he bucks!"

The fine for going the wrong way down a 1 way street in Devon, PA is $175. Whoops! That was going to be an expensive trip to retrieve a whip! Thankfully it was forgiven...

The race was on to Minella's at 2am! Nuff said!

"15-2, 15-4, the right jack & last card!" It only looks like a friendly game! LOL!
On Thursday during the morning lull we visited friends who are a fellow farm family. A beautiful day without a cloud in the sky means the hay need to be raked (the most gorgeous hay in the world I might add!)- but these friends do it with REAL horsepower- 4 beautiful Belgian mares, check out one of the middle mares, exceptionally sized and beautiful. (For the record, his mom OK'd the photograph).

Converse.........versus........ Ariat

Hmm who's who here?

Kimi cleans tack with a smile! Check out the BRAND NEW renovated barns at Devon! Please follow this link to read more and donate to the campaign to renovate all of Devon's stabling. http://www.thedevonhorseshow.org/contributions-renovation.php

Happy Birthday Sam!

Congratulations to this amazing group of ladies who stabled with us at Devon and performed each evening with a vaulting exhibition. They are working toward qualifying for the FEI World Equestrian Games being held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Fall 2010.

Sarah and her mom (and coach) Nicole, who are natives of France, quickly fell in love with the American Saddlbred even pitching in and running with a towel in hand to help and cheer on everyone's classes. We had a wonderful time learning about each other's discipline and passion. Sarah- I told you I'd put you in the blog! Wink wink- we may just get to WEG to cheer you on in the Fall of 2010.

PS You cannot appreciate fully the immense SIZE of this horse in the demo- what a good boy-he is a 15 year old Selle Francais who was bred for this sport specifically I do not dare try to spell his name, you'll hear it in Peter Doubleday's audio.

A special horse show

Devon was Heaven!
Watch this space for "Seen and Herd" - the Devon Edition

updated..............see the 6/4 edition