June 2025

 June kept us busy and flew by in the blink of an eye. We started the month going to a Pony Club Jump Rally. You rode in the Jump Rally your very first year of Pony Club and since then went as a stable manager. But now that you have. a horse that likes to jump you went as a rider. This is the last Pony Club rally with many of your friends as several are going away to college in the fall. You and Wren had a blast. He jumped well and had two rounds (out of 4) without knocking any rails. You had some time faults on 3 of the courses but you aren't used to jumping and the timing is something that is hard to gauge. 

You got second place in the equiatation round at your level.

It poured on Saturday morning which made the rings very muddy. Parents did their best to get the water out of the rings. Wren wasn't thrilled with the mud hitting his belly but once he got jumping he had fun.

You went to the By Chance schooling show the following week and got your score for the 2-1 championship show in the fall. You needed two shows with two scores above 62 and you did it. You two are coming along nicely.

The following weekend we went to PVDA Summer Show all by ourselves. The barn took kids to a Youth Dressage Festival and you decided you didn't want to go back there again this year. Peggy was nice enough to let us borrow her trailer. Daddy did a great job trailering down and back. He didn't stay for the show. You and I hung out all weekend and had some quality time together. Phoebe was there with a couple of riders on Saturday and she coached you. You were hoping to get 2 scores of 60 or above on your 2nd level tests. They are needed for your Bronze Medal. You would love to start schooling 3rd level moves and move into the double bridle which seems to help him maintain his frame a little better. You did it... in just one show you got a 65 on Saturday and a 62.429 on Sunday. The ride Sunday looked amazing. So proud of you and how hard you are working. It was a HOT weekend! Glad we were able to get to the hotel on Saturday afternoon for a while to cool down.

You started your faculty student research project the day after the PVDA show. You will be living on campus for 4 weeks but likely coming home on the weekends. So far you are learning a lot and enjoying yourself. Thankfully your dorm has AC. It has been HOT.

I went to Connecticut to spend time with cousins. I stayed with Linda. It was so nice seeing family.

Daddy got a Gladiator teaching award. He was nominated by parents of one of this students. He works so hard it was nice to see him recognized at the awards ceremony

I didn't get many pictures of our pets this month. As a matter of fact I only caught Loki in the act of being naughty. 

May 2025

Things picked up for us in May. We started the month at a wedding celebration for Nick and Mari. It was a really fun gathering of family and friends at a restaurant. They did a great job planning the event. The food was incredible and vibe so fun. They had a band and also selected friends and family members give speeches. The speeches gave us all the opportunity of seeing Nick and Mari through different eyes. It was very fun to celebrate with them.

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The very next day I went to the annual Sheep and Wool festival which was so much fun. I was restrained in my purchases but still walked away with yarn for two big projects!

The following weekend we went to a recognized dressage show at Loch Moy. Wren wasn't haven't it. he was spooking at everything in the ring. He has had trouble in that ring before but this was bad. Overly dramatic! We won't be competing at Loch Moy again. Doesn't make sense to have him so tense in the show ring.

 

We also celebrated Mother's Day and my birthday. Sophia went shopping and put together a really useful basket of lotions and soaps. She knows me well. I love everything she picked out. We also packed up the majority of her dorm and got it into storage. She has to be fully out 24 hours after her last final so we did most of the packing on Sunday and Steve went back to move the rest of the stuff into storage with her on Wednesday.

Sophia had a wonderful semester. She got straight A's. She has an incredible work ethic and puts her heart and soul into everything she does. 

Sophia also did a schooling show at By Chance which went MUCH better. She got one of two required scores to compete in a championship show in November at the same barn. 

One of Sophia's trainers suggested a double bridle for Wren. You can use a double bridle in third level and above. She purchased one and has been working with him in it.

I don't have many pictures of the furry members of the family this month but they are all doing creat.

April 2025

The month of April came and went without my fanfare or excitement. It was a pretty low key month. Sophia came home from college mid month because she wasn't feeling well. The stomach bug got the best of her. Being put on a clear liquid diet for 48 hours was easier done at home, that and sleeping in her own bed was just what the doctor ordered. 

We went to see a barn friend perform as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. A whole bunch of the barn family had dinner and then went to the play. The barn family is so much fun and very supportive of each other. 

I did a little gardening and took advantage of the full bloom of the azalea bushes to take the yearly "May 1st" picture marking Sophia's half birthday. The azaleas popped into full color the last week of April and they were spectacular. The picture of Sophia isn't the greatest. I am not sure what happened with the lighting. 

 

Sophia and I went to the tent sale at Dover and didn't find much in the way of bargains but it was nice to spend time with her. That evening we all went to see the Maryland Orchestra perform How to Train Your Dragon. It was an amazing performance.

  

Our pets even had a low key month. This first picture shows all of them on the couch with Steve. 

March 2025

 Sophia took a class at college which taught the history of China through food. She had a couple of projects that required simple cooking. This meant she came home a couple of weekends to do her homework. Loved having her home. 

March started off the competition season for Sophia. She did a recognized jumper show for the first time. Sophia has been more focused on dressage but Wren is so versatile and seems to enjoy jumping. He does better jumper higher jumps, probably because he is so tall and is a big mover. They did two rounds at .8 (approx 2'7"). They got a 7th place (our of 18 riders) in the speed round. They also had a clear round at .9 (2'11") and one rail down in the jump off earning 8th place out of 19 riders. It was an exciting day. So glad to see Sophia trying new things with Wren. 

Sophia also went to the Pony Club Dressage Rally. The horse management part was difficult especially with her and her friend G being judged at C2 standards. They are picky!  The riding was fun. Wren was a little "extra" during the first test. He spooked at the letters in the ring, acting as if he never saw a dressage letter before. Sophia did Level 1 Test 3 and Level 2 Test 1. She also rode an amazing pas de deux with her friend G. They were incredible. Sophia got high score in her division. 

Tracey was in town for her birthday. I joined her, Gianna and Angie for dinner. It was nice to see them. 

Our pets are all doing well. 

Until next month.