Author: victoryhill1

FEI dressage trainer. Eventing coach, Artist.

2021 NCDCTA Championships

Lft to Rt above: Amber Zaratsian, Rio Landa, Elizabeth Moore, Alison Eyth and Queen Chloe. This year’s show was quite blustery and we all got a bit windburned and wore multiple layers all weekend. Huge congrats to my students Rio Landa for winning both the championships at Training and First level AA divisions and Alison Eyth for being the Reserve Champ in the 2nd level AA division on her recently purchased from Blake Atherton “Queen Chlo Chlo” ! Rio also got the coolest big purple ribbon ever and lovely gift basket for winning the Radka Heiniman Memorial award for a dedicated AA rider, (please see gallery pic and other details below:) This award is sponsored by Donna Kelly Dressage to honor one of her former students who lost her battle with cancer recently but according to everyone who knew her fought hard and always had a good attitude. Thank you very much Donna and Radka!

Pics

Our weekend began with a few challenges with this being Rio’s horse’s (5 yr. Hannoverian gelding Dushay HFF aka D.J. at the barn) first trip to the horse park, (and Rio’s first recognized show with him), he was a little “up” and needed a quick ride prep from E on Fri before she got on. Rio said he was leaping around after an hour of lunging and resembled something other than the horse she knows, so she was not sure she even wanted to compete. Luckily we were all able to convince her to ride and they did not put a foot wrong after that!

Then Amber’s horse Jetta (14 yr. Fresian Qtr. cross mare) unexpectedly stumbled during the canter work of her Championship T-1 test, which unseated Amber, and although they were both fine, it still disqualified them from the championships. Luckily, they had a much better test during their 1st-1 ride later that day and scored a 67% which earned her a third in that class, and they were also able to better some movements in that same test on Sunday.

Elizabeth and Melissa Johnson’s horse Belissimo Volto (coming 10 yr. Hannoverian gelding) made their 4th level debut Sat. earning a 60.132 with an error in 4th 2, and a 63.462 in 4th 1. Volto was absolutely terrific and I am fortunate to have such a lovely horse to train. Sunday he warmed up very nicely but apparently I (Elizabeth) now need to admit I need a reader on occasion though, (especially in 4th 2 apparently) and that I also need to triple check the arena I am riding in, as I made some unnecessary mistakes which led to our being disqualified from the 4th level championships and made me annoyed with myself since we had earned a 70% in the same test at a schooling show 2 weeks before that! Thank you very much to our wonderful sponsors Custom Saddlery, Ezium, and Cartilast LLC, without which we could not do this amazing sport. All four of the horses we brought to the show go in Custom saddles and two use the Ezium supplement which has made a big difference in them both.

Trip to the CBLM finals

This was VHF’s first trip to an “away” show during the pandemic year of 2020 and it was slightly nerve-wracking not knowing what to expect, but Elizabeth was very fortunate to have two nice horses to compete at the CBLM finals which were held in Williamston, NC at the Senator Bob Martin Agricultural Arena.

Melissa Johnson’s “Bellissimo Volto” who contested the 3rd Level division B, and “Flurry’s Jetta” who contested the Training Level division B, finished up as Reserve Champion and tied for Reserve champion respectively in their divisions.

Also attending were Charlotte Holt and her horse “London” who won their 1st level test 2 class on Thursday and then finished 4th in their First level finals Division A class on Sunday, and Alison Eyth and Blake Atherton’s beautiful mare “Queen Chloe Chloe” who finished 10th in the same 1st Level finals division A but also gave Alison a 2nd place and an additional good score towards her Bronze medal at 2nd level.

To the CBLM’s and beyond

I am happy to report that VHF will be attending the CBLM finals this year with the following four horse and rider combinations: Alison Eyth and Blake Atherton’s “Queen Chloe Chloe” in the 1st level division A, Charlotte Holt and her own “London” also in 1st level division A, Elizabeth Moore and Melissa Johnson’s “Belissimo Volto” in 3rd level division B, and Elizabeth Moore and Amber Zaratsian’s “Flurry’s Jetta” in the Training level division B.

Additionally “Belissimo Volto” also qualified for the 2nd level division A CBLM finals with his owner Melissa Johnson pictured here with a 64+%. Charlotte Holt and “London” won both their classes on Sat (70+% in 1st-2) in Charlotte’s first time showing in a recognized show at First level which also earned her her first scores towards her Bronze medal, and “Flurry’s Jetta” also qualified for the Region 1 finals during the Labor of Love show with Elizabeth. Congrats to all!

“London” wins her 2nd in a row .75 m jumper class at Triangle farms C show and ”Chloe” and “Lucy” also put in solid jumper rounds.

“London” owned by Charlotte Holt took a blue for the second time at the Triangle Farms C show in July with her owner Charlotte Holt in the .75m jumper division. The pair also won a class at the June show at the same height so Charlotte was pleased since it was really hot weather and she felt like she steadily improved. (Lucy and Sarah pictured above, video of Charlotte and Alison below).

“Queen Chloe Chloe” aka Chloe also contested the same division and cantered around easily with with her Lessor Alison Eyth. Chloe is owned by Blake Atherton. Alison was happy too although they had a few time penalties, so we have been working on increasing her RPMs recently at home!

“I Love Lucy” aka Lucy had solid rounds in the puddle jumper division with her Lessor Sarah Sievers. Owner Deirdre Albertson had also planned to compete her in the .75 m division but she stepped on a clip in her last round so will have to wait til next time. Still they were both super happy with her.

Fun at the Pipe Opener II

Elizabeth had fun taking her own 6 yr. OTTB “Obi-1” and 5 yr. TB “Riptide” to the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC. to compete in the Pipe Opener II Combined Test on 2/15/20. It was Obi’s first show of any kind since retiring from racing, and Tide’s first Beginner Novice Combined test at CHP. Both horses finished on their dressage scores and did not look at any of the jumps, although Obi was quite certain there was a starting gate somewhere around the arenas. Tide who never raced and is much more laid back improved his score slightly and is continuing to find a more “uphill” balance as he matures:) Elizabeth was extremely grateful to her student Patience Stevens for grooming for her for the day, and both Hannah McDiarmid and her husband John for helping her get off to an early start! Pictures by High Time Photography.

  • “Obi-1”
  • “Riptide”


Eno Triangle Pony Club Clinic on 1/26/20

The farm hosted the Eno Triangle Pony club for a clinic last Sunday 1/26/20. Elizabeth had fun instructing them and all of the kids were good students with well turned out ponies and horses. Here are a few pics and videos of them. Above pic is: Elizabeth Moore (center) with L-R Maya Brandt and “Danny Boy”, Chloe Sharpe and “Duchess”, Devyn and “Cinnamon”, Maddie and “Dottie” and Sophia Grahm and “Joey”.

Video previews are sideways but if you click on them they play rightsize up! First video is Diana Luther and her TB gelding “Caper”, followed by Maddie and “Thunder”, Ann Laurel and “Dixie”, Sarah and “Skittles”, and Maeson and “Apollo” also a TB gelding. Finally, the last video is of the adorable Ava Brooke Bailey riding “Dreamy”. Also a giant thank you to the Pony Club DC’s; Susan Montani, Meredith Lawson, and Michelle Crowder!!

Mattie Crowder and “Thunder” who is not her usual mount!

 

Sweet, sane TB gelding for 1/2 lease

Kingsley is a lovely 16.1 hd. TB gelding now owned by Hannah McDiarmid. He has taught multiple people and several juniors the basics of dressage, and is jumping courses in the 2’9” range right now. Hannah competed him this past season in the WHES at CHP at maiden level and hopes to do BN soon. He is very safe on trails, and needs a half lease person to come and join out team of committed dressage and eventing riders here at the farm. Please contact Elizabeth or Hannah at 919 434-7327 or 919 579-2957 for more info.

“Indigo Girl” and Leslie Donnelly Lorbacher

Here is Leslie Donnelly Lorbacher and her long time partner “Indigo Girl” aka Amy enjoying a dip in Jordan Lake! Amy is now 23 years young and Leslie is a new “mom-lady”, devoted wife, and a nurse in her adult life. I met and purchased Amy when she was 2.5 years old at the Royal Winter Fair sporthorse auction in Toronto Canada, and met Leslie when she was about 12. The two have them have enjoyed many adventures together and from the looks of this pic have many more to come💕🍀.