Maddie Burns and Pockets

VHF is currently signing up kids for our Pony School Summer Camp being held from July 5th to the 9th. Cost is $250.00 per child for the week and includes horsey activities, crafts, information, and riding from 9AM-12:30PM on those days. Call for more information.

Followup: The Pony School Summer Camp was a huge success! The campers had daily grooming sessions and riding lessons, participated in fun, horse-themed learning activities, and made unique horse-themed crafts.

Michelle and Charlee

Congratulations to Michelle Frazier and her horse “Quid Pro Quo”(aka “Charlee“), a 17.1 hand 5-year old off the track Thoroughbred who began eventing last year. They placed 2nd at the recent Longleaf Pines Horse Trials, at their first Training Level horse trials together. In the fall of 2009, he competed at Novice for the first time and was quite successful, qualifying for the American Eventing Championships, earning his USEA Eventing Silver Medal, and receiving the USEA Blue Ribbon Award.

Congratulations to Catie Wiener and “Jonson,” who placed 2nd in the NCDCTA Horse of the Year awards (commonly known in dressage circles as HOY) in 2009, at the Jr/YR. 4th level, and recently competed in her first Prix St. Georges class.

Elizabeth, Alison Coyle, Dr. Cesar Parra, and Catie Wiener on Jonson during the clinic in November at VHF

Victory Hill Farm proudly welcomed Dr. Cesar Parra back for a third time, on Nov. 11th and 12th, for a clinic. Dr. Parra has competed at the Olympics, World Championships, and the World Cup Final, as well as at prestigious international shows such as CHIO Aachen. He earned the team silver medal at the Pan American Games and has won more than 300 FEI classes.

Dr. Parra has a thriving coaching and training business at his Performance Farm in Whitehouse Station, NJ and Jupiter, FL. His students have earned NAYRC medals, USDF Year End Championships through grand prix, USDF Gold Medals and have qualified for the USEF National Freestyle Championships at grand prix and the USET National Championships. Dr. Parra has studied classical dressage extensively with the world’s best trainers, including Dr. Volker Moritz, Hubertus Schmidt, Herbert Rehbein, Sigfried Peilicke, and Herbert Kuckluck. He has recently become a U.S. citizen and added to his long list of victories with a string of CDI wins, including Devon.

Anna and Ruby

Anna Spinnenweber and her horse “Rubianna” enjoy their first blue ribbon, earned in the Intro B division at the Antares dressage show Oct. 31st.

Alison Coyle and her horse “Bariton” competed for the Region 1 Team—which won the Team Bronze Medal—in the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). They were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Only the top four Junior Riders and the top four Young Riders from each region are invited to compete at the NAJYRC. The regions include North and Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and each province of Canada. Alison says that she was very excited to meet other Junior Riders who shared the same passion for riding, and that it was a wonderful experience to compete as a team.

Alison and Bariton

Alison Coyle and her horse “Bariton” placed 11th in the Nation in the Junior Rider Division at the National Dressage Championships. “The Festival of Champions” was held at the Headquarters of the United States Equestrian Team in Gladstone, New Jersey. Only the top 12 riders in the country in each category are invited to compete. The Festival of Champions focuses on bringing together the top twelve riders in the United States for Grand Prix, Intermediare I, Brentina Cup, Young Riders, and Juniors.

Alison received a beautiful plaque with the National Championship Logo, gorgeous ribbons for her and the horse, a horse cooler, saddle pad, glasses, polo shirt, and hat. She says it was an amazing feeling to ride amongst all the top class riders and to find out about the history of the USET.

Ready for the jog-up at the Festival of Champions

Alison’s mom, Stephanie Coyle, and Elizabeth joined her on this trip. They made an exciting sidetrip to New Jersey, went to see the Broadway Musical “South Pacific,” and even went sightseeing in Washington, which entailed driving around the monuments while pulling the horse trailer.

The VHF Junior Team of Alison Coyle, Catie Wiener, Emily Pate, and Stephanie Bristol had a great outing at the Dressage in The Sandhills show on May 8th–10th, 2009.

Alison and her horse “Bariton” won her F.E.I. Jr. Individual and Team tests with scores of 62.43% and 63.28% respectively, and then were placed 2nd in their F.E.I. Jr. freestyle on Sunday with a 63.87%. After successful shows at March Magic and FENCE as well, she is now qualified to compete at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC’s). Congratulations Alison!

Catie and her horse “Jonson” earned a 60.69% in her division of 4th level test 1 Open on Saturday, placing 4th, and then on Sunday earned a 60.23% in 4th test 2, placing 3rd. This was the pair’s second outing at 4th level. Way to go Catie!

Emily Pate and her horse “Aravis” earned a 65.2% and 65% on Friday, placing 5th and 1st in Training level test 4 and First level test 1. On Saturday they were 3rd in 1st level test 1 with a 62.66%, and also won Training level test 4 with a 77.6%. Emily was the Junior Training level high scorer. We were all envious of the judge’s remarks, “That was the nicest test I’ve ever judged.” Look out for these two as they progress up the levels.

Stephanie Bristol and her horse “Dalton” earned a 67.2% and 67.2% on Saturday, placing 3rd and 4th respectively in Training level tests 3 and 4. On Sunday they blew away the competition and placed 1st in training level test 4 with a 70.4%, and earned their first qualifying score for Region 1 championships. Awesome job Steph!

Elizabeth and “Summer Berry” also made their debut together at Training level. This was Summerberry’s first recognized dressage show. She won her division on Saturday of the OpenTraining level test 2 division with a 70.35%, and then on Sunday received a 68%, placing 3rd in the Open Training level test 4. SummerBerry is currently offered for sale and/or for lease. Elizabeth hopes to compete her in June at 1st level unless some lucky person buys her first!

Anna and Ruby

Congratulations to the Spinnenweber family (Fred, Bobbi, and daughter Anna, of Apex, N.C.), on their purchase of “Rubianna” aka Ruby from Elizabeth and Victory Hill Farm. Ruby had been used as a successful show and lesson horse for more advanced riders at the farm, previously earning her USDF certificate of merit at Training level with Margaret Rogers and Elizabeth, and is schooled through 2nd level and Beginner Novice Eventing. She will be ridden by both Bobbi and Anna, and shown primarily by Anna.

Stephanie and Elizabeth after the exam

Elizabeth is now an “L” graduate with distinction after all the practice time and study from the past year. She couldn’t have done it without the support of all of her friends. She specifically wishes to thank Stephanie Coyle, who accompanied ad scribed with her at the final exam and practiced scoring;Margaret Rogers, who practiced scribing several times with videos and at horse shows; Sue Walker, who scribed during her D-1 and D-2 sessions; Susie Weidman, who let her come and practice judge at her schooling show; Eliza Sydnor, who organized the program; and all of the generous show organizers here in N.C. who allowed her to sit on the sidelines and practice at their shows. She is really glad to have had this educational opportunity and is looking forward to being able to judge schooling shows in 2009.