Our Approach Training Our Horses CCF in Virginia Facilities Horses for Sale
 
 
     
 

Blog Archives: July, 2008

 

Riga Meadow Horse Trials July 20th

Our two representatives at this event, which was the first for both horse and rider combinations, performed creditably well: 

 Alison Lindsay riding Cedar Crest Bewitched in Novice Division A:                            4th place

 Joanne Blackmore riding Gerry McNamara's Irish Joker in Novice Division C:        2nd place

Posted by Cedar Crest: 07/23/2008
 

DRESSAGE STAR IN THE MAKING

Helen Van der Voort and her imported Andalusian stallion, Jaqueton, are beginning to make their mark at First Level scoring two second placings in the Adult Amateur division at the Kasson Ridge Recognized Dressage Show on July 12th and 13th.  Under the tutelage of Cedar Crest instructor, Wendy Brooke B.H.S.I.I., Helen and Jaq are gaining in confidence with every outing.
Posted by Cedar Crest: 07/16/2008
 

KAZU ROCKS

Blonde Redhead vocalist, Kazu Makino, won both her classes at the recent Crosswinds Equestrian Center jumper show on Cedar Crest's irrepressible chestnut gelding, Paddy's Boy.  Kazu and her partner, Amedeo Pace, have now left for a tour of Finland, Norway and Italy with the band.
Posted by Cedar Crest: 07/16/2008
 

Viva Espana!

It's been a great year for Spain - their soccer team won the European Football Championships for the first time in 44 years; Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon and a group from Cedar Crest Farm tackled and overcame the highest trail ride in Europe when they crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in June. Gerry first rode in the area in 1970 and decided to take her family and some friends back to the area for a vacation in honor of her 50th birthday.

The adventure was organized by Mitch and Sabine Duran of Caminoverde and the team of intrepid riders comprised Gerry, Paul and Alison Lindsay; Deb West and Melanie Peters, both from New York City; Ted Ambrosini from Los Angeles and Heather and Symon Baker from Scotland. The latter was a non-rider but his input was invaluable whether it was shopping in the local stores, entertaining the children or helping fix a twisted horse-shoe.

The group jetted in from various points on the compass and met up in the enchanted city of Granada where, after tours of the Alhambra Palace and adjacent gardens, they were escorted to Trevelez, the highest village in Spain. Named for it's three "barrios" - low, middle and high - Trevelez tumbles down the side of the mountains like a handful of scattered sugar cubes. The lower part of the town boasts a few more shops and snow-cured ham factories than during Gerry's first visit but the rest remains unchanged with animals still inhabiting the lower regions of the houses, the narrow streets more suited to four-footed traffic than the four-wheeled variety, and the townsfolk remaining guarded and watchful, the consequence of centuries of isolation.

On day one we were introduced to our horses by Sabine. Mainly pure-bred Andalusians, they were sturdy, fit, comfortable and reliable and over the following six days' of strenuous climbing up and down precipitous trails we came to appreciate their willing personalities. For all of us, escaping from the pressures of daily life, it was a treat to relax on the back of a good horse and enjoy the magnificent scenery. The mountainsides were covered in a tapestry of flowers and the scents of Spanish broom and wild rosemary filled the air. Each day's ride included a magnificent picnic lunch and ended up at a different, rustic inn where we were able to relax and enjoy the apres-ride. There was always plenty to talk about - Gerry's descent over the side of a cliff when Maris was startled by some shepherd dogs; Alison's foot being squashed by an oblivious Napoleon Lopez; Heather's bravery in tackling, and completing, the ride with a foot only recently broken by a horse in Scotland; Deb's kindness in lending Heather her riding boots and getting blisters from her spare pair; Paul's good humor throughout considering he can never be persuaded to go on a trail ride at home and Ted's ability to stop anyone passing him whenever there was a chance to gallop. Melanie had so many adventures worthy of discussion that she needs a separate paragraph...

Being a polite and unassuming sort of person, Melanie generally found herself bringing up the rear on her handsome bay gelding, Aladin. As she had been allocated the most wayward horse of the group, she was offered a crop to keep him under control and looked like a smartly-dressed member of the Pony Club. Being at the back of the ride was fine except for two occasions every day. One was when it was necessary to stop on the side of a cliff whilst each horse took it in turns to drink. She always seemed to be left in a precarious location, preferably with some low branches to spice up the wait, whilst those ahead dithered and splashed about in the mountain stream. The second was at the end of each ride when she had to watch everyone else dismount and tie up their horse whilst she was left until last. Well, it had to be someone! There were also some really exciting moments - the most memorable being when we had to dismount from the horses and let them gallop up the steep trail ahead on their own. The idea was that they went one by one but once Paul released Oscuro, Melanie was unable to hold Aladin who pulled her off her feet as he took off in hot pursuit. Then, on the final day, with only two hours to go, she scored a 10 for artistic impression when Aladin burst out of the covered watering area in Trevelez and hurled her to her knees in front of two elderly gentlemen of the town who muttered and murmured but made no attempt to help the stricken senorita. Thank you Melanie for being such a good sport and we hope your subsequent trip to Paris proved to be less adventurous!

On the final evening in Pepe Alvarez's inn in Trevelez, we had a last memorable supper together with Sabine, Mitch and their three lovely daughters who are enjoying their new life in Spain having only moved there from the U.S.A last year. They are doing an admirable job in the face of the usual adversities presented by dealing with people, animals and government bureaucracy and we all wish them every success in their venture. Look for more information at www.caminoverde.co.uk.

Posted by Cedar Crest: 07/15/2008
 
 
 
     
 
 
Cedar Crest Farm Equestrian Center - A BHS Approved Training Center
Copyright © 2024 Cedar Crest Farm Equestrian Center. All Rights Reserved.