HUNTER - JUMPER - EQUITATION - SALES - PONIES
PREMIER TRAINING & SALES SERVICES
BARN 561-495-4308
From the school horse to the Grand Prix Jumper, the local levels to the Nationals,
we have training for every horse and every rider.
We are committed to provide the highest standards in education and care.
2008 HEADLINES
Letters from Tennessee
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Hi Everyone.. Sorry about the delay! Had some computer issues... All is well here... Everyone is riding well and consistently in the ribbons...We are pretty exhausted by the end of the day! The Grand Prix on Sunday was exciting...although we didn't place...V did a great job, as did Cav, but we had a couple rails...The other jumps were fabulous..they are still getting to know each other and working out their roles as a team.. Only 4 out of 19 went to the jump off. Shane Sweetnam, who used to ride Cav, brought 3 horses to the show..He had two in the jump off. He placed 2nd and 3rd... A girl from Texas went last and beat him..you could have heard a pin drop...it was really fun to watch! We start showing tomorrow...hopefully we will continue to ride well and safe... Weather has been pretty hot! Hope all is well at the barn! Hugs to all! Lisa
Friday, July 4, 2008
Hi All! Well, I can't believe it's Friday already! The week has flown! We've been very busy and very tired! With only 9 horses here, I can't even fathom how 30 horses will be in Venice! Poor V and Jane (& Tony) are going to need a vacation! Mesa came for her birthday, but is staying and helping out. All the kids are doing their best to help out...and Mariel is the boot cleaning queen! We've all had some good rides, some great rides...Lana was champion of the Training Jumpers! I dont know who wants to win more..Lana or Hula! We've all been in the ribbons pretty much every class. Cavalier and V did their welcome class yesterday (level 7) and had a really good ride, unfortunately had two rails down. Ronaldo also had a great level 5 class and won some money. We had some rain this morning and rode in the light pour. But the rest of the day was fine. Our excitement the other day was Cora and Indy were in my truck and I left the car running and shut the door. Indy jumped on the door arm rest and locked the door! I was able to get Cora in the front seat and made her crazy trying to get her paw up on the arm rest to open the door. She "almost" barked! She put her paw up..but not in the right spot..she got so nuts, I had to walk away because she started to bite the door and the pull handle (left teeth marks!) She really tried!! Anyway, the roadside place came and let us in... Tomorrow we start our real classes...the kids and I are doing the child/adult jumpers level 3...They pretty much build jumps to capacity here....so it should be fun! Sunday is the grand prix! Hope you are all doing well and not too under water! Happy 4th by the way..the kids went back to the barn with Jane to watch the fireworks...I'm old and tired...and am going to bed!!! Hugs to all!! Lisa
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Hi Everybody! Just thought I'd say hi from TN! The weather here is beautiful! Cool in the morning..warm, but very tolerable in the afternoon..cool at night. We are all settled in to the farm and in our rooms. The farm is very nice..it is privately owned and about 200 acres. The horses have a great turn out with grass in the mornings, and lots of new stuff to look at... Today we schooled and did very well. What was fun, was all the jumpers actually have a schooling class instead of just going in and schooling. They actually announce your name and keep time.. For awhile this morning Libby was the only horse clean with both me and V. Until speedy Mary Kate and Giavonni came along... Then they beat us. Then V got her by like 4 seconds on Cavalier...and super speedy Lana and Hula girl almost caught them, but missed out by only about a tenth of a second! So they know the Carriage Hill gang has arrived!! We believe Cav left the winner.... Let's hope the Grand Prix goes the same!! Wouldn't that be exciting!! We have lots of "child" horse jumping in the hall and by the pool...Mary Kate crashed, but was not injured poolside over the "oxer" (pool chair)....So all is well and everyone is having fun. Cora is also exhausted! Well, hope everyone is well back home! Miss you, and I'll keep you updated! See you soon!! Lisa and gang
The Ladies Sing the Blues
Lisa Moore rocks the Low Adult Jumper Classic
and Dierdre Raddler takes the Ariat Adult Medal and calls it her own.
Read more in current events.
Lisa & Libertina coming home in the International Arena
IEA Equestrian Team Member,
Ariana Mato, sweeps the competition to take home
1st Place for the Future Intermediate Over Fences
in the Big E in Springfield, Mass.
Congratulations to Ariana Mato and coach Tricia Denio!
Vinissa Mercatanti enters the Spring Finale Grand Prix!
Vinissa aboard Lisa
Moore's Cavalier's Royal Diamond rides in her first ever Grand Prix. In
a field of 23 they finish, very respectfully, in the middle of the pack.
This is just the start of a very wonderful year for Vinissa, not only
has she just begun her Grand Prix career with Lisa Moore's Cavalier,
she is heading to the alter. Vinissa and Mike Blan, affectionately
known as the sheriff, are going to be wed the middle of May!
Congratulations!
Vinissa aboard Lisa Moore's "Cavalier's Royal Diamond"
Deirdre & Teddy
Deirdre Radler Wins the Adult Ariat at WEF 12
Deirdre is currently ranked 6th in the nation for
the Ariat Adult Medal. Ariat finals are held in October at Capital
Challenge in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Hayley Iannotti & Couture
Hayley Iannotti and Couture Qualify for Pony Finals!
Hayley and Couture (Chanel) are the perfect team
right from the start. We were just welcoming her new pony to the barn
when the pair qualified. This is the first pony Hayley has owned and
and they have proved to be a force to be reckon with. Hayley's junior
career is just starting and what a way to begin!
The 2008 USEF Pony Finals National Championships are held in Lexington,
KY., August 13 - 17. Hayley & Couture will compete in the Wild
Horsefeathers/USEF National Small Green Pony Championships.
The Kentucky Horse Park, the host of the venue, is
the hallowed grounds of the Rolex Three Day Event and the 2010 FEI
World Equestrian Games. The park is a living museum and home to the
legendary Cigar and John Henry, and the final resting place of Man
O'War, where his statue stands over his grave near the entrance of the
park.
The park is a horse lover's heaven on earth, even the flies do not dare to trespass.
Congratulations Hayley and Couture.
For the second consecutive year CARRIAGE HILL's JANE FENNESSY has been awarded
SFHJA's 2007 TRAINER OF THE YEAR!
Along with this coveted honor, we congratulate:
Sarah Middleton & Amanero Z, SFHJA High Point Over All Grand Champion and Single Point Champion for A/O Jumper and Single Point Champion for Open Jumper. MaryKate Hayes, SFHJA Over All Grand Champion 12-14 Equitation. Lee Barnes & Quito II, SFHJA Single Point Champion Low Adult Hunter. Gigi Good and Ever So, SFHJA Single Point Champion AA Hunter, 18-35 years. Kristi Doyle & Good Company, SFHJA Single Champion Jr. Working Hunter
Marielle Golden & It's Sno Illusion, awarded SFHJA's
Champion for Single Point Large Pony Hunter Marielle Golden is SFHJA's Single Point Champion 12-14 Equitation.
Taylor Ellis and Georgian Gentleman, SFHJA Single Point Champion Children's Horse.
Amber Lynn Hopper, SFHJA Single Point Champion 11 & Under Equitation
Also in the ribbons for 2007 year-end finals are: Lana Caster, Elisabeth Hayes, Hayley Iannotti, Jackie
Kaye, Anders Keitz, Arianna Mato, Lisa Moore, Deirdre Radler, Lia Screnci, Cindy Screnci, Rebecca Seiden, Deven Zenker,
2007 SFHJA Awards Banquet
CONGRATULATIONS
CARRIAGE HILL FARM'S 2007 CHAMPIONS
2007 HEADLINES!
QUALIFIED
Carriage
Hill Farm's riders have qualified for WEF'S Ronnie Mutch Equitation
Championship, Maclay Regionals, Marshall & Sterling Finals, USEF
Medal Finals, and the prestigious USEF Show Jumping Talent Search
Finals!
NORTH AMERICAN YOUNG RIDER'S CHAMPIONSHIPS
CONGRATULATIONS KIRSTEN!
KIRSTEN SELVIG ABOARD RUSE DE GUERRE (LOVINGLY KNOWN AS "ROCKET") EARNS THE INDIVIDUAL BRONZE MEDAL AND SHE WITH HER TEAM BRING HOME THE GOLD MEDAL FOR THE CCI** NAYRC FINALS!
Kristen Selvig & Ruse de Guerre
CONGRATULATIONS!
Anders Keitz & L.Altavida
Qualified for 2007 USET FINALS
in Gladstone, N.J.
Pokey Masters the Water Hazard
What an Equitation Round Should Have
It's
about your riding, says this perennial Medal/Maclay-winning
trainer--about allowing your horse to go as comfortably and jump as
beautifully as he can, whatever your fence heights and your
conformation.
By Missy Clark
Missy coached Julie Welles to win multiple junior equitation
finals; now a professional and Missy's assistant, Julie is making her
mark in the open jumper and grand prix divisions.
Equitation is about learning to ride well--whatever your sport. It's
that simple. And riding well is having the horse go well and showing a
nice style while you're doing it.
I don't think of equitation as a different sport. To me, it's a
complement and a stepping-stone to what occurs every day in good jumper
riding and hunter riding, dressage, eventing, trail and saddle seat. So
in equitation, just as in any of those disciplines, you need to be
riding with your horse's particular abilities and limitations and
talents in mind and (as invisibly as possible) adjusting your ride
accordingly. That's all part of horsemanship, which is the most
important thing any trainer can teach.
To me, equitation classes are about finding great riders. Talent
certainly plays a part in great riding; still, a rider who isn't as
talented but has the desire and works hard may end up surpassing one
who's naturally talented. In any case, what the judges--and all of
us--should be looking for is the end result: a horse performing
beautifully, being ridden in a classical, correct style. And we need to
remember that the specifics of that style can vary greatly from rider
to rider. An Anne Kursinski, a Todd Minikus, a Peter Wylde--they're all
totally different stylists, yet they're all completely accurate and
functional, and they get the job done.
What an Equitation Round Should Have
Here's what I'm looking for, and what judges are asking for, in an equitation class.
The horse is moving forward from behind, pushing off well, hind legs
coming well under him with each stride. He's happy. He's light off the
inside aids. Going into a corner, he isn't locked on the inside rein or
falling into his rider's inside leg. He's relaxed, bent a little around
that inside leg and rein through the turn, not overbent; his rider
feels lightness off her inside lateral aids through the turn.
Approaching a jump, the premise is the same. The horse is moving at a
pace that's forward and balanced. He's carrying the rider, she's not
having to push or pull; and both have a relaxed expression. She places
him at a reasonable distance, preferably with minimal aids so you don't
see the placement happening. (Invisible aids are a prime factor for
good equitation.) The rider's position is classical, yet her own; each
person has her own style, and I'd hate to take that away.
In the air, the rider releases the horse's mouth and follows the
motion. On landing, she's still truly centered and balanced, so her
position stays secure and solid--an effortless kind of effort. Horse
and rider move as one, so seamlessly that you almost don't notice.
The pace is smoother from beginning to end, even during adjustments.
For a forward line, the rider begins to ready her horse's pace before
they get there so she doesn't have to make a big change between fences.
For a collected line, she starts pulling him together a littler earlier
to accommodate the shorter distance.
When good equitation is not happening successfully, the signs are
crystal clear. On the flat, the horse is not forward; he's maybe a
little fussy; he's heavy on the inside rein or cutting in through a
turn. Over jumps, he's inverted, with no "break"--no round arc--over
the top of the fence, and his expression is unhappy.
Sure, there are many equitation horses whose style is to "step" over
the jump: They're flat in the air, they don't crack their backs, and
they don't move their riders around a lot. But even with them, I want
to see some roundness: some stretching forward and down a little before
the jumping effort itself.
The basis for your horse going well is your classical position: heels
down; base of support centered and with the motion; legs correct; upper
body in balance, neither jumping ahead nor falling back. Whatever your
conformation, you can accomplish that. And when you do, you'll help
your horse go well, whatever his purchase price and breeding.
Excerpted from "Just What Is Equitation, Anyway?" in the July 1999
issue of Practical Horseman magazine. For more about Missy's
influential program and her Warren, Vt., facility, read "Go In Like
You're the Winner" in the October 2007 issue.
It's Sno Illusion
Here at Carriage Hill, we offer a beautiful
selection of performance horses and ponies
for all levels and price ranges. We specialize in
Hunter/Jumper and Equitation.
Click on It's Sno Illussion or the sales link to view our inventory.
Remember to check often for updates!
Carriage
Hill Farm's owner, Jane Fennessy,
has been teaching and training
for
over 30 years.
Jane and her team of trainers/instructors
have earned
the long-standing
reputation of being one the
best training facilities in South Florida.
Their success in the show ring speaks for itself.
Vinissa Aboard Lisa Moore's Cavalier Royal Diamond
MaryKate Hayes aboard G. Strongbow
"When
God created the horse, he said to the magnificent creature: I have made
thee as no other.
All the treasures of the earth lie between thy eyes.
Thou shalt carry my friends upon thy back.
Thy saddle shall be the seat
of prayers to me. And thou shalt fly without wings.
And conquer without any sword. Oh, Horse."
Lana Caster & DaVinci Ride as the Skies Open Up
"Horses give us the wings we lack." Join us and learn to fly.
Carriage Hill is located in Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village
