Looking back on 2023

I make a point every year, usually around September when the season is coming to an end to reboot and set goals for the coming competition year. Whether I have horses or clients that are in the show ring, I find this yearly strategy to be great for continued growth. With that said, it can also be fun to look back on another season that truly wizzed by with a mind of it’s own.

January

The beginning of the year was all about learning opportunities and growth! We started the year off with a lovely “Through The Levels Symposium” held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. It was fun to get a table and sit ring side with the clients soaking it all in for the coming season.

I also took my mare Maleficent MA out for clinics and had the great opportunity to ride with Steffen Peters. It was great way to circle back to those years when I was riding my rescue horse Spock the appaloosa at Arroyo Del Mar, watching Steffen ride every morning and wondering what it would be like to have a lesson. I took a lot away from the rides with Steffen and look forward to riding with him in the future.

February

By February we were off and running. We started the show season in Somis at the lovely El Sueno! I made my debut back in the fei ring with both Cp Witching hour at Prix St. George and Official IXXI at Intermediary I. While it was a rough go for Princess Stella (to many show nerves lead to a few to many leaps for joy and jazz hands) I was still very proud of my girl for making the trip down centerline with me once again. Raffa was an absolute dream and we worked our way through my first time competing at this level and earned qualifying scores toward our year end championship goals!

March

This month was more lessons, clinics and tack walking in the rain. The good thing about rain, all of our walk scores went up for the season. When there is time to tack walk there is time to practice all of that fiddly walk work over and over and over! It also meant more time at the barn for the pugs!

April

With a little dryer weather we welcomed a few new horses into the barn mix, prepped for local shows, taught lesson after lesson and got fully inspired by making the trip to Omaha, Nebraska for the World Cup! If you want to get inspired what is better than a group trip to watch the worlds top riders?

May

We always look forward to the Spring Benefit show come early May in Temecula! This season I took Princess Stella and Raffa out for the trip. It was amazing to be riding again among so many of my friends and colleagues from my time living down in North County San Diego. Stella was still to tense in such a busy environment which caused us to many mistakes for better scores but what I love about Stella is I know she will get there. She takes more time than other horses I have ridden but once she is comfortable in the work away from home, she can really shine in the ring. Raffa was really fantastic. There were moment in the tests where I could start to feel things coming together and I am forever grateful to his owner for trusting me with this steed!

June

We hosted the one and only Laurie Falvo for a clinic when I was back from my yearly vacation. This year we went to Ecuador to visit the cloud rain forest and my little heart could not contain itself. As much as I love horses, I was not ready to come back. So much so that upon return, we booked another trip for 2024.

July

July was filled with mini adventures and lessons. We made a weekend trip up to Montana to visit a client ranch, local group trips to visit retired horses and we all enjoy another 4th of July with our horses.

August

Somewhere along the way you might have been thinking to yourself…wait what happened to your show schedule and as life would have it, somewhere along the way, right before the Flintridge show, a virus started spreading and we made the decision to stay home from the shows. It can be very hard to make decisions like this when you have been working towards your goals all year long but at the end of the day the horses are more important than ribbons.

September

By September the virus has calmed down and since we had qualified early in the season I was able to travel up to Rancho Murrietta for the State Championship and compete at Intermediary I! It was a fantastic experience all around and deserves it’s own post to give it justice.

The following weekend after championships SBK dressage headed south. This time for an Arabian sport horse show with Cio and Princess Stella. Sydney and Cio went out for the first time and did a great job showing in hand, in main rings classes, in equitation classes and in their dressage test. Princess Stella also had a great show and finally found her groove winning the main ring show hack class and scoring a 67.66% in the Prix Saint George test!

October

October was another first for SBK dressage when we branched out an attended our first IEL dressage show. It was fun to be in a different environment and take a trip over to Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. Looking forward to more shows this year!

November

It was that time of year again, body clipping, warm temps, cold nights, to blanket or not to blanket… Lots of good lessons, time prepping for the shows that lay ahead and barn visits. It is always sad when friends move away but very fun when they come back for a ride!

December

We attended the last show of the year and one of the first shows of the 2024 season. We had multiple riders go down centerline for the first time, Nutter Butter made his dressage debut and scores were earned towards those ever elusive medals. We also had a good time Christmas Eve morning and New Years day at the barn. I am so thankful at the end of the year for the community we have built!