Our eventing season got a kick-off with a schooling show on 7th August, at Stollmeyer's Stables in Freeport. Riders and horses got the exposure they needed over the terrain and jumps, in anticipation of our inaugural Horse Trials at the end of August. Below are some pictures of the day. A big thank you to all the organisers, Brian & Patrice Stollmeyer for lending their land, Peter Moll for his excellent pictures and Rossi Bridgelal for organising and running the whole thing.

Ambriel Weatherly excelled in the Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational (CADI) FEI Dressage Test in Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.A with a top score of 69.130%, bringing home the blue ribbon in her division.  The 14 year old beat 10 other competitors in the event held at the Bear Spot Farm for riders 12 to 14 years old. The event held annually, comprises two sections; Section A for riders on borrowed horses, and Section B for the American riders on their own mounts.

On competition days (5th and 6th August), challenged by only 2 practice days with her assigned horse “Wallina”, Ambriel beat competitors in her division from the Cayman Islands, Barbados, the USA, Ecuador, Peru, England and Puerto Rico securing the top score in the Preliminary Test in Section A. In the second event, the Kur, Ambriel was the only competitor to not use classical music, opting instead for Shakira’s “Waka Waka” and “Wotless” by Kes the Band. Her combined score took her overall to first place in her division.

 Of her success, Ambriel explained that she was very comfortable with the horse assigned to her.  She said, “while ‘Wallina’, the sweetest Hanoverian Prix St. George Mare was a great partner, I could not have done it without the dedication of my mother, Martena Alves-Weatherly and coach.  They ensured that I was well prepared and organized. All in all it was a fantastic experience.”

Congratulations Ambriel!

Ambriel Weatherly of Goodwin Heights will be riding at the Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational at the Bear Spot Foundation for Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy in Concord, Massachusetts. This annual event aims to create cultural exchange among children and their families through horses. The competition started in 2007 with 13 different countries sending riders between the ages of 12 and 14 to compete. During this event, riders are assigned a horse and coach. They work with the horse and coach for two days to prepare for two days of dressage competitions. In the past, the TTEA has been represented successfully by Sandhya Moll. 

This year riders will start the week of by drawing their horses and meeting the coaches and riders on August 2nd. On August 3rd & 4th, riders will get mandatory training sessions so that they can compete successfully on the 5th & 6th. Ambriel will be competing against riders from North & South America and the Caribbean. We wish Ambriel all the best!

For more information go to the CADI website, or watch the 2010 riders on the CADI Youtube channel, or read about CADI in an article written in Dressage Today. 

Adelle Stollmeyer and Amber Thompson attended the Equestrian Federation Of Jamaica's Friendly International Jumping Competition from July 5th -10th. The competition included riders from Barbados, Bermuda, USA, Venezuela,China, England, Trinidad and Jamaica. Adelle and Amber represented Trinidad in the 14 and under age group.  Each visiting rider was paired with a Jamaican rider and their horse for the competition. For all visitors this was the first time they rode the horse.With this challenge ahead of them, both riders performed admirably. Adelle and her Jamaican teammate placed first in their age group and Amber and her Jamaican teammate placed third in their age group. Well done!

The TTEA would like to extend our deepest condolences to Muffy Auerbach, Cashell Watsun and everyone at Goodwin Heights on the loss of Phantom of the Opera. Phantom was a promising horse who had been moving up steadily this year. We are sure he will be greatily missed and hope he is happily galloping across the heavenly green fields.

Valmont Stables has seen a flurry of additions this year for our members. Starting the pack off is Sandhya Moll's new horse the Sultan, aka Cadbury. Cadbury, a 6 year old dark bay thoroughbred, joined Valmont at the beginning of the year and is already showing his owner that he may have a promising show jumping career ahead of him.

Soon after, Garyk Jagan brought home Audacity to Hope, aka Audi. This 4 year old dark bay thoroughbred with a small snip has wowed the stables with his quiet grace and his rider and coach with his jumping. Audi is often seen roaming the fields with his partner in crime, Blue, who he matches not only in age but also in height. There is little doubt that where these two go mischief is bound to follow.

Lastly, Andrew Halfhide has added another chestnut mare to the Valmont herd. Canoe Loft, aka Montana, is a 10 year old former brood mare thoroughbred. Montana has only just joined the Valmont family but has easily slipped into the group showing great maturity and promise.

Goodwin Heights also welcomed two new additions with two on the way.

Chelsea Thomas recently acquired Brazilian-born Hanoverian Zimbu, an elegant grey gelding who has shown amazing promise both in the dressage and show jumping arenas.

Alex Bovell and her chestnut gelding Waiting At The Front, affectionately called 'Brutus', have also been very successful in the show arena.

Margaret Auerbach has also given two Bajan ponies new homes. Morocco and Starlight are due to arrive at Goodwin Heights in August 2010.

The TTEA wishes all of these new horse and rider pairs good luck and can't wait to see them improve in the upcoming years.

The TTEA would like to extend our sincerest condolences to Anna Lisa de Lima and Hidden Valley Stables on the loss of her pony LuLu. LuLu was the backbone of Hidden Valley Stables and fond companion to all the horses and riders at Hidden Valley Stables. We are sure she is galloping in a heavenly green field and we will miss her greatly.

The TTEA is starting to register all of our sport horses. To find out more information, who should be registered and how to register, please see the Registration page.

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Dear All,  

Congratulations to the TTEA, to Anna Lisa (Jumping Delegate), to Sara (Dressage Delegate), to all volunteers, the judges, the riders, the coaches and the horses on a great weekend of showing. The arena and the jumps looked really professional and it was great to see so many entries (23, I believe) in the Super League.  What was particularly impressive were the riders in the Juniors in the 1.05m level: Sandhya (age14), Jade (age 13) and Mariel (age12) all riding successfully over decent heights at a young age! Well done!  

The Dressage schooling show had 17 entries and was equally successful: almost all the scores were above 60% and I don't think it was only because the judge was kind; the tests are being ridden better. The practice test first seemed to help most riders and is a great idea to give the riders more competition experience.  

We are getting there folks! Well done!  

Patrice

Vice-President, TTEA