News

Avalon Spring Show - April 2010

We had a beautiful, sunny spring day at Avalon for our kick-off show of the 2010 season.  The turnout from the Eugene/Springfield area brought lots of nice competition to the show.  There were lots of happy riders, happy horses and spectators soaking up the sunshine and enjoying a wonderful Oregon spring day.  Thank you to Tack N Up in Springfield for donating a gift certificate and prize for the Wildtree Mini-Medal, which was won by Blair Wilkinson on Four Star.  Thanks also to Sarah Trent for taking beautiful photos at the show.

Hi Point results were as follows:

X Division	Champion	Komtess Angel	Ladene Scott
	Reserve Champion	Ebony	Colleen Davis
2’ Division	Champion	Travelog	Christy Leitheiser
	Reserve Champion	Ebony	Rachael Chilton
2’6” Division	Champion	Argyle	Hillary Levet
	Reserve Champion	Four Star	Blair Wilkinson
3’ Division	Champion	Question Z	Amy Gau
	Reserve Champion(tie)	Rapidash	Caroline Strek
	Reserve Champion(tie)	Hopscotch	Aislinn Lamoreaux
	Reserve Champion(tie)	Drama Queen	Laurina Manning

 

See pictures of show here >>>

 

John French Clinic - Cygnet Farms April 10 & 11, 2010

Written by Rachael Chilton

Cygnet Farms in Talent, OR put on an amazing clinic with world renowned hunter/jumper rider and trainer John French.  Nothing could have kept Norma, Caroline, Blair and Rachael from heading over the hills for the chance to spend two days listening to John’s insightful teaching, watching him ride the trouble-maker horses (and make them look like superstars!), and riding in clinic sessions themselves.

Caroline, Blair and Rachael all rode in the 2’6” section of the clinic.  Caroline had a successful weekend with Vinny (owned by Norma).  He had been feeling especially “perky” as of late, but shaped right up once he arrived at Cygnet and was wonderful the entire clinic.  Blair rode Derby (owned by Anne Baden) very well and even got a few lovely lead changes from him with John’s help!  Rachael took her horse Whiskey for his first outing since recovering from an ulcer.  He had some wild moments- but it turned out for the best since John ended up riding him through his troubles (on both days) and passed a few gems of wisdom on to Rachael.  With John aboard he went from a Whiskey sour to a smooth Manhattan cocktail!

Norma rode Gunny in the 3’ section of the clinic and he was, as usual, a very good boy.  John had the riders in the section doing some tricky exercises with lots of curves, bending lines, and even some one-handed riding.  Gunny had his game face on and showed the spectators how it is supposed to be done!

The group also had a supportive cheering section on both days.  Ruth and Janine came down on Saturday and stayed for John’s wine & cheese lecture on hunter derbies.  Sheila, Sandy, and Sarah Carlson all made the trek from the coast on Sunday.  Thanks to Sarah for taking some great notes during the clinic and sharing them!

It was a remarkable experience for all involved.  For months to come they will be heard saying “remember when John said….” and “did you notice that when John rode…”  It was inspiring, educational, humbling, and unforgettable to watch John in action.  He is truly a masterful rider and horseman that everyone hopes to ride with again in the future.

See pictures of clinic here >>>

 

Winter News - Catching up with Norma

Celebration of the Horse

It’s been a busy winter!  It all started with the Celebration of the Horse at Avalon in November.  Norma, Rachael and Janine got a “wild hair” to do something fun and different to kick off the winter season, so we had an open barn.   We had jumping lesson demonstrations, groundwork demonstrations, a veterinary talk, videos, artwork, jewelry, tack sale, horse adoption info, lots of good food and wine and lots of other fun stuff and vendors.  And most importantly, we got to talk horses and watch horses for four hours straight.  The turnout was huge and everyone had a great time.  Thank you Janine for offering Avalon for this fun event. 

Traveling

Since the first of December, Norma has been commuting over the hills to Cygnet Farm every Friday and Saturday to be “substitute teacher” while Cygnet looks for their new full time trainer.  It has been lots of fun meeting so many new people and spending time with many old friends.  The great people and horses of Cygnet Farm have been very refreshing and inspiring.  Norma’s regular clients in the Yoncalla and Cottage Grove area have been very patient and understanding in dealing with the changes to their regular schedule.  They’ve had to make quite a few adjustments with Norma heading to Talent every week.  Thank you all for your patience and support.

Christmas Party

Ruth and Rachael Chilton put on a fun Christmas Party for Wildtree students at Ruth’s home in Cottage Grove.  We had a great time with great food, drink, old friends as well as new.  Turnout was light due to very icy conditions, but those of us who were brave came and had a very nice time.  Karin Barreau was one of the brave ones and it gave us a chance to say goodbye to her before she headed back east.

SOHJA Banquet

January came and went quickly with the SOHJA banquet and the Kevin Freeman Clinic.  Meg Garbutt and Norma attended the banquet and had a fun time visiting with friends and watching the talent of southern Oregon in the talent show.  Norma decided to be brave and perform and amidst lots of nerves managed to pull off second place.  It was lots of fun (in a frightening sort of way). 

Kevin Freeman Clinic

Rachael Chilton, Blair Wilkinson and Norma rode in the Kevin Freeman Clinic, with Ruth Chilton and Caroline Bolduc coming to Cygnet to watch and cheer us on.  Rachael’s horse, Whiskey, decided to get an ulcer and started misbehaving badly the week before the clinic, so she ended up borrowing Norma’s horse “Vinny” (Van Gogh) at the last minute.  Blair rode Anne Baden’s horse “Derby” and Norma rode “Gunny” (Four Star).  Kevin is such a nice, inspiring clinician with lots of great advice.  The clinic was a lot of fun, borrowed horses and all, and we look very forward to the next one.  Thanks to Mary Arnstad and Katie for all your hard work in hosting it and thanks also to Mary and “Tony” for being so inspiring to ride with. 

See pictures of clinic here >>>

Schooling Show

Jumps and Jodphurs Pony Club put on a schooling show at Poseidon in Goshen on Sunday, February 14.  Blair Wilkinson rode Norma’s Four Star and Colleen Davis and Rachael Chilton rode Ebony.  Blair and Gunny won three out of four over-fences classes, Blair forgetting her course in the fourth (we’ll forgive her, she wasn’t feeling good and ended up with strep throat a few days later).  It was Colleen’s and Ebony’s first show in which they performed quite well and received a ribbon in the walk-trot.  Rachael rode Ebony in the Trot An X and Canter An X classes and received good ribbons in both.  Colleen had a great time and looks forward to more shows in the future.

See pictures of show here >>>

Trainer's Symposium

Norma heard about Katie Bubb and Barbara Messinger heading to Thermal for the USHJA Trainer’s Symposium just a few days before they were leaving.  She got another “wild hair” and decided to tag along.  On Saturday night Norma booked a flight to leave Monday (talk about last minute).  She flew into Las Vegas, drove a rental car to Thermal (five hours) shared a hotel with Katie and Barbara and got to watch fabulous riding and jumping for three days straight at the west coast’s largest horse show grounds.  The weather was great, short sleeves and sunshine the entire time we were there!  George Morris, as usual, gave two days of great, awe-inspiring  instruction on Jumpers and Equitation along with showing some wonderful old films of his days riding on the USET.  John French taught the last day on Hunters, Handy Hunters and Hunter Derbies.  Believe it or not, that was just as exciting as the Jumpers.  It’s amazing the things those hunters are asked to do.   Barbara and Norma plan on taking their certification through the USHJA.  It is a brand new program that hopes to encourage all instructors and trainers to get their certification.  If you are an instructor or trainer, please check out this program on the USHJA website  www.ushja.org.  We should all do everything we can to become better riders, instructors, trainers and most of all better horsemen.  

Please check out the calendar of events for event dates for the spring and summer.  Plans include a spring indoor show in Cottage Grove, four outdoor summer shows at Wildtree Farm and our famous Halloween Show in Cottage Grove in October.  Also planned are a two adult summer camps and one kid’s summer camp.   We hope to see lots of you this season.   See you soon!