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Wentworth Hunter Pace - June 6, 2021

After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time!  most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the...

RIP Ed Szalajeski

I am so sad today. I got home from work to find two messages about a friend of mine who has passed away. Ed Szalajeski died after he had heart surgery yesterday. Ed is the track photographer at Scarborough and, while I may not know him that well, I do consider him a friend. He took some stunning photographs of racing, as well as some fabulous shots of my mare which grace the pages of this blog. We even posted each other's blogs on our own blogs, which I thought was pretty neat, considering it linked racing and riding this wonderful breed.

I am just so sad. It will never be the same for me now when I go to the track. I loved to visit with Ed and Derek. Ed always had a horse story or two to share....OK maybe ten to share. And he loved to share his photographs. I loved seeing what new photo he had taken and that he wanted to tell the backstory. He also photographed at the track with his dad, Ed Sr. whom I also really think highly of. Both Ed and Ed Sr. are just a true salt-of-the-earth type of guys.

My deepest sympathies go out to Ed's wife and young son, as well as the rest of his family, friends, and coworkers. This world is a little bit empty without Ed in it. Rest in peace my friend.

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