Clover Ledge Farm

Nothing exciting is going on around here lately...just lots of training rides and a few trail rides when I can. School is almost over and I am super excited for summer vacation!!! :D Dreamy is very happy in her work this year, no fighting and no bucking. She seems to finally be at a happy place in her work and seems eager to try new things, instead of getting all upset. We are playing around a lot with shoulder-in, leg yields, baby half pass, and some trot lengthening (that I can fit into my riding space). She seems to enjoy the challenge. I wish I had a bigger area to ride...I want to play around with shallow loops at the canter (counter-canter) and such. Reva is such a happy and easy horse. She loves being worked with...it is rare to me to have such a gregarious horse. LOL! Sparky has always been the kind of horse who "tolerates" people and while Dreamy aims to please, she has never been a real pocket pony lovey kind of horse. Reva is a people pleaser times 100! ...

What a busy couple of weeks! My adorable little son turned SIX last weekend and we had a wonderful weekend as a family and with our extended family. Lots of t-ball and fishing! My seniors are getting ready to graduate on June 6, so classes ended on May 19. Then we have had "senior activities" which I think is more tiring than just teaching all day! LOL ! So far, so good. No major drama or meltdowns and overall the kids are handling themselves with grace and poise...well as much as can be expected from 18 year olds ! :) So, with my seniors doing their final exit exhibits, I have been at school very late (6PM) almost every night. Thankfully it has been crazy hot outside, so I don't feel bad about giving Ms. Dreamy some well deserved time off. And most nights when I have been able to squeeze in a ride, it has been after 7PM and a bit cooler. The horses are all doing very well. They were all a bit pudgy looking lately, so I have cut down everyone's grain. LOL...

I was recently accepted as a Kerrits Ambassador! Click here for more info! I applied on a whim through Facebook. I was pleased to get a packet of information the other day saying, "Congratulations....." The ambassador program is new and evolving, and I am excited to be a part of it! Kerrits defines an "ambassador" as a rider who is passionate about riding horses, a loyal Kerrits customer that "connects" with her Kerrits apparel and wants to help promote the brand within the equestrian industry. In the letter, they tell me they want this relationship to be "mutually beneficial" and they want me to "be and feel a part of the Kerrits family." They sent me a cute pair of wool riding socks. They say that as the program grows, they will be offering more items to me and creating programs for me to participate in! So cool!!! :D I am supposed to write reviews of products, connect with consumers on Facebook and Twitter, give feedback and su...

CHECK BACK FOR PICS! Waiting for the professional ones..... :) Dreamy and I rode at NEDA Spring again this year. NEDA stands for New England Dressage Association, which is one of the largest and oldest GMOs in the country. Last year, read about it here , I was so very scared, as it was our very first EVER USDF recognized dressage show. Add that to the fact that we had to drive through Boston and we still had to use the junky old work truck.....yeah it was a nerve racking experience! This year I was not nearly as nervous. Sadly, my bestest horse buddies do not show dressage, so I had to go alone. :( And none of the folks who originally said they could come along as support could make it. Of course! :) So I bravely left the farm at 7AM, by myself with Ms. Dreamy. I apparently have nerves of steel, as I had to navigate the Tobin Bridge and the tunnels of Boston on my own. Truthfully, I like driving my rig and the only thing that scares me are the other idiots on the road...

NOW WITH PICS! LOL! Thanks DR for taking and sharing the photos. Still waiting for the professional photos...... After a week of gorgeous weather, Saturday May 8 dawned gray and rainy. :P Aw, well. This was the first of three Maine Horse Association (MHA) shows that have a Standardbred division this year. Last year I was able to get a division of four classes....this year I was able to get it expanded to seven! We have a 2-gait and 3-gait open division now!! This was exciting because I felt ready to move Dreamy up to 3-gait. Sadly it is not split into junior/senior yet, only because of lack of entries. Maybe someday we will have plenty of entries for both age divisions. :) I was showing for the day with my favorite show buddy ST. We arrived at almost the same time at the local show grounds, which is about 30 minutes from my house. Because of the rain, ST decided to keep her horse in the trailer. That was fine with me, and I wanted to do the same thing. Ah, funny how y...

As promised...!!! Here is our loot! :)

Day One: I was very excited to ride with Heather Blitz at the gorgeous Pineland Farm in New Gloucester, ME. The clinic was put on by the Southern Maine Dressage Association ( SMDA ). I may be a true adult amateur with very low level dreams ( LOL ) but as a teacher I value education. Anything I can do to further my riding education is important to me. I was a bit perplexed that I was paired with a young rider who was on a Grand Prix level horse. My horse had Training level things to work on...what in the world did a Grand Prix level horse have to work on at Training Level? LOL ! I had a dream last week that Heather ignored Dreamy and only would instruct the Grand Prix horse.... LOL ! So funny how our dreams show our fears.... Anyway, day one was fun. We warmed up while Heather watched us and then she focused on us as riders, rather than the horses. We took turns being picked on, ha ha ha. I really have no idea what Heather said to the YR with the fancy horse, because whi...