February

February 2-3 - Pine Top Farm Horse Trials - Thomson, Georgia

In the first event of the year, Courtney rode Who's a Star, Eyore, and Icy Mist and at Novice as well as Tally Ho and Ms. Flintstone at Beginner Novice. Tally was the dressage leader of the bunch, placing 1st with a score of 29.5. She added a rail in stadium and jumped clear in cross country to finish 1st. Not to be outdone, "Wilma" Flintstone placed 3rd after dressage in a different division before adding double clears in stadium and cross country to also finish in 1st place.

Who's a Star or "Tag" is our oldest homebred, now 4 1/2 years old. Competing in his first recognized event, he did quite well in the dressage, placing 3rd and only added a rail a stadium to stay in the ribbons. He then took a little additional time on cross country, jumping clean but being green to finish 9th. Eyore also did well in the dressage, placing 4th; he then added a little time in stadium and cross country to finish 6th. Icy did well in all three phases, jumping clear and finishing 9th.

Also competing was Betty Morgan on Direct Glenfiddich at Training. Betty and "Glen" are stabling at Full Gallop with the Event Team through the end of March. They had a good dressage test and stadium jumping round, but had decided before the event not to run cross country.

February 13 - Full Gallop Farm Horse Trials - Aiken, South Carolina

Havasu Canyon and Courtney competed at Preliminary. They did well in all three phases, jumping clean on cross country and adding only a rail in stadium. As it was Havasu's first event of the year, Courtney took her time on cross country, finishing out of the ribbons. Courtney also competed at Novice riding Wendebro. They placed 3rd in the dressage and did very well to jump clean during in stadium during a driving rain storm. The storm caused the cancellation of cross country, leaving the novice level to be scored as a combined test, with Wendebro finishing in 2nd place.

February 9-10 - Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials - Aiken, South Carolina

Courtney rode Lincoln, Icy Mist, Tally Ho and Ms. Flintstone at Novice. All did well with Lincoln leading the way by placing 2nd in the dressage and then jumping clean in cross country and stadium to move up and win his division. Icy and Tally were both in the ribbons after dressage; they also jumped clean, with each finishing 2nd in their divisions. "Wilma" Flintstone also did well in the dressage, placing 1st with a 28.5 (71.5%!). She has an unfortunate glance off in cross country, but had a clean stadium round to finish 7th.

At Training, Kelley Merette rode Monster Boy and Betty Morgan rode Direct Glenfiddich. They each did well, with Kelley and Monster putting in a good dressage test and jumping clean in stadium and cross country. Some time on cross country kept them out of the ribbons. Betty and "Glen" had their best dressage score ever. They added a clean stadium jumping round but had a little trouble at one fence on cross country to also finish outside the ribbons..

February 16-17 - Pine Top Farm Horse Trials - Thomson, Georgia

Courtney competed Wendebro at the Training Level. They placed 3rd in the dressage with a score of 33. They went on to jump clean in stadium and on cross country to hold on to there position and finish 3rd.

February 20th - Sporting Days Farm Combined Test & Eventing Derby - Aiken, South Carolina

Courtney rode Havasu Canyon in the Preliminary Combined Test. They did well in both phases, scoring a 35.5 in dressage and jumping clean. At Training, Courtney rode Who's a Star in a jumping test only, doing well, with one rail. Also competing at Training, Kelley Merette rode Monster Boy in the Derby, a Combined Test with the a single jumping phase including both stadium and cross country obstacles. They did well in the dressage and jumped clean to finish in 5th place.

At Novice, Courtney rode Maggie in a Jumping Round, doing well with one rail. Liz Mering rode PJ in the Beginner Novice Eventing Derby; the pair did well in the dressage and added only in rail in stadium.

February 24th - Paradise Farm Horse Trials - Aiken, South Carolina

Courtney earned ribbons on all five of her Novice horses. Each jumped clean on cross country and in stadium jumping. Wilma lead the way finishing 3rd; Icy Mist and Who's a Star were both 5th; Maggie placed 6th; and Tally was 8th. Courtney also rode Havasu Canyon at Preliminary. He also jumped clean on cross country and in stadium, but as one of the first horses to go on Friday morning in the dressage, he competed in the rain and placed out of the ribbons.