Willow South Riding School

What a great mid summer show! Perfect(ly hot) weather and super riding from all our kids!

Photos by Brandy Hankinson Photography

It was so exciting to see Jessica Syiek and Mooney rise up from the back of the pack after forgetting her dressage test into 7th place thanks to double clear rides cross country and stadium. The 2019 American Eventing Championship was the largest equine competition in North American History. I am so proud to have been a part of it and to see my students do so well!

What a great mid summer show! Perfect(ly hot) weather and super riding from all our kids!

Marley Fossett, Jessie Schwartz, Carly Blank, Elise Mooney, Emma Mooney, Solomon Edwards, Jessica Syiek

Jessica, Jessie, Solomon, Carly, Marley, Sophia

Thanks to Brandy Hankinson Photography for all the wonderful photos

Jessie, Emma, Elise, Marley

FROM A PARENT: One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kids to ride horses?" Well I have a confession to make, I don't pay for my kids to... ride horses. Personally, I couldn't care less about the horses. So, if I am not paying for them to ride, what am I paying for? - I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit but don't. - I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are "too tired" to go the barn but go anyway. - I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined. - I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body. - I pay for my kids to learn to work with others and to be good team mates. - I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't get that score they'd hoped for, but still have to work hard in the grading. - I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals. - I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight. - I pay for the opportunity my kids have and will have to make life-long friendships. - I pay so that my kids can be in the arena instead of in front of a screen... ...I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for horse riding, I pay for the opportunities that horse riding provides my kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!

https://www.facebook.com/bourkeeventing/videos/945029242333302/

Teams representing ten nations vied for the win. Team USA with captain Judy Barrera and members Lauren, Leah and Annabelle were victorious after a very close jump off against Brazil's captain Solomon Edwards. Many thanks to Gillian Robinson for the pictures!

Schooling Show March 2018 Reesa, Judy, Jessie Schwartz

February 2018 Eventing Academy with Solomon, Jessie, Judy, Lilli, Erin, Sophia, Jessica

Great Weekend at Rocking Horse Horse Trials! Emma and William did their first Training and finished on their dressage scores. Willam was 2nd and Emma 6th!! Elise and Carly did their first novice in a massive division. They rode super, Carly finished on her dressage score in 8th and Elise finished in 14th. Solomon WON his JBN division and gets to move up to Novice now! Jessie and WHF Kitaro had another fantastic test and finished in 6th in the Preliminary!