Bernie Traurig, legendary rider, trainer and coach, winner of the prestigious AHSA and Maclay Medals, member of the U.S. Three Day Event team, winner of numerous dressage Grand Prix as well as National Working Hunter Championships, gave a two-day clinic at Chestnut Hill.  Traurig, who was also short listed for the World Championship trials and Olympic Games, took riders through a series of flat and jumping exercises and identified specific solutions for each rider and horse pair.  The encouraging, but tough master did lots of work improving riders’ position to make them more effective riders.  He offered mounted demonstrations as well, allowing participants to witness the application of his principles in action.  (Pictured above: Katharina Coleman riding Bridget Twomey’s “Thoughtful”, Bernie Traurig, and Katy Hull on Blaire Kinglsey’s “Gran Turismo.” Pictured below:  Tylor Nowell on “Canterbury Brightlight”, Bernie, Gwen McLaughlin on “Capito.”
 

Congratulations to Kelley LaFond and her mount Sporting United (pictured above) on winning the NorCal Senior 3’6 Medal Final.  The biggest challenge of the competition, according to Kelley, was shifting from a “conservative trappy course on Saturday to an open, galloping-type course on Sunday.”  She credited her “great, amazing horse and an inspirational, intelligent coach with a sense of humor – Beverly,” for her big win.

Ashley Delgado and her pony Prince Monticello (pictured below) won the championship in the Small Pony Hunter division.  For more results from this and other shows, click on the “Results” button in the navigation bar above. 

Chestnut Hill riders and their horses bested the field by winning the following divisions: Pre-Green Hunter, Modified Open Hunter, Children’s Hunter, Adult Amateur Hunter, Low Adult Hunter, Schooling Pony Hunter, Equitation 12 – 14 and Low Adult Equitation divisions.  In addition, they won reserve championships in Pre-Green Hunter, Modified Open Hunter, Children’s Pony Hunter, and Equitation 15 – 17 divisions. Congratulations to all!

Chestnut Hill team Kelley LaFond and “Sporting United,” her 18 hand, 15 year-old Hannoverian gelding placed 3rd in this year’s PCHA Adult Medal Final.  According to Kelley, the finals were a great test for both riders and horses, with a technical course and the USEF tests built in.  She said, “you had to be able to ride by the seat of your britches!”  The duo will be at the NorCal Show this week, along with the rest of Chestnut Hill.  Kelley and her horse will compete in the NorCal 3’6 Adult Finals and will finish up the year in Los Angeles for the WCE and PCHA Equitation Championship.  Congratulations and Good Luck to all!

Fresh off winning the Hudson Medal final, Grace Lukach and her mare, Angel Smiling captured the reserve championship for the Pickwick Medal Final.  Another Chestnut Hill team, Jenna Huang and her veteran mount, Jonagold captured fourth!  

Just in time for the upcoming NorCal and PCHA adult finals, well-respected judge and trainer Otis Brown returned to Chestnut Hill for a two-day clinic, September 16 & 17. “Brownie” worked on exercises on the flat to make the horse more rideable, and jumping exercises aimed at improving unique issues facing each horse and rider team. 

Pictured above: Bridget Twomey, trainer Beverly Jovais, Otis Brown, assistant trainers Katy Hull and Sarah Trask

Congratulations to Grace Lukach and her lovely mount, Angel Smiling for winning the Hudson Medal final at the Pebble Beach Strides & Tides show.  The two bested a field of twenty-five over a challenging course.  The entire Chestnut Hill team did well, including Bridget Twomey’s new mare, Iridescent who brought home championships in the Pre-Green and Adult Amateur hunter division. For all results, please click on “Results” in the navigation bar above!

Pictured below: Dina Smith and Safe Passage (left) winning Reserve Champion in Long Stirrup Hunters during their maiden outing, and Lily Pier and Sweet Sensation (right) on their way to a blue ribbon in Short Stirrup Hunters Under Saddle during their show debut!

Congratulations to Grace McLaughlin on the purchase of her new horse – Santo, a 12-year old Oldenburg gelding. Look for this duo in the 3’6 equitation and medal classes. Thank you to Emily Esau for this fantastic horse!

Chestnut Hill recently added a magnetic pulse footpad and blanket to its array of therapeutic tools to keep the horses happy, healthy and sound.  Magnetic pulse therapy has been proven to successfully speed recovery from a stressful workout, or horse show.  Clinical trials show that the therapy will reduce pain, reduce inflammation, stimulate and increase circulation and help with recovery and rehabilitation.  

Chestnut Hill recently purchased a Game Ready Equine system to ensure their horses have access to the best advances in veterinary medicine. Game Ready uses dry cold and compression via a chilled sleeve that fits over the horse’s leg for injury prevention and to decrease recovery time after a hard workout, a show or an acute injury. The Game Ready’s unique system minimizes inflammation that can lead to tissue damage and works to keep horses sound, happy and healthy.