~What's New!~

11/25/2011

Leelanau Eventing has moved! We have relocated to Southern Trace Stables on Old Natchez Trace, just a mile from our old farm. The new barn is beautiful! Please see the website at www.southerntracestables.com. 

Also, we have a new lesson pony named Stormy! She is for sale, too, but we hope to keep her sweet personality around the farm for as long as possible! See her photos on the sales page!

Probably the most exciting part to the end of the season is River Card's 1st and 2nd placing in her last 2 preliminary level events! River won at Middle TN Pony Club horse trials by 10 points, and placed 2nd at River Glen Horse Trials with the fastest cross country time of the day! I am very pleased with her and look forward to 2012!

6/13/2011

     After returning home last night from Spring Run Horse Trials with River Card and a 5th place ribbon, I am full of excitement! River was fabulous! We finished on our dressage score of 41.4, which is a dramatic 15 points lower than last year when we ran training at this same event. Last year it was her last event before injuring her tendon and requiring time off. It was a sad and frustrating time, but it did allow River to grow up and mature.

       For those that have never met River, she has an interesting story. She was purchased for $1 from an older couple that didn't do anything with her until I bought her at 2 years old. I was hoping she'd be a quick turn and sell project... But the only thing that happened quickly was my realization that she was not worth the $1. It is sad to say that, but between the permanent damage that has been done to my shoulder and the blood, sweat and tears that are still pouring out of me on a daily basis 5 years later... Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into. Between needing a nose chain to be walked anywhere, trying to attack me whenever she is braided, having a canter I equate to a jack hammer and the will of a fire breathing dragon, I am constantly congratulated for not having given up on her... To which I always retort- if I gave up on her, what would I do? Nobody in their right mind would buy this animal, I'd have to just set her loose. However, underneath this firey spirit and bull headed creature is a very talented equine that could take me all the way to the 4* level. Which is why I chip away at all the issues, one at a time. The dressage has turned a drastic corner lately, and with it the points are falling off our dressage score like leaves off a tree in fall. She is a well bred horse with fancy movement and a beautiful trot, the dressage was bound to turn a corner at some point, and it finally has. We no longer go with her head tucked to her chest (which she wanted to do from the moment I sat on her back the first time) and the canter actually looks like a canter instead of a scramble of legs. With it her jumping has become more controllable and I could not be more thrilled. I have high hopes for the rest of the season, check back for updates on our progress!

4/27/2011

     Both River Card and Light Brigade will be competing at the Novice Level at May-Daze at the end of May! Students will also be competing and we look forward to a successful season! Light Brigade is offered for sale on the sales page! We also welcome Count to the lesson program! He is an 8yo POA being leased from Sarah Jean Hope of Lexington, KY. She offers several horses for sale at her farm, please contact me for details!

March 2011

As the second competition season of Leelanau Eventing begins, the show schedule is starting to take shape! This year will be an eventful one for students! Several students are preparing for their first year of competition, while others are making the familiar return. Check out the "show schedule" link to see where the Leelanau Eventing Team can be found in action!

      As for the horses, River Card is continuing with rehab from a strained tendon and is doing very well. Hopefully her competition season will start in early summer if her recovery continues to go well. Randi Rose will be shown by students while we attempt to breed her to the Trakehner stallion Malachi of Loon Creek Farms. Check out their website on the "Links" page. Sammy's Shadow will compete at BN this season for owner Katherine Market, with hopes of moving up to Novice if all goes well.

      Liam LC has been leased to Coree Reuter of Middleburg, VA and will compete with her this season. I am sad to see him go, but am glad his career will continue! He was diagnosed with ringbone in his right hind leg and his owners, Kim and Allen MacMillan of Loon Creek Farms, do not want to sell him and see him go down an unknown path. They opted to lease him out so he can compete until his condition worsens, at which point he will go back home to them to retire. They are truely looking out for the best interest of their horses and I could not ask to work with better breeders. I hope to continue working with their young horses in the future, so keep your eye out!

Please call or e-mail to schedule lessons-

contact info located at the bottom of the page!