Once again it would appear I have let my life get in way of my blogging! So many things to report this time!
The fun story should probably go first. My grandparents have always bred racehorses, only one or two in the past few years with the economy being what it is. Three years ago, Tess's mom, Brandon, had a very lively chestnut colt out of Clif's half brother Bellamy Road (who was the KY Derby favorite in 2005, won the Wood Memorial by 18 lengths and was 2nd in the Traver's Stakes in Saratoga Springs, NY that same year before retiring due to injuries). He was named after my first pony, Toby. Toby's Corner went to Graham Motion nearly a year ago, he started racing a few months after that and has never looked back. Most recently he won the Wood Memorial, like his father, putting him on the map for the Derby. As the Derby approached Toby arose the outright favorite, he had beaten the horse who was thought to be the best horse in the country already and was improving with every race. As horses seem to show us at all the wrong times, they are very fragile. Toby did his last gallop before the Derby and seemed fine until the next day, instead of shipping to Louisville he shipped to New Bolton where he underwent many tests, none conclusive. So at it stands now, he is looking good and should be back racing for the last part of the Triple Crown. The good news from the Derby was that his stablemate, and first time dirt runner, Animal Kingdom won, which no one saw coming, that just makes it all the better! Everything happens for a reason, but sometimes it's just annoying, and other times it is just flat out heartbreaking.
As for my horses, they are well. I saw a picture of Miss Tess and he is very fat, very dappled, and looking very happy; hopefully she will get a saddle back on her in June (which I am sure she will have some mixed feelings about!). Tuc, being a 3/4 sibling to Toby's Corner, was quickly taken back to Florida and bred so she could have a foal on the ground next year. Irish is super, she has now done 3 little shows. Her fist was a combined test, she was a superstar for! She finished on her dressage score of 33, what a perfect pony. She then did her fist unrecognized event at Beginner Novice where she also finished on her dressage score!! She is a little jumping machine! She will do her second novice at an unrecognized show next weekend, then she will do a novice at Virginia Horse Trials, which I am very excited about, as it is my favorite show! Clif is back as well! He is officially going to start competing now, his dressage is getting better everyday, he is building back his muscle slowly, but surely. He has done his first jump schools well and jumped big for the first time last week, he was a freak, it is good to see him so enthusiastic and happy. You always worry after an injury that they will not be interested in doing their job anymore, but he seems to come back with a better attitude every time!
I will try to keep everyone up to date more often!
Hillary
