
(Clif as a 4 year old at his 2nd novice, he was jumping the middle fence, the outside is the preliminary....)
This weekend was Chatt Hills just outside of Atlanta, GA (actually it's where I grew up until I was 6, something like going home I suppose). Chatt Hills has to be one of the most gorgeous pieces of land in the country; there are rolling hills, big trees, rivers, brand new barns and brand new arenas... creating happy horses and happy people!
Friday was a nice quiet arrival day. Tess and Clif both were really happy in their stalls. I rode Tess first, she was really quite good....she had people telling her how much they liked her, making her even more happy! She did not even neigh until she was back at the barn, not sure the point of that, but whatever you don't ask questions you do not want the answer too. I got on Clif for a few minutes, he was really good. I must admit watching the other intermediate and advanced horses I was a bit nervous our flatwork was not going to be up to snuff. But just when you start doubting yourself....Buck Davidson told me he was a really lovely horse and wanted to know a bit about him...how about that for a pick me
Saturday was quite busy! The little princess was actually semi-normal for her dressage! She was by no means ridable or great, but she was cooperative. Cooperative is something I will take! From cooperative you can go to good, from good you can go to ridable, from ridable you can go to great. One step

Cross country was also on Saturday. I was lucky enough to walk the courses with Buck Davidson, as Sharon White was not there this weekend and let's face it, I need guidance! Sharon recommended Buck..he was really great to walk with. He and Sharon are very much alike so it was good to keep giving me confidence about what I was doing. The courses looked good. The prelimb was nice with a few serious questions....my eyes about came out of my head at o
Sunday was the ever so exciting show jumping. Seriously, if you ever want to see the carnage of eventing it comes on the Sunday after cross country. I don't know why this happens, but it makes me appreciate the horses I have even more. Brian Ross was also the TD and was nice enough to allow me to show jump, what a nice guy! The show jumping was quite big, it was a really nice course, just big! Clif jumped sooo well, he tried so hard. I did not give him the best ride unfortunately for him. We had two rails...I just missed my striding to an oxer, it was apparently a nice 4...i got there in a short 4..duh Hillary go somewhere! The next was at a skinny vertical, I completely picked that whole way up to it...fairly sure that is the #1 rule of show jumping, DO NOT PICK TO A VERTICAL, especially one that is like 3'7'' or bigger! Overall, he got several cookies and big pats for his effort..he saved me over the hardest fence on the course. Good Clif..almost makes up for yesterday......but yet, it doesn't! ha! Tess was sitting in 5th going into SJ (good pony!). She jumped well, she finally was backed off when the jumps were very scary and 3' 7''...she actually jumps so much better when the jumps gets big because she pays attention! We had 1 rail...it was a bit too bad, but it was a pretty mutual thing, I should have really told her no when she ran through my half halt and she should have attempted to listen!
All in all though it was a fabulous weekend for Tess. I am very very proud of the princess. I am actually really happy with Clif's dressage and show jumping, while the XC was disappointing we will figure it out and try again later. We are heading to Loudon HT where both horses will run the Preliminary, it was a planned Prelimb run for Clif, but turns out he needs it! This will also be Miss Tess's last real run before her debut at the CCI* level at VA Horse Trials in May! Go Tess!
Everyone take care and appreciate your horse even when it does not go as planned :)-
Hillary
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