November 2009 Victory Hill Farm proudly welcomed Dr. Cesar Parra back for a third time, on Nov. 11th and 12th, for a clinic. Dr. Parra has competed at the Olympics, World Championships, and the World Cup Final, as well as at prestigious international shows such as CHIO Aachen. He earned the team silver medal at the Pan American Games and has won more than 300 FEI classes.
Dr. Parra has a thriving coaching and training business at his Performance Farm (http://www.piaffeperformance.com) in Whitehouse Station, NJ and Jupiter, FL. His students have earned NAYRC medals, USDF Year End Championships through grand prix, USDF Gold Medals and have qualified for the USEF National Freestyle Championships at grand prix and the USET National Championships. Dr. Parra has studied classical dressage extensively with the world’s best trainers, including Dr. Volker Moritz, Hubertus Schmidt, Herbert Rehbein, Sigfried Peilicke, and Herbert Kuckluck. He has recently become a U.S. citizen and added to his long list of victories with a string of CDI wins, including Devon.
October 2009 Anna Spinnenweber and her horse "Rubianna" enjoy their first blue ribbon, earned in the Intro B division at the Antares dressage show Oct. 31st.
July 2009 Alison Coyle and her horse "Bariton" competed for the Region 1 Team—which won the Team Bronze Medal—in the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). They were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Only the top four Junior Riders and the top four Young Riders from each region are invited to compete at the NAJYRC. The regions include North and Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and each province of Canada. Alison says that she was very excited to meet other Junior Riders who shared the same passion for riding, and that it was a wonderful experience to compete as a team.
June 2009 Alison Coyle and her horse "Bariton" placed 11th in the Nation in the Junior Rider Division at the National Dressage Championships. "The Festival of Champions" was held at the Headquarters of the United States Equestrian Team in Gladstone, New Jersey. Only the top 12 riders in the country in each category are invited to compete. The Festival of Champions focuses on bringing together the top twelve riders in the United States for Grand Prix, Intermediare I, Brentina Cup, Young Riders, and Juniors.
Alison received a beautiful plaque with the National Championship Logo, gorgeous ribbons for her and the horse, a horse cooler, saddle pad, glasses, polo shirt, and hat. She says it was an amazing feeling to ride amongst all the top class riders and to find out about the history of the USET.
Alison's mom, Stephanie Coyle, and Elizabeth joined her on this trip. They made an exciting sidetrip to New Jersey, went to see the Broadway Musical "South Pacific," and even went sightseeing in Washington, which entailed driving around the monuments while pulling the horse trailer.
May 2009 The VHF Junior Team of Alison Coyle, Catie Weiner, Emily Pate, and Stephanie Bristol had a great outing at the Dressage in The Sandhills show on May 8th–10th, 2009.
Alison and her horse "Bariton" won her F.E.I. Jr. Individual and Team tests with scores of 62.43% and 63.28% respectively, and then were placed 2nd in their F.E.I. Jr. freestyle on Sunday with a 63.87%. After successful shows at March Magic and FENCE as well, she is now qualified to compete at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC's). Congratulations Alison!
Catie and her horse "Jonson" earned a 60.69% in her division of 4th level test 1 Open on Saturday, placing 4th, and then on Sunday earned a 60.23% in 4th test 2, placing 3rd. This was the pair's second outing at 4th level. Way to go Catie!
Emily Pate and her horse "Aravis" earned a 65.2% and 65% on Friday, placing 5th and 1st in Training level test 4 and First level test 1. On Saturday they were 3rd in 1st level test 1 with a 62.66%, and also won Training level test 4 with a 77.6%. Emily was the Junior Training level high scorer. We were all envious of the judge's remarks, "That was the nicest test I've ever judged." Look out for these two as they progress up the levels.
Stephanie Bristol and her horse "Dalton" earned a 67.2% and 67.2% on Saturday, placing 3rd and 4th respectively in Training level tests 3 and 4. On Sunday they blew away the competition and placed 1st in training level test 4 with a 70.4%, and earned their first qualifying score for Region 1 championships. Awesome job Steph!
Elizabeth and "SummerBerry" also made their debut together at Training level. This was Summerberry's first recognized dressage show. She won her division on Saturday of the OpenTraining level test 2 division with a 70.35%, and then on Sunday received a 68%, placing 3rd in the Open Training level test 4. SummerBerry is currently offered for sale and/or for lease. Elizabeth hopes to compete her in June at 1st level unless some lucky person buys her first!
Catie and Elizabeth
Elizabeth and Minnie relax
November 2008 Congratulations to the Spinnenweber family (Fred, Bobbi, and daughter Anna, of Apex, N.C.), on their purchase of "Rubianna" aka Ruby from Elizabeth and Victory Hill Farm. Ruby had been used as a successful show and lesson horse for more advanced riders at the farm, previously earning her USDF certificate of merit at Training level with Margaret Rogers and Elizabeth, and is schooled through 2nd level and Beginner Novice Eventing. She will be ridden by both Bobbi and Anna, and shown primarily by Anna.
October 2008Elizabeth is now an "L" graduate with distinction after all the practice time and study from the past year. She couldn't have done it without the support of all of her friends. She specifically wishes to thank Stephanie Coyle, who accompanied ad scribed with her at the final exam and practiced scoring; Margaret Rogers, who practiced scribing several times with videos and at horse shows; Sue Walker, who scribed during her D-1 and D-2 sessions; Susie Weidman, who let her come and practice judge at her schooling show; Eliza Sydnor, who organized the program; and all of the generous show organizers here in N.C. who allowed her to sit on the sidelines and practice at their shows. She is really glad to have had this educational opportunity and is looking forward to being able to judge schooling shows in 2009.
October 2008Congratulations to Catherine (Catie) Weiner for earning her U.S.D.F. Bronze medal in 2008 while riding her horse "Jonson," as well as getting their feet wet in the F.E.I. Jr. division. Additionally, Catherine managed to earn some prize money in the Children's Jumper division at a Greensboro Hunter/Jumper show last summer. Well done, Catie!
October 2008Congratulations to Jenna Isley on the purchase of "Vantage Point" aka Sullivan. Jenna is a working student for Elizabeth at the farm who plans to event at the Beginner Novice level as well as compete in the Low/schooling hunters and schooling dressage shows.
October 2008Congratulations to Alison Coyle on the purchase of "Bariton" from Leslie Lammers of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is a 12 yr. old Canadian Sporthorse gelding that Alison plans to compete in the F.E.I. Jr. division and 4th level in 2009, and then progress to the F.E.I. young rider's division and Prix St. George level after that. She is working hard and getting used to having a "full-sized fuzzy" to ride now!
September 2008Congratulations to Teri Toelcke of Fort Morgan, Utah on the purchase of super pony "Stormy Weather" from Alison Coyle. Good luck in Region 8, Teri!
Together, Stormy and Alison won Reserve Champion NCDCTA HOY Award Jr. 3rd level 2007 / 4th place Region 1 Jr. 2nd level 2007 / Champion NCDCTA HOY Award 2006 Jr. 2nd level / High Score F.E.I. Pony Award "Seldom Scene trophy" Lendon Gray's dressage festival 2006 / Champion NCDCTA HOY Award 2005 Jr. 1st level / 6th place BLM finals Jr. 1st level 2005
with the Seldom Scene trophy
July 2007Congratulations to Alison Coyle for recently earning her United States Dressage Federation Bronze medal. This is a big accomplishment for someone who is only now just 15 years old, and was produced while riding a pony and competing against some pretty nice horses and riders. For most people this achievement takes many more seasons of competitive struggle.
Alison and her pony also finished in 4th place at the Region 1 finals held in Lexington, VA. this year in the Jr. 2nd level division. Well done Alison!
Alison Coyle at the USDF National Symposium shortly
after receiving her Bronze medal, with her dad David Coyle
July 2007Congratulations to Margaret Rogers who, in her first season of participating in USEF and USDF recognized competitions, both qualified and competed with "Rubianna" at the Training level of competition at the Region 1 finals.
November 2007Best wishes for future success and congratulations go to Stephanie Bristol, who recently purchased a new horse named "Dalton" from Karen Mahaffee of Sanford, N.C.. Dalton is a 7 year old chestnut Belgian/T.B. cross with chrome, 16.2 hd. gelding. He had previously been competed through the Novice level of eventing, and has a big "puppy dog" personality to go with his love for jumping. Look for Stephanie and Dalton at the upcoming spring events and dressage shows this season.
October 2007On a sadder note: Elizabeth lost her longtime spotted friend "Chablis Blanc" in the fall of 2007, due to the infirmaries of old age. Chablis was "a good fuzzy" and had also earned the nickname of "one tough old broad" due to her traveling across the country at age 26 non-stop, and arriving in good shape with a whinny of greeting for her owner. She was 31 this year and had competed through Preliminary level eventing, Training level jumpers, and 2nd level dressage.
After her retirement she taught countless kids as well as Elizabeth's husband, John to ride. Elizabeth had owned her since Chablis was 3 years old. Margaret Rogers and Stephanie Coyle donated a red maple tree, which was planted in her honor on the hill overlooking the dressage arena. She will be remembered fondly by many.
Chablis and Elizabeth
2007Elizabeth furthered her educational opportunities by getting additional expert instruction during the entire 2007 year, and is participating in the current U.S.D.F. "Learner" judging program in 2008. The program entails lots of practice, updated reccommended reading, scribing, and sitting hours with "R" judges, as well as a general enthusiasm for evaluating lots of horses and riders!
Two of her favorite recommended reading books so far have been "The Simplicity of Dressage" by Johann Hinneman and Coby Van Baalen for its clear, easy to understand explanations and pictures illustrating the concepts of the training scale, and Ingrid and Reiner Klimke's "The New Basic Training of The Young Horse," as it confirms many things she had been taught in the past, but also gives fresh examples of beautifully trained, happy horses executing the exercises throughout.
Some of the excellent horsemen and women that Elizabeth got a chance to receive instruction and help from in 2007 include: Conrad Schumacher, Linda Zang, Steffan Peters, Gretchen Verbonic, Lilo Fore, and Jessica Ransehousen. She looks forward to getting lots more help from her friends and fellow instructors in 2008.