News

2011 Wildtree Farm End of the Season Re-cap

 

Unseasonable downpours, logging, and the summer of injured horses – nothing stops Wildtree Farm from marching on and having a great time doing so!

Despite a number of obstacles this spring and summer, Wildtree Farm still had a blast.  The Wildtree Farm schooling show series got off to a late start this year due to some nearby logging that created less than ideal schooling show atmosphere.  However, on the bright side it provided weeks of de-spooking opportunities for the horses at the farm!  The summer camps were a success and our first old-fashioned hunt show was fun, despite the unpredictable Oregon weather.

The schooling show series was edited down to four shows.  The July and August shows went smoothly- turnout was good, the weather was great and the show atmosphere was one of friendly competition.  For something a little different, we put on an old-fashioned hunt show in September.  Horse and rider combinations navigated around courses of natural looking obstacles, inside and outside of the arena, in handy hunter, hunter derby and “go as you please” hunter rounds.  The course was beautiful and the crowd was enthusiastic, but the Oregon weather failed us.  By mid afternoon a few ardent riders were sticking it out in torrential rain.  Horses and riders showed their good natured temperaments and aptitude for dealing with the unpredictability of the hunt field.  Next year we will hold the second annual hunt show in August when it is highly unlikely that we will get rained out!

We just wrapped up the show series with the annual Halloween show at Avalon in Cottage Grove.  It was the perfect ending to an unusual year.  Even with it being the show of “I can’t remember where I’m going” and frisky horses there were still smiles all around.  Six riders competed in the Wildtree Farm Mini-Medal, with Avry Hansen of Roseburg having the winning ride for the second year in a row.  As always, the costumes were inventive and entertaining including the Scooby Doo gang, a gnome riding a toadstool, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, and a fantastic ghost horse & rider.

Keeping with the theme of the summer, the two Wildtree summer camps also came with their fair share of challenges.  At the July camp record setting rainfalls put a kink in the plans and created more than a few pairs of soggy socks, but in true Wildtree Farm fashion we made the best of it.  The August camp had lovely weather, but a rash of injured horses (not even jumping related!).  One day of the camp turned into a lecture from Dr. Wes Violet as he treated four horses- a hoof abscess, a minor tendon injury, allergy related breathing troubles, and a retired horse with a mysteriously swollen hind leg.  Campers showed their generous (and patient) spirits by sharing horses the rest of the weekend so everyone was still able to ride.

Throughout the spring and summer we also had the opportunity to get out of town for a number of events including a couple of SOHJA shows and clinics.  We always enjoy visiting our horse friends to the south and appreciate how welcome they make us feel.  Blair Wilkinson had a great time competing in and winning the SOHJA medal finals on Four Star (aka Gunny) owned by Norma.  The course was beautifully designed by Leslie Zock and we really enjoyed the smooth riding courses.  Thanks to SOHJA and Royal Crest Ranch for a very beautiful and fun show. 

We are looking forward to a winter of fine-tuning, a few local schooling shows, and hopefully a clinic or two to prepare us for next show season.  We’re keeping our fingers crossed for fewer hurdles!