Oak Rise Provides a Rainbow of Colors for the Souhegan Riders

The Souhegan Riders had tremendous success today at the Oak Rise Equestrian Show in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Every member of the team gave 110% percent for a terrific team showing.  Individually, most of the ribbons earned were in First, Second or Third place.  All of the practice and primping of the horses paid off!

While we are proud of everyone who competed today, we are especially pleased that many of our riders won Champion or Reserve Champion for their overall performance.  

• Champion Becky Weldon riding Fancy Shmancy ("Princess")
  
• Champion Emily Stone riding Jet Bars Champagne ("Champagne")
• Champion Susan O'Connell riding  Ima French Chocolate ("Toby")
• Champion Katie O'Connell riding Chex Away ("Chexy") and
• Reserve Champion Allie Withee riding Jet Bars Champagne ("Champagne")(not pictured)

Congratulations to Head Coach Mercy Zaveri (second from left") and Assistant Coach Molly Startop (not pictured) for their great success.  

Pictures of all of the riders can be found here.

Welcome Western Trainer Jacki St. Cyr

Jacki St. Cyr joins us this summer to help train our western pleasure horses. Jacki is from Sutton, New Hampshire and just finished her freshman year at Findlay College. In addition to training three project horses which she is finishing for sale, Jacki will assist with lessons, camps and training rides. FoxBrook Farm will come alive again with a lot of training work happening there. Welcome Jacki!

Jacki on her two year old trainee, Razzle.

Welcome New Instructor Suzie Lundergan

Mack Hill welcomes new instructor Suzie Lundergan.  She joins us as a hunter/jumper instructor.  She has considerable riding and teaching experience.  Indeed, she owns and operates her own horse facility, The Stables at Winchester Court in Ashurnham, Massachusetts.  When you see her around Mack Hill, say hello.  

Hey Kids... Let's Do a Show....

Tucker, Toby, Chexy, Blaze, Maverick, and Chip are headed to the AQHA show on May 18! Barn Manager and Instructor, Gabe will be coaching the riders. If you are interested in showing....let your instructor know so we can get you in on the future shows. If you ride one of these horses, and may want to join us at the show -- let your instructor know!  Wish us well as Mack Hill hopes to bring home the blues!!

Check out the pictures!

If you haven't checked out the pictures that Scott has taken, get to it!   It is a great learning tool for you to look at your position while on the horse... especially over fences.

There are a bunch of you jumping ahead of the horse.  If you don't know what it looks like, look for someone who is standing forward in the saddle with their crotch over or in front of the pommel of the saddle, while the horse is about to leave the ground.  This is dangerous as you could go flying over the ears if they stop suddenly in front of the jump.

Look too, for a good release of the horse's head in the air.  These horses are saints for continuing to jump while their heads are being held back by the rider.  If I was a horse, I would quit jumping! Special pats for the good horses who are teaching you to jump.

Instructors would be more than happy to discuss your position with you.  You can learn so much!

Thanks to Scott for providing the opportunity to critique ourselves.

You can find the pictures on the right side of this page, under the Links, under Mack Hill Photos.

Enjoy!

Discount shopping at Stone Pony Tack Shop

A special opportunity for Mack Hillers to to their pre-season shopping with at least a 15% discount.  Linda, the owner, has offered the discount to us when we come and shop on Monday, May 12th. They close at 5pm.  If we get a good size crowd, the discount could be even greater!

Mercy will be on hand to help guide you in making the correct purchases for either practice or the show ring.

Even if it is not in your budget to do a bunch of shopping, at least come by to price out your future purchases and make wish lists!

You can contact Mercy with questions by emailing her at mercycarr@hotmail.com.

Field Trip to Keene

Miki Clements-Collier is taking a car load of interested folks to watch a show in Keene on May 18th. The cost is $10 to cover the gas. Miki will meet participants in Peterborough at 9:00 am. Please contact her if you would like to particpate.

A Clean Sweep....

A huge Mack Hill "Thank You" to riders Hannah Rees, Lauren Weinstock, and Jess Rettig and instructor Miki Clements-Collier for their work on the first annual Spring Clean Up Day! You all did a wonderful job helping us shed the reminants of the long winter. Gold stars for you! Thanks again.

Look Whose Coming Home!

This week we heard from Theresa Connolly who is finishing up her first year of college in Colorado.  She will be back at Mack Hill teaching lessons for the summer.  Maybe she will compete in a show or two as well.  We have missed her smiling face, infectious laugh and wicked sarcasm.  She will be back just in time to put us all back in our place.   (Theresa riding Tucker in the Barn Fund Series in New Boston last summer)

Is Western Your Pleasure?

With the new Souhegan Riders english/hunter team officially launched, some have asked if a western team will follow. Instructor Jess Ellia is willing to coach a western team if there is sufficient interest. The team would be open to middle and high school students from around the Souhegan Valley. In addition to training session with coach Jess, the team would compete in at least one show over the summer. Please let us know by email (info@mackhill.net) whether you would like to participate in a western team if one is organized. Alternatively, please let us know if you would like to participate in any of the upcoming western shows that Mack Hill will be attending. (Coach Jess on Chip at the Barn Fund Series in New Boston)

Look at that Cowgirl Ride.....

This is none other than barn manager and western instructor Gabe Senter taking Dawson through his paces up the front pasture at Mack Hill. Those two were moving!  For more pictures of these two flying around the property, click here.

He's Back.....

Mack Hill welcomes back our Clydesdale, Tommy.  He is a 16.2 hand 11 year old behemoth of a horse.  For the past several months he has been in Amish Country Pennsylvania learning how to be a road safe driving horse.  His work down there is clear because he has returned a muscle bound buff stud (well, he is still a gelding)!   One question: What happened to his tail?  Those Amish are tough.  Our thanks to our friends Kelly and Craig MacCorquodale who brought him safely to and from Pa for his training.  Reports to follow as we see his driving skill first hand. (Instructors Lauren Smith riding Tommy and Mercy Zaveri)