2/10/08 Update

Hey all (or whoever takes the time to view this blog),

To start things off, I would like to congratulate Aspen local and student Wiley Maple for making the United States' Alpine World Junior Championship Team. The team, including 4 athletes from Colorado, will travel to Spain on February 23 and compete through March 2 against the world's top skiers, all under the age of 19. Congratulations Wiley!

I decided to take this time to elaborate a little more on the riding aspect of my life. What with homework, piano, babysitting, and other things, I was pressed for time with my first post. I am currently riding about three horses during the week: Augusta, Ciriaco, and Roxy. There are many more horses and ponies that I have ridden and are riding, but these are the three that I have mainly been taking lessons on.


Augusta - Augusta is a 6 year old TB/Dutch Warmblood cross that I have been riding since early January. She is still green and will be heading for her first show this summer (sort of late, but her owners bought her right when the Summer Circuit was ending). She is amazing to ride and very balanced and bendy, so she requires a lot of support on the outside aids. Out of the many horses I have ridden Augusta is one of my favorites. It is wonderful to ride a green horse and watch them mature and grow. Not only will Augusta learn more the more I ride her, but I will also mature into a better rider in the long run because of the experiences I have riding her.

Ciriaco - Ciriaco is about 10 years old, a big warmblood. He has the funniest personality; nice like a big dog sometimes, but other times he will think that the world is out to get him and freak out. Out of all the horses I ride I might call him the most dangerous - he will stop or run out at every jump unless to approach it riding basically behind the motion. Once he gets over the fences a few times, though, he is perfectly fine. If he wasn't so prone to stopping he would be the perfect packer for an inexperienced rider in the hunter divisions! He also moves and jumps beautifully; long, loping 12 foot stride and a snappy jump.

Roxy - Roxy is the pony of the bunch. Since I started riding I have been taking lessons on ponies, but since then I have outgrown most smalls and mediums, but Roxy is a large and I can still fit on her well. Roxy can act a bit mareish sometimes, but she is a prime pony hunter. Her stride is huge, her lead changes automatic, and she even strides herself to the jumps. On top of that her jump is beautiful! Her owners are rather inexperienced riders, so when the summer circuit rolls around she will be the perfect pony for them to show on.

More updates to come later in the week!
Jordan