Aiken Wrap Up

After a long hiatus, I have finally found time to update our blog! We wrapped up Aiken in style with an event and dressage show, as well as enjoying the last warm weather days we would see for awhile. The horses travelled home and have settled back into work in the frigid north, hitting the ground running with a dressage show 14 days after their arrival. It seems like winter just does not want to let go of its icy grip!

To summarize our Aiken experience this year, I would say it was a season of great learning and meeting fun new people. I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Kevin Keane and his team to assess Zigzag and Goodman, and get them feeling their absolute best heading into what we hope to be an important year for both horses(debuts at Prelim for Z and PSG for Goodman). I also got great insight from the legendary Boyd on jumping Z and working through some of his little demons, and Jimmy Wofford on starting the youngsters. While in Florida, I had the pleasure of meeting Jodi Ely, and her friend Mary, and Cheryl Holekamp with whom I had dinner. Jodi's hospitality was second to none, and it was so wonderful to be welcomed in a place where I thought I wouldn't know anyone. At our home base, Sandy Hills, in Aiken, I also met some exceptional individuals in BJ, Bee Ruane, Gina Reidmuller, and Leslie Davis. These ladies are the nicest, hardworking horsewomen, and I look forward to continuing our friendships! Also, thanks to Bubba Forrester for making our stay a great one!

I also need to extend a huge thank you to Di and Steve Toth who graciously rented their guest house to Mary and I for the duration. They thought of everything in appointing our apartment with snacks, waters, and even made us dinner the first night we were there. They kept a great sense of humor with all our packages that showed up day after day for the new horses, and even took Mary out to dinner while I was at the last show in Florida, as well as treating Bee and I to dinner at O'Charley's the night before I went home. They have a beautiful home and we are so appreciative that they shared it with us!

If there is one thing that I learned, its that the PEOPLE make the PLACE, and generosity knows no bounds. I hope that I can be that person for someone else in the future,and look forward to returning next year!