February Birthdays...

Don't forget to celebrate our riders' birthdays!

Colleen - February 1
Jennifer - February 11 (She turns 18!)
Britt B - February 23 (She turns 18, too!)
Britt M - February 27

Best wishes for a great year to all of you from the Reporter and your friends at ESI!

The Reporter Loves Your Comments...

It's great to get your comments to ESI Reporter posts! For those of you who have left comments, you might have noticed that they don't appear right away. A safeguard has been built into the blog that keeps non-ESI "friends and family" from contributing to this site, so be patient - your little love notes and observations WILL appear as quickly as they are monitored by your editor.

January Sycamore Show...

A small, but mighty contingent of ESI riders competed over the weekend in the first Sycamore show of the 2009 season.


Aislyn was very competitive in the Walk/Trot division, gathering ribbons in all four of her classes, including an impressive second out of 14 in the Walk/Trot Equitation. MaKenna took a big leap forward, showing Ginger successfully in all the Pony Hunter classes.

And, Shea showed the pony Match Maker in the Short Stirrup Division - she won the Flat Equitation.

Wendy placed second and third in two of her flat equitation classes on Riptide. Melissa won a Children's Hunters class, as well as the Golden Horse Medal and the OCHSA Horsemanship Medal. Euan added a third in the OCHSA Horsemanship to his collection, as well as showing in a couple of jumper classes. Audra showed Faith in a number of classes; she won the Open Equitation Over Fences. And, Julie and Zia were everywhere, collecting ribbons in hunters, jumpers AND equitation.
Kendall and Cruising earned a second in the Modified Junior/Amateur Jumpers. Jennifer and Simpson were seen in the jumper and equitation classes, winning a Level 3/4 class and the Equitation Medal. (Thanks to Mary Edwards for the pictures!)

OCHSA Reminders...

A reminder to all ESI riders competing this weekend at Sycamore...
If you have not already renewed your 2009 OCHSA membership, you should do so at the show to begin qualifying for the Year-End Championship Show.

Also...
Save your printed closing statements from all OCHSA qualifying shows. These statements should show your placings in each class in which you were entered. In the event that OCHSA personnel miss noting classes in which you are qualified, (mistakes can happen!) these statements can be used as proof of qualification!

Have a great first show of the 2009 season!

New Year's Lunch On The Grass...

Katie and John treated the whole ESI family to a New Year's Lunch on the Grass on Sunday, the 11th, with everyone's favorite foods from Las Golondrinas. With bright sunny skies and temps in the 80's it was perfect weather for us all to get together and welcome 2009.
Thanks Katie and John!

First Sycamore Show of the New Year...

The first Sycamore show of 2009 takes place Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18. Sign up now if you plan on showing!

Sunday's tandem pony ride..

Brandee took Aislyn for a quick spin on Majesty. Looks like Aislyn was having a great time! (The Reporter sends its thanks to Jeff for supplying this picture.)

The New Year's Resolution Challenge Responses...

Some of our loyalest ESI Reporter readers chose to take part in the New Year's Resolution Challenge. From the Junior ranks:

" Without my pony Lady, I wouldn't be as far as I am now. My new year's resolution is to be confident. In 2009, when I start riding horses, I want to be open to try new things. I love that I am able to train with John and Katie Berney because they are the ones that help me and give me great advice. I'm sure they will help me accomplish my new year's resolution."

Shea Metz

And from the older crowd:

"Hi all - my New Year's Resolution is to get this ankle better and ride again!"
Gwen Grierson

"Much to my dismay, this year's resolution(s) is pretty much the same as it's been for the past 20 years. Hopefully this year we'll see a breakthrough!

Keep my shoulders back, ESPECIALLY the right one.

Keep my eyes UP.

Don't lean forward BEFORE the jump, Dummy!"
Mary Edwards

"Keep my eyes up and be patient."
Jeff Mixer

"Ride in my saddle more often so people stop asking me if I own one!"
Margaret McKay

The Reporter was informed by another source that John Berney's resolution for 2009 is to name a boat after a horse. We wish him much luck in this endeavor as we assume it would involve actually BUYING a boat before he named it!

Thanks to all riders who participated in the challenge. If others want to add their 2009 resolutions or goals to this list, simply email them to Margaret or add a comment to this post!

January Birthdays!

Don't forget to wish happy days to our "New Years" babies:

Jacqueline Johnson - January 4
Audra Lambert - Turning "the big 40" and proud of it - January 10
Jeff Mixer - January 14

First ESI Rider Hits The Dirt in 2009...

Earlier in the day the Reporter received a report that Jessica Katz was our first ESI rider to get bucked off in the New Year! An unnamed witness sent cell phone photo proof just moments ago. We hope that Jessica is okay. Look how concerned Ladino appears about her - AFTER he bucked her off, that is ;)

The first "Can You Guess Who?" of 2009...

The adult should be a piece of cake...
Maybe even the baby, too.
But, can you also name the pony?