The Stirling Hill Polo Team started off really strong on Friday winning the first heat 7 to 2, which gave them a spot in the finals on the Sunday. Fortunately the weather held off on Sunday for a great day of polo.  Our team had a really tough match and in the last 30 seconds of the game allowed the other team to score a heart-breaking goal to win the game 2 to 1.

A member of the Stirling Hill Polo Team was Julie Watchorn who took a break from dressage for the weekend to have some fun playing polo. She said: “I had such a blast playing polo and I would love to be able to play in the tournament again next year. Not only is it enjoyable but it is for a great cause! Everybody should come out and support Polo for the Cure next year.”

Michelle Cohen and the Duke of Schomberg

Stirling Hill will miss Michelle Cohen. She is off to Vancouver, B.C. to discover what the West coast has to offer. Stirling Hill was fortunate to have Michelle working for us for the past year. She was also an enthusiastic student who achieved great results with Kreativ (aka Studley or Stud Muffin!). She also took on the huge challenge of training Duke. He is now a big shot dressage pony and likes to be referred to as the Duke of Schomberg! GOOD LUCK out West Michelle and we look forward to you visiting us and your updates!

Polo for Heart Dressage Quadrille

It was great to see top dressage riders get together and offer their time during such a busy show season for a great fundraising event for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. We would like to thank Ute Busse and Lindor’s Finest, Sarah Turner and Maximus, Rebecca Schoenhardt and Fabius Tyme, Andrea Wetzel and Karolos, Justin Ridgewell and Marakon, Julie Watchorn and Don Juan Tyme for a great performance. Many thanks to Karen, Wendy and Sandy for allowing their horses to be used for the quadrille. The horses handled the environment extremely well with polo players warming up for their game, the Canadian cowgirls with their Canadian flags, a shooting range when they hacked over to the main field, hundreds of spectators and at the end of their performance parachuters landed on the field.

Don Juan Tyme at Polo for Heart with the Canadian Cowgirls in the background

The quadrille was put together by Julie. Julie based the pattern on the 2006 quadrille performance at the Royal Winter Fair (choreographed by Eva Marie Pracht) and the music was picked by Jeff LaForge and compiled by Alex Kaju. The music consisted of the Black Eyed Peas (I Gotta Feeling), DJ ReDo (Winner) and K’Naan (Wavin’ Flag – Coca Cola version).

Stirling Hill Farm was also very proud to have a member of our barn, Saul Benitez playing in the polo tournament. He played a great match aboard Delores and Vaquero.

Quintesse and Julie in Blainville, QC

Just got back from a very busy week at the Blainville CDI in Quebec with Quintesse and Don Juan Tyme.

The first day Quintesse was in great shape but the rider made too many little mistakes because I have not been in the ring since my last show in Saugerties in September. Every ride with her got better and better. In the Prix St. Georges we placed 7th with a 64.298%. The Intermediare 1 went a little bit better placing 6th with a 64.912%. Sunday Tess and I had a blast riding to a win in our freestyle with a 68.750%. As Dax Adam stated, “Quintesse proved once again to be the freestyle queen”.

My new mount Don Juan Tyme had a great show! The first day there was a pretty scary white tent blowing in the wind but he still managed to impress the judges with a 67.692% in Third Level. The next day we tied for first with a 70.7689% but when they took it to the coefficient marks we ended up in 3rd. The last day he won the class with a 71.163% even though he decided to add a little to the test with four tempis up the centerline.

Janet McNally and Mobali competed at Second Level at the June Spring into Dressage Show at Palgrave.  Janet rode into the ring this year with determination and it definitely paid off. Janet earned her highest score, a 65%, taking 5^th place.

Jennifer Bolstad and Rubinette are a new addition to the Stirling Hill team and we are extremely happy to have this pair! They rode in Training Level winning one of the classes with a 69.285%!

Copper Rose

Stirling Hill sadly says good-bye to Dax Adam‘s trusted mount Copper Rose.

Dax and his long time equine partner, Copper Rose, a chestnut, Thoroughbred mare had an extremely successful partnership. Rose was originally from British Columbia where she had spent 13 years of her life competing Hunter/Jumper. Rose proved to be a quick learner, which along with her giving temperament allowed her to quickly progress through her dressage career with Dax to become members of the 2004 Para-Olympics. She will be truly missed by everyone at the barn.

Heike Kemmer Clinic

The riders and the auditors were able to attend a “Meet the Medallist” cocktail reception on Friday evening sponsored by Schleese Saddlefit4Life®. It was a fabulous occasion to be able to get to know Heike Kemmer and discuss her career path, riding and training techniques, philosophy and systems. Heike played her bronze medal Grand Prix Freestyle test on Bonaparte and kindly provided commentary on the ride.

On behalf of everyone that attended the clinic, Stirling Hill would like to extend a huge ‘Thank You’ to Jennifer Anstey at Horse Sport for organizing this incredible event for us and to Schleese Saddlery for sponsoring the reception and this event. It was Heike’s first time giving a clinic in Canada and we hope to have her back soon!