More Virginia Horse Trials Updates - Dawn's Sunrise Takes 2nd in First Training!

I enjoyed a weekend of coaching, as well as riding, as we watched Kristen LaLuna ride her sendoff on Sunny---"Dawn's Sunrise", who belongs to Stephen Bryant. This was a first Training level run for both horse and rider but both hung in there and finished in 2nd. Poor Kris was nursing an injury, not the least of which was her pride, but she gutted it out. Dressage was fine, if a little painful, and after a small mistake flowed nicely (don't tell her the difference between first and second... less than a dressage mistake, I think.)

(Left: Kris & Sunny competing at a local horse trial this fall.)

Cross-country went by fast and was perfect and exciting to watch. Woosh in to the water, that was one worry, after the worry of going straight down into the hollow, and then home over a huge trakehner... lots of air time on that one. Stadium was a lovely surprise in being clean and clear. So she moves up two spots with that round and is happy to pin that ribbon over her bed...

...in her new apartment in Charlotte, North Carolina where she now resides...far away from the Cady O'Daly farm. So I for one will be quite lonely here without her. She rode my horses all winter when I was hurt. She trained up the young ones, and started some babies, and they are all great now. She got up early and traveled with me and gave up lots of her time to go to lots of shows. She learned how to drive the truck and trailer so she could drive me home from Maryland HT at all hours of the dark. She's been a good friend .. and now I, sniff, have empty nest again. Love you Kris!

-Alicia Daily

Getting Ready for Virginia HT

We're busily preparing for the Virginia HT-- last minute travel food, silver polish, chiropractic adjustments. Keeper is getting lots of napping time in, and the flax seed is finally producing a shine and dapple. We decided to simply do light dressage workouts and save the jumping for the show. I've lowered my stirrups, hoping it'll encourage me to sit taller and keep my shoulders back. I'm very excited that she is in the championship division for Area 2.

We enjoyed a clinic with Jimmy Wofford at Sunrise Farm last week. We was adamant that we would "get' our distances, even though Keeper was hanging behind my leg. We achieved our goals and finished well on a "sloppy track"... and he told a story of a fellow saying , "if you want to have your horse jump like a pony, you have to ride like a child!" So I guess my elbows etc got the job done. He's very respectful of Connemaras and their crosses. After my last clinic on Mikey, he said, "that's a nice toy you have there."

My good friend and rider Kristen Laluna is leaving me for greener pastures in Charlotte after this show. I will be lonely without her. She rode my guys all winter while I was injured, and she learned how to drive the rig so she could get me home from Md, and graciously gave me my horses back as I recovered my legs. This weekend she'll give Dawn's Sunrise his first recognized Training run. Sunny used to be my ride, but OTTBs are a bit much for me in my advanced years. He belongs to Steve and Billie Bryant, and needs a home. Got my fingers crossed.

-Alicia

The Boys Show Off Their Form in the Jumping Chute

Alicia and Caitlin East, one of our riders (and great photographers!), took a few of the three-year-olds over to Lone Pine Farm, just down the road, to run them through the jumping chute and check out their form. Thank you Caitlin for the excellent re-cap and photos!

The jumping chute was a blast! We sent Dawn's Sunrise (who lives at Lone Pine Farm), The Magician's Nephew, and Fred through the exercise. The babies were just figuring out how to jump in general, whereas Dawn's Sunrise was showing us how he wanted to jump.

Both the Magician's Nephew and Fred figured out the chute easily and jumped with style! It was so much fun getting to watch them. Babies are exciting!

Dawn's Sunrise is very talented, so we wanted to see how he used himself without any input from a rider. Hopefully, now we can help him realize that potential in the ring.

-Caitlin

(Top left: Three-year-old Welsh-cross The Magician's Nephew; Right: Three-year-old Conn/TB Fred; Below left: Dawn's Sunrise. Photos by Caitlin East)

Marvelous Weekend at Maryland Horse Trials

Cady O'Daly Farm had a great outing at the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland this weekend. Homebred mare Cady's Goldkeeper and Alicia took home second place in the competitive Open Novice division to finish on their dressage score of 30.4. Keeper was a champ, clinching a solid, steady dressage test, and was one of only a handful of horses in her division to post a double-clear in show jumping and cross-country. Keeper is currently for sale - check out her page! She and Alicia are headed to the Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington, Virginia in a few weeks.

Kris LaLuna gave Steve and Billie Bryant's Dawn's Sunrise an excellent ride in the Open Novice division as well. 'Sunny' earned a 35.7 in dressage (even though he was a little spooked by the judge's hut!), had a silly rail in show jumping, and a foot-perfect cross-country trip. Sunny's also for sale - check out his page! Kris and Sunny will have their Training debut at the upcoming Virginia Horse Trials.

Check out more photos from this weekend here on Facebook!