By Susie Beale; March 15, 2009:
Well, I am sure you may be wondering what Isabella is up to while I'm sitting on the sidelines. Isabella is still in Aiken. With the weather in PA still questionable, the decision was made that Isabella would be safer in Aiken until Southern Pines Horse Trials March 20-22. So, with a bit of sadness, we dropped her at Phillip Dutton's Farm on Monday, March 2nd, with the plan that I would return to Aiken before my knee surgery and ride her hoping to compete at Southern Pines.
A week ago Thursday, Chris and I left PA at 8pm in the evening and drove to just south of Richmond VA, arriving around midnight. Early the next morning we got up and finished the drive to Aiken, completing in a record 10 hours total... Apparently that is a good time to travel! At 3pm I was on Isabella having a jump lesson! Saturday morning I had a flat lesson with Phillip, we worked on our flying lead changes. Well, More technique of how to prepare her properly for them as this is something she seems to feel is a little difficult! And we both need the practice :) At noon, the same day, I loaded her onto the trailer and we shipped to Aiken Steeplechase track to gallop. WOW!!! That was amazing, a beautifully maintained oval grass race course a mile long. We trotted once around, then picked up a canter. After about a furlong, we increased the pace, galloping at 20 seconds per furlong, this is not a full gallop speed but is quite fast! Isabella, being the quietest of the three horses in my group, was assigned to the back so I paced myself off the two horses ahead of me. We galloped a mile and two furlongs, it was a beautiful day, 85, sunny, with a good breeze which kept you at a perfect temperature. What an amazing feeling, aboard my truly amazing horse, along with two other Rolex bound horses, galloping on that beautiful race course! What an Experience! Sunday I took her out for a nice long hack, mostly walking as the galloping is hard on the legs and we like to give them an easy day after...
Monday morning, Chris and I headed home to PA, and for the second time in a week, I left Isabella behind in Aiken! Rest assured, she is in wonderful hands. Emma, Phillip's head girl is just superb, caring for each and every horse in an individualized manner and never missing a thing. Boyd Martin, from Australia, who is Phillip's assistant is riding her, and after some thought and discussion I have decided I will not plan to compete her at Southern Pines this coming weekend. Boyd has agreed to compete her and although I am disappointed not to be riding her myself I am excited to see how she has improved from her time at Phillip's Stable.
Boyd's wife, Silvia, who is an internationally known dressage rider was in Aiken last week, and to my delight rode Isabella! The text I received from Phillip read "Hi! Ur mare is going well Silvia here and got changes good". Well, let me tell you, that was music to my ears!! Now I am even more anxious to see how she goes for Boyd this week end! She jumped on Friday and gallop again yesterday, so I am waiting to hear how she looks today, hopefully all is well.
4pm Sunday: All is well, she got the thumbs up from her vet, Dr. Kevin Keane, who has been our vet for any leg injuries or other serious issues that we may have had, and will continue to monitor her through her training process to prepare for Rolex....
