On August 5, 2009, our beautiful four year old mare, Valonia (Contester/Ariadus/Marlon) left our farm to begin the next phase of her life. Valonia was purchased by Denny Emerson, to be ridden by Lila Gendal. Valonia had a successful career at the breed shows, but had not yet been started under saddle. Since Valonia was/is SO special to us, I decided to keep a journal of her progress.
8/9/09- From Lila: She is doing REALLY great! I walked her through our water jump, up and down a small bank, and over a little ditch. She goes everywhere I go. I take her on walks throughout the day. She is SOOOOOO brave. I cannot wait to sit on her. She is such a doll. I really look forward to working with her everyday.
8/24/09- Already being ridden outside!
9/14/09- From Lila: Valonia went on her very first hack today! Denny was teaching a lesson outdoors and I lunged Valonia and then rode her around and she was so quiet and nice, even with another horse cantering around at the other end! I then asked the women in the lesson if she would "babysit" us on a hack. Well, Valonia didn't need any babysitting, she was perfect. We even walked through the water jump and she was great! I really am in love:)
Also, I had my dressage trainer help/watch me this past Friday and she is in love too! She said, and I quote, "This is my new favorite Tamarack horse". She loves her size, attitude, movement, and especially likes her eye.
9/28/09- From Lila: Valonia has been such a good girl! She gets worked typically 4 days a week. I have jumped her twice now. She was so good the other day when we jumped. It was pretty windy and there were two other horses in my lesson. Denny had the other horses stand still while Valonia and I made our way over about 7 or 8 little baby jumps. small brick walls, tiny planks, you name it, she jumped it. She doesn't care in the least about the jumps! Denny and I are so happy with her. I have also been hacking her a lot. I usually only do 1 day a week in the actual ring, the rest I go on hacks with other people or jump! She loves hacking. She insists on being the leader, not in a naughty way, she just marches right along and leads the other (older :)) horses. She walks through water jumps w/o a lead, and she walked by cows a couple days ago. She is one brave horse! WE are really getting to know each other.
10/5/09- From Denny: She jumped for the 3rd time yesterday, just tiny little crossrails and verticals. Basically she just takes an elevated trotting stride over the crossrails, but all we want her to do is quietly go forward with a "no big deal" attitude, which so far she has. Over a couple of the verticals, she actually jumped, in great form, and again, with no concern or quickening.
She's beginning to get more of a neck, and she looks good. Everyone who sees her is wowed!
10/7/09- Valonia out for a hack with a friend.
10/11/09- From Denny: Valonia jumped her first oxer today. She has absolutely good instincts, and stays pretty cool about the various colors and shapes, just trots on down, doesn`t hurry, and jumps.
10/21/09- From Denny: Maybe Lila will have already told you, but we took her up to the xc course, not planning to jump, as she`d been a little high in the ring. But she had settled down, so I had them trot to about 7-8 little fences, and she was perfect.
No hesitation, no hint of rushing, just quiet confidence. Over one slightly bigger log fence, she must have jumped about 3`6, just playing around. She`s a very good jumper.
10/25/09
11/09
11/7/09- From Lila: We jumped xc today. She was so funny. She jumped absolutely everything...she is one bold
horse! She never hesitates, just jumps her heart out.
11/7/09
Valonia and Lila in 2/2010 in Strafford, VT
3/18/10- From Lila: Valonia is an amazing horse and I think she has grown up a lot since she stepped off that trailer in Strafford! Yesterday my dressage trainer watched my ride V a little while she was teaching someone else. Later we talked about Valonia and she said that she thought V could be an Olympic horse in any of the three disciplines--Dressage, eventing or show jumping! I cant believe she said that. That is so exciting to me. I cannot wait for this summer. If all goes well, we will be going to baby shows and maybe even little jumper shows. I am super excited! So, yesterday I jumped and she was spectacular. I set up an X, one stride to a small oxer (prob around 2' 6") and a couple other small jumps. The first time I went through the in and out, I yelled "Holy ____"! and my friend Margie was outside the indoor feeding her horses and came inside and said "Are you okay?" I said, "Oh yes I'm fine, its just that Valonia just jumped like 5 feet into the air over that oxer"! It was sooooooo cool, Maryanne. She is especially amazing through in and outs because because everything is set up all she has to do is jump! She is just so brave and so athletic, it's truly amazing.
6/8/10- From Lila: I am SOOOOOOOOOOO happy with her. She is really getting into this jumping. Did you see that bank pic? That bank is a foot tall. She was not rushing or nervous-just really uses her self. Aren't you so happy with how she's coming along? I am beyond words happy-and I owe it all to Denny and Lindle-And obviously you for breeding such a fabulous horse! They've helped me so much. Just wanted to let you know how amazing this all is for me:).
The following eight photos were taken on 6/8/10, at THF.
6/23/10- Valonia participated in a jumper show at Tamarack Hill Farm. She won the first class she entered (20" fences) and was 4th in her third class (2'3" fences). According to Denny, "She was so steady it was as if she`d been showing for years. Just walked in the ring and did her job."
6/27/10- From Denny: Maryanne, this mare is SO GOOD it`s almost scarey. Lila just quietly trots Valonia down to those big rolltops as if she`s on a Sunday morning hack, and suddenly Valonia is way up in the air over them. I asked Lila what it felt like and she said, "She`s on springs!".
The following photos were taken on 6/27/10, at THF.
The following photos were taken at a THF jumper show on 7/20/10.
The following photos were taken on 8/4/10, at a GMHA jumper show. This was Valonia's first time showing off the farm, and she finished 1st in two of her classes and 3rd in the last class !
These dressage photos were taken on 9/25/10, at a Beginner Novice HT at Pirouette Farm in Norwich, VT.
Here are some photos of Valonia in 2011, eventing at Novice Level. She will move up to Training Level in 2012.
