Welcome to Elmcroft Equestrian Centre

ASHLAND OPENERS
Ten horses from Elmcroft competed over the June 6-7 weekend at the beginning of Ashland's Equine Canada Silver and Bronze shows. It also marked the debut of Impervious in the jumpers with a new rider-Kourtney Shayanpour. Impervious came home with a good blue ribbon in a field of thirty-two and Kourtney looked quite at home on him. Samantha MacGillivray pulled off very creditable 3rd and 6th places in the Trillium Jumpers in pouring rain. In the hunter rings, Lindsay Iob and Natasha Gauthier's Laporello continued their winning ways with a Reserve Championship in Novice, plus a second place and a win in Equitation. Pascale Lepine had a great day with seconds and thirds in her classes on her own JustaHabit, while Mackenzie Whitman collected good ribbons in Short-Stirrups on Sir Kostalot. Brave work by Gabrielle Morrison on Jiminy Criquet saw her complete substitute rounds after a judging error mistakenly ruled her "off-course". Alison Moore's Cornetta, Andrea Mc Cullagh's Homeward Bound, and Amanda Hay's Ultimo all put in good rounds in training circumstances.

RED AND BLUE RIBBONS GALORE
The beginning of the local show season has seen a rich harvest of ribbon prizes for Elmcroft riders on the Silver and Bronze Equine Canada circuits. Lindsay Iob riding Natasha Gauthier's Laporello was outstanding in winning both pre-Novice and Novice Championships at the NNEP, as well as taking Reds and Blues in Equitation. Her successes mirrored those of Amelia von Finkenstein on Sir Kostalot who was pre-Novice Champion at Fiddlers Green show and a close runner up at NNEP in hunter classes and Equitation. Meanwhile, Pascal Lepine on her Justa-Habit brought back high ribbons at Fiddlers in her Equitation classes and Mackenzie Whitman proved herself a strong ribbon winner in short Stirrupsat NNEP. Brooke Murray is back in the ribbons this year on Marco Polo in small pony hunters and C Equitation-more to come for sure. Samantha MacGillivray rode her Animo to high ribbons in the Trillium Jumper at NNEP, while Andrea McCullagh on Homeward Bound took the win in Jumper Equitation at the NNEP Bronze show and notched a high placing in a jump off class. Meanwhile, Elmcroft riders have been having fun in the Low Hunters; Alison Moore and Cornetta were champions at NNEP and Amanda Hay was Champion with Ultimo at Fiddlers and Reserve Champion at NNEP. Congratulations to these and all our other riders on good showings to kick-off the 2009 Silver/Bronze season.

Spring Wrap-Up In-House Show

Elmcroft riders took advantage of a beautiful sunny day on May 3rd. to hold the fourth and final show in their Winter Series in the Horizon sand ring at our equestrian centre. Excellent competition resulted in the following overall series awards;
" Short Stirrups: Champion, Mackenzie Whitman; Reserve Champion, Genvieve Desormeaux.
" Open Hunter: Champion, Gabrielle Morrison; Reserve Champion, Lindsay Iob. " Equitation; Medal on the flat; Kourtney Shayanpour, Medal over fences, Lindsay Iob
" Low Jumper; Champion, Andrea MacCullagh; Reserve Champion, Cydney Laughton-Egan.
" High Jumper; Champion, Samantha MacGillivray; Reserve Champion, Kourtney Shayanpour.
Thank you to our judges, course designers, parents, supporters and coaches for their assistance. Congratulations to all the participant riders and their superb horses. We look forward to a terrific season on the Gold, Silver and Bronze circuits this year.
If you need a coach to look after you at the shows, call Amanda 613-867-5158
New Riders at Elmcroft
The Spring season has brought a new group of riders with a variety of previous riding experience to take lessons at Elncroft. Among the new juniors we welcome are Amanda, Amelia, Laura, Taylor, and Victoria, together with mature riders Andre and Susanne. We wish them all very happy days at our barn and success, on their own terms, in our lesson programs.
North American Young Riders Clinic, Toronto, late April 2009
The Ontario Hunter Jumper association [OHJA] put on a Norman Dello Joio clinic for aspiring young jumper riders at the York Equestrian Centre, in Newmarket on April 27-28. Amanda and Keith attended as observers to see the Toronto standards of riding, learn from Norman, and put in place at Elmcroft programs that could channel our riders towards participation in the very demanding NAYR selection process. Norman excels as a teacher and it was a very useful two-day skills up-grade for both riders and coaches. OHJA may consider holding a similar session in the Ottawa area for the 2009-10, season.

Born on 30 March, 2009 at VDL in Holland, this is Alison Moore's youngest filly.

She is "Ellamieka" (Corland x Darco x Indoctro).

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Bronze [Schooling] and Silver [Trillium] Horse Shows at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10.

A fourth tack room with large lockers is nearing completion for your horse tack and equipment storage.

Three more turnout paddocks are scheduled to open in May, 2009.

Call us now for Lesson Times, Horse Leasing and Board Availability--and get on track to do well in Canadian Show-Jumping

IN MEMORY OF SMART ALEC, FEB., 2009

A “SMART ALEC” TROPHY

Smart Alec was a super-star in the Child-Adult Jumper classes. His recent sudden loss affects many people who rode him, watched him, and worked with him at the shows and at home. He was in every way a Thoroughbred horse who deserves to be remembered.

He was a son of the great race horse Manila—a winner of the Breeders Cup—but Alec wasn’t much of a track star. Alec found his talent as an efficient jumper. With his fearless approach and great heart he would make virtually every round look good, regardless of the course difficulties. In the jump-off, his speed would match or exceed other competitors.

Alec helped a lot of riders get started on their jumper careers; Melanie rode him to the Quebec Circuit Reserve Championship; Mike rode him to the Ontario Provincial Finals; Samantha showed him successfully at Child-Adult level; and Kourtney put in some of the most dazzling rounds ever seen on the Trillium Circuit. Many other folks were schooled on this feisty little horse who really loved to show off, but in realty was a sweet animal behind all the competitive bluster.

Amanda and Keith first saw Alec in the ring at Ashland many years ago and agreed on the spot to buy him from Tic-Toc Stables of Gatineau. Alec soon proved his worth, winning the ECTA Jumper Trophy a handful of times. He was a great addition to the Elmcroft family of super horses and an outstanding member of that group of Thoroughbred horses that have done so well with us.

So let’s not forget “Alec The Great” aka. Smart Alec and dedicate a new Trophy to his lasting memory as a super-star on the Ontario and Quebec jumper circuits. Please talk to Mel, Amanda or Keith if you would like to contribute.

NEW BOARDERS, RIDERS AND FOALS

Well-known senior amateur rider Alison Moore has come to Elmcroft as a new boarder bringing her horse Cornetta—a young Dutch jumper. Alison is recognized as a Grand Prix rider who has shown extensively in the US, Europe and Canada. Meanwhile, we also welcome the Witman family with the new Elmcroft-leased large pony Sir Kostalot to be ridden by both Mackenzie and Grace Witman.

On the domestic front, foals Dolce Vita [Judgement] and Cool Cherokee [Coolman] are now weaned and beginning to grow rapidly, perhaps at some much later date to become jumpers, while Freya is well in foal to Conquest for spring delivery.
Dolce Vita [Judgement] and Cool Cherokee [Coolman]