Living in Virginia

Moving to Virginia was a great idea . And, the fall is a super time to enjoy horse activities. The end of September offers the 4 day Dressage finals at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.  Now the competition is too tough for me and my Quarter Horse but the fun of volunteering at the gate or as a ring steward is a dressage lesson in itself.  Then in November is the Equine Extravaganza in Doswell.  You can shop til you drop and see horse demonstrations every hour.  One of the new items that I got as a gift was a rock.  Ya everyone wanted one.  It was a sample of a naturally quarried mineral block by Redmond Rock.  My horses love it.  Also met a very sensitive man who has a horse cremation business, Agape Pet Services I had never thought of cremation for horses.  The urns were beautiful.  Met our friends from Leather Therapy.  That’s a wonderful American family who produce Leather Therapy line.  They have just moved to the Plains, VA. We welcome them.  Picked up my copy of Virginia Horse Journal but just missed the Jacobsons. Sorry. I just saw the movie Secretariat and learned that he was foaled at a farm in Doswell.  This last weekend Nov 5-7 was the Sourthwest Virginia Hunter-Jumper Assoc. Finals Tournament.  I joined a friend to watch her daughter compete with the Bridgewater  College Team.  She did a clear round on a school horse.  She is such an accomplished rider.  Rushing back to Charlottesville we made it in time to view the documentary at the Virginia Film Festival of Thoroughbred.  Its a wonder coverage of the history of thoroughbred racing and the story of many of the owners, trainers and people involved with the industry.  It is a must to see and is going to be aired on PBS just before the Derby. It is worth putting on your 2011 calendar for the beginning of May.  Yes, I get on my horse too.  And, in between we are training the yearling.  He just graduated first grade with an A- for riding in the horse trailer for the first time.  More on that later.

Karleen Hubley2011