WHERE DOES ONE FIND HORSES COMPARABLE TO THE HORSES SEEN AT DEVON OR HARRISBURG?

Hi, everyone, thanks for your continued support!

Recently, someone asked where to find a horse similar to those that compete at Devon and Harrisburg. For the hunter and jumper divisions at Devon and Harrisburg, the horse must qualify to enter. Therefore, when you are watching the rounds at either show, keep in mind that the horses have been campaigned all year during the qualifying period and have done well enough to participate. If you want to purchase a horse like those seen at Devon and Harrisburg, the price of the horse will be at the high end, particularly because of its show record. If you do not have a trainer or equestrian professional to work with, you can contact the USEF or AHJA and obtain the names of some professionals in your area or ask someone in your area to give you a referral to a local professional.

If you are adventurous and game, those great, qualified horses started somewhere and you could consider purchasing a younger horse and training it yourself. Some people believe that the risk involved while trying to bring up a young horse outweighs the benefits. Time, money and consistency are necessary components in a young horse's successful development. It is skill, usually developed over time, to be masterful at selecting a quality horse from young stock and bringing it along successfully to maturity. Many variables go into the overall decision making process when choosing a young horse such as it's breeding, conformation, temperament, and it's veterinarian evaluation. If you are considering taking on a project of such magnitude, make sure you have someone with experience to help you. With a young horse, you can easily teach any behavior, good or bad, and there are specific principles that guide their instruction which are similar to the techniques your teacher used to help you to learn in school. I have met professionals who concentrate on developing young horses and you might want to locate such a person in your area and work with them.

Good luck with your search for a horse!
Catch up with me next week when I answer another one of your questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub

THE END OF MY FIRST WINTER CIRCUIT AS A PROFESSIONAL

I was really happy with how my first winter circuit as a new professional ended.
Just like my days as a junior catch rider, many mornings started before six a.m. and ended quite late in the evening. Yet, the days had a new and an additional aspect to them, I was responsible for helping other riders and customers, and assisting my superiors, in and out of the show ring as part of a management team.

The last four weeks of the the circuit, I was privileged to show a young gelding, named Countdown, in the six year old young jumper division. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the owners and professionals who asked me to ride their horses during the circuit. Looking back on my first WEF as a young professional, I was very lucky to have supportive family, friends, coworkers, trainers and superiors.

I will be staying in Wellington for three more weeks, working at the Equestrian Sport Productions, 2008 Spring Circuit (formerly Littlewood). Then, I will return to the Northeast, and the Garden State Horse Show, Sussex, NJ, will be our first show back at home.

Recently, someone asked when I was planning to start college. I will begin attending Rutgers University this fall and will continue to work while in school.

Thank you for all your comments and continued support.
Talk to you soon!
Maria Schaub