Hi All,
So, I kept trying to post about the horse world and there has been a bunch of other amazing stuff to post about in the music space as well. but...this whole writing thing only happens when I am feeling pretty darn inspired. At least for me...WELL HOT DAMN I AM BEYOND INSPIRED RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!! I know that a lot of you reading this blog might not ride horses but I do and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this sport. In all of it's iterations.
I LOVE watching ANYONE interact with a horse. They are some of the most beautiful and
humbling creatures on the planet. Have you ever tried to tell a horse what to
do...umm...did you know that they weigh on average about 2 tons? this is hard to estimate as there is not a ton of horse info on the web...:( BUT! here is what I did find: www.todayshorse.com/Articles/VitalSigns.htm
Did you know that on average a human weighs : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_weight ok so what is the lesson here...? That if you try to tell a 2 ton animal ANYTHING and they are not feeling it...they are probably going to let you know..:) So maybe you should ASK/REQUEST/INSIST that your animal do something? I have a feeling that you might be more likely to get the answer that you were looking for...then again some horses are just freakin' stubborn...at that point...well...maybe it is time for spurs and a stick? :)
No really onto why I actually was inspired to post! a wonderful and AMAZING thing happened today in the horse world...forgiveness and putting the greater good first. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!! MUCH APPRECIATED!!!! I mean who really wants their property values to plummet...ehhh...not me. :) just kidding! :) No really, splitting the horse show into two parts would have driven a stake into the most wonderful horse show in the country. Why you might ask? well...i think it is the most wonderful horse show in the country because people from all over the world come into town to compete against each other and to have fun together, raise money for charity and most importantly to celebrate horses. LIKE WHAT?!?! pretty damn cool if you ask me :) so instead of trying to describe this act of perfection that is coming at the PERFECT time: THANKSGIVING!!!! I will simply post the press release...
CHECK IT!!!!!
"Stadium Jumping and Wellington Equestrian
Partners Reach Agreement
Shows to remain at current Showgrounds
Wellington, FL November 21, 2007 - Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP) and Stadium Jumping, Inc. (SJI) announced today that an agreement has been reached that ensures the National Horse Show and Winter Equestrian Festival will remain at its existing location. This latest agreement was approved unanimously by WEP partners and Stadium Jumping's Board of Directors. The transaction officially closed on Monday, November 19.
As part of the agreement, all of SJI's Wellington licenses for horse show dates issued by the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) have been transferred into a new subsidiary named Equestrian Show Holdings, LLC (ESH), that is 100 percent wholly owned by WEP.
This transfer has been approved by the United States Equestrian Federation.
"The United States Equestrian Federation congratulates Wellington Equestrian Partners and Stadium Jumping, Inc. for this historic agreement. The USEF license agreements with Stadium Jumping will be transferred to the new entity subsequent to the closing," said John Long, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation."
The board of directors of the newly created ESH to maintain the licenses includes Eugene R. Mische as honorary chairman, Mark J. Bellissimo, WEP managing partner, S. Craig Lindner, Co-President of American Financial Group, Roger Smith, a financier and investor, Jeremy Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delaware North Companies and Louis Jacobs, Executive Vice President of Delaware North.
In addition, three outside directors, to be mutually agreed between WEP and SJI, will be appointed to the ESH board. Further, Mische and Michael J. Morrissey, current SJI Chief Operating Officer, will remain as consultants to the new entity for three years to ensure a smooth transition.
A new company called Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), also a wholly-owned subsidiary of WEP, will be the operating company responsible for managing all of WEP's equestrian events in Wellington.
All lawsuits filed by both parties will be dismissed.
As part of the plan to create a world-class equestrian corridor, substantial capital improvements are already underway at the stadium and the showgrounds that have been the longtime home of the Winter Equestrian Festival. The new stadium and showgrounds have been renamed Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. WEP acquired both properties in September. The combined PBIEC showgrounds cover more than 150 acres including 57 acres at the stadium.
Bellissimo said that improvement to the showgrounds will accelerate with this agreement and include elevating the quality of footing in competition arena, better spectator facilities and parking, internal traffic circulation for horses, golf carts and pedestrians, as well as major improvements for dressage competitions.
"All of us owe thanks to Craig Lindner and Jeremy Jacobs for their statesman-like roles in getting all the parties and interests involved to rise above the fray and get to the table to work out a resolution and a strategy that is in the best interests of Wellington and the entire equestrian community," Bellissimo said.
"I want to extend my deep personal gratitude to Craig Lindner, Dennis Dammerman, Roger Smith, and the Burton Family as well as the other WEP partners who provided the inspiration and leadership to make this happen. I also want to thank Glenn Straub for allowing us to close on the Showgrounds purchase which paved the way for this settlement. Finally, these efforts couldn't have happened without the continued stewardship of the Jacobs family."
Jeremy Jacobs added, "I couldn't be more pleased for the equestrian community in Wellington. This new enterprise will be able to focus on what's important-ensuring that Wellington continues to be a great place for families to come and experience great equestrian events and competition. I appreciate the passion and enthusiasm that Mark has for this project and I am certainly happy to lend my support, especially given the commitments for the significant investment that will occur in the existing showground."
Mische said, "This is good news for the entire community. Instead of having two opposing forces, going in two different directions, it will be much better for the sport and for the Village of Wellington for the parties to work together."
Lindner concluded, "We are now in a position to pursue our collective vision and to secure Wellington as the premiere family oriented equestrian lifestyle destination in the world with the highest levels of competition in the sport."
The Wellington show dates comprise 10 hunter-jumper and four dressage competition dates that span four months from September through March. Included are the National Horse Show, Dressage at the Nationals, the Christmas Show and the complete Wellington hunter-jumper and dressage calendar of the Winter Equestrian Festival that is highlighted by the jumping Nations Cup, three World Cup qualifiers, the Global Champions Tour and a Dressage CDI.
SJI also agreed to the upgrade of two competitions held at the neighboring Littlewood Farms shows-Littlewood Spring 2 and Spring 3 from "C" to "AA" that will have the effect of extending the Wellington winter circuit from the end of November to the end of March.
WEP will actively solicit input from trainers, owners, and exhibitors to create an overall strategy for the expanded show schedule.
In addition, all money paid in advance by exhibitors for stabling and other services will be honored.
SJI will continue to own and operate shows outside of the Palm Beach area including Tampa, Charlotte, Lake Placid, NY and the American Gold Cup in Cleveland, Ohio. SJI's Tampa schedule will be expanded to three weeks from two weeks and include the Budweiser American Invitational."
OHHHHH!!!! I CANNOT forget the polo peeps! if you have not checked out polo it is a pretty amazing sport to watch. the horses and riders are out of their minds if you ask me...i mean the balls kind of look like they hurt when they wack you...i don't think I a have ever spoken to a polo player who does not have MANY broken/sprained/torn things..eeh...and the ponies...they mean some serious business. actually I think they are more serious about winning the game than the riders sometimes...who knew horses had hearts and minds...umm...A LOT of people I think. :) so, here is the schedule for polo this season.
CHECK IT!!
Schedule & Results
National Horse Show - Wellington, Fl. www.nhs.org (soooo...this is not polo but it is our NATIONAL horse show so...please look :)
Port Mayaca Polo Club www.portmayacapoloclub.com
Fri 29-Sun 31 Christmas Tournament “Polo on the Lake”
Ellerstina Polo Club www.ellerstina.com.ar - Copa de Plata
First Round of Games
Fri 16: Winten def. La Vanguardia 12-9
La Picaza def. Jaeger Le Coultre 12-7
Cala di Volpe def. Circa 8-3
El Remanso def. Punta del Este Polo Club 8-7
Tamera Interc. Bs As. def. La Varzea - Arg. 9-8
Sat 17: Enigma def. Diablos 9-8
Power Horse def. Villa Real 10-8
VL Ranch def. Ithaca 12-6
Piocho Ranch def. Guardia del Monte 10-6
Sun 18: Certified def. La Hormiga 9-8
Flamboyan def. In the Wings 9-6
La Lechuza del Sur def. Tres Marías 8-5
La Locura def. Plumtree Capital 9-4
La Varzea - Portugal def. Endeavour 12-8
Marquard Media Zurich def. Casablanca 8-6
Mon 19: Power Horse Polo Team def. Enigma 13-8
La Varzea - Argentina def. El Remanso 11-4
Tamera Int. BA def. Punta del Este Polo Club 11-10
Ithaca def. Cala di Volpe 9-8
VL Ranch def. Circa 8-6
Tues 20: La Vanguardia def. La Locura 11-6
Piocho Ranch def. La Lechuza Del Sur 13-5
Jaeger le Coultre def. La Varzea - Portugal 13-8
Winten def. Plumtree Capital 9-7
Tres Marias def. Guardia del Monte 12-9
Marquard Media Zurich def. Flamboyan 6-4
Villa Real def. Diablos 10-8
Wed 21 (end of second round)
10:30 Casablanca vs. Certified field #5
11am La Hormiga vs. In the Wings field #1
5 pm Endeavour vs. La Picaza field #5
(start of 3rd round)
10:30 El Remanso vs. Tamera Int.Bs As field #2
12:30 Circa vs. Ithaca field #1 Monte
4:00 pm Pta del Este Polo Club vs. La Varzea Argentina field #1
5 pm Cala di Volpe vs. VL Ranch field #1
Monte Argentine Open | Palermo, BA | www.aapolo.com
Sat 17: La Dolfina def. Alegría 14-7, 2-1, 3-3, 6-3, 8-4, 10-5, 12-5, 13-7 and 14-7
Chapa One def. El Paraíso 21-15, 2-5, 4-6, 9-8, 10-9, 11-12, 14-13, 17-14 and 21-15
Sun 18: Ellerstina def. Santa María de Lobos 21-10,3-1. 5-2, 8-4, 11-4, 16-7, 17-7, 17-8, 21-10
Indios Chapaleufú II def. La Aguada 15-14 OT, 1-1, 3-3, 4-8, 6-10, 9-10, 12-12, 14-14, 15-14 OT
Sat 24 2 pm Chapa One vs. Alegria Field #2
4:30 La Dolfina vs. El Paraiso Field #1
Sun 25 2 pm Indios Chapaleufú II vs. Santa María de Lobos Field #2
4:30 Ellerstina vs. La Aguada Field #1
Sat 1 2 pm El Paraiso vs. Alegría Field #2
4:30 La Dolfina vs. Chapa One Field #1
Sun 2 2 pm La Aguada vs Santa María de Lobos Field #2
4:30 Ellerstina vs. Indios Chapaleufú II Field #1
Sat 8 4:30 Final Winner Div. I vs. Winner Div. II #1
Direct access: www.themorningline.com/00direct.html
OK dressage peeps...please hit me up with some dressage info so that I can post!
I would also like to thank Equestrian magazine for dedicating an ENTIRE magazine to the "greening" of the horse world. LIKE WHAT?!?! ok so I recently started getting accupuncture once a week and I know that I it is making me feel WAAAAAYYYY better...want to know who tried it first...? Chip, Starry, Mac, Chiquito, OJ, Eve, Dasani, Cid, and now Audrey (most of the horses I have ever owned or leased :) :) so...THANK YOU TO MY HORSES for being the guinea pigs for goodness that is now helping me stay healthy!! oh and thank you for agreeing to jump over mad mad high fences at one point and dealing with all of my bad choices and still letting me get back on you...in particular THANK YOU to Chip (R.I.P) who kept going for three more years than he was supposed to and let a 12 year old learn and saved me from myself until I knew better...:)
that is all for now. I am sure there will be more but I have to head out to meet another rider buddy for a movie screening...AMAZING what they people who I knew growing up have gone on to do...:)
OH! I almost forgot!! I asked everyone in the office to hit me with 6 things they are thankful for...here goes! BTW: this is a tradition that was put in to me by my AMAZING boarding school (that has a riding program LIKE WHAT?!?!) Check it: www.madeira.org
Drew:
1)My wife
2)My son and new daughter-in-law!
3)My new family at bluhammock – thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome!
4)The opportunity to work in the music business and learn something new every day. 5)As it says in Proverbs - “wisdom is more precious than gold”.
6)The new Virginia Coalition album!
7)The new South album!
Kerri:
Family, good friends, my health, good health care, the opportunity to pursue my dreams, vacation time :)
Nichelle:
1. my health
2. having my parents around
3. the love of friends near and far
4. music
5. people who make me laugh (there are definitely a few at the hammock)
6. Irish whiskey and nearing the end of the Bush administration tie for 6th
Michelle:
1. FREEDOM
2. COMPASSION
3. LOVE
4. FRIENDSHIP
5. HEALTH
6. ABUNDANCE
in from john a wee bit late but does not make them any less worthy..:)
John:
My son
My health
My friends & family
My work and the people I get to work with
The art and artists that inspire me
My sense of wonder
jaylaan:
1. all of the people in my life who have wishes and thanks like the ones list above
2. tolerance
3. patience
4. joy
5. flexibility...not in a dirty way you dirty minded people...:)
6. you know what this one is...LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!:)
this is not everyone's thanks but SOME people were too busy to get them in...hmm...
function in disaster/finish in style and make haste slowly (madeira's mottos)
HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!!
jaylaan
