Stb People I'd Like to Meet

I follow a lot of people on Blogger and there are a few people I would love to meet in the Standardbred world. I don't follow that many people on here that are Standardbred people, but the people that I do follow are great role models that I look up to. Each of them is devoted to the Standardbred and are excellent riders. I hope to one day be as much of a horse-knowledgeable person and great rider. In no particular order, they are:

First there is the most active blogger out of the three, Dom. "A Collection of Madcap Escapades" (http://harnessphoto.blogspot.com/) follows the journey of Ozzy (her Standardbred), Herbie (the famous barn dog), Dom and her crazy adventures, and oh so much more. Dom is part of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation which helps place Standardbreds in pleasure or companion homes after they retired from the track. She gets to play around with Stanadrdbreds all day long and I am extremely jealous. She is also an endurance rider and competes around New England (her most recent adventure was in Maine!). Unfortunately, she is not using Ozzy right now due to him being in a bit of a funk. I look up to Dom in many ways. She is a helpful person who is always willing to lend out a hand to those in need, but she doesn't take crap from anyone. She definitely stands up for herself. She is true to herself and others and has quite the sense of humor. If you could describe her riding in a few words, it would be 'non-stop adventure.' She is constantly galloping across fields,sinking her horse in mud, trail riding, skijourning, riding bridleless, and just plain ol' having a good time. Everyone should be like that! She writes extremelyyyy well and reading her blog is like reading a story and it is complete with pictures! She is a fantastic photographer as well. I hope to one day be as great of a photographer as her aswell as the amazing rider, trainer, and all around horse person that she is.

Next is Dom's partner in crime, Erin. "Now THAT's A Trot" (http://nowthatsatrot.blogspot.com/) follows the training and lives of Erin's TWO Standardbreds: Willie and Jabby. Willie is a bit older and is slowing down but her new horse Jabby is filling in for the lack of work on Willie's behalf. Erin is also part of SRF which is just a bag of jealously for me right there. Getting to play around with Standardbreds on a beautiful facility WITH your best friend? I'd take that any day. Erin is an extremely nice person and knows how to have a good time. I am truely amazed at how far her horses come in just a few short months. Jabby is now already jumping! Her great riding abilities are shown in the progress of her horses and the in the pictures Dom occasionally snap of her. I wish I could be able to have two Stanadardbreds and ride and love them like she does. Erin used to show more in the past but with Willie slowing down and Jabby speeding up, she isn't all that active in it right now. I love reading her blog and seeing her 'Wordless Wednesday' pictures! She tells everything from riding logs, feeding schedules, etc. and I have learned a lot from reading it. Willie's story has really touched me. He raced over 200 times under the name "From One to Sixty." After his racing career, he was able to become a successful riding and showing horse just like I want Jet to be. Erin has made him the wonderful horse is today and I hope I can have a bond with my horses like she does with hers. She truly loves and cares about them so much. Just like Dom, I hope to one day be as great of a horse person and rider as she is.

And last but not least, I would like to meet Elizabeth. "Standardbred Excellence" (http://standardbredexcellence.blogspot.com/) follows the training and showing of Elizabeth's two Standardbred mares Dreamy Starlet and Revenue Stream. Dreamy is a well known Standardbred and I actually knew of her before I even found the blog! To be quite honest, seeing Dreamy's dressage capabilities gave me hope and drive to get Jet to where she is. Her story is amazing. After being started undersaddle so later in her life, she has come so far. Reva is her younger mare that has just gotten her showing career started this year. She is sweeping up in the shows in Maine right as we speak! I hope that someday Jet will be able to be as calm as Reva in new places. Elizabeth is a teacher, mother, and yet still finds time to ride, train, and show her horses. When I grow up, I want to be able to be successful in my career, be a mother, and still ride and show horses just like she does. Her amazing riding is shown through her horses. They are as close to ideal Standardbreds as I can find. I wish I could become as active in the show world (and as successful) as she is. I admire Elizabeth's desire to showcase the Standardbred as a riding and pleasure horse. She has done everything from showing, to clinics, to marshaling at the racetracks, to being part of the World Equestrian Games! She is also part of both the SPHO (in many states) and the SPS (Standardbred Performance Society). I hope I can be able to juggle my life and still be doing what I love just like she is when I am an adult.

These people are my role models because they are living, breathing examples of who I want to be when I grow up. I want to be true to myself and other and be part of the Standardbred showing and pleasure world. I want to be able to get Standardbreds after their racing career and convert them into the wonderful riding horses that they are. I hope that someday I get to meet all three of these people, but honestly, I don't even know what I would say to them. I'd be in plain and utter shock and overwhelmed at the moment. It would be like meeting Taylor Swift. They are people I look up to and will continue to look up to. I read their blogs every single day, even if they didn't post anything. I have read the majority of their blogs from start to current and watched the horses progress over time. If you are questioning getting a Standardbred, look at what these girls have been able to do with theirs. You will want more than one after you read their blogs!

SPHO of Massachusetts

To all of my fellow Standardbred owners, I have news! The SPHO in MA is quite inactive as of now. I connected with the vice president today and I am hopefully going to try to get it back up in running. As of now, I am putting together a Year End Awards Program. Details should be posted within the next few days at www.standardbredhorse.com

For those of you who have been part of other SPHO's, what do you think are the most important awards to give? Considering there are few members in the SPHO of MA now, I don't think having a bunch of different divisions to have to buy ribbons and awards for would be economically smart. As of now, I have the following categories:

• Two Gait
• Three Gait
• Eventing/Combined Training
• Dressage
• Trail/Hunter Paces/Fox Hunts
• Driving
• Gymkhana/Games
• Hunter/Jumper
• Pleasure Horse
• High Point Junior Rider
• High Point Senior Rider
• High Point Standardbred (based on points)
• Standardbred of the Year (horse that shows the most versatility and showcases the breed the best throughout the year)

Any comments, tips, ideas?

It would also be fantastic if you joined! Membership for the SPHO of MA is completely free for 2011, so why not? You have nothing to loose. I am asking a $10 donation (optional ofcourse) if you would like to be part of the awards program to help pay for the award fees at the end of the year. Membership info is currently up on the website (www.standardbredhorse.com) and the awards program info will be up in a few days.