The beginning of the season for myself and my team at NLE has been unbelievable. Several wins at multiple competitions is what makes this all so much fun. But what goes up....must come down. Darn!
So my up definantly came down! I was 2nd at Galway Downs 3* riding my new mount Bubbles @ Bricky. He incurred a minor injury that needed a couple months off and with only 2 weeks under saddle he won't be fit enough to compete at the World Cup at Rebecca Farm this month.
I am very disappointed as the entry list looks like it will be much fun to be competing!
In addition to this, my last competition at the Colorado Horse Park was personally one of my worst competitons in my history of competing.
My students were amazing! So that softened the blow. Jimmie Holotik was 1st in the OP, Alexa Perkiel was 3rd in the 2* and Chloe Smyth completed her first Preliminary! However I had some "bad luck" and some unfortunant experiences.
Day 1 of the show seemed to be going fabulous! Everyone was in the top 3 after dressage. Both of my 1* horses did an exceptional dressage test and made me feel as though we were right where we wanted to be 2nd and 3rd with less than a rail to 1st.
My first horse on course was spooked by a spectator and he wheeled and I came off. The good news is that my new "HIT AIR VEST" deployed and I was happily uninjured after landed on a very hard spot on course.
This unexpected departure landed us a BIG "E" on our record without a qualifing score. Which complicated things as I'm trying to qualify CSI to compete at a 2* at the end of the year.
I then got on my second horse and had a refusal out on course...which led me to receiving an unexpected "Dangerous Riding" penalty. The President of the Ground Jury stated that having my horse pick up 5 canter strides before a fence was potenially dangerous and therefore was going to issue a 25 penalty Dangerous Riding penalty.
So as there are up's.......there are down's. I'm hoping I got them all out of the way as I really don't want to have a competition remotely close to that ever again.
Soon we will be going to compete at Rebecca Farm. I am looking forward to seeing quite a few East Coasters coming to compete. The Brossard's always put on a first class event.
Until the next one......I will be continuing to work hard and train towards perfection. We can't always control our circumstances.....but hopefully we don't ever repeat them!!!
Happy 4th of July!

T

NLE dominated several divisions at the Woodside Horse Park. The biggest accomplishment was the 1-2 finish by Tamra Smith riding CSI and Alexa Perkiel riding Apres Ski.
Tamra placed 1st after conquering the challenging cross country course and jumping clean show jumping. Alexa finished just .2 behind Tamra. Alexa and her young promising horse "Beau" made the challenging course look easy. In additon, Jimmie Holotik riding Power Rule placed 4th in the 15k Preliminary Challenge. We took a large group and everyone rode fantastic.

Well, it's been a great spring so far and we are home again from another successful weekend at Galway Downs Horse Trials.

Tamra won the Open Intermediate riding Gallipoli II and was respectively 7th on Miss Congeniality.
Placed 6th on C.S.I. in the Open Preliminary after a conservative cross country round.
Jimmie Holotik riding Power Rule placed 3rd in  Preliminary Rider. In addition, Kaylawna Smith placed 6th.
Vicky Conway placed 2nd in the Novice Senior and Connie Bowman placed 4th riding Surpise Package.
We will be off to Woodside in a week and looking to have continued success.
Tamra and NLE are looking forward to having continued success and appreciates what a loyal, fun team that comprises the true definition of "Team".

Keep up the good work!!!

fA great show and probably one of Bubbles best dressage tests to date. He is really coming along! He gets stronger by the day and I'm thrilled with his progress. I'm not certain what to do next. I wonder if taking him to his first CCI3* this spring is too early. It is very easy to get caught up with what's next and hard to really stay focused on what best for your horse. I have not decided what my plan will be but I'm going to keep all my options open.....leaning on the side of whats best for Bubbles!
If we don't go east we will be going to Rebecca Farm in Montana in July. Looking forward to some fun with that!
As for everyone else......the horses are going well.....Jimmie Holotik is a new groom for me and I'm loving every second she is here.
We are off to Twin Rivers this week. I'm only riding a couple so it will be a quite weekend. And then we are off to Rolex Kentucky to meet a few new friends and watch some great horses and riders compete. I will be very disappointed that I won't be competing but hopefully this time next year Bubbles will be really and able!

Until next time...................

Tamie :)

Well it was a wet weekend at Twin Rivers and good practice to ride in the pouring rain!
Bubbles is now qualified to compete at his first CIC3* after a very successful weekend. He showed a very workman like performance and I was pleased with his progress as we placed 4th in a large field of seasoned Advanced horses.
Poor Clark Kent had to run his first Intermediate in the pouring rain and under some very dark clouds. He skipped around the course fabulously and it was very exciting to feel how far he has come! I remember jumping him over his first cross country fence. It's hard to believe he used to be a "Hunter". hahaha
C.S.I. (the new grey I have been riding) was very good and really coming around. He really try's and seems to have way more ability than I think I even realize.
Miss Congeniality jumped around beautifully and although dressage was to be desired she always redeems herself the second I point her at a jump.
Fleeceworks Fernhill is a new horse I am riding and a very talented horse she is. As with any mare or stallion it takes time to develop that "relationship" with them. I feel as though Fern and I are really starting to click and she was a pleasure to ride. I think there are big things in store for these horses and I'm thrilled to have so many great horses to ride.

The rest of NLE had a great show! Jordan Linstedt and her handsome Irish horse "Jack" completed their 3rd Advanced and placed 7th. They will be working towards competing at Galway Downs CIC3* this spring. Jordan also rode "Short Stop" for Jessica Burch and Shorty showed a little green but really stepped up to the plate and did a great showing in his first ever Event. We are looking forward to seeing Jessica compete Shorty at 3 Day Ranch.
Tamara Ryan on Gem Dandy rode very smart and effective. Dandy is not a very easy horse to ride at Twin Rivers and she did a great job placing 7th in the Open Training.
Chloe Smyth rode a new mount to her and did a great job as well placing 3rd in the Jr. Training. Brie and Chloe have a great future together.
Victoria Speck rode her handsome horse in their first Preliminary. They had a fabulous dressage test and  a little were unlucky in the show jumping. We will be going home and doing some homework on the Trakehner and his thinking process.

Well, we are off to 3 Day Ranch this week and hoping for a great showing.

Until next time........

Tamie Smith :)

The last few months have been very busy. Getting ready for the show season almost seems more work than the "actual" competing. I have been driving up to Los Angeles originally for Developing Riders and was invited back to the last two Training Sessions, which were extremely informative. I feel like my riding has really gotten the boost it was needing. I was able to take Bubbles as well as a few young up and coming horses. I rode with Sandy Phillips as well as The Captain and learned as much in my lessons as watching the other riders lessons. The USEF has done a great job restructuring the Training Sessions and I can't tell you how great it was to train at such a great facility as El Campeon Farms! First Class ALL THE WAY!

Recently, I have had some struggles with being too "invested" in my students and at times it can drive me a little crazy and the people around me because I want them to get better and when they take a detour or some steps back I take it as a personal defeat.

I felt as though I needed to step back and not be so "invested" because I only disappoint myself. But out of the blue I received this message today from a previous student of mine and I thought I would share it.......

Hi Tami,

I saw this quote by Winston Churchill and it made me think of you. You were always such an inspiring trainer and I've found that quality is actually a real gift. Many people can be good at teaching but not necessarily inspiring. You are/were BOTH!

It also made me think of you--as I've seen you well up with tears a few times when your students came out of the ring after a good round...... (including me when I jumped that dbl. clear round at Galway after I had had such a disastrous practice round a few days before). 

"Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe."

Anyway, just wanted to pass it along....

K


Needless to say.......I will continue to be "INVESTED"!
Thank You Kathleen!

So NLE is off to Twin Rivers for a great event this week. I will be keeping you all posted and hopefully we will try and stay dry. Rain is in the forcast. Thank God for my Kerrits Riding Jacket! I think I will be putting it to use this weekend.

Til next time..............T

Well it's been a busy start to a busy year! I just arrived @ the HITS Horse Show in Thermal. I'm looking forward to perfecting our show jumping here this week and also watch Susie Hutchison in the Grand Prix ring.
Training Sessions will begin again next week February 10th-12th at El Campeon Farms. It will be another wonderful experience and I believe an educational 3 days.
Capt. Mark Phillips as well as his wife Sandy will be teaching. I'm looking forward to working hard and learning alot!
Well I will keep everyone posted on our progress at Thermal. Until news changes I will be signing off!
Good Night All!

Best, Tamie :)

What a great first training session at El Campeon Farms in Thousand Oaks with Capt. Mark Phillips. It was a very knowledgable weekend and Bubbles and I especially loved the accomidations! What an amazing facility! The owners are very generous to allow us to have our training session at this beautiful private facility. I felt like the girl in "Sylvester" driving up to the barn!

The first day we rode on the flat with The Captain and it was a very good tune up! Bubbles missed his dear friend and I think was especially surprised when Mark got on him the second day. Apparently, I was allowing the prince to be a little "rude". We ended with a good jump school and were invited back to the remaining training sessions leading up to Galway Downs CIC 3*.

Bob and Vicki Conway were able to come up and show their support. It was great seeing them there! Bubbles especially loved that they helped put 4 extra bags of shavings in his stall. Dr. Emily Sandler and Jordan came to watch on Monday. It's always nice to have a support group cheering you on.
I added a couple photos of what the facility looked like, however they don't even begin to do the facility justice.

We are returning back to El Campeon on February 10-12 and have the opportunity to ride with Sandy Phillips as well. I'm looking forward to the time spent with her in addition to The Captain.
We will be off to our first event at 3 Day Ranch One-Day on February 7th. I think the horses are all ready to get back to business and start competing again.

I am definantly looking forward to it. I have a few new young prospects that should be fun competing and getting to know this upcoming season.

In addition to my personal horses, we have a few additions to the NLE Team. We are excited about our new friendships!

Again, I thank all of you who continue to be my loyal and positive supporters.

Good Luck to all of you with the upcoming 2010!

Tamie

2010 is here and NLE is off and running. Developing Riders will be held at El Campeon Farms in Thousand Oaks, California on January 24-25. Auditors are welcome to attend and are encouraged to watch the training sessions. 

Tamie will then be going to the HITS Thermal Feb 2-5 to work on her show jumping to try and work out any kinks before the season begins. 

February 7th will be NLE's first cross country outing @ 3 Day Ranch One-Day to prepare everyone for the busy 2010 season and our first event of the season at Twin Rivers Ranch mid February.

We will be busy coping with the rain Southern California isn't used to.....pulling out our East Coast apparel and facing the rain in our wellys and rain gear.

We are looking forward to some exciting new partnerships this season and thanking everyone who supports NLE and Tamra Smith with there kind words and great friendships.

Tamra Smith is helping to lead the charge for a rule change to allow 18-21 year-old riders in the CCI1* division at the North American Junior and Young Riders Championships.

http://chronofhorse.epubxpress.com/link/COH/2010/jan1/26?s=0