Tennessee Equestrian Real Estate : The Farm at Tralee : Knoxville Farm Land in Strawberry Plain, Knox County, TN

Caren and her mare Tarny have been together many years, and have done many things together. But while her "past life" included some polo, some jumping, some trail riding, and more, her current days are filled with work and family. It has been several years since Caren last jumped. She has been working hard on her equitation since coming to Tralee, and the work has shown. Her communication is more clear and smooth with her horse, and this is a direct result of her body being more stable and controlled. So it was no surprise when she mentioned jumping in her last lesson. We agreed to take it slowly, but this lesson we did a few crossrails for the first time in our lessons. Tarny and Caren looked great, without a bobble or awkward moment between them. Not bad for a "several year" hiatus! It was all smiles this Sunday, but I chose to post this photo because I love the look of calm focus on both of their faces as they canter away from the jump. This look says volumes to someone who rides...it is the epitome of that place that we all go to when we ride. A place so focused and peaceful, that the whole world just melts away, and it is just you, your horse, and the wind in your face.

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This week, Tralee student Susan and I chose to take advantage of the decidedly spring weather and go lesson in the field. The best field for riding is a large stretch of hilltop that overlooks the pond and pavilion, and due to its shape we riders call it “The Big L” field. The “L” is community space at Tralee, open for riding, picnicking, bird-watching…and most of all, for the simple serenity of gazing at vast stretches of rolling meadowland.

It’s a great place to pull all your riding skills together, because open space riding really requires an effective, confident, accurate, secure rider who can use her aids well. Susan was up to the task, and Gracie enjoyed the break from the arena as they practiced hand galloping over the rolling terrain and jumping the single fence I had brought out to the field. I personally always feel bolder jumping in the field, as if somehow the fences magically shrink against the blue horizon. I think this comes from that naturally more forward pace that most horses have in the open spaces, or maybe just because the tall grass makes the fence height look smaller.

Either way, the field can be a fun place for an experienced rider to get some confidence-boosting mileage over slightly bigger fences. By the end of the lesson, I dropped the 3’6” vertical down to 2’9” for one last jump, and Susan remarked that it looked positively puny at that point. This picture captures that happy moment, after a mind-opening lesson such as we had this day, where 2’9” will never look quite the same again!

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At the end of January, Tralee student Kim and I went to Florida to watch a clinic taught by a living legend in the horse world, USET show jumping coach George Morris.

Mr. Morris was teaching the second annual “Horsemastership Training Session”, in which a group of eight top young riders attend a week-long course that includes not only riding but hands-on horse care. Top riders, trainers, grooms, and vets came to offer their expertise in the clinic, which is intended to develop our future top riders into true horsemen. However, the clinic was not held behind closed doors. The public had free access to watch all the riding sessions, as well as most of the guest speakers. Kim and I could not pass up an opportunity like that! Thanks to Allegiant Air, we were able to get a cheap direct flight to Fort Lauderdale and drive a short distance to the show grounds in Wellington. The next four days were immensely informative and enjoyable. Mr. Morris is an incredible teacher, and I was soaking it all up like a star struck kid. The clinic was sponsored in part by Practical Horseman magazine, so instead of trying to cover it all here I suggest that if you want to read more go to their website and read the daily updates filed by their journalist.

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