An Apple a Day

I love apples.  All kinds.



I have a few apple trees in my back yard, near the fence line, and Alfie loves to eat them.



Wonder why they love them so much?



And how many will be having apple pie or apple "something" for Thanksgiving?



Enjoy your day.  Eat healthy and hug your horse!

Tory Burch Does Equestrian, Again

I'm a big Tory Burch fan and really love her clothes and shoes.  She made a great statement this season with her boot line which clearly has a nod towards the equestrian look.  Her roots on Philly's main line are alive and well in her clothing. Bet she's even been to Devon a few times.

These are my favorites.  All of these can be found on her web site.

Not sure where I would wear these, but I do like them.  Hermes-influenced, don't you think?



For a bit more understatement, try these:

These are fun too:





If you love boots and own lots of pairs, then you could add these to your collection:



While some might say this has a "military" influence, this says equestrian to me.  Pair this this a pair of skinny jeans and some of these boots and you'll be stylish anywhere you go.



I love Tory's flats too. As someone who can't wear the 3-4 inch heels other than wedges, she proves you don't have to wear heals to look good.  Keep it coming Tory!

More Rebecca Ray

I am loving Rebecca Ray's designs and thought it appropriate to revisit her equestrian colletions now that we are nearing the holiday gift giving season.  She is offering disposable placemats, in vintage black and white (and also in color) but I am loving the vintage.



Here are the color ones but I believe they are are sold out on her web site:



If you aren't into placemats, this pillow would make a nice gift for the equestrian in your life or for someone who just wants that "look":



Her handbags are also timeless and sophisticated.  There are many other ones on her web site.



It is hard to believe that Christmas is about a month away.  So much to do between now and then!  Enjoy your Tuesday.



The End to a Good Year

We ended our "season" this past weekend - the horse show season runs Dec. 1st through Nov. 30th though most call it quits by early November.  It was, overall, a very good year.

Baby April made her debut in the summer and has had some time off in recent months but we expect her to be in full form for the Pre-Greens by early 2012.  Trainer Gordon has done a great job with her this year and she shows great promise.

(David Bell photo)

As I once saw in a window on K Street in downtown in DC, she'll be "tanned, rested and ready," although the t-shirt was referring to Richard Nixon.

Mr. Alfie overcame an injury that knocked him out over half of the year but he came back and had some good moments later in the season.  We are expecting great things from him next year as he begins to step into Sega's big shoes when she finally decides to call it quits and retire.

(David Bell photo)

And Sega had a banner year, proving again to all that know her that she is indeed the queen.  She keeps amazing us all.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that she has it in her for another one next year. At 17 she is better than ever!

(David Bell photo)

Super Sega Redeux

(David Bell photo)

 

My 17-year old mare outjumped most of the competition this weekend and never ceases to amaze me anymore.  When I retired her in the summer of 2010, I thought that was it.  But she has decided that she has many more tri-colors in her future.  She brought home two trophies yesterday, two tri-colors, a saddle pad and a few other gifts.  She could not have made her mother more proud.  I am one lucky woman to have her in my life.  Words can no longer describe her.  She is just too special.

It is cold and frosty here in the valley.  The sun is coming up over the mountains. What a beautiful site.

Hickstead Collapes and Dies in Itay



Canadian Olympic Team mount Hickstead has died unexpectedly while competing in Itay.   Eric Lamaze's great stallion, who won gold and silver medals in the 2008 Olympics, collapsed and died during an event in Verona, Italy.

According to a statement released by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), Lamaze and Hickstead had just completed a 13-fence track with a single rail down in Sunday’s event in Italy when the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood collapsed and died.  Attempts to revive the horse were not successful.

The event was stopped, with other competitors gathering in the arena for a moment of silence.
On Sunday afternoon, Lamaze’s publicist issued a statement saying the horse suffered an apparent heart attack.

“It is the most tragic thing that has ever happened,” Lamaze said in the statement.



In addition to his success at the Olympics, Lamaze and Hickstead claimed bronze at the 2007 Pan-American Games and 2010 World Equestrian Games.

Their last major triumph came in September at the Spruce Meadows Masters just outside of Calgary, where the duo became two-time winners of the $1 million CN International.

This is a very sad day for all of us who love these athletic animals but certainly our thoughts go out to the Canadian Team and Eric Lamaze.

Brownsburg

I live near a charming little village that sits on the old stagecoach road between Staunton and Lexington, VA, called Brownsburg.

Many of the homes have been restored, some are historic, others are not.  At one time, the village was a bustling community with a bank, stores, a school and lots of activity.  Today it is a quiet place with one Post Office (that will be closed soon), and a charming antique store and a museum. Here is the musesum.



If you love more primitive, period American antiques, then this is the place to go!



As time goes by, the village just gets better and better.  Some things do improve with age!  Happy Friday.