Welcome to Elmcroft Equestrian Centre

ASHLAND ACTION
Impervious, with Amanda in the irons, stormed to two ultra-quick finishes to take the last classes of the day at Ashland on 4, July. Both the speed class and the jump off in the final class were won by the Elmcroft pair-the "speed" with 6 seconds in hand over the second place horse/rider combination. Jason Neil was also well up in these same classes picking up good ribbons on Horizon's Wasabi M following on a similar excellent ribbon-rewarded morning in the 1 metre classes with the youngster, Centodinero. Kourtney Shayanpour kept up her run of Jumper Equitation medals with a Bronze this week. On the previous day, Mike Sallis returned to the ring on Pinot Grigio and racked up two very creditable sixth spots with double clear rounds, while Cydney Laughton-Egan demonstrated beautiful riding and clear round performance on Black Tie Affair.

JUNE ROUND-UP
The second half of June continued a run of good results for Elmcroft riders. Most impressive were the returns to the hunter ring of Cailin LaPrairie and Pascale Lepine, both of whom won high ribbons at Westar in equitation and hunters. Cailin grabbed a fistful of firsts, plus a championship, and Pascale was close behind with a stack of high ribbons won on a borrowed horse. Meanwhile in the jumper ring, Kourtney Shayanpour took a very creditable second in the Jumper Medal in a large field of competitors. Alison Moore rode clear rounds on Capi Rossi at Beaulieu and was twice second in the Four-Year Old jumper classes with her charming Danish-bred stallion. At the same show, Amanda impressed with a third place out of 24 starters in the jumper speed class, riding Impervious.

ASHLAND JUNE SUCCESSES
Jason Neil was Trillium Jumper Champion on Horizon's Wasabi M and Lindsay Iob was Reserve Champion on Kourtney Shayanpour's Buenos Aires, as well as placing second in the Jumper Equitation medal. Kourtney brought home some ribbons on Blackberry and Amanda rounded off the day by winning the Trillium Speed class and a blue ribbon on Impervious in the final jumper class to secure Reserve Champion. Below is a pix of Jason on his young horse Centodinero in the Hopeful Jumper class at the same show.

JUMP PARTY
Elmcroft’s clients, friends and staff picked up their brushes and saws and renewed the colourful obstacles in our jump ring during a warm day at the end of May. With music, food and picnic drinks, the enthusiastic group spent hours designing, painting, chatting and laughing as they produced spectacular new rails and standards to test our wonderful jumping horses before they head off for summer competitions.

We wish to thank everyone who lent a hand—too many to name individually—and wish you all great enjoyment of your handy-work in our teaching and training facilities. Many thanks for putting that Elmcroft spirit to work, again. If you have never seen our superb Horizon Ring, then make an appointment to visit us, by calling Amanda at 613-867-5158.

Amanda takes Horizons Wasabi M for a win in the jump-off at Fiddlers.

Elmcroft welcomes Jason Neil and his horses Horizon's Wasabi M and Horizon's Centodinero to show with the Elmcroft group this summer.

Lindsay Iob picked up a handful of silverware at the OVSPC Banquet, 27 March--three Circuit Championships a Reserve Ch. and runner-up High Point Rider; Congrats to Lindsay and her family on great and consistent results.

RocknRolla aka. 'Jazzy' hopes to make her debut this summer on the jumper circuit with Amanda.

See the March edition of Canadian Horse Journal for an article on riding fitness featuring Amy Millar and Amanda Hay; 'How the Pros Train Part II: 'Top Canadian show jumpers share cross-training tips'.

Child Tax Credit affirmations for 2009 may now be requested for our participating child riders.
We wish all the Friends and Clients of Elmcroft a very prosperous, healthy and active 2010. We hope you continue to thoroughly enjoy your equine pals in our friendly atmosphere.
Many congratulations to Kourtney Shayanpour on the purchase of the beautiful Oldenburg jumper mare, Couture, found by Amanda in the Toronto area. Kourtney and "Oprah" should have a great 2010 competition season.

New riders at Elmcroft include Alyssa, Anne, Karen, Carly, Christine, Emily, Mia and Michelle joining our lesson programs; we wish them all much success.
Elmcroft also welcomes two new advanced jumper riders. Ashley Cheechoo and her NZ-bred horse OrangeMan Sam come from the West Coast, USA and Emily Pearce joins us from the Canadian "A" circuit.

Ashley and Sam

Amanda attended the George Morris Clinic, Virginia, and later visited the Harrisburg, PA. US Junior Jumper and Equitation Finals, October 5-11.

BROOKE MURRAY WINS PONY HUNTER CLASSIC ON MARCO POLO AT ONTARIO FINALS

Following up an earlier win in the Small Pony Hunters, Brooke rode Marco Polo to a convincing win in the Pony Hunter Classic at the Provincial Finals in Palgrave. Brooke and the five-year old Marco Polo scored 85 in the first round to jump into the lead of an entry of 53 ponies from across Ontario. Going last in the second round, the Elmcroft pairing recorded an 82 to win this prestigious event outright; many congratulations to Brooke, Colin and Cindy Murray and Amanda--"Pistaccio" rules!!

Click for Pix

Brooke 's Pictures

CAPI ROSSI "APPROVED"

and then High Point Champion

The Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association "approved for licencing" as a breeding stallion, Alison Moore's three your-old grey, Capi Rossi at a testing at Ferme Beaulieu, QC on Monday, Sept. 7th. Amanda and Keith watched as Capi came out on top of the group with a score virtually equal to the highest new stallion tested in the past few years. The jury, which included a German judge from the Hanoverian Verband and Mrs. Eve Mainwaring, pronounced Capi to be the type of modern stallion that is now very desirable as sire. We congratulate the Moore family on this wonderful success.

Then, at Ashland on September, 27--Capi was 2nd in the Open 3 year old class, Reserve Champion for the Open Division and Reserve Champion for the entire show. Due to his placings in all four of the Open 3 y/o line classes this summer, Capi was also the Eastern Ontario Open Line Horse Champion in the 3y/o division. Capi has subsequently been approved as a breeding stallion by the Canadian Sport horse Association [CSHA].

ELMCROFT WINS 40 RIBBONS

Team Elmcroft hauled in two score ribbons at the National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments @ NNEP , August 12 to 23. All of the following riders and their mounts contributed to the high ribbon count;

Kourtney Shayanpour/ Impervious and Right on Red;

Lindsay Iob/Leporello;

Natasha Gauthier/Leporello;

Samantha MacGillivray/ Animo; and,

Amanda Hay/Gwendolynn and Ultimo.

Ribbons included Championships, First in Jumpers and two high CET Jumper Mini-Medal awards.

We congratulate all our riders, coaches, grooms, supporters and friends for making this one of the most successful 'A' show outcomes for Team Elmcroft.
Click for Pix
Kourtney on Impervious
Lindsay on Leporello
Amanda on Ultimo/ Bravado/Gwendolynn and others

NEW YOUNGSTER

Congratulations to Lesley and Cydney Laughton-Egan on the birth of their Conquest foal. Freya brought forth a very tall young colt, who has been named Cedan. He looks to be headed for great things and perhaps be well into the 17 hand range by the time he is 3-4 years old.

Cydney Laughton-Egan on Black Tie Affair

Our new fourth tack room is now open for boarders thanks to the hard work and craft of Robert. There is consequently lots of storage space for both boarders and lesson students as the vacated third tack room is available for new clients.

Among those new riders, we welcome sisters Kim and Rebecca, and sisters Victoria and Emily, together with Katerina and several new advanced riders. For more details of a lesson program that suits you-beginners, early riders, returning riders, university students, advanced riders-please call Amanda for a free trial or assessment session; 613-867-5158.

COACHING REFRESHER

North American Young Riders Clinic, Toronto, late April 2009

The Ontario Hunter Jumper association [OHJA] put on a Norman Dello Joio clinic for aspiring young jumper riders at the York Equestrian Centre, in Newmarket on April 27-28. Amanda and Keith attended as observers to see the Toronto standards of riding, learn from Norman, and put in place at Elmcroft programs that could channel our riders towards participation in the very demanding NAYR selection process. Norman excels as a teacher and it was a very useful two-day skills up-grade for both riders and coaches. OHJA may consider holding a similar session in the Ottawa area for the 2009-10, season.

Born on 30 March, 2009 at VDL in Holland, this is Alison Moore's youngest filly.

She is "Ellamieka" (Corland x Darco x Indoctro).

SMART ALEC REMEMBERED
Smart Alec was a super-star in the Child-Adult Jumper classes. His recent sudden loss affects many people who rode him, watched him, and worked with him at the shows and at home. He was in every way a Thoroughbred horse who deserves to be remembered.

He was a son of the great race horse Manila—a winner of the Breeders Cup—but Alec wasn’t much of a track star. Alec found his talent as an efficient jumper. With his fearless approach and great heart he would make virtually every round look good, regardless of the course difficulties. In the jump-off, his speed would match or exceed other competitors.

Alec helped a lot of riders get started on their jumper careers; Melanie rode him to the Quebec Circuit Reserve Championship; Mike rode him to the Ontario Provincial Finals; Samantha showed him successfully at Child-Adult level; and Kourtney put in some of the most dazzling rounds ever seen on the Trillium Circuit. Many other folks were schooled on this feisty little horse who really loved to show off, but in realty was a sweet animal behind all the competitive bluster.

Amanda and Keith first saw Alec in the ring at Ashland many years ago and agreed on the spot to buy him from Tic-Toc Stables of Gatineau. Alec soon proved his worth, winning the ECTA Jumper Trophy a handful of times. He was a great addition to the Elmcroft family of super horses and an outstanding member of that group of Thoroughbred horses that have done so well with us.

So let’s not forget “Alec The Great” aka. Smart Alec and dedicate a pavilion at Elmcroft ringside to his lasting memory as a super-star on the Ontario and Quebec jumper circuits.

Yearlings, Dolce Vita [Judgement] and Cool Cherokee [Coolman]

Selection of 2008 Competition Pix

CLICK HERE FOR PIX BY MARY CONDIE