Heritage Gloves Sponsors Jennifer McFall

Team DF is proud to announce the addition of Heritage Gloves to our elite group of sponsors. You will not find a more comfortable yet durable pair of gloves out there, and reasonably priced too! If you are looking for a high performance show glove try the Pro-Comp Series, for sweaty hands, they have a great Pro-Flow Summer Show Glove, and for everyday work, try the Power Grip Gloves.  There are also a variety of Winter riding gloves, and fun printed gloves to satisfy your wild side. And, did I mention they are TOUCHSCREEN FRIENDLY?? No more taking off your gloves to Facebook after a great round!  Look for Jenny and High Times to be sporting these great gloves next in the Advanced Division at Twin Rivers. Check them out and order today at www.heritagegloves.com! 

My Ride With Pippa Funnell

Pippa watching Billy and I through the water complex

It seems that Earl and I are making the Annual Fundraiser Clinic at Galway Downs our official destination to celebrate our anniversary. I can think of no better place to bask in our marital bliss than down in Temecula riding with none other than THE Pippa Funnell! Never mind that we have to turn around and make the ten hour journey again in a week and a half for the first show of the season, we love intimate sessions on I5 in a Ford truck together. It makes us giddy with romance, especially when Earl gets a good price on diesel at the truck stop.

Billy was over-the-top THRILLED to be at Galway showing off for Pippa. His enthusiasm to leap over the walk poles for her impressed her so much that she asked us to do it again...and again... and again. Her technical style and detail oriented teaching was just what I needed to help "contain his exuberance", as she put it. Although Billy could have been called wild in some circles, she couldn't help but admire him and told me he had a serious future. Coming from an English lady, I consider that a real nod in our favor.

The second day was cross country, and I wondered if my lion would shrink down to more of a mouse-sized mount on his first school of the year. Thankfully he was simply business-like, but very eager to do his job with all the confidence in the world. He was a dream to ride, and gained more praise from Pippa.

Billy negotiates the keyhole

I hear that the plan is to bring her back again next year. You better believe I will be there...with Billy AND Roger!

Hawley Gives 2013 A Real Jump Start

Sophia Zier, Jennifer McFall, Hawley Bennett, Caroline Dein and Cori Davis

Dragonfire's first clinic of the year was a roaring success with Canadian Olympian, Hawley Bennett, giving us a real "jump" on 2013. All of the clinic goers saw vast improvement while working through Hawley's imaginative exercises, whether they were green or accomplished. The first day involved some serious footwork, getting the horses keen but with impulsion. The second day gave the riders the opportunity to guide their sharper horses through a series of courses. Our Potluck Dinner on Saturday night was a blast and a showcase for some pretty tasty cooking! As always, DF turned out some impressive students who were eager to learn and improve. Well done!

We'd like to thank Deer Creek Pony Club for tending a well stocked snack bar, and of course Hawley, for a fantastic clinic enjoyed by all. Dates for the next clinic with Hawley are set for March 23-24 and spots are already filling up so email Jenny at dragonfirefarm@frontiernet.net to participate.

Rouge et Blanc DF on the second day

For your viewing pleasure, Taylor McFall guides Mighty Maybelline through both days of the clinic.

DF affiliates on display

Hawley... Headbands... Team Shirts... OH MY!

As if it wasn't exciting enough that we are having the one and only, Hawley Bennett, here to clinic tomorrow and Sunday, we are also having a bevy of our clients and sponsors wares for you to peruse. So bring you checkbooks!!

We have Team Sponsors The Soaker and The Saddle Network lined up to show you the benefits of automatically (I like that part!) soaked hay and keeping your tack safe by tagging your saddles.

We have Team DF shirts and yoga pants, as well as couture standing wraps, for sale to help support Billy's big FEI schedule this year.

For our horse's and our own heads, Frilly Fillies will have custom bonnets to make your equine partner look like a star, and Karen Jensen has adorable knitted headbands to keep you warm!

And don't forget that Deer Creek Pony Club will be on hand to keep you from getting hungry with a full snack bar both days!

Ride Times For Hawley Bennett

Hey, I left my Range Rover in that ditch!

Time to kick it into gear for 2013, and Dragonfire is doing it in style! We are so excited that the date is fast approaching for the Hawley Bennett Clinic at Dragonfire!

Please be warmed up and ready before your ride time starts so that you can get the full benefit of your time with Hawley. The Deer Creek Pony Club will be on hand with a snack bar including lunch items, so you will be able to stay the day and watch the rest of the lessons without starving to death.  To answer your questions about their products, Dragonfire Sponsors, The Soaker, and Saddle Network will be on hand to help you with your needs. Also, we are inviting our riders to a potluck dinner up at the house on Saturday night so that everyone can spend some quality time with Hawley and ask her all kinds of questions about what it feels like to represent her country in International Three Day Eventing. Please email Jenny at dragonfirefarm@frontiernet.net to let us know how many in your party are planning on coming to dinner ASAP so that we can be prepared.


Saturday 1/26                                                      Sunday 1/27
8:00: Caroline Dein  (dressage)                           8:00: Dana Todd (dressage)
8:30: Kammy Bhala (dressage)                             8:30: Kammy Bhala (dressage)
9:00: Group 1                                                      9:00: Group 1
10:15: Group 2                                                   10:15: Group 2
Lunch                                                                 Lunch
12:00: Group 3                                                   12:00: Group 3
1:15: Group 4                                                     1:15: Group 4
2:30: Group 5                                                     2:30: Group 5
3:45: Group 6                                                     3:45: Group 6
7:00: DINNER


Group 1: Jen McFall (Billy), Natalie Jensen (Wrigley), Haley Abbett
Group 2: Dana Todd, Caroline Dein (Lucy), Cori Davis (Ty), Danielle Casalett,  Maddy Rau (Aurio-Sunday only)
Group 3: Earl McFall (Tim), Natalie Jensen (Spencer), Jen McFall (Roger), Jessica Bylsma
Group 4: Kristi Alameda, Makena Graber, Mia Bouslaugh, Amanda Blake
Group 5: Cori Davis (Nick), Earl McFall (Daisy), Caroline Dein (Cricket)
Group 6: Jen Azevedo, Earl McFall (Manny), Taylor McFall, Lara Port, Maddy Rau (Joey-Saturday only)



Let's learn and grow! Onward and upward!!

The Academy @ Dragonfire Welcomes Mighty Maybelline

Maybelline and Taylor McFall soar over a fence during a lesson

We are proud to announce the addition of Mighty Maybelline into the Academy @ Dragonfire! As her name suggests, this spunky little pony loves her job and and is a great teacher for the young members of our team. For those of you considering having your children join our program, here is a rider's view of what it is like to take Maybelline through a course.

Above is a video from a helmet cam worn by Taylor McFall as she pilots Maybelline over a series of obstacles. To schedule a lesson with the Academy, call Cheron at 916.204.4247

Mark Your Calendars

2013 is here, and what better to do on a rainy Winter day than coordinate your year with the 2013 DF Show Schedule? Clinic dates will be added as the season progresses; please keep an eye out for updates. Of course, the listed shows are not set in stone, so we would love to hear what you would like to do. Let us know what your 2013 goals are, so that we make sure to help you achieve them by going to the right qualifiers!

Jan 19-20 Pippa Funnell Clinic @ Galway
Jan 26-27 Hawley Bennett Clinic @ DF
Feb 2-3 Galway Downs Horse Trials BN-OI
Feb 15-17 Fresno Horse Trials Intro-OP
March 1-3 Twin Rivers Horse Trails BN-A
March 15-17 3 Day Ranch Intro-AI (only if really needed!)
March 23-24 Hawley Bennett @ DF
March 28-31 Galway Downs International Horse Trials N-A, CIC*, CIC**, CIC***
April 10-14 Twin Rivers International Three Day BN-A, CCI*, CCI**, CIC***
April 24-28 Rolex Three Day Event (possible attendance)
April 26-28 Fresno Horse Trials Intro-OP, FEH (if not at Rolex)
May 8-12 Jersey Fresh International Three Day CIC**, CIC***, CCI**, CCI***
May 10-12 Galway Downs Horse Trials BN-I, YEH (if not at Jersey Fresh)
May 24-26 Woodside Horse Trials BN-A, Preliminary Challenge
June 8-9 Copper Meadows Horse Trials BN-OI (only if really needed!)
June 19-22 Far West Regional Morgan Horse Show
July 24-28 Rebecca Farm International Three Day N-OI, T3D, FEH, YEH, CIC*, CIC***, CCI*, CCI**
Aug 9-11 Woodside Horse Trials BN-A, YEH
Aug 14-17 Morgan Medallion Regional Horse Show
Sept 6-8 Copper Meadows Horse Trials BN-OI (only if really needed!)
Sept 18-22 Twin Rivers Horse Trials BN-A, Training Challenge, YEH Championship
Oct 4-6 Woodside International Horse Trials BN-A, CIC*, CIC**, CIC***
Oct 12-19 World Championship Morgan Horse Show
Oct 31-Nov 3 Galway Downs International Three Day N-OP, T3D, CCI*, CCI**, CCI***
Nov 15-17 Fresno Horse Trials Intro-OP

HAPPY SHOWING!!!