Jennifer's Next Installment With COTH

Need a little light reading? Check out what our own Jennifer McFall is up to in her latest blog with The Chronicle of the Horse!

Ride Times For Hawley Bennett-January 16, 2016

Our first clinic with Hawley Bennett will be a great one day prep for the beginning of 2016. We are so glad show season is starting! Remember to be a little early so that you can be warmed up and ready for your ride. Auditors are welcome, and free of charge.

8 AM Kammy Bhala
845 AM Group 1
10 AM Group 2
1115 AM Group 3
15 minute break
1245 PM Group 4
2 PM Group 5
315 PM Group 6

Group 1: Jen/Billy, Cori/Ty, Erin Serefini
Group 2: Earl/Dinero, Mia Bouslaugh, Merissa Nielsen
Group 3: Morgan Wennel, Faith D'Allessandro, Earl/Scotty, Amber Forney
Group 4: Amanda Blake, Shauna Diller, Earl/Stoney, Jen/Jimmy
Group 5: Taylor McFall, Miranda Olagary, Sophie Weisman, Michelle Wennel
Group 6: Cat/Emmy, Morgan Wennel, Tanni MacDonald, Cori/Jax

Dragonfire To Host Hawley Bennett January 16-17, 2016

2016 is just around the corner and it is time to start planning for your big season ahead. We have the perfect opportunity for you to sharpen your skills after the Winter break with a two-day jumping clinic with Hawley Bennett! Hawley's enthusiastic teaching style gives every rider that boost in confidence they need, while our facility boasts a giant ring with superior footing, perfect for Hawley's intricate and extensive exercises.

Be a part of this sensational rider's team as she continues to set the international scene on fire and learn from her vast experience. The clinic fee is $215 for intimate sized groups that will guarantee that Hawley will be able to give you the attention you need to improve.Make checks out to Dragonfire and send to 13247 Orange Rd. Wilton, CA 95693 to reserve your spot now, along with your experience level. Spaces in the clinic will not be held without payment. VERY limited stabling is available for those traveling over distance for $40/day.

There will be no refunds on clinic fees unless your spot can be filled from a wait list. Late entries will only be accepted if space warrants, and will be on a CASH basis only.

Brownies Sweeten The Day At Dragonfire

Earning Badges!

Today, Dragonfire hosted the Girl Scouts Heart Of Central California Troupe 1702, Brownie Division, for seven and eight year old girls. The youngsters had a wonderful time earning their Horsemanship Badges, while getting to know some of the instructors here at The Academy @ Dragonfire, as well as our trustworthy lesson horses and ponies. Several learning stations went on simultaneously, as the kids rotated through the lessons about the parts of the horse, equipment, grooming and riding skills. It was a wonderful day spent with these new horse enthusiasts!

A little Maybelline love.

Learning the parts of the horse and tack.

Grooming session!

Dragonfire is thrilled to introduce today's youth to the benefits of time spent with horses and the life lessons and skills the equestrian endeavor can offer.

Taylor McFall and Kilbarry Prince Heat Up The West Coast

Summers can really sizzle out here on the West Coast with temperatures reaching well into triple digits for weeks at a time. Taking a cue from our local thermometer, Taylor McFall and her endearing pony Kilbarry Prince,  turned up the heat in their performances at Rebecca Farm and the West Coast Pony Club Eventing Championships this Summer.

Taylor McFall and Kilbarry Prince in their first career trot up.

At twelve years old, Taylor was by far the youngest entry in the Rebecca Farm Novice Three Day in Kalispell, Montana. Not to be intimidated by the more complicated format of the full phased three day, Taylor attacked the competition with the same focused determination that helped her to raise the funds to buy Prince in the first place. With the help of her coach, Hawley Bennett, and the support of Team DF behind her, Taylor had a Three Day debut to remember.

Taylor and Prince set out on steeplechase.

On Friday night, after the dressage phase, Taylor was also the official "entertainment" at the Kerrits BBQ. Taylor combined her love for creative writing and eventing and made up a Mad Lib that the audience got to fill in the blanks prior to hearing the story. Party-goers were then were delighted with the final outcome.

Taylor's audience participation Mad Libs was a hit!

Here is Taylor's story with the audience's inserts in parenthesis:

 Prince's Unexpected Adventure

Once upon a time, Prince was on his way to Rebecca Farms and was excited to jump over their famous serpent in the water jump. Earl was pulling the trailer with his ( chartreuse)  ( Weiner dog sled ) when they came to a stop light. Prince looked out the window of the trailer and saw a ( putrid ) ( huckleberry pie ) tree. He just had to get a better look, so he opened the door and exited the trailer. Right when he started to ( shovel  ) the yummy leaves into his mouth the trailer had already driven off.

" Oh no!!" Prince said. " I have to get the my first Three Day Event! What will I do?"   Prince started to panic but ( Michael Jung) pulled up in his brand new (chariot) and offered to give Prince a ride. They turned on the radio to listen to ( Call Me Maybe) and did the (Nay Nay) all the way to Oregon.

They were about to run out of gas when ( Justin Bieber)  was on the side of the road, holding an ( ice cream sundae ). Prince made them pull over and asked " Ooo! Can I have some?" ( Justin Bieber) made a (cross-eyed smile)  and ( rhythmic danced) over to the car. Then he grabbed Prince and ran off. Prince, panicking, made a ( snarffle ) sound and (cart wheeled) his attacker. Now free, he galloped to the nearest building which happened to be an abandoned (flip flop) shack. He opened the ( fluffy ) door and found ( Tamie Smith ) ( fencing ) around an old ( pineapple ) shaped plane.

" What are you doing?" Asked Prince.

" The real question is, how are you going to get to your first Three Day Event?" queried (Tamie Smith ).

" Well ummmm..." Prince trailed off.

" Let's just take my plane to Rebecca Farm, I'm sure it will be safe!" ensured ( Tamie Smith)

So they went up into the air in the ( jagged ) old plane. Prince was sweating from his fear of ( blinking) and ( Tamie Smith) pointed and cheered as they passed the border into Idaho. But in the split second that ( Tamie Smith ) let go of the stearing wheel to clap, the plane went out of control and they plummeted to the ground! Prince knew all he could do was jump, so he imagined that this was just another ( 12.2 meter) oxer and hoped for the best.

Luckily, he landed on a flying ( fat ) ( aardvark) that brought him safely to the ground.  Now, in the ( beautifully awesome  )  wilderness of Idaho, Prince tried to find a road, so he could find his way to Rebeca Farms. After hours of searching, Prince began to lose hope, until he heard someone humming  (Her Lips Taste Like Sangria ) from an ( 8.5 foot ) tall tree. Prince looked up and saw ( Buck Davidson )!

" Oh my goodness, I am so glad I found you!" exclaimed Prince.

" Looks like you are having trouble getting to Rebecca for your first Three Day, Maybe I can help." Said ( Buck Davidson ). Grateful for the helping hand, Prince agreed.

( Buck Davidson ) used his (wizard) powers to teleport Prince to the entrance to Rebecca farms.

" Whoa, thanks ( Buck Davidson )" said Prince.

Prince was about to enter the show gates when someone stopped him. He turned to see ( Miss Piggy ) guarding the gaits and she said " I'm sorry sir, but I can' t let you in there, you are simply too ( sexy)."

" No, you don't understand, I'm competing here and you have to let me in!" pleaded Prince.

" Sorry, I'm too busy ( somersaulting) to let you in."

Prince fumed with anger and ( squatted ) off to think of a plan. The problem was that Prince could not think of what to do, so he just ( pooped) in anger. " Aaaa!!! What will I do? How am I supposed to..." Prince stopped worrying when he saw a Kerrits van driving towards him. It stopped next to him and the driver rolled down the widow. The driver was Princess ( Ariel ) and she said " Hey Prince! What are you doing here? You should be getting ready for your first Novice There Day!" 

" I wish, but the bouncer won't let me in!" answered Prince.

" I think I can help." said Princess (Ariel  )

Prince sat in the ( floppy) back of the van that was delivering  ( 32) ( turquoise  ) Ice Fil Shirts to the Rebecca Farm Store. As they pulled up to the gate (Miss Piggy ) came up to the car window and asked " Are you on the VIP list, because if you aren't, I can't let you in because I am ( twerking) right now." Princess (Ariel  ) remembered that she had forgotten to sign up for the VIP list but then an idea popped into her head. She grabbed a pile of Ice Fil Shirts and said " Well, if you don't let us in then I guess you won't get any of these ( chic ) Ice Fil Shirts."

( Miss Piggy ) was not about to give up a good opportunity, so she took the shirts and let them through.

In the end, Prince was able to ride in the event and compete at one of the best shows in the country,  and had lots of fun, and finally jumped the famous serpent water jump. He than thanked Princess( Ariel ),Kerrits, and all of his new friends along the way for getting him there.

The end.

A mother/daughter moment after the excitement of Endurance day.

Taylor and Prince have a double clear show jumping round.

With only a handful of time penalties in the steeplechase, Taylor and Prince added no jumping penalties to their Dressage score to finish the weekend in twelfth place. 

After a successful Three Day debut, Taylor and Prince kept the hot streak going at the Western Pony Club Eventing Championships in Woodside, California.  Scoring a personal best in Dressage with a 29.8%, Taylor and Prince gave a fault free performance the rest of the weekend to end on that score.

Taylor and Prince break the 20's barrier.

Taylor was stellar in stable management as well, and was awarded the honors of being the top scoring overall pony clubber in the Novice division. On top of winning individually, her team finished second overall in the Novice. She was most thrilled with her third place in the Woodside horse trials division, finishing with her best score by far. Taylor's determination and upbeat attitude have shown us all what a little love and patience can do.

Life is good!

With school starting, Prince is taking a little well-deserved break from showing, while Taylor is tackling ninth grade Biology and Shakespeare classes amongst her normal class load. She continues to love Writing and Art, two subjects that both sides of her family enjoy. Later this Fall Taylor plans to show both Prince, and her four year old homebred, SirUP!, to finish out the 2015 season.

Ride Times For Hawley Bennett Clinic Sept. 27, 2015

Our final clinic with Hawley Bennett will be a great one day prep for Woodside and the rest of the Fall Season. We can't believe that the year is already wrapping up! Remember to be a little early so that you can be warmed up and ready for your ride. Auditors are welcome, and free of charge.

8 AM Group 1
915 AM Group 2
1030 AM Group 3
15 minute break
12 PM Group 4
115 PM Group 5
230 PM Group 6

Group 1: Nicole Carroll, Erin Serefini, Marissa Neilsen
Group 2: Dana Todd, Addison LoPiccolo, Stephanie Nicoria, Earl McFall/Dinero, Kat Wulstein
Group 3: Christina Brennan, Lindsey McKinney, Shannon Hurger, Charlotte Babbitt, Haley Abbett
Group 4: Nicole Fuentes, Elizabeth Fickert, Taylor McFall, Amanda Blake
Group 5: Brook Rodgers, Kaitlin Ramos, Jen McFall/Stoney, Earl McFall/Scotty
Group 6: Kat Wulstein, Caroline Dein, Miranda Olagary, Sophie Weisman

Dragonfire To Host William Fox-Pitt

William Fox-Pitt aboard Tamarillo

We are truly honored to announced that William Fox-Pitt will be traveling to California to teach and will be at Dragonfire Farm January 23-24, 2016 for a two day jumping clinic. This Eventing World Champion is known for his thoughtful and precise teaching style that will delight the auditors as much as the participants. Brought to you by Scott Hayes Productions, please follow the link to their website to purchase tickets for riding or auditing at Dragonfire. Spaces are limited, and will undoubtably go fast!

ABOUT WILLIAM FOX-PITT

Born in 1969 and having ridden from a young age, William started eventing at the age of 15.  Encouraged by his parents, both of whom completed Badminton and Burghley, he represented Britain throughout his teens, winning individual Silver at the Junior Europeans in 1987, Young Rider Team Gold medals in successive European Championships in 1988 and 1989 and completing Badminton himself at the age of 20. His first Burghley win five years later established him as a regular on the senior British Team and guaranteed him a ticket to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

William was the first British rider to become eventing’s World No 1, a distinction he achieved in 2002, 2009, 2010 and again in 2014.  He has represented his country consistently over the past 16 years, winning team Silver at the 2012 London Olympics, team Silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, team Bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, team Silver and Individual Bronze at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, Individual Bronze at the 2013 European Championships in Malmo, team Gold and Individual Silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, team Silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, and team Bronze at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez.  He has won seven team Gold medals at the European Championships and has been the British No 1 eleven times.

He is the only rider to have won five out of the six CCI****’s worldwide having won Burghley (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011), Badminton (2004 & 2015), Luhmuhlen (2008), Rolex Kentucky (2010, 2012, 2014) and Pau (2011, 2013).  He has won the HSBC FEI Classics, a series linking the top six Three-Day Events in the world,  four times (2008, 2010, 2012 and again in 2014) and finished second in 2011.

In 2011 William became the first rider to win a record six Burghley titles (on six different horses) and became one of the first riders to ever win a CCI*, CCI** and CCI*** at the same event on the same day - a feat acheived at Tattersalls, Ireland.

William has won an unprecedented 14 CCI****'s, 50 CCI three-day events and 21 CIC one-day events.  His achievements in the sport make him one of the most successful British event riders of all time.