Aiken preparation

Charly and the team are down to the last few days of withstanding the cold winter in Maryland before our trip down to Aiken, SC for February and March. Yesterday the accumulation of snow from the preceeding storm had a frozen layer of rain on the top and the entire countryside looked like one big ice skating arena. I spent the day running errands and organizing my rig and felt pretty accomplished...I then took things one step too far and attempted to hook up the trailer...oops! Luckily there were a few very friendly people with big trucks around! Bubba got pulled out, stayed hooked up while getting hooked up to the trailer and THEN pulled up and out the driveway! PHEW. It was nice to have help and get that done, but I really REALLY need to work on getting a 4wd truck.

Charly has a few friends coming on the road trip with us. A lovely mare named ULLA (sale horse), Manhatten (an Intermediate horse I'll be competing in Feb) and Smiley (John Nunn's young horse). Once I'm down and settled in there will be 1-3 more horses arriving; SO if you're looking for a few fun months in Aiken, I'd love a working student :)

Nunn Finer

I am proud to announce that I'll be a Nunn Finer sponsored rider for 2009!

Nunn Finer products are offered through Bit of Britain (www.bitofbritain.com) and many other tack stores throughout the United States; the company produces products that us eventers really need! They have very good quality bridles, breastplates, girths, boots and more.

Nunn Finer riders will be holding free course walks at events throughout the United States with Nunn Finer sponsored riders, I believe I'll be doing some course walks come Fall. Usually each event has a flyer up near the score board, definitely try to take advantage of this great opportunity!

Thank you Nunn Finer!

Waters Edge Farm

Waters Edge Farm in Sykesville, Md

This farm is owned by Liz Patrick and right in the heart of Maryland eventing... did I mention it has a beautiful new barn with bedrooms and a kitchen upstairs? There's a big outdoor, an indoor some cross country jumps, trails, pastures and soon to be lots of clinics with me! The Waters Edge clinics are open for riders to haul in, stay over or just to come watch. I'm excited to meet and help out a new group of riders. I can't wait to see all the things we can do at this lovely facility. www.watersedgefarmllc.com

For information on boarding or my up-coming 2009 clinics please contact
Liz Patrick
watersedge6150@aol.com
410.303.6940

Winter break...

Go Ravens! I just went to my first east coast Football game; the Ravens fans are un-real! I have never seen so many jersey's in one stadium ever before, they say it's one of the loudest stadiums in the country. We had a great wide angle view of the field, and were lucky enough to have good weather.... great night....thanks Bryce!

Charly and I are in our initial stages of winter training trying to beat the cold weather and ride out on good days and hurry to the indoor on colder days. Charly is doing really well in his work, right now everything is about setting a solid foundation, lots of walking and trotting. I think Charly grew another foot lengthwise, he loves his stretching! Charly and I will be staying in Maryland for another few weeks and then off to train in Aiken, SC for the rest of the winter to prepare for the Spring events and take advantage of a few competitions early on out there.

RIP Francis Louise Smith

The following excerpt is shared with us from Kelcey Collins, one of the California Havarah girls. Kelcey's grandmother shared her passion for horses and was a fantastic supporter of Kelcey and all the Havarah riders. We will all miss Louise. Thanks for sharing Kelcey!


My grandma, Francis Louise Smith

passed away Nov,17th 2008. She and Tom Smith her husband of more
than 50 years purchased a horse for me when
I was in 8th grade after growing out of my leased pony. Three
day eventing has always been my passion, and without my
grandparents help, I might have never been able to have my own
horse and do what I love best. My grandma LOVED George ( My
faithful Paint Horse gone "eventer"), and often times loved to
spoil him with carrots she would purchase at the market. As I
continue to ride, I cant help but feel my grandma looking down
upon me
enjoying every moment of the partnership that I share with the
horse SHE bought for me.

" Grandma there is not a day that passes that i dont think of you.
However, each day out at the barn, I cant help but feel you
sneaking carrots over my should to George. Cancer slowed your body,
but it NEVER slowed your spirit.

California Clinics

Just preparing for my final trip out to California for 2008; Wed the 10th & Thursday the 11th will be at Stanford Equestrian Center; Friday the 12th will be in Clovis, Ca, Saturday and Sunday will be at Ram Tap for XC schooling.

New Email Address

molly@mollyrosin.com
My comcast email account has been deleted.

I also have a new snail mail account, it'll be a Baltimore, Md address. If you need it, send me an email request.
Happy Holidays!

Fresno Clinic / November Ram Tap

Some of my fondest memories from growing up are from the November Ram Tap in Fresno, Ca. It always seemed to be a great show, and a whole lot of fun. I may have just really liked the fact that Saturday night I got to go home to a full Thanksgiving meal full of great food and surrounded by friends and family.

This last weeks trip back to Fresno lived up to all my expectations; The weather was phenomenal, food was great at mom's T-day dinner which was well attended to, and my students all impressed me with their progress they've made throughout the year.

Our clinic was held over 4 days all out at Silver Rose Ranch (thank you Carol!!!). I once over heard one of the riders refer to it as boot camp. It was great having most of the riders be able to participate in each of the days, the progress I saw through each of them was remarkable. In fact, the beginner novice group was riding through a pretty hard coffin simulated exercise on Sunday... just ask them, it was quite impressive!

In the competition at Ram Tap, Havarah had three riders; Aubrey is our latest addition to the group and she completed her first event with only one rail added onto her dressage, Jestine rode her very cute "Pink Pony" and is definitely in contention for most improved of the year (they looked totally professional on the jump rounds and will be a dominating force in the dressage within a few more shows), and last but not least Kelcey had a very impressive weekend as she rode to give her grandmother the best last weekend she could've asked for! Kelcey's grandmother was extremely supportive of Kelcey and our entire Havarah group, she will be terribly missed.

Stanford Equestrian Center

On November 11th and 12th I had the pleasure of giving my first clinic at the lovely Stanford Equestrian Center in Palo Alto, Ca. Meg Finn has is the resident event trainer at this site and she did a great job organizing this clinic. Her students all did a terrific job and I think we are already planning our next clinic for the second week of December!

A Rising Star!!!

"Willing and Able" aka Thatch had his first big day in history, he finished #1 out of a big class in one of the Novice Horse divisions at the Plantation horse trials in Pennsylvania.

This horse full-fills his name, he is the most willing young horse I have had the pleasure to work with. This weekend he broke the 30's and received a 29.5 in his dressage and never took a mis-step after that. Thatch will soon be taking a long trailer ride back to California to unite with his now owner, Alyssa Hatai, and I'm sure we'll have many more exciting posts about this great little young horse.

California Clinics

November
11th and 12th at Stanford University
13th location TBA in the Fresno Valley area
14th-15th coaching at Ram Tap HT and lessons in the Fresno Valley area

December
3rd Stanford University
4th Fresno Valley area or Twin Rivers
5th XC schooling at Twin Rivers
6th coaching at the Twin Rivers Hunter/Jumper & Dressage show

contact Molly @ mollyrosin@comcast.net to reserve your spot

Waredaca Horse Trials and Three Day Event

Alyssa Hatai's lovely young horse "Willing and Able" executing a perfect halt at while I competed him at his second Novice event this last weekend at Waredaca.


Lauren Billys took Ballingowan Ginger to her first three day event, finishing 7th at the Waredaca Half Star in Laytonsville, Md. Lauren had a full summer of training; riding daily with myself and working for Breakaway Farm and Roddy Strang.

On my left is Charly's vet, Dr. Charles Arensburg. "Chuck" has been a huge part of Charly's success this year. Charly has been lucky to have a vet that is so interested in his success!

On my right is Bryce Kinnamon, one of Charly's shareholders and my fantastic boyfriend. Bryce has been a huge help before, during and after each of my competitions this year.... I am a lucky lucky girl! :)

Sunday at the Fair Hill International

I will remember this day forever. Charly and I have now completed our first CCI ** together; we did it at one of the best and toughest events in the world. This event is truly spectacular, I had a moment this morning (in between my 5 times of walking the show jumping course) to stop and look around at the beauty of this grand event.

Charly was light on his feet and very handsome for his final jog and the excitement kept rising for our ride to come. The course was one of the toughest tracks I have seen, big, long, and very well presented. Charly was at the very end of the two star, Boyd and I went over the "game plan" and then had some time to watch the earlier riders. Boyd's coach, Phillip Dutton, was also kind enough to discuss with me the way the course was riding and go over some course strategies. I felt very well prepared and knew that Charly was up for the challenge.

When Charly and I entered the arena the entire crowd was silent, the announcer started saying a bunch of stuff but I didn't hear any of it, I think I was seriously in my own world.... slightly focused! The rest is history, and I'm trying hard to leave it at that. Charly jumped great and we had one slightly off fence, a light rub of a pole and our CCI ** win vanished. It was really very heartbreaking. I think the world of this horse and was so excited to help get him this win. Charly still got to go in and accept a few ribbons, so I think he still feels like a winner; people might think I'm crazy, but I know that Charly understands he has done well when he gets to do the victory gallop. Charly received a blue for the best conditioned horse, a blue for the best dressage score and a white (4th) for the over-all placing in the CCI **.

I'd like to thank all of you that have been following us through this exciting weekend; Also a huge thanks to Silva, Boyd and Phillip for all of their great advice and endless support; and last but not least my support crew ..... you guys are the best!!!!

FH Pic's

Thursday at the Dansko Fair Hill International

I'm speechless! Today was everything I could've hoped for, well except for the microphone/loudspeaker problem that happened as I started my first shoulder in, but besides that... perfect! Charly and I scored a 46.2(roughly a 70%) which after the first day of dressage is good enough for first place. Fair Hill has done a lovely job creating this big time festival, the horses even have 24 hour security. At the end of the day I was involved in a "press release", so stay tuned to the USEA webite :)

Wednesday at the Dansko Fair Hill International

Charly and I got set-up today at the Fair Hill International Three Day Event; Charly had "In-Barn" inspections first thing this morning, then a light ride to get used to the atmosphere around his dressage court, and last but not least had his "Trot-Up".

This is by far the most impressive "scene" that Charly and I have ever been part of, everything is top-notch. We are competing amongst 80+ of the best horses and riders at this level in the entire country. After the trot-ups I had some time to walk around the cross country course for the first time, it was absolutely magnificent. The course has been built by Derek DiGrazia, who has presented us with a fair yet very challenging course. 9 minutes of galloping and jumping. Needless to say when Charly sprung to life today in his trot ups, I was very happy and not the least bit up-set! Thursday at 2:21 is our dressage test.

Willing and Able

Thatch aka "Willing and Able" completed his first Novice horse trial this weekend finishing in 2nd place! Thatch was in the Novice horse division at the Radnor Hunt Horse Trials; It was a beautiful weekend and Thatch did a great job over the big course he was presented with. I'm a proud trainer/rider :)

Excited, anxious and a little bit nervous....

It's Wednesday night, exactly one week away from the trot up's at Fair Hill. Charly has an exact schedule lined up to "hopefully" have the two of us at our peak for the Fair Hill CCI **. There are so many of you that I wish could be here to share in next week's big event with us. Charly will have my mom, Bryce and myself at his beck and call (ok and maybe a few other east coast groupies Charly has attracted) but I know that he wishes he could get treats from each one of you! No matter what happens next week, this has been a thrilling four years of riding and training with the Minyan Syndicates fantastic horse, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.