<![CDATA[ - Blog]]>Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:55:01 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Back in Action]]>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:54:45 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/07/back-in-action1.htmlSoo I am thinking I am back on track and back in action! The ponies were wonderful this past weekend at Hunter Oaks and I finally feel like my riding is back to where it was prior to some of the misfortunes of the past 6 months. But, if you would have asked me last Wednesday, there was no way I was riding this past weekend at Hunter Oaks. For a couple days my neck my really bothering me. Tuesday night I was out to dinner with some horsey friends when I finally lost it and decided it was time to seek medical attention. My chiropractor told me I have "tortalcolis" or something like that. He wouldn't give me the full name and told me not to google it. Wonder what I would have found?

Anyway so after 3 drs. appointments and lots of ice and drugs later, I decided I would have to run both horses. Friday was eventful as it always is. I had to change not one but two tires in 100 degree plus weather... ewew...
Finally got to the beautiful farm and heading directly out to walk XC. This is the first year Hunter Oaks ran a preliminary and I thought it was a great course with enough fair questions with some nice galloping fences as well.  Both ponies got a viewing of the grounds and a light dressage school at 9 pm. It was a late night to say the least.

Up at 5:00 at braiding horses. I walked the cross country course again and my wonderful groom Nicollete helped me get Murphy and Shadow ready for dressage. Both horses put in beautiful tests. Murphy scored a 36 which is his lowest score to date at Intermidate and I was very happy because the places where we usually get 7 and 8's were not up to par so I know there is so much more room for improvment. Shadow (Erin Melloy's Catch me if You Can) was doing his 1st novice and put in a very solid test moving him into 2nd. Murphy was perfect on cross country reconfiriming that he is ready to be going Intermediate and on his way to putting in a solid performance at the 2star this fall. All the prelim riders had problems cross country, no one had a clean round. There were 3 clean rounds in the IP. Most of the problems occured at the water. We jumped a large duck three stride bending line to a long drop into BLUE water and then a s turn to a skinny wedge out. I think most of the issues occured with the skinny out of the water and riders not holding their lines. Shadow was also very good cross country. I had a great ride on him at area IV yr's camp with Sinead Halpin and so I was able to take a lot of the forward thinking riding over with him as well. Besides looking hard at the BLUE water (did I mention it was really blue) the pony was great. He is so much fun to ride and I am so happy I have been given the opportunity to help Erin this summer.

So Sunday morning I was sitting in 1st in the IP and 2nd with Shadow going into Showjumping... where my demons tend to come out. Well finally I feel like my hard work is paying off. Murphy jumped the best he has jumped in a very long time. He had the first rail down in the course but I  am attributing that too not having the right canter yet. The course was set in a hilly, shady area under some trees so it was quite a challenge. Murphy was so adjustable and I was able to keep riding the entire course. We have been jumping him in a hackamore and he is completely different and is holding his shape over the fences. I am really excitied to keep moving in this direction. Shadow was also great in showjumping. He did spoke a bit at the planks under some of the fences, but man that pony can jump! He was great and jumped a clean round to hold on to his 2nd place. I was so pleased with both horses and I really couldn't have asked for better preformances from either of them.

These nexts weeks are a bit crazy for me, I will be back in Columbia, SC to move into my new house then it is off to YR's to watch some of my friends compete. Area IV what?? Too bad I am to old to be riding :( I have faith though that we will represent well and best of luck to everyone riding. Until next time happy riding and hug your ponies  :) ]]><![CDATA[Hola- My Future Rolex Mount]]>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:45:46 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/07/hola-my-future-rolex-mount.html
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Everyone knows summertime is full of activities including beaches, city visits, family BBQ's, play dates, and most importantly lots of  time to spend with our lovely four legged friends. I have been super busy in Chicago this summer working for Oracle. Unfortunely some of that takes away from my riding time, but for the most part Murphy is still getting his twenty minutes of daily currying( finally he lets me) and time to wipe down the tack after a ride. For any of you who have never had a "real persons" job, it is very different then mucking stalls, tacking horses up, and jump lessons. I now know why people are so attached to their cell phones!!!!

But anyway Murphy got some time off after Otter Creek and a clinic with Jon Holling. He has started back into work, now that I have returned from a forced family fun in Mexico! Don't worry it actually was SURER FUN! I have attached a picture with my future rolex mount that I laid eyes on in Mexico. Funny story. Sooo none of the brady bunch on both sides of the family ride but me. So it is a rare occasion that I can get them to come to a horse show or the barn, let alone sit on a horse. Well I think my family has  a new love for my sport. In Puerta Vallarta, we rode MULES to the top of a Mountain to go ziplinning. I also found out I am afraid of heights, but that is another story. Anyway my stepbrother Scott, is not small boy, he played football at Cornell, so he is kinda large, and the mules were simply not. But somehow they managed to trek all 7 of us up the mountain at a GALLOP! Yes, you heard correctly. It was not a nose to tail trail ride, it was a kick and hold on type experience. Clearly the mules knew where we were going because it was a race to the top. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard watching my Mom and Scott gallop there small like 13 hand mules up a narrow path in the rainforest. Clearly no control. My little brother Johno got run into a tree, his mules thought he was ready for the derby. So although there was no cross country jumping in Mexico, I still got to "ride!" Anyway it was a blast and I wish I had pictures. 

So the plan is now that Murphy will do the IP at Hunter Oaks and Catch Me if You Can will do his first novice. I am very excitied to have both of these lovely horses at the event and am expecting a great weekend. Hope you summer is full of as much fun as mine has been... ! Oh and go to Puerta Vallarta, you'll love the riding!
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]]><![CDATA[Pony Power!!!]]>Mon, 17 May 2010 08:46:42 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/05/pony-power.htmlThis past weekend was an excellent showing for Baythorne Farms at FRVPC mini event. I was fortunate enough to ride Erin Melloy's Catch Me if You Can in the novice. He was great, ending the weekend on his dressage score winning from start to finish. I love getting to ride "Shadow" and was thankful for another horse to compete. He such a cool little pony and a blast to ride. The Fox River Valley Pony Club mini though is no easy feat. I call it mini rolex. IT's CRAZY! The organizers and staff do a wonderful job, but we all know kids running around on those darn cute ponies is sometimes a little wild. But it does always make me want one of those little devils, I think I could bring it in the house :)

It was great to be back in Chicago and see all my old friends and all the "kids" who are no longer kids running around the event. I was so impressed with everyones riding and the overall quality of horsemanship and strength at the farm. Matt Trynoski has done a great job bringing everyone along. I believe we had 17 horses or something close to that at the show between the two days. Here are a little recaps hopefully I don't miss anyone. 

Jaclyn Burke Catch Me if you Can -1st
Matt Trynoski- Tori's Run - 2nd 
Kyra Trynoski- Lazer Ridge- 2nd
Taylor Smith- Push my Buttons- 6th
Danielle Sebastian- Dressed to Kill- 7th ( This is a horse I sold to her in January.. it was her first event!)
Sandi Sebastain- Appily Ever After- 5th
Nicollete Fennille- Pop Rox- 5th
Judy Lichten- Avita- 6th
Pam Gorham- Tooka- 6th


I think thats everyone who ribboned (sorry if I missed you), but defiantly for the rest of the farm, it was a great weekend and people really had a great experience and positive learning experience. Were currently getting ready for Otter Creek and we have 6 horses going, 5 in the novice and Murphy is doing the intermediate. I had a great jump lesson last night and think I have finally figured out what is going on. Here are some pictures. Till next time... happy riding!

oh and eat a donut you deserve it 
]]><![CDATA[Ohhh The Learning Curve]]>Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:14:43 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/04/ohhh-the-learning-curve.htmlThis is a very bittersweet post that has been long overdue. As many of you know, horses never follow their plans. Were lucky if we get to plan c, because we all know that plan A is 99% likely to NOT happen. Well plan A, B, C, D, who knows even E and F didn't work out for me this spring. After two disappointing showjump rounds at Southern Pines and The Fork, I decided that I need to do some homework and figure out what is going on with Murphy's showjumping. Falling off is never fun, but I think it has taught me a lot. There is always going to be another CCI and I just need to do what is best for my horse and give him the confidence he needs again. So unfortunately we didn't go to the CCI** at Florida. 


These last couple weeks, I have watched hours of video footage of my riding over the past year or so. Video tapping is great, you should all try and video yourself at least every month or so because it can really be beneficial to go back and look at what is going on, what has changed, and what you can still be working on. I have found that my horse just seems less and less confident in the showjump ring. If I don't get him to a perfect distance, he will stop. I am human, with only one horse, so I will miss. His canter also seems to change in front of the jump and thus he is not 100% off the ground. My reins have also become increasing shorter and I need to remember that Murphy really needs to feel like he can use his neck. Soooo off I went to River Glenn in TN and had a really good confident weekend in the preliminary. After talking with my old coach, Matt Trynoski, he gave me some good advice and I have been working hard at home since. Murphy even won two 4ft jumper classes :)


Yesterday, I had a WONDERFUL jump school on the Smurfmister and he felt like my old horse. He was confident, I kept my reins longer while still having  a lot of adjustability, and kept the canter even and rhythmical. I am hoping that over the next couple months we can put together all the pieces Bonnie has given me without the pressure of competing and hopefully we can start to be competitive again at Intermediate come fall. He is going to run Otter Creek horse trials at the end of May and we will go from there...


Until then, watch some videos, pat your ponies, and remember we only learn if we make mistakes. ]]><![CDATA[Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!]]>Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:26:42 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/03/just-keep-swimming-just-keep-swimming.htmlLast weekend was Southern Pines horse trials. What a great event! The cross country course this year was designed by Tremaine Copper and he really gave the course and new look with lots of galloping room. Murphy was in the intermediate and was a really good boy. After a few bobbles in the dressage ( he reared, he thinks he should be part of the spanish riding school) he managed a 38. I am really please because his flat work is really coming along. THANK YOU BONNIE! 

Cross country was a BLAST. I love this horse. He was very bold into the water, which was a big drop in, three stride up a bank, one stride off the island, three strides up a bank, and then one stride to a skinny. He was awesome. I had to circle him once on course at fence 7 abc two palisades to a corner. The ground jury made the decision to allow up to circle due to the challenging nature of the question. Since it was the first combination, Murphy was a bit strong so I opted to circle to avoid a 20 giving me some time penalties. Otherwise he was foot perfect. I am so pleased with our cross country. I feel very confident in the job placed before me and my horse has never felt better.

Unfortunately showjumping is still a battle. I was having actually a really great round jumping clean and forward. Towards the middle of the course we had a triple bar 6 or 7 strides down the line to a wall, like you see in the bareback jumping classes.  Well I think I stalled about half a second after jumping the triple bar and never rode down the line for the six strides. Well Murphy put on breaks and off over his head  went. I guess it was time calling since I have never fallen at a horse show in my 11 years competing. I know the mistake I made and have had two great jump schools since. I am really looking forward to the Fork this weekend in North Carolina as a last run before the CCI** at Florida and to improve upon my showjumping performance. I have been told you can't learn if you don't make mistakes and Im glad I made the mistake at Southern Pines verses the threeday. Hopefully my mistakes will have taught me the skills I need to keep getting that much better. 
]]><![CDATA[SO MUCH TO TELL!]]>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:27:18 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/03/so-much-to-tell.htmlSOO MUCH TO TELL, SO LITTLE TIME

That feels like my life these days. I live, eat, breath horses, and still work and gallop 6 racehorses a day, oh and attending college. :) Not sure how I do it, but it gets done. Since last time, Murphy has done three more events, Pinetop in the Prelim where he was 2nd, Pinetop again OI and was 10th and I want to say, had some time and a silly spook in stadium, and then Redhills in the OI as well.

Redhills didn't go as well as I was hoping but what a GREAT event. He started off swell getting the best dressage score to date at Intermediate a 37 with some bobbles, so I was actually quite pleased. Cross country was almost foot perfect. IT WAS HUGE!!! We shared half of our tables with the advanced, I thought I might cry. We had three open oxers, and three ditch and walls and a HUGE ditch and wall bank. And to add to all this, throw in 20,000 spectators. What a great learning experience for the big man...

He had one stop xc at jump 7 the first combination, we came around the turn and there was a LARGE crowd standing there. He had already locked onto A which was a squirrel, one stride, drop three stride up and down a hill to a log with a pretty large drop on the back. Bonnie had told me not to go for the first thing I saw, so I grabbed a hold of him to get his attention and he saw all the people and literally ran into it... rookie mistake..

Anyway I was so happy because he was a saint everywhere else and really feel like he became so confident and brace jumping around! Showjumping was another day. Bonnie has been trying to change his way of going somewhat, so we are having some difficulties and I rode him like he was going to stop. He had rails and they we all me but one where I just sat on him over the fence causing him to drop them behind. If the horse is going to have a rail it is going to be upfront so I blame myself. 

But now it is all better as I have also come to find out that my saddle was broken and needed some repairing. I am going to blame the jumping problems on this and now mentally prepare myself for the CCI** in Ocala in April. 

Here are some random picture from past events including snowy pinetop and redhills... all Ashley Adams (She is my new favorite person) since the camera died, but you get the idea!
]]><![CDATA[First outing to take the rust off...]]>Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:02:42 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/02/first-outing-to-take-the-rust-off.htmlSo things have really gotten crazy. Last weekend Ashley Adams, Marley Stone and I headed to Aiken for sporting days horse trials and combined test. We went down on Saturday and walked around xc with Bonnie and watched Ashley in both the intermediate and advanced combined tests. I had a lesson last week with Bonnie and I think I am really figuring out how to ride Murphy cross country. Basically Im going to not fight with him between the fences and not really take a hold until 4 strides out. All Bonnie said was "Jaclyn don't pull here... Jaclyn don't pull here" well it paid off.
After an respectable test in the dressage with a 32.7, I had a great crosscountry round. The bigger fences actually did all the adjusting for me so I felt like I was actually really riding!!! We had some really nice fences and I kept saying to myself this is what Rolex is going to feel like :) One day...


We had one rail in the showjumping, I forgot my contacts... stupid me and couldn't see a distance for crap. I guess it is a mistake I won't make again this year! But we finished third and I was pretty pleased. A great way to get the rust off.


Sooo then on Sunday evening George and Ethel had us over for a AWESOME supperbowl party! Everyone brought food and it was DELICIOUS... as Ethel said the best grazing I have had in a long time... :) We had buffalo dip and queso (compliments of myself) Rebecca made the best guacamole I have ever had, Marley and Ashley brought pigs in a blanket and corndogs and Ethel made the best vegetable soup and little cheese sandwiches! WOOT it makes me happy just thinking about all that wonderful food!!! 


This week I have had some excellent schools and tomorrow the three of us (we need a nickname any suggestions?) are heading to Pine Top Horse trials! Hopefully we will improve from last weekend...
Till next time, happy riding!!!

]]><![CDATA[Back in Action!]]>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:48:40 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2010/01/back-in-action.htmlSo I am one of the luckiest girls in the world... my day consists of riding 7-10 ponies a day and for the most part its SUNNY AND WARM! I love it... 


Everything is going great. Murphy is back in full work and feels amazing. I think his little vacation was really good for his body as well as his mind and he is FAT! I love it. I had a great 2 jump schools so far, and am looking forward to a jump lesson with Craig Thompson tomorrow. It is weird to think that I will be galloping a cross country course next weekend. I am excited!!! I have also been really busy teaching my students again and everyone has seemed to do their homework over Christmas. And last but not least I sold my mare Renn last week to a friend of mine, Danielle Sebastian. She came down to USC and tried her for the weekend and fell in love. It was a quick sale and I can't wait to see this pair competing! Look out Area IV.  Right now Renn is still as the farm and is working on flat work and doing some grids so I have enough to keep me busy! 


The other fun thing I have been doing is galloping race ponies down the street. Every morning I gallop about 5-8 a day and man its getting me in shape. Its been quite entertaining so far. The first week the horses were flying sideways, week three they are leaping in the air. Hopefully the will begin to behave soon. It is great because they are all 2 yrs olds and just learning how to really use thir bodies. I was riding a little chestnut mare the other day and she spooked and went to take off and I don't think she realized she could run that fast :) Oh children.


Andd now the farm is offically busy!  Ashley Adams, Bonnie Mossers assistant trainier is down at the farm and Bonnie comes next week! Everyone will be keeping me on my tip toes!!! 2010 here we are! 



]]><![CDATA[Christmas is my favorite time of year!!!]]>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:01:24 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2009/12/christmas-is-my-favorite-time-of-year.htmlSo I love Christmas time, going home to spend time with family and friends, and 2010 being right around the corner. Murphy is enjoying his vacation in a nice big pasture with his new friends Wally and Nick, an old brunco horse, and a donkey :) He will go back to work after I get back. 


I have been very busy teaching and riding some training horses. I had a lovely mare at the farm for four days and am hoping to either find her a home or I will be taking her till she gets sold. I always love working with the babies. Watching the learn how to do things they have never done before. It makes me think about the first lessons Murphy learned and I smile in how far he has come in such a short time. One fun one I like to tell everyone is after about a week at Baythorne as a coming 5 yr old, Murphy and his buddies were running around in the paddock and Murphy literally flipped over the 5ft gate. They were running so fast, I don't think he new how to stop and he tried to leap and boom, dent in the metal gate. Luckily he has turned into a little better jumper since then, but I remember thinking, what am I getting myself into. Now I laugh and smile. I hope 2010 brings great successes, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!]]><![CDATA[Goodbye 2009]]>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:44 -0800http://www.burkeequestrian.com/1/post/2009/11/goodbye-2009.html

A very bittersweet ending to 2009. Looking back on everything I am very disappointed in my perfomance at Poplar Place CCI**.  I felt that Murphy and I were more than prepared to complete a CCI** but Murphy decided it would have to be another day. It actually was kinda a humorous weekend thinking about everything that happened. Driving down to GA, I got stuck on a bridge that was over-flowing with water, so we had to back up and find an alternate route.  Fridays dressage test was very steady and consistent and I thought the best two star test I have done all year. Judges didn't think so. I ended up with a 65, a horrible score, and was not pleased. I guess I just dont' understand how one judge can give you a 5 on a movement and another an 8?? Confusing, yes but I do know what we need to improve on. I am hoping that after a little break we can really hound the dressage and get Murphy more through and up in his frame.

Course looked great. The Stegmans did a great job pulling off a CCI on their piece of Property and was much more gallopy than expected. Murphy was wild. Simply put. He tried to buck me off in the morning when I went out for a hack and then would not focus in the warmup. I figured once we got out on course he would settle. Well that never really happened. Our first real question was a mound that you had to jump on take a stride and jump off, then three strides to a skinny house.  The strangest thing I have ever done. Well I was a little nervous about the mound as you literally jumped on a hill, but Murphy was super brave and almost attacked it. He is the kind of horse who is very good jumping off banks and always focuses on the element behind it, and then just never happened. He took one stride and lept off the bank sending us flying and running down the hill, WAY past the skinny. Soo I turned around after I got control, and jumped the C element. We had a pretty big table after that and then turned to two offsets to a bounce into water. We came down to the bounce and I went to hit him as he jumped the A element since he has never jumped a bounce before and my crop was stuck in my reins. Frustrating. I think I threw my shoulders at him causing him to stop at the B element. I quietly turned around and then  jumped very nicely back in. We had a bank out to a cabin and then a table then a short gallop to a one stride drop downhill to a corner. He jumped that great and I really thought I had my horse back and we were on the right track.  We jumped a tent house and then had to turn to a corned with a pretty big drop bending to a house. Well we jumped the corner and Murphy decieded that heck if we were going to turn, we were going to run. Soo down the hill running we went causing me to pick up another 20. In FEI rules three stops and it is considered a Elimination. For some reason I thought the rule was four, but my horse did get to jump around most of the CCI course, so for that I am thankful.

What is very hard about this, was that I really didn't have the control I needed. Its time to start playing with Bits. :) I think mentally Murphy peaked at Fairhill and then it was hard to keep him focused as well as myself. I will have to think about that next year.  So looking back on the event It was an "experience" to say the least. Between to calls to triple A because I locked my keys in my car and my car wouldn't start, I am glad the weekend is over. Now I am just itching to go run around again because I am very embarrased of our performace. Guess there is lots of room for impovement.

Looking back on 2009 thought it was a great year full on new opportunites and learning experiecnes. I learned a lot about my horse and got the opportunity to compete against the top riders in the country. I also moved up to the intermediate and two star levels and am planning to continue this next year. To top in off I was reserve Champion in the JYOP at AEC's and took home some great prizes. Not to shabby for my xracehorse.  I am already looking forward to next year, hopefully less rain, and a consistent record around some intermeidates and two stars.
 2010 here we come!!

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