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April 2008 -- EI Schooling Show at San Sebastian
Solid efforts by Laurel (on Maya) and Sharon (on Sabu) at this show! Both earned over 63% in their Training Level classes on a day with capricious weather -- windy, sunny, then raining. Many thanks to Julie & Patty and Sharon's husband Bob for show assistance and help with trailering. Special Bravery Awards to Laurel and Sharon for taking on this show while both Simpatico trainers are out of town -- good for you!!  
 

Laurel is 72 years old!!   

 

Nice Stretch Maya!   

Sabu's Lovely Canter   


March 2008 -- Our own Spring Schooling Show
Despite the deafening cloudbursts and the ill-timed vacuum cleaner, all the riders put in solid efforts. Bravo to Laurel, Deborah, Roxanne, Bonnie, Liana, Carolyn, Kat & Wendy. Many thanks to Kellie Larsen and scribe Cindy for judging, and for gamely adjusting to the slightly awkward configuration of an indoor show. Kat and Fiero took the high point again with 72.5%; special "went the extra mile" award to Splendor for accomodating two riders today with his signature style. Extra special award to Deborah for sticking on Splendor during some unplanned acrobatic moves!  
 

Show Experts Kat, Wendy, Kellie   

 

Before the test   

Deborah Never Gives Up   


March 2008 -- EI Schooling Show at San Sebastian
It was a successful outing for the long-haired equine beauties of Simpatico. Maya (Friesian cross) and Fiero (3/4 Andalusian) had solid performances at their first off-site show. Both horses trailered calmly and went right to work at the show grounds. Congratulations to Laurel S. for her score of 60.35% for Training-2. Simpatico Trainer Kat once again scooped up the highpoint award for a 70% ride on 3-year-old Fiero. Special thanks to Susan, Julie, Rebecca, and Laurie I. for technical and moral support for this show!  

Going to the show   

 

I'm gonna win   

 

Told you so   



January 25th, 2008 -- New Property Owners
Simpatico Stables LLC announces that Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center of Woodinville WA has purchased this property. Little Bit provides equine-assisted therapy to adults and children living with disabilities. While the ownership changes hands, the horse-boarding business will continue uninterrupted for at least a year and possibly longer while Little Bit plans expansions and changes to the existing facility. To read more on the transition, click the link on the right.  


Lots-o-rock   


Jan-Feb 2008 -- Paddock Renovations
Our favorite excavator Robert has been hard at work scraping out the tired & water-logged hogsfuel footing from our outside paddocks and replacing it with gravel. The new paddocks are so smooth & tidy! If we just didn't put any horses on them, they'd stay picture-perfect and pristine....oh well.  

October 2007 -- Cow Sorting Day in Tacoma
Once in a while it's fun to take off the dressage gear and suit up for some good old-fashioned cow sorting! Janet P, Roxanne, Nancy W, Kat & Rebecca all took turns on Simpatico's three experienced cow ponies: Tahoe, Handy, and Chippy. The highlight: watching as half the cows tried to escape from the pen while the other half tried to break through the wall to get in! The spectators watched and laughed, and then ordered burgers from the snack shack.  

Cow Days   


So Cowy!   



Indoor Arena New Footing   


Viewing Booths   

September 2007 -- Viewing Booths for Indoor Arena
Now we can sit and watch each other ride in comfort. Our two new elevated viewing booths allow for easy views into the indoor arena. Perfect for clinics!  


Team Sabu   


September 16, 2007 -- LWSC Schooling Show at Bridle Trails
Sharon and Sabu did a fantastic job on their first-ever dressage show, performing a smooth and steady T-2 test. Sabu thoughtfully threw in a flying change just so the judge could see how one should look. Sorry Sabu, no bonus points for extra moves! Later on, Kat and Donner snagged the blue in their 2-4 class with a super score of 68.5% Awesome!  

Show Star!   



September 2007 -- Indoor Arena Footing Project
The daily raking and watering of the hogsfuel indoor arena was a joyless task. It was time to make the leap to a high-tech, manufactured footing composed of waxed sand, fiber, polymer, and rubber. No watering ever again! Installed on a laser-leveled and compacted base, this exciting footing is springy to ride on. After a ridiculously long delay in shipment of the footing from Canada, during which our arena base lay naked and shivering, we find ourselves giddy with pleasure that it is finally done.  

Robert the Excavator   



August 26th, 2007 -- EI Schooling Show at Simpatico
Cancelled due to weather. Thank you Kellie Larsen and E.I. for scrambling to notify participants on such short notice.  



We're gonna win   


July 28-29, 2007 -- Adult Team Competition at Whidbey
Team "It's Not Easy Being Green" cleaned up with blue ribbons all around... OK, for stall decorating, not so much for the riding. But we had the coolest hang-out spot, with the most amazing display of all-green food. Our matching kermit-themed T-shirts and lime-green visors were carefully coordinated with browbands and saddlepads, so the whole weekend just oozed "classy". Special kudos to Nancy on Handy for her first-ever dressage show. Hooray! Now fricking buy a dressage saddle! With Roxanne on Splendor, Heather on Monty, and Rebecca on Sabu our alternative team name could have been "Not My Horse." Just one trailer over, Janet and Tahoe kept it happening with those crazy pirate dreadlocks and what looked suspiciously like several barrels of rum. Aaargh!  


Henrik   


July 11-12, 2007 -- Henrik Johannsen clinic
Even record-breaking 100-degree days did not deter our eight intrepid horse & rider pairs. It was two days of sweaty yet productive learning. A constant flow of auditors also braved the sweltering muggy heat to watch master clinician Henrik work his magic. It was most amusing to watch the chair aerobics of spectators, tipping their pelvises in perfect unconscious coordination, as Henrik instructed "You must walk the horse, step by step, with your seat bones!  

Absolutely Fascinating!   



LWSC Success   

June 10th, 2007 -- LWSC Schooling Show at Bridle Trails
Congratulations to Virginia Rhoads & her Hanoverian/TB gelding Paesano for an excellent performance at Virginia's first-ever dressage show! They won the Training-2 class with 63% and placed third at Training-1 with 62%. Clearly the beginning of a successful show career! Rebecca Chatfield and Sabu also won their Training-1 class with 66%, and placed second behind Virginia in Training-2 with a 62%. Even with the trees whipping around in the wind at Bridle Trails, the horses were mannerly and focused on their jobs. They hopped on and off the trailer like old pros, and warmed up with no issues in the slightly soggy footing. Special thanks to trainer Kat Napier for her superb show coaching, and to Sabu's owners Sharon & Bob for their excellent assistance during the show, especially the patient hand-feeding of hay between classes to always-hungry Sabu. Next purchase: a hay net!  



June 2007 -- Bainbridge Island Classic
Lillian & Bob Price proved that Simpatico boarders are not only good-looking but versatile as well. At the Bainbridge Island Classic they skillfully jumped over stuff and collected some lovely white and yellow ribbons. Lillian's Dutch mare Chloe & Bob's Hanoverian mare Lotti enjoyed the full attention of their owners, who bravely (insanely?) tackled all 5 days at the show without any grooms or other help. Bravo Bob and Lillian!  



Roxanne, Lillian, Gunn & Susan    L'Aperitif 2007    Laurel, Susie & Virginia   

May 27th, 2007 -- L'Aperitif at Bridle Trails
Trainer Kat Napier proved her talent again with an impressive 72% win at First Level with a client's horse. Norma Stein courageously "rode through the pain" of a tweaked back to put in a solid Second-Level test on her black Morgan gelding Splendor. The Simpatico cheer squad came out in droves to show support for our barn, shivering all the while in the cold damp air. And yes, Susie Sharp is really 7 feet tall.  



April 1st, 2007 -- EI Schooling Show at San Sebastian
Our very own trainer Wendy Meyers judged this schooling show for Equestrians Institute. Roxanne Robison & Handy competed at Training Level, Susie Sharp and her Swedish mare Holly came out at First Level, and Norma Stein & Splendor rode Second Level tests. Simpatico is off to a good start for the show season. Special kudos to Roxanne for keeping it together during your very special test in the hailstorm!