February 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN February 2023 Page 23 Real Estate Advertise in the Official Program of the Horse World Expo ! Call Phyllis or Debbie today at (717) 509-9800 www.eastcoastequestrian.net The March issue offers huge bonus distribution at the Horse World Expo . It is handed to tens of thousands of horse owners as they enter the event. It’s used throughout the Expo and then goes back to the farm as a buyer’s guide with a long shelf life. Coming in the March issue of East Coast Equestrian ! Hurry! Deadline: January 24! Pennsylvania Saddlebred Chosen to Appear in Tournament of Roses Parade of the parade. The horses are pretty excited, they’re showy and alert.” The remainder of the parade is about five and a half miles long, so the horses must stay focused longer than would be expected in a show ring class. “It’s a big ask to have the horse behave and be alert [amidst] all of that stimulus for such a long time and be patient. It’s a lot to ask them to do that. I do think it takes a certain type of tempera- ment for a horse to take all that in and not be stressed out,” Tara said. Tara credits Jasper’s show experience as a factor in his easy transition to working as a parade horse. “He’s learned how to take all that environmental stimulus in and still be well mannered and well behaved. That’s been a big part of his formal training throughout his lifetime,” Tara said. “Especially in the Saddlebred western division, which is probably the closest to a parade division as we have, they have to look very expressive and well mannered.” Tara points out that parades have a different atmosphere and a different audience than horse shows. “That’s one of the things that reminds you just how grateful you should be for the opportunities and experiences that we have and some of the everyday things we love about horses,” Tara said. “It fills you with pride to be able to share what you love with others in that way.” Jasper will soon be on his way home to Pennsylvania, but he did so well in the big parade that there are plans to do it again next year. “He was a very good boy. He made us proud. He confirmed there really isn’t anything he can’t do,” Tara said. (Continued from page 1) Achievement Award at its 2023An- nual Meeting. Interestingly, Hope began riding at age 10 but didn’t discover para-dressage until she was an adult, when her daughter Amy learned about the sport as part of a school project. That opened the door to Hope’s life work and lasting legacy in equestrian sport, as both an elite athlete and as a sport leader. Well deserved, darlings. Cecil County MD resident Kristen Ortt had a good show at the US Dressage Finals in Kentucky at the end of last year. She won the AAPrix St. Georges championship with a unanimous three judge vote and a score of 69.559%. Her mare, Rita Mae Johnson, was purchased three years ago from another local, Babsi Nei- dhardt-Clark , who bred a Dutch Harness Horse mare to the Ramiro Z son R. Johnson. Congratulations! The public open space adjoin- ing the Fair Hill Natural Resourc- es area and White Clay Creek Preserve in southern Chester County, PA, got 1700 acres bigger late last year when Big Elk Creek became a Pennsylvania state park. The new park, whose uses include horseback riding, is traversed by Big Elk Creek and consists mainly of farmlands and forest. The prop- erty, purchased from thoroughbred breeder George Strawbridge Jr., adjoins about 8,000 acres of preserved open space on the Penn- sylvania/Maryland line. It’s home to an array of wildlife species, some threatened, and is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. How wonderful, darlings!!! And there’s more! Further north in Westtown Township, Chester County, the historic Cre- billy Farm has been preserved. Not long ago it was under contingent agreement with developer Toll Brothers, who planned to build as many as 350 homes. The 330 acre farm was once an important breeder of American Saddlebreds and was owned continuously by the Robin- son family (thinkAcme Markets) who worked with the Natural Lands Trust and the township to preserve it as a township park. Nothing but good news here, sweet things! And that’s it for Syl for this month! Until next time, remem- ber to S.S.S. (Send Syl Scoop) at PAEquest@aol.com . And… be careful where you step! (Continued from page 26)