November 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN November 2020 Page 29 Calendar of Events Submit events by the 10th of the month preceding publication to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net or P.O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, readers are advised to confirm with the organizer that listed events will take place. NOVEMBER 1 Nona Garson Riding and Jumping Clinic. The Ridge, Asbury, NJ. (908) 236-9864 or ridgeshowjumping.com . 1 Schooling Horse Tri- al. Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, PA. (610) 360-7021 or buckscountyhorsepark.org . 1 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Unionville, PA. pahuntcup.org. 5-8 Harvest Classic (A). Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlake stables.com. 6 RSD Horse & Tack Auction. RSD Horse Auctions Inc., Kearneyville, WV. (304) 876-8326 or rsdhorseauctions. com. 6-8 Berkey Memorial Harvest Weekend. Tuckahoe Equestrian Center, Queen Anne, MD. (410) 820-6002 or wbell2@ washcoll.edu . 7 Winter Buckle Barrels/ Poles Series. Horse Valley Ranch & Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalley ranch-arena.com. 7 DVCTA Harvestfest Show. Blue Goose Stable, Cochranville, PA. (610) 999-5231 or bluegoose stable.com . 7 Waredaca Starter Event. Waredaca, Lisbon, MD. Waredaca. com. 8 Hunter, Jumper, English, Western Show. Suffolk Stables, Shamong, NJ. Suffolkstables.com. 8 FCEAVeteran's Day Paper Chase. Great Marsh Farm, Elverson PA. (610) 349-3221 or frenchcreekequestrian.org. 8 Kelley Williams Fall Clin- ic. Covered Bridge Farm. Wood- bine, MD. Abitbetterfarm.com. 8 Paper Chase. Mount Harmon, Earleville, MD. (410) 275-8819 or Mountharmon.org. 12 Greenies Play Day. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sportingdays farm.com . 14 Ranch Work Day. Horse Valley Ranch & Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena.com . 14 In Gate Eventing. Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, PA. (610) 360-7021 or buckscounty horsepark.org . 14 Holiday Fun at the Horse Farm. Standardbred Retirement Foundation at Walnridge Farm, Cream Ridge, NJ. Adoptahorse.org. 14-15 Barn Yard Tack Sale. Large Animal Protection Society, West Grove, PA. (610) 869-9880 or largeanimalprotectionsociety. org. 15 Jumper Show. The Stables at Fox Crossing, Co- chranville, PA. (443) 866-5375. Foxcrossingstables.com. 15 Waredaca Pony Club Hunter Pace Series. Waredaca, Lisbon, MD. Waredaca.com. 15 Fall Finale Show. Heav- en’s Gate Farm, Pipersville, PA. (267) 709-0234 or heavensgate farmpa.com . 20 Horse Auction. Wolfe Agricultural Auctions at The Eyler Stables, Thurmont, MD. (301) 748-2924 or wolfeauctions.com . 20-21 Ranch Rodeo. Horse Valley Ranch & Arena, East Wa- terford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena.com . 21 Schooling USDF Dres- sage & CT Show. Blue Goose Stable, Cochranville, PA. (610) 999-5231 or bluegoosestable. com. 21 Thanksgiving Hunter Pace. Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, PA. (610) 360-7021 or buckscountyhorsepark.org. 21-22 November Local Show. Swan Lake Stables, Lit- tlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlakestables.com. 22 Hunter, Jumper, English, Western Show. Suffolk Stables, Shamong, NJ. Suffolkstables. com. DECEMBER 5 USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sportingdays farm.com . 5 Winter Buckle Barrels/ Poles Series. Horse Valley Ranch & Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalley ranch-arena.com . 6 Cross Country School. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sportingdays farm.com . 12 Winter Wrangler Ranch Sorting Series. Horse Valley Ranch & Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horse valleyranch-arena.com . 12 Schooling USDF Dres- sage & CT Show. Blue Goose Stable, Cochranville, PA. (610) 999-5231 or bluegoosestable. com. 12 Holiday Jumper Show. Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlake stables.com . 13 Fall Finale Show. Heav- en’s Gate Farm, Pipersville, PA. (267) 709-0234 or heavensgate farmpa.com . 19 Greenies Play Day. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sportingdays farm.com . September 5 marked Fair Hill International’s (FHI’s) first of two unrecognized Starter Horse Trials of 2020, where green riders and horses are welcomed to get their feet wet in the world of Eventing. The day of Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross-Country for Elemen- tary, Introductory, Beginner Novice, and Novice riders and horses takes pride in being a low-pressure environment where learning, growing and walking away with a smile on your face take precedence over winning a division. Twenty-eight-year-old In- troductory rider Caitlin Parkes of Conowingo, MD, and her horse Joker stand out as a pair who per- fectly exemplify FHI’s “Green to Gold” motto. The memorable duo came to the event — their first Starter Horse Trial — with a te- nacious story brimming with love for the sport, and the headway they’ve made thus far is nothing short of impressive. Two years ago, Parkes didn’t know what she was in for. She had just gotten married and joked she got a “husband and a horse in the same week” after she bought Joker, her 5-year-old Thoroughbred off the racetrack. He had an injured eye that only had 50 percent vision, but something told her the horse was special. “I take heart in horses that aren’t perfect,” she said. “And I told my trainer I didn’t want to jump anything other than cross- rails.” Fast forward to last January. Joker’s injured eye had to be Fair Hill International Starter Trials Welcome Green Riders and Horses removed because of ongoing in- flammation — something Parkes, in a sense, has in common. When Parkes first started eventing four years ago, she was diagnosed with psoriatic arthri- tis — a condition that results in joint pain and stiffness. But after getting a taste for eventing and falling in love with the sport, she wasn’t going to let the diagnosis stop her. “I would ride and I just couldn’t walk the next day. I’m like ‘I’m 24, what’s going on?’” She finally found a medicine that helps and doctors herself with ice and Ibuprofen after a long day of riding. But from time to time it pains her to think about throwing a leg over the saddle, and she’s learned not to push it. “I have the physical stamina in me to do a whole Cross-Coun- try course but I know sometimes I’m going to pay for it after- wards. But it’s for the love of the sport.” Removing an eye and overcoming a painful condition haven’t thrown a wrench in their progress this year, as Parkes works towards her goal of com- peting in the American Eventing Championship (AEC). “By February we got our mojo on, getting better, and [jumping] higher.” Their favorite phase? Cross-Country. “He just lights up. He surprises everyone when he goes in and kicks butt. He loves to jump.” The Starter Horse Trials con- tinue to be a place to showcase hard work and success stories for riders and horses of all abilities. The organization said the best way to come out and see inspir- ing partnerships like Parkes and Joker, is to volunteer. More information is available at fairhillinternational.org.