PrintRobyn Fisher knew there was something special about a broodmare she first tried in 2003, even though she was four weeks in foal. At the time, she did not have the funds to purchase the mare but asked the owner to call her as soon as she weaned the foal. A little over a year later, Fisher got the call, and this time she was prepared to buy her.
"I wasn't sure how she would respond to the work, nor did I know how she would take to the cross-country," said Fisher. "Luckily, she has an incredible work ethic and loves her job. She looks for the fences on course, and the more challenging questions I ask of her, the better she answers."
She proved that as she continued her winning streak, this time at the Twin Rivers CCI**, April 21-23 in Paso Robles, Calif.
The pair moved up to the preliminary level in 2005, and by the end of the year won their first one-star. "She ran around the CCI* last November like it was novice. I knew she was ready to move up. Her first outing at intermediate was quite an eye-opening experience for her, but after she understood the questions, she has been a superstar," said Fisher.
Their victory at Twin Rivers marks the fourth consecutive win at intermediate for Fisher and "Cali" this year. They led from the get-go with a dressage score of 44.4.
But Fisher noticed a slight change in Cali's behavior the morning of cross-country. She could tell the mare was coming into heat and wondered if it would affect her performance.
"She came out of the box a bit sticky, but by fence 5 she was in her groove--reins looped, looking for the fences," said Fisher who came off cross-country clean and fast. "Sunday morning was a different story though. She was throwing herself against the walls squirting."
The change in her normal behavior made for an interesting show jumping warm-up, and again Fisher wondered how it would affect their performance.
"She had her own agenda that morning, and I tried really hard to go with the flow and not interfere, but I did a bit much and pulled two rails. The only other time she has pulled rails with me was a year ago this month, so I think she is affected by the cycle," said Fisher, who finished on a score of 52.4, still 10 points ahead of second-placed Jolie Sexson and Killian O'Connor.
Worth The Wait
Kelly Prather and the Irish Sport Horse mare Ballinakill Glory were sixth in the order of go out of 40 starters in the CCI*.
"The dressage took all day, and it was kind of nerve-wracking sitting there waiting, hearing them announce scores," said Prather, 22, of Bodega, Calif.
At the end of the day, Prather, who rides for and trains with Andrea Pfeiffer, of Petaluma, Calif., found herself in first place with a score of 42.9, 7 points ahead of second place.
"She is very reliable in the dressage. She has great movement and really likes to go in there and show off," said Prather.
Owned by Pfieffer, Ballinakill Glory was found two months before Prather left Ireland, where she had been working for two years. Ballinakill Glory (Mark Twain--Ballinakill Popsy) was an unbroke 3-year-old, but Prather decided she couldn't leave without her.
The pair ran intermediate at the Twin Rivers event in March and earned a second place at the Galway Downs CIC** (Calif.). But Prather wasn't qualified for the CCI** so decided to go for the CCI* at Twin Rivers.
"I wasn't sure how she would respond to the work, nor did I know how she would take to the cross-country," said Fisher. "Luckily, she has an incredible work ethic and loves her job. She looks for the fences on course, and the more challenging questions I ask of her, the better she answers."
She proved that as she continued her winning streak, this time at the Twin Rivers CCI**, April 21-23 in Paso Robles, Calif.
The pair moved up to the preliminary level in 2005, and by the end of the year won their first one-star. "She ran around the CCI* last November like it was novice. I knew she was ready to move up. Her first outing at intermediate was quite an eye-opening experience for her, but after she understood the questions, she has been a superstar," said Fisher.
Their victory at Twin Rivers marks the fourth consecutive win at intermediate for Fisher and "Cali" this year. They led from the get-go with a dressage score of 44.4.
But Fisher noticed a slight change in Cali's behavior the morning of cross-country. She could tell the mare was coming into heat and wondered if it would affect her performance.
"She came out of the box a bit sticky, but by fence 5 she was in her groove--reins looped, looking for the fences," said Fisher who came off cross-country clean and fast. "Sunday morning was a different story though. She was throwing herself against the walls squirting."
The change in her normal behavior made for an interesting show jumping warm-up, and again Fisher wondered how it would affect their performance.
"She had her own agenda that morning, and I tried really hard to go with the flow and not interfere, but I did a bit much and pulled two rails. The only other time she has pulled rails with me was a year ago this month, so I think she is affected by the cycle," said Fisher, who finished on a score of 52.4, still 10 points ahead of second-placed Jolie Sexson and Killian O'Connor.
Worth The Wait
Kelly Prather and the Irish Sport Horse mare Ballinakill Glory were sixth in the order of go out of 40 starters in the CCI*.
"The dressage took all day, and it was kind of nerve-wracking sitting there waiting, hearing them announce scores," said Prather, 22, of Bodega, Calif.
At the end of the day, Prather, who rides for and trains with Andrea Pfeiffer, of Petaluma, Calif., found herself in first place with a score of 42.9, 7 points ahead of second place.
"She is very reliable in the dressage. She has great movement and really likes to go in there and show off," said Prather.
Owned by Pfieffer, Ballinakill Glory was found two months before Prather left Ireland, where she had been working for two years. Ballinakill Glory (Mark Twain--Ballinakill Popsy) was an unbroke 3-year-old, but Prather decided she couldn't leave without her.
The pair ran intermediate at the Twin Rivers event in March and earned a second place at the Galway Downs CIC** (Calif.). But Prather wasn't qualified for the CCI** so decided to go for the CCI* at Twin Rivers.
