Spring Bay - thank you.

[Gryhrs]

Huge kudos to Stanley Wiggs, Debbie Hinkle and all the Spring Bay volunteers. Thank you all.

Weather could not have been more perfect. The new format is great - so much easier to just pack up once. The show was extremely well organized. I so appreciate all your efforts.

[JFS]

Oh no, what happened to make it necessary to euthanize that poor horse? Is the rider OK?

Jackie

[Crazy Eventer]

This was my first trip to Spring Bay so I can't say how it has been in the past but this show was amazing. The communication was great. Organizers, volunteers, officials etc were fantastic. Courses were beautiful and seemed to ride very well.
A HUGE thank you to all!

[FoxChaser]

Other than a horse that needed to be euthanized, weekend was great.

I heard something about a training level horse. Anyone know the details???

[saje]

It didn't need to be euthanized. She (I think it was a mare) collapsed 3/4 of the way through the course, after the tables. As I understand it she was gone by the time the vet got there. NOT a crash at a fence, probably an aneurysm. :( Rider essentially ok, I think.

A sad way to start the season though :(

[Gryhrs]

I did not know about the horse. How terribly sad. My heart goes out to the rider.

Your sarcasm Evan certainly makes me feel like a complete heel and for that I thank you.

[riderboy]

Yes; the show was well organized and the format change was a big improvement. The weather was great as well. My guy was a bit of a lunatic in the XC warmup but soooo good on course- ah well, the first spring show can be interesting. Very sorry about the horse death and rider injury. I heard aneurysm also. I don't know a single eventer who is not greatly saddened by such news no matter what the cause, being a sarcastic a## does not help.

[Fence2Fence]

Kanga, that was really uncalled for.

I do not know this from 'official' sources so please keep that in mind when discussing, but I understand that it was an aneurysm and that in the fall the rider injured her shoulder. I really hope she's ok.

Otherwise, it was a very lovely weekend. I scribed on Saturday, and it was wonderful. I learn so much when I scribe. So worth freezing my butt off in the morning and my hand cramping. Lots of lovely riding, lovely horses, and lovely turnout.

On Sunday, I jumped judged towards the end of the BN/N course. The creek crossing (unflagged) proved to be troublesome. One rider was stuck, and each rider that passed her asked if they were ok. One rider actually stopped in the creek, waited, and tried to give the other rider/horse a lead. Unfortunately, the rider's horse wasn't interested in the lead, and at that point the rider called it a day. So unfortunate!

Lots of lovely riding. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend!

[Auburn]

The weather could not have been more perfect! Soooo much nicer, than last year. From what I saw, I thought that the new format really did work much better for the riders.

The person injured apparently broke her collar bone. She is the barn manager, where a friend of mine boards her horse. The horse just dropped after jump 15.

My husband and I were the jump judges for jump #17 on the Prelim course. We had one run out, which flagged a rider to end her day. She was very nice about it. We were not needed for Training, so we left and did not hear of the horse dying until my friend called me.

My condolences to the rider and owner for their loss. :(

[Gryhrs]

Understood Kanga. Appreciate the clarification.

[FlightCheck]

That's the first time I've ever announced Spring Bay and it HASN'T rained or been freezing on XC day!

And to those of you who fence judged on the N/BN side...you rock!

[Gryhrs]

Does anyone know the website for Vic's pics? And for Perry Photography?

Thanks.

[cindylouwho]

I don't know if Victoria has a website, but I believe her email address is victoriatrout@gmail.com. She normally offers a great deal on a CD of all your photos.

Perry is vwperryphotos.com.

[hamsterpoop]

The show organizers must have prayed to the weather Gods because now, less than 24 hours aftera beautiful warm sunny weekend it is cold and rainy! Great job everyone, very, very nice. What were the photogs website for Vics Pics? I got Perrys. Thanks

[WindyRidgeEventing]

Vic's Pics is www.vicspic.exposuremanager.com most everything is already up!

Lovely weather this weekend and the XC courses were great! I feel this year's event was geared more towards a first event of the year an it showed by a lot of horses having great rounds at BN and N...kudos to everyone!

[Gryhrs]

Does anyone know who won the coach award?

[Carried Away]

Just looked at the results on www.eventingnewsusa.com and it seems like there were a lot of Rider Falls...anyone know why??

[karaandrew]

Spring Bay was great, thank you to Stanley Wiggs, Debbie Hinkle and all the Spring Bay volunteers.

[FoxChaser]

Does anyone know who won the coach award?

Philippa Richards :)

[Gryhrs]

Thanks Fox Chaser!

Carried Away - Debbie Hinkle was the secretary for the event and asked me to pass this along re: the rider fall question. I am quoting her word for word.

"We actually had about the usual number for an early spring event. It is more noticeable now that they are marked RF rather than 65 penalties, etc. Two BNR riders popped off after stops in Stadium. A third BNR junior rider did what I would call a nice emergency dismount (landed on feet) on XC Fence 2. And one Trng rider did the same on XC. I think the more detailed reporting is good for statistics but sometimes gives the impression that the courses were unsafe or that the riders were clueless. Mostly they just wished for more Saddle Tite!"

[Geri'nDarth]

A fun and well organized event. The new format was sooooo much better.
As was the weather.

Announcing was great, although the speakers failed on the BN/N side by the horse trailers, which made us miss out on how a lot of our friends were doing. But all in all it was a fabulous event.

Plan to come next year. Put in the order for sunshine and blue skies now!!

i can't end without saying my heart hurts for the rider who lost her horse.

[chestnutwithchrome]

This was my first time competing at Spring Bay, and it was AMAZING! Very well run, and the weather was perfect :-) I loved it. That is so unfortunate that a horse was lost though, I did not hear till just now :(

[Carried Away]

gryhrs, thanks for the clarification. I have heard nothing but good things from friends who attended...hoping my OTTB will be ready to head down there next spring!