Unofficial Stoneleigh Burnham Info

[JeanieClarke2141]

OK, one of my students got through to SBS and I've called some friends in the area.

Here's what I know:

1. weather.com says there have been 2 inches of rain in the last few days and that there is currently a flood warning. 50% chance of more rain tonight and tomorrow AM - not sure of amounts.

2. The whole area is very water logged - rivers and ponds are way up, the ground is sodden.

3. SBS is doing the best they can. They have put SJ in the sand ring, they have shortened and moved the XC to try to stay off the worst of the ground, and they are planning to run.

4. Last year we had much less rain and I scratched after dressage, wishing I had not even done that phase. The field is low and wet and it was a bad experience for the horse. That said, most people did run.

5. I have advised my students to scratch. Some are doing so, some are heading up to the event to evaluate the ground when they get there.

Anyone else have info to share? It's such a good event when the conditions are good...but the mud there is pretty serious.

[CANTEREOIN]

Waiting for reports from the folks running Saturday before a decision to scratch is made. Way to go Stoneleigh for doing the best they can with all the crappy weather we've had!

[hldyrhrses]

So for those of you waiting to hear... Stoneleigh had a good day today. The dressage rings were pretty rough, but they did move them several times. The stadium was in the sand ring, and the warm up right next to it, and the footing out there held up great. XC was also really good. they took a about 5 jumps off the training course, and you did have to run though a few yucky wet areas, but all the jumps were really nicely placed. I was there last year and swore that I would never ride there again if it was wet, and I'm really happy I went- it was much worse last year. (I rode on the first day last year)

So, if your on the fence... I'd say go for it!

[EventingDiva]

I'm glad some had a good day! Stoneleigh is such a nice event and I feel awful for them that they seemed to get rained out each year for their July event!

I was there for my boyfriends first event. We were on the fence about going-as I also showed there last year and knew how the footing was after one night of rain and couldn't imagine how it would be after 25 days of rain. My boyfriend was one of the first rides of the day. Warm up was already soggy and foamy footing. Sure enough he went in the ring with 4 shoes, but managed to come out with 3. We combed the property for a good while and never found the shoe-I have a feeling it was suctioned right off. While we were looking there were 3 others who lost shoes in the same arena (mind you this was before 8am). We walked courses anyway to see...the sand ring was pretty wet-but a better choice then the grass field. My trailer was also parked along side the arena and I saw a lot of slipping going on as we were packing up. XC seemed decent-the footing out of the start gate and to fence one was great! However as you neared lower areas-especially coming out of the woods there was no way to avoid deep footing/water.

We scratched because, there is always another show another day. We chose to run dressage because my horse does not have soundness issues and is typically not prone to losing shoes, but he ended up pulling one today. The farrier had a line up when we went to go get a new shoe made for him and seemed busy all day.

I left by 10:30 am and dressage rings had already had to be moved. I can't even imagine what the footing will be like tomorrow after todays events. I had my horse entered as well but scratched when the rain didn't let up this past week-I didn't want to end up in last years scenario as well. I had a student on her way to compete in her first training but advised her to turn around, I wouldn't want her or her horse losing confidence when it could have been avoided.

Stoneleigh did a great job being concious about the footing, moving the XC course to higher grounds, and being all around helpful today. I feel so bad that this event never seems to just run smoothly! I hope the ground recovers quickly and a schooling day there sounds fun.

Just wanted to give my experience of the day! I hope everyone who rides has a nice day tomorrow, has fun, and is safe!

[quietann]

Things were much better today, though X/C was still quite muddy and the courses remained shortened.

I was there as a groom for a friend riding Novice. The dressage arenas were deep *and* slippery, so she put in small studs and her horse still had some trouble with the footing. Nonetheless, they were in 4th place after dressage! She left the studs in for stadium even though she really didn't need them... and moved up to 2nd :) She changed to big studs for X/C and her horse did very well; they stayed in 2nd :) She says the ride through the woods, which was full of puddles and looked awful, was actually not that bad, but the field after the woods was very mucky and sticky.

It was a lovely day and it was clear that the event crew had done as much as possible to keep the footing workable. Scores were posted quickly, people were in happy moods, and my only complaint was that the food truck didn't open until 7 or so; we'd arrived at 5:30 because my friend was second to go, and had to braid and get the studs in. I desperately needed my coffee as I am NOT a morning person. :lol:

BTW -- per a previous discussion about whether it would be OK to take a higher level's "question" on the way to a lower level's, S-B has a double drop on a fairly steep hill. Novice horses were only required to do the lower drop, but the approach was really difficult for that level -- down the hill and a sharp turn at the last minute onto the "platform" between the two drops before taking the lower one. My friend asked the TD if it was OK to do the double drop (as was done in Training and Prelim), and they said it was fine. For horses with double-drop experience, this proved to be a much better choice. So in this case it was "at the TD's discretion" though I think it would have been more fair if the double drop option had been made clear to everyone.

(Slight grumble of the day: my friend knows Denny from way way back and was talking with him after S/J, and she didn't introduce me...)

[chism]

Things were much better today, though X/C was still quite muddy and the courses remained shortened.

I was there as a groom for a friend riding Novice. The dressage arenas were deep *and* slippery, so she put in small studs and her horse still had some trouble with the footing. Nonetheless, they were in 4th place after dressage! She left the studs in for stadium even though she really didn't need them... and moved up to 2nd :) She changed to big studs for X/C and her horse did very well; they stayed in 2nd :) She says the ride through the woods, which was full of puddles and looked awful, was actually not that bad, but the field after the woods was very mucky and sticky.

It was a lovely day and it was clear that the event crew had done as much as possible to keep the footing workable. Scores were posted quickly, people were in happy moods, and my only complaint was that the food truck didn't open until 7 or so; we'd arrived at 5:30 because my friend was second to go, and had to braid and get the studs in. I desperately needed my coffee as I am NOT a morning person. :lol:

BTW -- per a previous discussion about whether it would be OK to take a higher level's "question" on the way to a lower level's, S-B has a double drop on a fairly steep hill. Novice horses were required to only do the lower drop, but the approach was really difficult for that level -- down the hill and a sharp turn at the last minute onto the "platform" between the two drops before taking the lower one. My friend asked the TD if it was OK to do the double drop (as was done in Training and Prelim), and they said it was fine. For horses with double-drop experience, this proved to be a much better choice. So in this case it was "at the TD's discretion" though I think it would have been more fair if the double drop option had been made clear to everyone.

I agree with everything Ann said. Always a well run event with tons of friendly staff and volunteers. Dressage footing was yucky, but completely expected. I walked the XC course with my daughter and it was boggy in spots but not too bad, especially through the woods. It would have been nice to know about the drop...I was taking pictures of my daughter and was convinced she was jumping the wrong fence & going to be eliminated at the drop. I fell down on the "photo taking" job because I was like "What the heck is she doing?! I was so relieved when the jump judge told me the first drop was an option.

[quietann]

It would have been nice to know about the drop...I was taking pictures of my daughter and was convinced she was jumping the wrong fence & going to be eliminated at the drop. I fell down on the "photo taking" job because I was like "What the heck is she doing?! I was so relieved when the jump judge told me the first drop was an option.

Agreed it was the better option. I noticed that most of the people taking the double were the more experienced ones -- probably those comfortable enough to walk up to the TD and ask the question -- or connected enough to hear about it through the grapevine. (My friend told at least two people that it was OK to do the double drop.) Your daughter is in good company :) and it pained me to see several refusals that looked, from a distance, like the horse just getting confused.

[CANTEREOIN]

Stonleigh did a great job keeping the show going. It was safe and fun! The damage to the lawn is amazing but they kept moving the rings to be sure that the footing was the best it could be. And the weather really helped to dry things out...

Thanks for the great effort!

[Guyot]

anyone know who was snapping shots and what their website is? thanks!!

Footing was great... used bullets in back for all three phases on Saturday (training) and never slipped... surprisingly had my best dressage score yet... and I thought the footing held up really well on x-c. Rather run on that, then hard ground....

[bip]

I don't remember the photographer's name off hand. I remember they were from NY and the guy told me that they weren't putting the proofs up until the end of the month. Don't know if he was just blowing smoke up my ass so I would buy one ... which totally worked because they got a beautiful shot of my trainer on my horse. I told DH I'm going to photoshop my head onto her perfect position, lol.

[hldyrhrses]

it's usually Reflections photography, and they traditionally don't post proofs ... however, since I never actually made it to them.. I would be psyched if they did post them!

[bip]

Yep, I just checked my receipt and it was Reflections. Wouldn't surprise me if they didn't post the proofs, he sounded kind of non-committal about it.

[Crazy_Eventer]

HUGE thanks to Stoneleigh :) I had so much fun (even if that horse eating ditch did get us :lol: ) and was so glad they didn't cancel the show! They did a great job modifying the course and moving the dressage rings between divisions to give everyone the best footing possible.

On a seperate note, I was a little bit surprised at some of the behavior in the stabling in the indoor. I understand that it was maybe a little bit of a walk to carry water buckets outside to dump them, but seeing people walk just far enough away from their stall to dump their water in the aisle was pretty rude-and then forced everyone else to tramp through it. Not to mention the fact that we were stabled in someone's beautiful INDOOR RING. The volunteer who then had to walk around posting signs about not dumping water inside was righteously pretty irritated. If we as competitors want to continue to be allowed to use these facilities, we need to respect their property.

[EventingDiva]

Reflections was the photographer. They don't typically post proofs but they are this year! However they are not posting until after their shooting season (Sept.)! They are typically great if you email them and give them your number about sending proofs over! They get some great shots and they are quality! I have lots of photos from them from previous years and love them!!!

CrazyEventer-sad to hear about the stabling. When we went into the office to scratch at 9am on Saturday volunteers were making signs about hosing horses and dumping buckets in the stabling! I couldn't believe it...and it didn't even seem that many people were stabled! I'm sad to hear it continued! I would hate to see on site stabling be taken away due to lack of respect!

Stoneleigh did a great job and I love their facility. I wish for good footing and good weather next show! See you all there ;)!

[quietann]

We were right next to one of the hoses and things got pretty muddy on Sunday. I did not see a lot of people dumping water inside, but the hose pressure was very high and it was inevitable that some water would get sprayed around.

What was missing (on Sunday anyway) was any outside place to hose off horses. There were spigots, but they required some sort of key and did not have hoses attached. Skip (aka Fair Deal) came in from X/C pretty sweaty and it would have been nice to have been able to hose him off rather than giving him a sponge bath.

Stabling wasn't that full, but a lot of horses were there for only one night -- Friday for Saturday's BN and T runs, and Saturday for Sunday's N and P runs. There were some unhappy horses in the temporary stalls and I can't really blame them... but Skip is such a trooper, he slept most of the time and only got upset when his neighbor got dinner first :lol: I took him for a walk about then...

[chism]

Agreed it was the better option. I noticed that most of the people taking the double were the more experienced ones -- probably those comfortable enough to walk up to the TD and ask the question -- or connected enough to hear about it through the grapevine. (My friend told at least two people that it was OK to do the double drop.) Your daughter is in good company :) and it pained me to see several refusals that looked, from a distance, like the horse just getting confused.

Her horse still refused the first drop, lol... but then he was like "Oh, ok..I get it." and got on with it.