Northwind Farm

10/24/2024

What could possibly be in the works for CCE in the Pacific Northwest in 2025?

Cross Country Equestrian Association

10/24/2024

We are at it again! I'm happy to announce that the first Cross Country Equestrian Association competition in Washington state in 2025 will be May 10th and 11th- Mother's Day weekend, at Rainbow Meadow Farm. I will be getting together with Annie Childress next week to plan some really cool course changes and upgrades to make the spring fling an absolute blast! Planning on some great pony club involvement. Make sure you bring your moms, there may be presents!

10/23/2024

There are some great options coming for NW equestrians whose summer 2025 travel plans don’t include Montana!
Boutique Equestrian Events, in partnership with Cross Country Equestrian Association will be hosting an accredited competition with 3 phases on July 18-20 at the Washington State Horse Park. This is a great opportunity to sharpen skills, improve partnerships and experience CCE at the accredited level! This presents a great way to prepare for what the rest of the summer’s competition calendar has in store, with the added benefit of spending time at the beautiful Washington State Horse Park and surrounding area! There is lots to do in your time out of the saddle! I will be making further announcements in the coming days and weeks regarding other CCE competitions and venues for 2025! Exciting stuff!

10/20/2024

Northwind has a few stalls available just in time for winter!!!

We’ve been working hard! Remattimg stalls, refurbishing the arena footing- all to get ready for winter riding!

We get up to all kinds of fun- jumping and flat lessons, trail rides, fox hunting, the new sport of Cross Country Equestrian (CCE), potlucks, and general supportive, barn community fun. Come join us!

10/09/2024

Still some spots open!!

10/09/2024

Well, my heels were down that's good - off to another hunter trials 50 years later! Woodbrook Hunt Club

10/07/2024

Northwind Farm is happy to host Sara Sellmer, of Z Eventing in Langley, BC, for a 2 day Jumping Clinic at Northwind Farm on November 23-24. Sara is an extraordinary Canadian 3 day event rider and coach, competing up through the C**** level, and is equally successful in the dressage and jumper arenas. She's the rare bird who is equal parts horse psychologist and rider/coach. She is also just an extraordinary human being.

Please join us! Small group lessons, with day 1 focusing on flat work basics and work over low poles, intending to get the horse and rider prepared and tuned for day 2's course work over fences. Some XC questions may be incorporated depending on participant desires.

Price is $250 for the weekend. The two-day clinic format requires commitment for both days, so no single day rides.
We may have some limited overnight stabling available.

Contact Maggie Mittuch via Messenger to confirm to co firm your interest!

10/02/2024

Some important information about the upcoming Woodbrook Hunt Club Horse show, Hunter Trials, and Hunter Pace. I am quite sure the setting of the Hunter Trials in Michael Wager Field will be breathtaking! A great opportunity to observe and take part in the beauty and tradition of the Woodbrook Hunt. Please take note of the iSportsman requirement, and feel free to reach out to any of the contacts below with your questions.

On October 12th, when the air has that "autumn" chill and the trees are vibrant with yellow and red leaves, the Hunter Trials field jumps will be decked out with cornstalks, pumpkins, straw bales and bright mums ready for the competitors! An enthusiastic group of tailgaters will be watching the action, wowing us with their creativity! Shop at the Hunt Hack and Tack booth benefitting our hounds through the Woodbrook Foundation! Definitely bring chairs and find old friends and new, have lunch and watch exciting classes, as members and friends in formal attire test their skills as well as that of the beautifully turned out hunt horses with gleaming coats and tight braids!

So what are Hunter Trials? These classes were originally created to test the bravery, stamina and level-headedness of a field hunter over conditions that simulate the terrain and obstacles found on a typical hunt. You'll see two derbies, a pairs and teams jumping classes, cute kids on ponies and maybe visit with a foxhound or two!

There are three events on Saturday, starting with a horse show at 9 am in an enclosed arena on the Hunter Trials field. Classes go from Fox Follower Ground Poles up to 18" Future Hunters, and two lead-line classes, one over poles!

The final Hunter Pace of our series will start at 10 am, and we will be awarding championship prizes to all the flight winners of the series at the end of the show! You can show and also do the Hunter Pace, it's a good way to warm up your horse before the classes!

The Hunter Trials start at 12:30 pm in the Michael Wager Field, there's a fun family class as well as junior and senior Hunter Hack classes and the Derbies! The Derbies are Hunt & Handy that combine a classic hunter course of 6-8 jumps immediately followed by a handy course of 4-6 jumps for a total of 12 obstacles. Junior and Senior High Point coolers donated by Olson's Tack Shop will be awarded at the conclusion of the show!

All competitors will need an iSportsman permit to participate!

Enter one or all three here:

https://www.ringradar.com/247/show-info/

And don't forget, WHC's Opening Day Hunt is Sunday, October 13th!

Questions about the Hunter Trials? Call/textJennifer Hansen at 253-377-4892 or email her at [email protected].
Questions about Opening Day Hunt? Call/text Jt. MFH Theresa Lazares at 253-973-8639 or email her at [email protected].

Tally Ho!

Woodbrook Hunt Club
Lakewood, WA
www.woodbrookhuntclub.com

"To find out how you can help preserve our tradition, our hunt habitat, our hunt facilities, and our unique equestrian community, please visit the Woodbrook Foundation at: thewoodbrookfoundation.org”

09/25/2024

Keeping godsons and goddaughters organized is a thing, so I'm thinking that we need to open for entries sooner rather than later, so that we can organize the schedule in a way that Sara Sellmer can teach her clinic here at Northwind Farm on 23/24 November, and still go hunting with me as well.

Woodbrook Hunt Club

09/24/2024

Northwind farm has a limited number of boarding/training stalls coming available this fall.
We have a great community at Northwind, with horses and riders participating in a number of fun and educational opportunities;
Fox hunting with Woodbrook Hunt Club, with hunt season about to begin, it is a priority of ours to introduce the uninitiated to this incredible sport and community - From First Flight to Hilltoppers, young and old, there is a place for everyone!
Eventing & dressage, trail riding, and the NEW and EXCITING Cross Country Equestrian Association with its clinics, workshops and competitions (CCE).
Contact Nelson Mittuch for information.
Messenger or phone 253 208-7575

09/23/2024

A couple of the spectators from our wonderfully positive Cross Country Equestrian Association Clinic Workshop/Competition at the Washington State Horse Park this past weekend, showing their support for the CCE philosophy of utilizing obstacles and creating questions that make sense to equines. Natural obstacles integrated with the terrain and environment. It’s a win for horses and riders. Not to be confused with Coneheads!

09/18/2024

Why I promote and organize CCE events in the PNW, and soon California:

1. Restoration of community where horsemen support horseman, camaraderie is key. It's not about money or social media clicks, it's about finding true partnership and succeeding together.

2. Restoration of putting the horse first no matter what.

3. Creating an environment and a format, which again celebrates and showcases the nobility of the thoroughbred horse.

4. Creating a competition environment where everyone has the chance to finish in a better place than when they arrived. Early elimination without the chance to end on a positive note is just not a thing!

5. I love throwing a good party! We are going to have live music at these events wherever possible and it's OK to have fun! We have a guest fiddler at this event so expect a bit of Kentucky Bluegrass in Washington state!

(Still a few days left to enter our event at the Washington State Horse Park. If you're not in the position to enter, absolutely feel free to come and audit, or even better volunteer! Looking forward to seeing you all.)

Entries here: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159
Feel free to message me with any questions!
Cross Country Equestrian Association

09/17/2024

Current vibe heading into this weekend at the Washington State Horse Park! On a personal note many of you may be wondering why an old dyed-in-the-wool Eventer and Show Jumper would put so much time and effort in promoting this new sport out of Kentucky? Briefly here are my 5 reasons:

1. Restoration of community where horsemen support horseman, camaraderie is key. It's not about money or social media clicks, it's about finding true partnership and succeeding together.

2. Restoration of putting the horse first no matter what.

3. Creating an environment and a format, which again celebrates and showcases the nobility of the thoroughbred horse.

4. Creating a competition environment where everyone has the chance to finish in a better place than when they arrived. Early elimination without the chance to end on a positive note is just not a thing!

5. I love throwing a good party! We are going to have live music at these events wherever possible and it's OK to have fun! We have a guest fiddler at this event so expect a bit of Kentucky Bluegrass in Washington state!

Critical last days for entry. Still some spots available!

More info:

Nick Larkin, winner of the inaugural Kentucky Three-Day Event--where you’ll have the opportunity to ride and learn. There’s the competition option. And then there’s the EXR option where you’ll have the opportunity to do some endurance style riding (styled like a hunter pace, jumping optional). Riders have the option to go out solo, or with a group and to select the level that best suits their needs—you can also pick different options for each day.
Join us, have fun, enjoy the live music on Saturday night, and try something new. Western riders and saddles are welcome for non-jumping activities!

Entries here: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159
Feel free to message me with any questions!
Cross Country Equestrian Association
https://crosscountryequestrianassociation.com

09/13/2024

Northwind farm has a limited number of boarding/training stalls coming available this fall.
We have a great community at Northwind, with horses and riders participating in a number of fun and educational opportunities;
Fox hunting with Woodbrook Hunt Club, with hunt season about to begin, it is a priority of ours to introduce the uninitiated to this incredible sport and community - From First Flight to Hilltoppers, young and old, there is a place for everyone!
Eventing & dressage, trail riding, and the NEW and EXCITING Cross Country Equestrian Association with its clinics, workshops and competitions (CCE).

Contact Nelson Mittuch for information.
Messenger or phone 253 208-7575

09/13/2024

Due to great participation, the Saturday CCE clinic is now full. We are now or adding a clinic on Sunday morning with CCR Workshop Competition in the afternoon. Still some space available for individual CCR (cross country) and XTR (endurance) please contact me directly with any questions, or special requests, or the Cross Country Equestrian Association. We are maintaining early bird pricing to make it the best deal possible! Can't wait to see you all. It's going to be a great week weekend!

Link to entry: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159

Washington State Horse Park

09/09/2024

Please spread the word to your friends and get your entries in soon for the CCE Clinic and the CCR on Saturday at Washington State Horse Park September 21st! More information below about remaining availability.
Link to entry: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159

09/06/2024

We are so excited to be offering this CCE opportunity at the Washington State Horse Park in only 2 weeks time! September 21/22. Ride one or both days!

What is CCE you ask? CCE is the new cool cross-country based sport that brings on the fun, camaraderie and horsemanship. https://crosscountryequestrianassociation.com

Who is it appropriate for? Everyone! CCE is highly inclusive and there’s something for everyone—you don’t even have to jump! (Though we highly recommend it). We’re offering multiple options for those who wish to compete and for those who don’t. There’s a clinic/workshop option with Nick Larkin, winner of the inaugural Kentucky Three-Day Event--where you’ll have the opportunity to ride and learn. There’s the competition option. And then there’s the EXR option where you’ll have the opportunity to do some endurance style riding (styled like a hunter pace, jumping optional). Riders have the option to go out solo, or with a group and to select the level that best suits their needs—you can also pick different options for each day.

Join us, have fun, enjoy the live music on Saturday night, and try something new. Western riders and saddles are welcome for non-jumping activities!

Entries here: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159

Feel free to message me with any questions!
Cross Country Equestrian Association

09/04/2024

Two weeks after knee surgery and got back on a horse for the first time. Quite proud of myself for surviving a major spook going down the driveway followed by a series of bucks from a frisky horse! Really looking forward to getting back to the good stuff. CCE at the Washington State Horse Park coming up in 2 1/2 weeks! Enter here: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159
Woodbrook Hunt Club

08/25/2024

Entries are now open for or CCE Clinic/ Workshop-Competition/ EXR-Endurance X Ride at the Washington State Horse Park September 21/21
To find out more about this modern endeavor where no one needs to fail in order for the whole community to win. The positive energy is amply demonstrated by the smiling faces at the end! We are going to prove that it really is still OK to have fun at an equestrian event. Live music Saturday night!

Link to more information about this exciting new equestrian endeavor: https://crosscountryequestrianassociation.com

Enter here: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159

Feel free to message me with your questions -Nelson Mittuch
Entries are going well, so please don't wait for the last minute to reserve your clinic spot. Early entries receive a free extra round for the CCR

YOUR COURSE. YOUR CHOICE. ENJOY YOUR HORSE.

08/23/2024

Looking at the calendar, our CCE offers a golden opportunity for a tune up the week prior to the Spokane Sport Horse 10th Annual Fall H.T. Remember Nick Larkin the former top-level eventer from New Zealand, winner of the inaugural Kentucky Three-Day Event on a Thoroughbred will be available for teaching and coaching at our Cross Country Equestrian Association weekend at the Washington State Horse Park September 21/22! So if you want some tips on how to get it done on a horse that hasn't been genetically modified to the tune of six figures here's your chance! Private/ semi private lessons in dressage/jumping will also be available by appointment in addition to cross country oriented clinic and workshops as well as the endurance oriented EXR. Feel free to message me with any questions.

Link to entry: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159

08/22/2024

We are still looking for another feeder to add to our rotation! Contact Maggie Mittuch for details! We are open to responsible and mature 16-17 year olds if they have farm and horse experience, have parent permission and reliable transportation.

08/19/2024

What is the CCE Workshop/
Competition we are presenting at Washington State Horse Park Sep 21/22?
CCE is a brand new equestrian sport based around a cross-country jumping competition, that rewards a well developed partnership between horse and rider.

The competitor rides a course of obstacles, scoring points for successfully jumping and incurring penalties for errors and exceeding the course time. CCE is a completely objectively scored equestrian sport.

POINTS – PENALTIES = FINAL SCORE

The competitive goal is simple: to finish with the highest score.

The most unique feature of CCE is that every obstacle is optional, so a rider can choose whether to attempt an obstacle or to pass and ride on to the next. There is no penalty for passing an obstacle.This flexibility makes it much easier for competitors to do what is best for their partnership, and allows the partnership to progress toward their own goals.

CCE asks for a well trained and conditioned horse, and a knowledgable and capable rider, but does not require a singular talent such as incredible movement or jumping scope. The sport is about horsemanship and partnership as much as it is about athletic ability and skill.

CCE does more than just test these attributes - it creates the perfect environment for their development.

What are the main components of CCE?
The principal components of CCE are the Cross Country Ride (CCR) stage, and the Jump Off Ride (JOR) stage.

The CCR stage is a course of obstacles in an open setting with many outward similarities to an eventing XC course. The competitor rides at pace, jumping the obstacles in sequence, but may elect to PASS any of the obstacles. Courses are of moderate length similar to eventing, but are longer in the higher Classes of competition.

The JOR stage is a shorter and more intense course than CCR and has two or three sections, depending on the Class. The first section begins in an arena setting with many of the obstacles found in a show jumping competition. The course continues to an open setting very similar to the CCR stage, but may also include a Gallop section with no obstacles. In some Classes the course returns to the arena setting for an exciting finish to the competition.

Why CCE?
CCE was designed around 5 core values and a unifying goal.

Accessibility: dramatically reducing the barriers common to equestrian sports and allowing more horses, riders and organizers to participate and providing clear paths for everyone to progress.

Flexibility: a wide variety of competition formats and inclusive structures that allow more organizers to participate, which creates more opportunities for competitors; rules that allow competitors to choose exactly what is best for their partnership.

Horsemanship: developed at all levels and required at the highest; a well prepared horse and thoughtful tactical riding is fostered, incentivized and ultimately tested.

Partnership: developing the partnership between horse and rider, without the uncompromising pressures that can often damage this relationship.

Sensibility: designed to develop horses and riders of all levels, by asking the right questions, with straight forward rules absent of unnecessary rigidity.

A sport that returns equestrians to their origin… connecting with their horse.

08/18/2024

ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN for our Cross Country Equestrian Association Clinic, CCR Workshop/ Competition, and EXR (endurance/hunter pace), at the Washington State Horse Park.
SATURDAY, September 21
Mounted CCE Clinic followed by CCE Workshop Completion.
Evening Social with LIVE MUSIC!
SUNDAY-September 22
CCE Workshop Completion
Additionally: Mounted Hunt Clinic with dedicated Hunt CCR Workshop/Competition (Special discount for Woodbrook Hunt Club members)
CCE founder Nick Larkin will be flying in from Kentucky and we plan to showcase what this new, inclusive and exciting discipline has to offer! There will also be some availability for private and semi private lessons Friday evening. Entry packages include stabling and associated Horse Park fees. Link to entry: https://form.jotform.com/241633399344159

If you have questions about what you should enter please contact me or get in touch via email: [email protected]

08/16/2024

Entries are now open for our Cross Country Equestrian Association Clinic, CCR Workshop and EXR at the Washington State Horse Park September 21/22 It's going to be an incredible weekend! Reserve your spot now. Early entry period is discounted and includes one FREE Additional Round for a Workshop!

Please click the link to complete this form.