Castlewood Equestrians

31/01/2022

What a great day for eight Castlewood team members. Everyone placed in every class. We had a huge support group of parents, grand parents, friends, siblings, and non-showing team members. 16 successful and amazing rides all done betweeen 8 and 10:30am. I could not be more proud of what these girls and horses accomplished, the personal growth and maturity was astounding, and the sportsmanship they continue to share not just within our group but to others is something to be proud of. Enjoy the photos!

Ps. Thanks Sue for helping get us in and out early. I appreciate all that you and the team at CVF do to make these weekends special for us!

10/01/2022

Excellent weekend at CVF for a few of our Castlewood competitors. Marley had an excellent first show on Rex and finished 4th and 8th in her jumping classes out of 14 riders. Kylie and Rex also had a good day finishing in 4th, 3rd and 4th in their classes. Mia and Hershey took home champion in the beginner jumpers this morning placing 4th, 1st and 7th. Many thanks to CVF for always putting on a well run show. Also thank you to the parents and grandparents for coming out to support us. It was a fun weekend.

26/09/2021

Three Castlewood riders competed in the NEOMTA Championships yesterday. Aside from us simply having a fun and enjoyable day together, everyone did very well. First of the day, Lainey scored a personal best in dressage of 30.6 and went double clear in both jumping phases but ended just outside the ribbons. Camryn finished 3rd on her 26.6 dressage score and had flawless stadium and cross country rounds. Anyone who knows her horse, Gambler, knows he isn’t an easy ride. Maddie came in just behind Camryn in 4th place riding Legacy and finishing on their 26.9 dressage score. This young mare is new to the show ring this summer and Maddie has done an excellent job showing her the ropes. Finally, many thanks to Anna for volunteering at the show as well! We appreciate you!

And congratulations to our friend Miranda on her stellar performance at the NODA Championships today scoring a 74.5 Intro C and a 67 in T3 for a 1st and 3rd respectively!

I also want to thank Stone Gate Farm for another wonderful weekend. Laura Smith, we loved your announcing yesterday. And many thanks to all the volunteers who make these days possible!

04/07/2021

Great day at Pure Gold Mini Trial with Lainey, Maddie and Anna. It was the perfect venue for these three. Lainey led her Intro division until she decided fast = fun and blazed through her cross country course. For the record my last words were “go forward but maintain control. If he is going to fast come down to a walk”. So a second place finish for them. Maddie and Ronnie put in an awesome dressage test, made their way easily through stadium and ate up the cross country course landing them in 2nd. Anna and her new horse Street also had a great dressage, strong stadium and easily made their way around starter cross country finishing 4th. And thanks to Sam for all of the help today❤️

04/07/2021

This boy turns 24 today. He has definitely been the foundation of my program carting around new riders, adults, my nieces and nephews and their babies, therapeutic riders, he has competed through starter at mini trials and beginner novice in jumpers and my husband has even ridden him. I’ve been blessed to have some amazing animals in my life and Dandy is no exception. He is still sassy, had speed fault penalties on cross country today, has an annoying screeching whinny, but I love him. Help me wish him the happiest of birthdays! Drop a note of your favorite memory of him as well.

21/06/2021

Some of us traveled to the beautiful Stone Gate farm this weekend for our first mini trial of the year. We have lots of new teams this year so we are learning the ropes as we go. Mia walked away with a well earned 2nd place in her starter division. We had lots of great dressage rides, awesome stadium and a couple of baubles on Xc kept us from placing. But we experience, learn and go back home to practice some more. Enjoy these pictures of our amazing group.

12/04/2021

Castlewood Equestrian Amanda Walker and her lovely horse Roman showed at the Lake Erie College Prix de Ville this weekend. With scores of 71.731% in Training 1 and 70.345% Training 3 on Saturday and 69.483% Training 2 and 71.034% in Training 3 on Sunday, Amanda and Roman nailed their first recognized event. These are well deserved scores for this hard working team.

08/03/2021

Super proud of my little group of jumpers today. Up first was Presley and Pride. I rode him in the first two classes due to the excitement of the 25+ riders per class. After settling in, Presley navigated their first horse show class together with maturity. An unlucky rail came down but they accomplished their goal of getting through the class in a very busy electric environment. Sonja continues to improve with her very enthusiastic mount, Chief. Settling into a rhythm has been difficult for this big guy but they managed to have more positive, quiet moments with every ride even placing 4th when all the pieces came together. Erin and Rocko were stellar placing in all three novice jumper classes and putting together three really great rides. I’m so proud of Erin’s progress with her riding. Amanda and Roman laid down three great rides as well placing in all three of their Training Jumpers classes. Keeping this long strided horse together is no easy task but Amanda’s hard work continues to pay off. Finally, a huge thank you to Chagrin Valley Farms for putting on another great show.

27/01/2021

The Bierce’s welcomed a new member to their family this weekend. Anna and Street have a very bright future together. I am excited to watch them develop and grow. Look out 2021 ... the Castlewood team is ready to rock and roll.

10/01/2021

Many thanks to Krista Child for hosting a Lainey Ashker clinic. Amanda, Ella, Maddie, Sonja and I had a great time riding and learning. Looking forward to the next time!

30/12/2020

Congratulations to the Repasky’s on their purchase of American Pride an 8 year old Morgan cross. Presley and Pride, P², is a team to watch! Many thanks to Meg Kepferle for bringing this guy along and showing him to us. Thanks also to 20/20 Horse Transport for getting him to us safely. It going to be great fun to be part of this team’s journey!

28/12/2020

We had a successful day at Chagrin Valley Farms yesterday. Many thanks to the more experienced riders and their parents for helping our newcomers. I am so very proud of our team and where we are headed.

Amanda scored a 26.4 riding Roman to win the Novice A class. Amanda also showed First Level test 1 receiving 2nd place.

Intro B and C
Holly riding Mo 4th and 3rd
Marley riding Hershey 6th and 5th
Lainey riding Dandy 7th and 4th
Maddie riding Ronnie 8th

Training Level 1 and 3
Ella riding Wonder 6th and 5th
Presley riding Hershey 8th and 2nd
Stephanie riding Gus 4th in TL3

BN A
Ella and Wonder 2nd

I also showed Shagall in First Level Test 3 and Second 1. Shagall was all business and scored well winning both classes (we were the only ones in the second level class:-).

I would love to have some parents share some photos from the day in the comments.

And as always, Chagrin ran a wonderful and socially distanced show! Thanks for having us!

20/11/2020

They say misery loves company. Most of the riders this month have lessoned without stirrups. We’ve tried to make it fun. The Thursday riders have been riding together learning proper sitting trot, jumping, tempo, and last week some fun games. I’m proud of these kids! It’s not easy and yet they smile the entire time!

02/11/2020

Members of the Castlewood Equestrian team competed at the Chagrin Valley Farms Schooling show yesterday. It was a day full of surprises. Hersheys Kisses and Legacy both had meltdowns due to high winds and loud roof noises. Sadly it was in everyone’s best interest to scratch those horses. Presley and Maddie rode like superstars however and handled the situation so well. We also had some amazing rides. Starting the day was our newest competitor, Holly Warren, showing her horse Mo. This team has overcome some serious confidence issues of both horse and rider. Out of a large 19 person class this pair placed 2nd. I think they also had fun which was our only goal for the day! Julie Trapani showed her horse, Harry, to a 3rd and 7th place finish. It was nice to see them having such a great time together. Lainey Bierce showed Dandy to a 2nd and 8th place finish. Dandy was a difficult ride for his first test but settled into a nice rhythm when Lainey took charge. Camryn Lappe showed Gus due to an unfortunately times medical problem with her horse. After just two rides she pulled out a 2nd and 3rd in her two training tests. And finally bringing home blue for the team is Stephanie Kover riding Gus. She has never shown due to some nerves but overcame those fears and executed a lovely Training Level Test 1. Congratulations to everyone. It gives me great pleasure to be part of this team!

07/10/2020

Today was seriously one of those great days of teaching. Everyone accomplished great things for the level of their riding. And it was so fun watching them in their success. I wish I had gotten pictures of everyone! Thanks for a good day to everyone.

03/10/2020

Great show hosted by NODA. Many thanks to the many volunteers it takes to put on a show any day but especially during these difficult times. Our team was happy to get out and test our knowledge of the dressage tests. We have loads of work to do but we’re very happy with today’s accomplishments.

22/09/2020

My assistant trainer says “Ride Your Corners”

20/09/2020

Great afternoon schooling at the beautiful South Farm. We had some a mix of horse and rider combinations today. Everyone came out and accomplished what we needed to accomplish and the horses tried their hardest to please their riders!

09/09/2020

07/09/2020

Though I was born dreaming of being an equestrian this was the first time I was ever on a horse. I’m pretty certain I rode a few times during this family trip to Floradale, MI. It was the beginning of this crazy horse life that has brought me so much joy and so many wonderful memories. Thank you mom and dad! Probably 3-4 years old???

05/09/2020

We definitely know how to have fun. Great day at the South Farm combined test for Allison Morris, Amanda Walker, Camryn Lappe, Ella DiNardo and new to our team members Anna Cocco and Maddie Womack! Many many thanks to Mary Kaye and Dave Hulch, the parents, and South Farm for helping make our day super special!

23/08/2020

Another great day at the CVF mini trial. Amanda Walker and Roman just missed scoring in the 20’s due to a bobble at the canter. But another great day for the team leads to a second blue ribbon finish. Congrats to this hard working pair. Thanks goes out to Samantha Ensinger and Maddie Womack for all of the help. And thanks for support from Mary Kay Hluch, Camryn, and Anna Cocco for cheering on the riders.

22/08/2020

Great start to the weekend with these beautiful girls! Presley and Ella showed in the starter division at CVF. Ella’s goals were to put three great, confident rides on her horse. Presley focused on getting more elasticity out of her pony. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! So proud of their efforts and sportsmanship!

14/08/2020

What an excellent lesson day. We decided to do a free jumping clinic with everyone together. Things we learned. Striding. How to step off strides. How to build lines. WHY free jump horses. Jumping styles. And TEAMWORK. Thanks to Sarah Travis and Melanie Warren for all of the great pictures! Thank you to everyone for coming. Many thanks to Sarah for putting up with all of our crazy ideas.

19/07/2020

Great morning for Amanda and Presley at the CVF Dressage Series Championship show. Amanda scored a career best of 27.75 on Beginner Noivce B with Roman. This pair has worked hard this past year to accomplish this great score. If only everyone could have seen this horse coming off the trailer from the kill pen. Presley also had an amazing test scoring a 31.67 on Hershey’s Kisses. It gives me great pleasure to coach these hard working girls who are supported by amazing parents!

13/07/2020

Another fine weekend of showing for the Castlewood team. Everyone went out and executed our plans exactly. Saturday was wet wet wet and presented everyone with some unexpected challenges. Sunday’s weather couldn’t have been better. Congratulations to everyone! Thank you CVF for putting on another excellent show!

10/07/2020

What ISN’T pictured is the amazing support group these kids had during schooling yesterday! Thank you to Julie Trapani, Tammy Mayvald, Tracy and Marley Preston, Sam Ensinger and the moms for supporting these riders! Our barn family is OUTSTANDING!

04/07/2020

Happy Birthday Yankee Doodle Dandy. Dandy is 23 years young today. He has been by my side for my entire coaching career. He is the first horse nearly every one of my students have ridden for 10 years. He has, holding on for dear life, dragged me while on my stomach, down an aisle way. He has jumped around beginner novice. He gives pony rides to my great nieces. We’ve been on countless trail rides together. This horse has done for me anything I have asked of him and more. He is the Prince of Castlewood Farm. Happy Birthday my friend!

02/07/2020

Who needs Friday when you’ve got jump day Thursday!!! Everyone did a great job today. I am quite proud of these kids!