“Hello again everyone! For this blog entry, I thought I would introduce you to my favourite mare in the barn, Victoria. Vic is a 12-year-old mare, all black. She is an All-American mare, having won the contest in 2006.

Victoria is the grand dame of the farm, and she is, as I said in my earlier blog, the consummate equine athlete. She loves to work and loves to show.

Human and equine poorliness

Last year, Vic got hurt before the show season started and she struggled to get healthy. I had torn my rotator cuff in February, so I too was feeling less then strong. Vic and I only showed twice and at the end of show season last year, I got off my cart and went straight to the hospital for rotator cuff surgery. While I was rehabbing, Victoria rested and was under the care of one of our excellent vets, Dr. Grant Myhre. I cannot express how difficult it was for me to have to sit out most of the show season last year.

Fortunately, Vic is back and stronger than ever! My shoulder has been slower to heal and this spring, I was the questionable one as my shoulder and range of motion was in doubt making it unclear if I could drive a horse. However, my physical therapist did a yoemen’s job and I am pleased that the shoulder, while not 100 per cent, is close. Vic and I got a late start training this year but things have been going well.

Ohio State Fair

The first week of August will find us at The Ohio State Fair, an “A” level show and Vic will be shown in the aged mare halter class. She took second in the class at that show last year, qualifying her as an All-American nominee. We did not send her in for consideration despite the nomination in 2009 because she has already been an All-American and we wanted to some other horse to have a chance at the honour. We will also drive together in the registered mare cart class in Ohio, hoping to better last year’s fifth place pin. We probably would have pinned higher had I not lost my mind during the drive off and tried to run over the judge!

Retirement for Vic?

Vic is a well-known and well respected mare in the US and her admirers are many. Due to her age, Tim and I had originally thought that this would be Victoria’s retirement year; however, we have decided to wait and see if she agrees with us. I believe that animals tell us what they need and when they need it, all we have to do is listen. This year, Victoria is ready and excited to go back out on the show road and we can’t see where the show season will take her!

Until next time, keep up with us on our website www.northpointfarm or on Twitter!”