This past week, my groom Grace Ransom took Peter Foley’s Boston out to compete in the MDHT Open Training division. After a fun ride in each phase, the pair came home with a top 15 finish. It has been great to watch these two develop as a pair, and I’m excited to see where they’ll go from here! Congratulations Grace!
Peter Foley’s Boston had a really solid run this weekend at Middleburg Horse Trials—we wrapped up in 4th place in Open Training. I was especially proud of how Boston handled himself as the weather shifted; he stayed focused and steady through it all.
Huge thanks to the show organizers and volunteers who kept things running smoothly despite the forecast. And congratulations to all my fellow competitors—always great to be out there with such a strong group.
#TeamSBE kicked off this event season with a bang at the MDHT Highland Starter Horse Trials #1! Ashley Beheler finished 4th in Beginner Novice-A with Jubilee and also placed in the top ten with Kirika in Beginner Novice-B. Kelley Williams put in some lovely work with her young horse, Liliuokalani, and finished in the top ten in Beginner Novice-B as well. Well done, everyone!
3/22-23: MDHT Highland Starter Horse Trials #1 (Adamstown, MD)
Brandenburg’s Joshua
04/03/1995 — 10/23/2024
Owned by Stephen Bradley, William Lowe & Charlotte Harris
It’s with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Brandenburg’s Joshua. An American Thoroughbred who raced at Charles Town Racecourse in West Virginia, “Josh” spent his second career traveling the world with Stephen.
Stephen and Josh had a long career together that included three appearances at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*, along with a Team Gold Medal from the 2003 Pan-American Games. When Josh was competing, he was always one of the best horses in the US and indeed the world. In his three showings at Kentucky, he finished in the Top 10 each time, finishing 3rd in 2006, 4th in 2008, and 10th in 2009. Their final competition together was at the 2010 USEA American Eventing Championships where they finished 5th in the USEA Advanced Championships.
Stephen describes Josh as “the most polite horse that I’ve ever ridden. He was a true gentleman each and every day.” If you came through the barn, you would never guess that this plain brown Thoroughbred had tackled some of the biggest cross country courses in the world. His gentle demeanor garnered him fans wherever he went, and Stephen was happy to share him with his fans.
Following his retirement from upper-level competition, Josh went on to compete at the lower levels with Stephen’s longtime supporter Charlotte Harris. And finally he came home to Virginia for his remaining retirement years, and spent his final years with longtime student Sandy McCormack at her home.
Big congratulations to #TeamSSB on a fantastic weekend at the Waredaca Three Day Classic and Horse Trials! I’m incredibly proud of each of my students for their hard work and dedication out there. What great weekend weather, and it was especially beautiful on Friday when I was there for steeplechase practice!
A special shoutout goes to Luba Abrams and her own Huey, who put in an amazing performance to finish 3rd in Novice Rider! Another big congratulations to Cynthia Mackey and Seattle Reign for a strong finish in 6th place in Novice Rider. You two worked hard and made it happen!
Well done to all who competed!
Waradaca Classic Three Day Event and Horse Trials – Gaithersburg, MD – October 24-27, 2024
It’s been an incredible few weekends for #TeamSSB! I’m so proud of my students and their outstanding performances. It’s always rewarding to see all that hard work pay off.
First, a big shoutout to everyone who competed at Old Tavern Horse Trials! Wendy Masemer and Purple Reign had a stellar showing with a top ten finish in Open Preliminary-2. Mary Clare and Golden King delivered some excellent rides, securing a top ten in Modified Rider. Alicia Turner and Key Play made their mark with a top ten in Senior Training Rider, and Luba Abrams and Huey earned a well-deserved 5th place in Senior Novice Rider-1!
Just a week later at MDHT #3, Cyndy Mackey and her own Seattle Reign put in a fantastic ride, finishing 7th in Open Novice-B.
And this past weekend, the momentum continued! With beautiful weather and strong rides, we couldn’t have asked for more. Peter Foley’s Boston had a fantastic outing at Morven Park International, landing a top ten finish in Open Training-B. I’m so proud of how he took on every challenge!
Special congratulations to Ashley Beheler, who stole the show at the MDHT Highlands Series HT Starter, taking 1st place in Beginner Novice-A with Jubilee, and 2nd place in Beginner Novice-C with Kirika. Well done, Ashley!
Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials, Leesburg, VA, October 11-13
MDHT Highlands Series HT Starter, October 12-13
MDHT #3 and Area II Championships, October 4-6
Great weekend for #TeamSSB! Katherine Rizzo and Coherence competed at the PVDA Summer Show at Show Place Arena, earning 2nd in First Level Test 1 and 5th in First Level Test 2. Wendy Masemer and Piper also put in a great ride at the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer Horse Trials. Well done!
6/22-23: Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer Horse Trials (Leesburg, VA)
6/22-23: PVDA Summer Show @ Show Place Arena (Upper Marlboro, MD)
It’s been a great month for Team SSB!
At the MCTA Horse Trial at Shawan Downs, my students put in some wonderful work! Congratulations to Luba Abrams, who finished 2nd in Open Beginner Novice with Huey, and to Megan Reuwer and Some Me Time for their 4th place in Novice Rider-A. Finally, kudos to Ashley and Kirika on their top ten finish in Beginner Novice Rider.
Wendy Masemer and Center Lane brought home a 4th in Open Training-1 at the Middleburg Horse Trials, and Ashley Beheler had top ten finishes on both Hubilee and Nehalem Bay in Beginner Novice Rider at the MCTA Jenny Camp at Shawan Downs. Congratulations! Katherine Rizzo put on her dancing shoes at the VADA/NOVA Summer Dressage Festival, where she and Coherence ended with a 2nd in Second Level Test 2 and a 4th in Second Level Test 1.
This past weekend at the Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials, Luba Abrams and Huey pulled off a spectacular 2nd in Open Beginner Novice-1, and Cyndy Mackey and Seattle Reign put in some lovely work in Senior Training Rider.
Very happy with everyone’s results! Well done!
More fantastic updates from #TeamSSB! Congratulations to Julie Bigham and Accomplice for their 1st place finish in Modified at Hunt Club Farms Horse Trials. Ashley Beheler and Kirika also shone, winning Beginner Novice-B at the MDHT Highland Series Horse Trials!
Kudos to Cyndy Mackey and Seattle Reign for their top ten finish in Training-B at MDHT Highland Series Horse Trials.
A huge shoutout to Wendy Masemer, who took 4 horses around MDHT Highland Series Horse Trials, achieving top ten finishes with all of them and earning Reserve Champion Beginner Novice TIP with Piper!
Fantastic work, everyone!
5/18-19: Hunt Club Farms Horse Trials (Berryville, VA)
5/25-26: MDHT Highland Series Horse Trials (Adamstown, MD)
Another weekend, another round of outstanding results!
Congratulations to Julie Brigham and Accomplice for their impressive 4th place finish in Training Rider at Plantation Field May Horse Trials.
And let’s hear it for Luba Abrams and Huey, securing 3rd place in Open Beginner Novice, Cyndy Mackey and Seattle Reign with a solid 4th in Open Training, and Megan Reuwer and VSH Rafalko, claiming 4th in Beginner Novice Rider at the Waredaca Starter Event.
Wonderful work #TeamSSB!