December 1st 2011
We are here in Paris for the Gucci Masters and so far, so good!
I just wanted to make a quick update to give everyone the website address for the show in case you'd like to watch the livestream or check out the live results! http://guccimasters.com/
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and wish us luck for a good weekend here in France!
-Beezie
November 17th 2011
Great day here in Stuttgart! I showed Simon and Vanilla both today and I felt very comfortable with both of them. They both put in great rounds and John and I were very happy with them. Vanilla showed two days in a row and I also jumped her before she came here to Stuttgart, so she may be done showing for the week. Simon will show again tomorrow in another 1.45m class.
Cortes went right into the ring for the first time tonight and laid down a great round in the 1.50m. We ended up in 5th place out of 44 starters. Cortes will show again tomorrow and, if he qualifies, again tomorrow night. He’s feeling very at the top of his game and we are planning that he will do the World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix on Sunday.
-Beezie
November 16th 2011
It has been an exciting few weeks for us at JMS. Currently, John and I are over in Germany for a horse show and are very excited to have two new horses joining Team JMS over here! Mrs. Abigail Wexner and Authentic Stables have found two fantastic horses that I am very pleased to get the ride on. The first is a nine year old mare named Vanilla. She is actually the daughter of Coral Reef Via Volo and we see so much of her mother in her! The second horse is a very well known horse that has had much success under Jeroen Dubbeldam and when we heard he was up for sale, we knew it would be an incredible opportunity for the US team if he were to be purchased by a US owner. Mrs. Wexner stepped up to the plate in a big way and we hope BMC Van Grunsven Simon will be a top horse for us, as he was for Jeroen.
Last week we took Coral Reef Via Volo to Sacramento and had a good week out there. Via won the Welcome Prix and was 9th in the Grand Prix in front of a sold out audience. It was a very well done show and the fans were great! All the Coral Reef horses were great including Coral Reef Baloufino, who was 5th in the Grand Prix with Vinton Karrasch. Cara Raether and Saskia 269 were 7th in the Welcome Prix.
These weeks Cortes C, as well as our new horses Vanilla and Simon, are showing in Stuttgart. Vanilla went in the Ride and Drive today as a first class and she was fantastic! Simon and I will compete tomorrow.
Next week John heads to Buenos Aires to coach the US Team and we are off to Paris to compete the week after.
-Beezie
October 28th 2011
It has been an amazing week so far in Guadalajara! Our team was flawless yesterday in the final with Kent, McLain, Christine and I all posting clear rounds. I couldn’t be more happy with Via’s performance in the classes so far this week. The pressure was really on after this summer’s less than stellar Nation’s Cup series for USA to clinch a spot at next summer’s Olympics and with George’s guidance, we all rose to the challenge.
The organizers here in Mexico have done a wonderful job. The footing has held up wonderfully and the jumps are beautiful. Our horses are very happy and secure in the stabling and the weather has been perfect.
Saturday is the Individual Final and I’m feeling good about our chances of having a strong finish. Via has come through the first two days looking fit and fresh and with today’s break day, she should be ready for the final tomorrow. My teammates have a good chance to do well in the final since Chris is 2nd and McLain is 3rd in the standings so far. It is a shame that Kent can't go due to the rule that a country can only have 3 individuals in the final. He is sitting 8th in the standings so far and will not be allowed to compete.
I hear we have snow back on the farm in Cazenovia, which I’m not too sad to be missing.
-Beezie
October 20th 2011
We have horses at Harrisburg and Via is at Gladstone this week making final preparations for the Pan Am Games. John and I are travelling back and forth each day to ride everyone.
Tuesday morning was Via’s first session at Gladstone and she is looking really good. I schooled her again today and Thursday she will just flat. The team horses will spend Thursday night at Newburgh in quarantine before they fly to Guadalajara Friday. All the horses on the team look to be in good form, so we are looking forward to next week’s competition.
Tuesday afternoon Cortes C was second in the Open Power & Speed at Harrisburg. This is our first indoor show together, so we are off to a good start. Zhivago and Capri are also both doing well, both were in the top ten in last night’s Gambler’s Choice.
-Beezie
September 14, 2011
The horses are home from the Masters and it was a fantastic week of sport. The weather was beautiful and there were record crowds on the weekend. It’s great to get to compete in front of such enthusiastic crowds.
Team USA had a disappointing result in the Nations Cup again. My horses went well during the week and I was very pleased with Cortes C in the Grand Prix. Cortes is a talented horse and I am very excited about his future.
The press release has come out with the Pan Am Games team, which will include myself and Via. We are excited to go. It’s very important to us to do well there in October, as we need to place in the top three to qualify for the Olympics. Via will now get a little down time at home on the farm and then we will start our preparations for the Pan Am Games.
-Beezie
September 7th 2011
We made it to Spruce Meadows with Coral Reef Via Volo and Cortes C and they are both looking great after their summer in Europe. Via jumped today in the Akita Drilling Cup and was very much on her game, with a second place finish. Monday, John and I, along with Frank Madden took part in the Lunch & Learn clinic here at Spruce and had a great time. It was great to see such a strong turnout of auditors.
Tomorrow both Cortes and Via will show, Via in the CANA Cup and Cortes in the ATCO STRUCTURES & LOGISTICS Cup. We are planning for Via to compete in the Nation's Cup and for Cortes to do the Encana Cup on Friday and the CN International on Sunday.
-Beezie
August 30th 2011
Rotterdam was quite the up and down for us. After disappointment in the Nation’s Cup, Coral Reef Via Volo and I had a fantastic win after a 10 horse jump off in the Grand Prix. It is an extreme setback for us to be relegated down to the promotional league next year. Should the USA qualify for the Olympics at the Pan Am games, our team will find itself preparing for the Olympics away from the crowds and courses of the Nation’s Cup shows such as Aachen. Our High Performance committee will have to come up with an alternative way of selecting the team and an alternative way of preparing properly for the Olympic Games than we have done in the past. At the same time, we will need to be working on winning our way back into the Top League next year.
Via and Cortes C both have come out of the summer in Europe very well. They are on their way to Spruce Meadows to compete at the Masters next week and I flew into New York last night to coach a student at the Hampton Classic. After our student is done showing, I will catch a flight to Calgary. Prima, Danny Boy, Zhivago, Amadora and Capri are currently in quarantine and will head back to the home farm in Cazenovia on Thursday. John is still in Europe and will fly in later this week. Our assistant rider, Callie Schott and our student, Isabella Salles, are in Sao Paulo this week competing as well.
We are very lucky to have been just out of Hurricane Irene’s path at the home farm in central New York. Although I haven’t been home since May, I’m hoping to be home in Cazenovia for a few days at least before the end of September.
-Beezie
August 22nd 2011
John and I are trying horses in the Netherlands today and tomorrow and then we will be doing our last schooling of Via and Danny before they ship. This week is Rotterdam, which I’m sure you all have heard is going to be a very important show for USA’s show jumping team.
Via and Danny are both looking very good and they will ship to Rotterdam tomorrow afternoon after we school and John and I will head to Rotterdam tomorrow night.
We also have a conference call scheduled tomorrow to discuss the details of a “lunch and learn” clinic I will be presenting with John and my brother-in-law, Frank, at Spruce Meadows on September 5th. The three of us are quite excited to do an equitation based clinic at Spruce. There’s more info on the clinic online here: http://www.sprucemeadows.com/press/view_release.jsp?id=140.
-Beezie
August 14th 2011
Just a quick update from Valkenswaard! Cortes and I won the grand prix today. If you'd like to see video of him competing, it's online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dot07bot8Co.
John and I were very happy with Cortes today. It was only my second grand prix with him and he stepped right up, even with the rain, and was impressive.
I'll update more soon, but next up is Roggel with Capri, Amadora and Zhivago.
August 1st 2011
For those of you who didn’t see or hear about our Nation’s Cup class at Hickstead, it was a very exciting class! Team USA did very well and the final results came right down to the end.
I was the last to go in the rotation for the USA. In the first round, Via and I had a slight mistake to the water and Via had a foot in, giving us four faults. After the second round, I knew if Via and I were clear, Team USA had a good shot at being at least 3rd. Via was jumping wonderfully and we ended the second round with a clear! The French and German teams also ended with the same number of faults and we found ourselves in a three-way tie for first.
Because of the tie, the French, German and our team all picked one rider for a shortened jump off course. I was selected for Team USA and going first with two very capable horses coming in behind us, I knew we had to be fast. Via was very much on her game and was very quick to the jumps. Unfortunately, we had the back rail down on an oxer and that left us with a third place finish at the end of the day. Via and I did have the fastest time of the three in the jump off.
In Nation’s Cup standings the USA is still in the next to last position after Hickstead, but the points we got there have moved us closer to making a change in standings hopefully this week at Dublin.
Prima had a great weekend at Hickstead as well and came in 2nd in a big class. We were third to go in the class and I think we just got beat in the last line. Prima was actually the fastest horse in the class at the halfway point in the course, but there was the possibility of doing seven strides in the final line, but being early in the class it was the better choice for Prima and I to do the eight stride. Piet Raymakers Jr was able to get the seven and make up time to win.
We are now in Dublin and will show this week with Via Volo, Cortes C, Zhivago and Prima. Team USA is ready for another solid Nation’s Cup class and hopefully we’ll be able to move our team up a few notches in the standings!
-Beezie
July 27th 2011
Just a quick update from the road! We are off to Hickstead this week with Coral Reef Via Volo and Prima. The website for the schedule and results is http://www.hickstead.co.uk/horse-shows/the-longines-royal-international-horse-show.aspx. The Nation’s Cup is on Friday, which I will ride Via Volo in. I think team USA is ready for a strong finish this week.
-Beezie
July 19, 2011
We had a good weekend at Aachen. Prima did really well this week, winning a faults converted speed class and coming in 5th in another. She was great through the lake and really showed off her speed and rideabillity. Amadora and Cortes proved themselves at Aachen, they had top finishes and stayed very consistent for me during the week.
Via Volo was very solid in the Nation’s Cup and came back well for the Grand Prix, but the USA team is in danger of being relegated out of the Top League shows based on the current standings. There are only three legs of the tour left; Hickstead, Dublin and Rotterdam. I will be at all three shows and I hope we can move up in the standings to save the USA from being moved to the Promotional League next year.
We are back to Johan Hein’s farm in the Netherlands for a few days. Cara Raether and I will head to Chantilly, France tomorrow. I’ll be taking Danny Boy and Capri to France, while Prima, Cortes and Via Volo have a down week, staying at Johan’s farm.
Because we were able to bring so many horses to Europe this summer, we have a strong string to rotate through, so we’re able to show quite a bit, but spare our horses at the same time. It’s very important to us to do well in the Nation’s Cup classes the rest of this summer, but we are also being very mindful to make sure to save our horses for the Pan American Games this October.
John will be at DeWolden for the week with our student Isabelle Salles and her horses.
If you’d like to check the show schedule or results this week, the website for Chantilly is http://www.jumping-chantilly.com/jumping.php?id=274&lang=en.
-Beezie
July 15th 2011
Yesterday was a bit of a mix at Aachen. Prima had a fantastic day and won the Preis des Handwerks out of 62! It was a cold, rainy, miserable sort of day and our team tried our best in the Nation’s Cup. We didn’t end up where we’d hoped, but team morale is good and we’re looking ahead to the next Nation’s Cup with big expectations.
Today I did a “ride and drive” fun class with Prima. The first round was a speed and the second round was completed with Jane Clark’s four-in-hand carriage for the driving portion. It was a very fun class and we finished 5th.
We have to stay late tonight to get a chance to school Prima in the lake to prepare for her class tomorrow, where running through the lake is a part of the course. This is not something we see often, so the chance to practice tonight is necessary.
The rest of the horses are doing well, Amadora and Cortes both will also compete tomorrow. Via will be our horse in the Grand Prix and we think she is ready for another strong showing.
If anyone wants to watch rounds from Aachen, all prior classes are archived on clipmyhorse.tv.
-Beezie
July 12th 2011
The horses have settled in nicely at Aachen and everyone is looking forward to this week’s competitions. The horses jogged already and Cortes and Amadora will do the 1.45m and Via will do the 1.50m today. I can’t wait to start competing this week. Aachen is one of the nicest shows to attend, the crowds here are fantastic.
-Beezie
July 11th 2011
We have finished up at Spruce Meadows. Our last week went well, with Coral Reef Via Volo winning the 1.60m on Thursday night and Danny Boy with a great third in the 1.50m. We moved Cortes C up to the 1.50m and he is doing really well. Cortes was 3rd in the 1.50m on Wednesday, Danny Boy was a respectable 10th in the Queen Elizabeth Cup and Zhivago won the 1.40m final.
Our big horses had to head to Aachen on Saturday, so we were unable to compete in the Derby, which was a little disappointing. It does make us all miss Judgement to see the Derby where he loved to compete.
I am now over in Europe where we will be competing for the rest of the summer with Via Volo, Danny Boy, Cortes, Prima, Zhivago, Capri and Amadora. We are headed to Aachen, Chantilly, Zuidwolde, Hickstead, Dublin, Valkenswaard, Roggel and maybe Rotterdam.
Back home we will also be sending our assistant rider, Callie Schott, to Vermont and the Hampton Classic with Wrigley and maybe a few others.
-Beezie
June 22nd, 2011
It was a busy week at Spruce. We had nine horses showing, plus our students. I’m happy to say Via is back at it, with a 4th, a 2nd in the 1.50 Husky Energy Cup and an 8th in the CN Grand Prix! Amadora stepped up to the 1.45m successfully; she was 2nd and 9th in her two classes. Our students Isabella Salles and Megan Fellows did their first derby of their careers. Isabella was 6th and 8th with only 4 faults on each horse and Megan had a great round with 9 faults.
Only other big news this week is we’ve decided we will breed our three broodmares to Judgement ISF for 2012 foals. Our first mare gets bred this week. We breed a little later than most farms on purpose. Winter and spring in central NY is quite harsh and we prefer the foals be born after it warms up, so they can immediately live outside. We also try to time it so the foals are born just after we leave for Spruce at the end of May, because before that it’s pretty crazy on the farm with training, but once we all leave, it’s nice and quiet on the farm for the mares and foals.
We asked for a few questions on our facebook page from fans and here are my answers!
Betsy asked: Will we see her at the $1 Million Grand Prix this year?
I hope to be at the million dollar Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows, but not the one in Saugerties since they are on the same day.
Kerry asked: I would love to hear her tips for remembering jumper courses!
The best way to remember jumper courses is to walk the course and have a plan of how you are going to ride it. Having a plan of what you are going to do between the fences actually helps you remember where to go. Make sure to go over the plan in your head again right before you go in the ring.
Gina asked: What is her biggest piece of advice for young riders who don't have the money to own their own horses but want to make it to the top of the sport?
If you don't have enough money to own your own horse, try to consider it a blessing. Most of the top riders in the sport worked their way to the top. Try to get a job with the best people you can in the business, no matter what that job is. Then you will learn from the bottom up from the best in the business. Along the way, you will meet the right people and get the best connections.
Sara asked: A simple exercise to get my horse off her forehand at the canter?
To get your horse off his forehand, do lots of transitions from canter to trot, trot to walk, canter to walk, canter to halt, etc. Also introduce some counter cantering. This makes your horse find his own balance.
Nicole asked: Advice for an adult rider getting back in the show ring and gets a case of the "nerves"!
Best way to overcome your nerves is to stick to your basics. Listen to your trainer and follow the plan. Think about executing that plan and not about making mistakes.
There were also a couple questions regarding injuries. So much of our success at John Madden Sales is the result of having an excellent team behind us, from vets, to farriers, to nutritionists, to our staff that we fully trust to be experts at what they do. I highly recommend finding the best vet you can and listening and following their treatment and reconditioning advice. Each horse is different in how they respond after an injury and a vet who sees the whole picture in front of them is going to be able much better advice and ideas than I can.
-Beezie
June 16, 2011
Our first week at Spruce was a good start, but not great. Amadora came right out and won a class which was fantastic for her. I showed Cortes in three classes and he placed in all three. We kept the classes small and stayed slow, but he is jumping very well and I’m excited to move him up soon. Prima did two big classes last week and was 4th and 5th in both of them.
One of our students, Isabella Salles, showed her horse Coral Reef Ambassador in the match race in the International Ring. It was her first time in that ring and first time in that kind of class going for that kind of money and she and Ambassador ended up tying for third.
I also found out last week that I was selected to be on the team at Aachen this summer, which I’m really looking forward to.
Via Volo only ended up going in one class last week. She had a little swelling in one leg the morning after her first class and we ended up scratching her for the rest of the week. We are very happy and relieved that the leg is back to normal and she will compete again this week.
-Beezie
June 8th 2011
We have all made it safely to Calgary! The horses arrived Friday and have settled right in. The trip went fairly smoothly, with one minor delay when our truck needed a new belt in South Dakota. I flew in Friday morning and John arrived Sunday after a quick trip to the Netherlands to train Cara Raether at Eindhoven.
The first week of competition starts this week with “The National.” Showing starts today and we will have a busy week. I’ll be doing Via in the 1.60m, Amadora in the 1.40m, Cortes C in the 1.35m, Zhivago in the 1.45m, Danny Boy in the 1.50m and 1.60m, Prima in the 1.45m and the Parcours de Chasse (a.k.a. a speed or faults converted), and Capri in the 1.40m. Callie will also be showing and will do Wrigley in the 1.40m and Markos in the 1.30m.
I’m most looking forward to seeing how Cortes and I do. This will be our first show together, which is why we are starting in the 1.35m, but he has shown quite a bit in Europe, so he is not an inexperienced horse.
Back home in Cazenovia, we had our second foal of the year, another filly. We bred all three of our broodmares to Conquest II last year and so far, we are very impressed by his foals. Our last foal is due at the end of this month.
If you want to see pictures of our two fillies and get Team JMS results, make sure you check my facebook page, www.facebook.com/beeziemadden!
-Beezie
June 2nd 2011
Welcome to my blog!
Right now Team JMS is on the road. 21 horses left from our farm Wednesday at noon and will arrive mid-morning Friday in Calgary, Alberta. Four grooms are travelling with the horses and the rest of our team is flying or driving ahead to get ready for the horse’s arrival, with the exception of the few staff members that stay home for the summer.
Spruce is one of our favorite venues to compete at and we go every year. The crowds are very supportive, the staff is top notch and it offers something for all our horses, whether they are young horses being brought along or our more experienced veterans.
I am especially excited for one of our new horses to go to Spruce with us for the first time; Cortes C, the nine year old Belgian Warmblood. Our young horses, including Zhivago, Capri and Amadora have been looking really strong lately. They will also join us in Spruce along with our veterans; Danny Boy, Mademoiselle, Coral Reef Via Volo and Prima. My assistant rider, Callie Schott, will also bring Wrigley, an eight year old grey Dutch mare.
I hope you check back on my blog. I’ll try to update every week, although it does get a little busy on the road sometimes. If you have questions or comments, please leave them for me on our facebook page – www.facebook.com/beeziemadden.
-Beezie