Balsam Hall, Kingston and Encore Equestrian

Yesterday was a busy day.  I had been hoping to visit my trainer and good friend Morag O'Hanlon at Balsam Hall for weeks.  Unfortunately that visit was put off until after the New Year. 

It was a great day for John and I to go for a road trip.  The weather was perfect and the highway was dry.  First stop Balsam Hall.  I was very excited to get there with my latest creation.  Anyone who knows Morag or Selena knows that besides loving horses they love their Jack Russells.  Three in particular, Rupert and Bizzy both offspring from Bruce Davidson's Irish Jack Russell Terriers.  And the mop of fuzz Maisey, Anne-Marie Duarte's little dog.

I the last few months I have been working on my designs for jump fillers.  I like the idea of having items that can be used to fancy up ordinary schooling jumps for shows or just to bring a different layer difficulty into schooling at home.

The first design was based on a hound panel I had designed for the Ottawa Valley Hunt a number of years ago.  I made three different running hounds that can be attached to a plain pole, plank, gate, hedge.  To go along with the running hounds I also added a running fox.
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That brings us to the Balsam Hall inspired Jump Fillers.  A number of people who saw my hounds and foxes asked if I also did Jack Russells.  I then started thinking about Bizzy, Rupert and Maisey and let their inspiration be my muse.  I also wanted to do something special for Morag O'Hanlon.  She has been my trainer for about 10 years now.  She has helped me with all three of my horses as well as pushed me to be the best rider I can be.  She has kept me healthy and safe in a sport I love so needless to say making three little Jack Russell jump fillers based on three of the wee dogs of Balsam Hall was the least I could do.  So welcome my version of Bizzy, Maisey and Rupert.  Can't wait to see the horses of Balsam Hall flying over these wee doggies.

Then John and I set off to pick up a painting on Princess Street.  I have become addicted to the webpage Maxsold.com, it is a site that handles estate sales, inventory downsizing and fundraisers.  I follow it looking for art and other items.  I had been watching a particular painting for a couple of weeks.  An Oil by a local artist John Benn.  I was lucky enough to be the highest bidder and needed to pick it up yesterday in Kingston.  It needs a frame but I do love this little work of art.

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Then it was a quick stop at Bridle Path Tack Shop on Princess Street.  There were great sales I was able to get a new pair of winter jumps, new breeches and barn boots.  All for incredible prices.  Then on to Le Chien Bistro for a very late lunch before dropping off a set of running hounds and fox jump filler for Adrienne Schmitke at Encore Equestrian.  Adrienne had purchased one of my Buckingham Foxes a few years ago and wanted the hounds and fox to go with the standards.  They are like the photos at the top of this blog post.  It is an honour to have repeat customers.  

After a day like to day I have to remember how very lucky I am to have such good friends, and hobbies that introduce me to so many more people.