FIND OUT THE LATEST NEWS FROM WINDCHASE, AND KEEP UP WITH PHYLLIS AND THE CREW.

September 22, 2017
     Plantation Fields is one of the best events on the circuit, and having spent so much time there back in the late seventies when I was a working student with Bruce Davidson, it is always fun to spend time in Unionville, PA. The open fields and rolling hills and protected space make it a real mecca for Eventing.
     Cindy Anderson-Blank rode two horses in the CIC** there last week; our Irish Sport Horse homebred Windchase Phoenix Star, and her own Two Tickets, and OTTB. Both horses went well, jumping clear around the challenging and hilly cross-country course.

     Pedro Gutierrez competed his mare Unanyme du Loir in the CIC*, and putting in a solid performance in all three phases he finished 2^nd. All in all, a good weekend for Windchase horses and students!

Cheers, 
Phyllis



September 9, 2017
      Do you ever feel bored? I don’t! I always have about three times as much to do as I have time for. I would give up sleeping if I could; I would use those lost hours for many projects. Unfortunately updating this page is one of the things I have not gotten to as promptly as I had hoped.
     I am still sorting through the many thousands of photos I took on my recent Africa trip; I really enjoy this as it is a way to relive the trip over and over. Here is a little snippet:

     In the meantime, Windchase has started the autumn season off with a bang. Cindy rode our homebred Windchase Phoenix Star beautifully in the Open Intermediate division at Seneca Valley, placing 2^nd. We also won the Future Event Horse class for three-year-olds with Windchase Starfire. We now have three lovely homebreds qualified for the FEH East Coast Championships, so that should be exciting.

Cheers, 
Phyllis



August 14, 2017
     Hi Everyone, I know it has been a while since I updated this, but I have a good excuse this time – I have been in Africa! Jineen and I, along with some friends and family members, spent two weeks on a mobile camping safari in northern Botswana, and it was absolutely spectacular. I will be writing up a full detailed report with photos, but as busy as things are I will be lucky to get it finished by Christmastime. But in the meantime I will post a few photos, both here and on Facebook. 

Cheers, 
Phyllis



July 1, 2017
     Eventing is an amazing sport, full of highs and lows, and this spring was no exception as Windchase horses had their ups and downs. We ended the season on a good note, with Cindy winning the Training Horse at Surefire on Windchase Ballinvella and the Novice at Seneca Valley with Windchase Castlecomer. These two Irish imports have come a long way in a short time, and are going really well. Unfortunately Rachel’s nice young horse Higher Calling hurt himself in the trailer and is out of commission for a while, but expect him back better than ever in a few months.

     We have a really exciting group of homebred three-year-olds, so now during the summer while there is a lull in the Event season, it is time to get them going under saddle.  
     Meanwhile, time for some family fun; this weekend we have a house full of extended Dawson Family members, and it is super to watch the youngest generation of cousins having fun together.

Cheers, 
Phyllis



April 30, 2017
     The Kentucky Horse Park in April. The Rolex Three-Day Event! There is nothing quite like it.
     I first rode at the Horse Park in 1977, in the Young Riders championships. Then from 1979 through to 2001, I think I only missed riding at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event one year. Competing there was always the pinnacle of the season, and just being a part of this fabulous Event was a privilege. Galloping over that hallowed ground is exhilarating, and being lucky enough to do it on a dozen different horses over a 20+ span of years made dreams come true. Now attending as a member of the USEF Selection Committee, as well as a fan of both the sport and the horses, puts it in a very different perspective. For one thing I don’t have that nervous sick feeling in the pit of my stomach like one does when competing! But once again, just being a part of the whole thing is exciting, and the thrill is still there.

     This year’s cross country course, designed by Derek DeGrazia, was fabulous. It was a true four-star, big and galloping, with lots of technical questions; it tested the horses’ boldness, scope, and rideability. Unlike the last two years, the footing was good and the track was fast. The course caused plenty of penalties, but the best horses and riders came out on top. Watching throughout the day, as always I was in awe of the horses; they are such courageous and generous beings, and amazing athletes. It is amazing the things they will do for us.

Cheers,
Phyllis 



April 25, 2017
     As exciting as it is to watch and help Cindy and Phoenix Star as they compete at the top levels, it is also fun and rewarding to get the young horses out to their first events. We had a great day at the Loch Moy starter trial this past weekend.
     Cindy rode Windchase Happy Hour in his first Training event, which he won handily, finishing on his dressage score of 17. She also won a Novice division on Galerna Campari Mail and was 4^th with Windwalker in his first BN event; see these talented youngsters on the Horses for Sale page.  
     In the meantime, we have been enjoying spring at Windchase. This fellow is a frequent visitor on the lake.

Cheers, 
Phyllis 



April 16, 2017
     Congratulations to Cindy Anderson-Blank and Phoenix Star, who moved up to Advanced Level this past weekend at Fair Hill. Despite a little boo-boo at the second water that incurred a technical elimination, they went great, finished the course, and proved themselves ready for the level.

     The previous weekend we had a successful Event at CDCTA. Cindy and Windchase Ballinvella looked terrific on their way to winning their Training division. Domenica Kujawa also had a great go, finishing second with her Nica’s Last Laugh in the Training. And Windchase Happy Hour went super in the Novice; this talented young horse is ready to move up to Training in his next outing.  

     Our colt is growing like a weed, and is quite a character. I’m not sure what his formal name will be, but we call him Spoof around the barn, since he was born on April Fool’s day. He is very friendly and outgoing, and loves to run and play.  

     We have a really exciting group of young horses available at the moment. Check them out on our Horses for Sale page.

Cheers, 
Phyllis 



April 16, 2017
     Easter Morning at Windchase.

Cheers, 
Phyllis 



April 6, 2017
     We have a new baby! Windchase’s latest arrival is a lovely colt by our late Irish stallion Brandenburg’s Windstar, out of Gold Trinket, a classy TB mare. Windchase is committed to preserving the traditional Irish Sport Horse bloodlines through our breeding program.

     The Event season has started and we are going full throttle. Cindy had a good Intermediate warm-up run down at the Carolina International with Windchase Phoenix Star and Two Tickets, and is now hoping on for bigger and better things.  

     At Morven Park last weekend, Windchase student Domenica Kujawa had a super go with Nica’s Last Laugh in the training division, jumping double clear. In the novice Morgan McGrath placed third with Indycat, placed 5th with Happy Hour, and Shelby Crowley also had a good ride with Tilly. Now that we have all knocked the winter rust off, we are looking forward to the upcoming competitions.

     And now spring is here in earnest, my favorite time of year. The weather is turning spectacular, and leaves are budding and the flowers blooming. I have a new camera, and I am looking forward to testing it out.

Cheers, 
Phyllis 



March 16, 2017
     Every year I have the expectation that once we get to the beginning of March, winter will be over and it will be Spring.  And of course, every year, it isn’t. The month of March tends to be quite cold, and we often have snow. But after the amazing winter we have had this year, with warm temperatures and good footing letting us ride outside and even school XC all through January and February, surely, I thought, this year, spring really will be here the first of March. 

      Whoops! Guess I was wrong.

Cheers, 
Phyllis 



March 6, 2017
     It can be hard to find time to write about my travels and update the website, but I have now posted the journal from my latest adventure, along with many of the best photos. Click here to read about the Costa Rica trip that Jineen and I took in January.

Cheers, 
Phyllis



February 15, 2017
     The spring Event Season is just around the corner, and thanks to the mild winter we have been having, the horses (and riders) are more prepared than usual for this time of year. We have been able to ride outside more days than not, and have been galloping and schooling cross-country during January and February. The competitions start up in March and we are looking forward to it!
     The Windchase Winter Jumping Clinics are going great; we would love to have you join us, go here for more info.

     We have a super nice group of horses for sale; click here for more info.

Cheers, 
Phyllis 



January 31, 2017
     Jineen and I had a great trip to Costa Rica recently, and I am writing up my notes and sorting through the photos; hope to have the full report fairly soon. But in the meantime I have been receiving complaints from certain friends (you know who you are!) about slow updates and jumping pigs, so I leave you with this sloth.  

Cheers, 
Phyllis



January 26, 2017
     The spring Event Season is just around the corner - get ready by coming to Windchase's winter jumping clinics with Phyllis Dawson.
     For info, visit http://www.teamwindchase.com/MiniClinics.htm
     To sign up, go to http://bit.ly/Windchase
     Come Jumping!

Cheers, 
Phyllis

January 1, 2017
     Happy New Year!
     Windchase working students and staff celebrate the New Year with the annual Windchase Polar Dive.

Cheers, 
Phyllis