November 18, 2009

another Wednesday

Posted by Jennifer under miscellaneous
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Today’s Wednesday, which we generally count as a day off from posting on the blog. But if you’re a CAA member (and we have your e-mail address on file), today’s the day you’ll receive your copy of The Spokesperson, the CAA’s weekly e-newsletter. Each week, we send news from the CAA office and from around the world of driving and horses.

The contents of this week’s e-newsletter: “Start your holiday shopping!,” “CAA trip & event brochures online,” “Got carriage auctions?,” and “What we’re up to in the CAA office.”

Not receiving the newsletter? Would you like to?

If you’re a CAA member, just send us your e-mail address, and we’ll add it to our mailing list.

If you’re not a CAA member yet and would like more information about the association, click here: http://www.caaonline.com/caa_content.asp?PageType=Dept&Key=2.

 

November 17, 2009

more progress

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP
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I haven’t seen it yet, but I hear that the top of Mick’s Mountain’s pergola (which was in the beginning stages of construction in the previous post) is now finished. I would’ve walked out to see it, but we had quite a bit of rain today, so there’s now quite a bit of mud between here and there. And, too, as Mick himself pointed out, you need sunshine (i.e., shadows) to make a pergola really stand out. So I’ll wait, camera at the ready, for the next sunny day.

At one of the new marathon obstacle sites (the one between Mick’s Mountain and the Sunken Road), the orange and pink flags I showed you last Thursday are being replaced by solid wooden posts.

I also heard this afternoon about an intriguing new (well, new to here, no one really knows how old it is) piece of machinery in Mick’s arsenal … this one can apparently be rigged to “polish” entire logs. He promised to call me once it’s in use, and I threatened to bring my little video camera so we can post some action shots!

In other areas of the park, the mysterious new parking lot / road on the other side of the covered arena from the CAA office appears to be nearing completion. It will be interesting to see, once it’s done, how it’s actually laid out … it’s been kind of hard to tell up to this point.

And “Southern Lights” — the Horse Park’s annual drive-through holiday lights show — is set to begin very soon … this weekend, I believe.

 

November 13, 2009

the expanding mountain

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, WEG 2010
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Yesterday was a perfect fall day for working outside: sunny but not hot, breezy but not cold, and with a bright blue sky overhead. I was working at my computer, as usual, when Mick (the course builder for the WEG cross-country and marathon courses) called to say they were just starting work on some of the decorative additions to the big hill obstacle — “Mick’s Mountain.” So, naturally, I grabbed my camera and went out into the sunshine to get some photographic evidence of the work being done.

the first two supports being added to either side of the pillars at the top of the hill … these are being held up at the moment by the front-loader’s forks, before they’re actually attached to the pillars

Isaac (on the left) checks whether the boards are level, while Mick (on the right) gets into position to help hold them in place while they’re attached

gathering the boards for the two pillars on the other side of the hilltop

while Mick collects the next set of boards, Isaac marks where they should go

the second set of boards is hoisted up into place

 

November 12, 2009

and the goings-on continue …

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, WEG 2010
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I tweeted a week ago about all the flags that have sprouted in areas that will soon (well, sometime within the next eight or nine months) be new marathon obstacles for next year’s WEG.

Admittedly, they don’t look like much at this stage, but see if you can pick out the spots of orange and pink in these two photos … these are the “way-before” photos of two new marathon obstacles.

can you see them? under the trees, there in the “grove” are flags marking a new obstacle for next year’s WEG driving marathon (10/9/10)

this one is near the Sunken Road and Mick’s Mountain

And, on a separate note, here are a portion of the newly re-surfaced Nina Bonnie Rd and one of the pretty new streetlights. Aren’t we getting fancy here at the Horse Park?

new streetlights along the re-paved Nina Bonnie Rd at the Kentucky Horse Park

 

November 11, 2009

and so another Argentine vacation ends

Posted by Jennifer under Argentina
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This morning, I received these two updates from Jill: one from last Friday (which she wasn’t able to send because she had no Internet connection) and one from this morning.

The group leaves B.A. tonight to travel home.

Friday, Nov. 6:

Woke up early to the sun beating through my window and the birds singing. This is an idyllic setting, very beautiful and restful.
 
Last evening we were treated to a private tango show after dinner. There was a wonderful lady singer accompanied by a fantastic musician and after four songs, in came two marvelous tango dancers. After a great show, they invited all of us to the dance floor to try a “few” tango steps (more than one of us was heard to say, “I have a new respect for tango dancers, it’s not easy!!”). We learnt (or should I say, we were shown!) three tango steps and then the music started and we all took to the floor … not a pretty sight, but great fun!!
 
Those of you who have been to Argentina on a CAA trip know what I mean when I describe this country as magical. We travel around and see miles and miles of grassland and cattle, hardly any houses, and then we come to an oasis here in the hills.
 
Following lunch, we took off in our private bus for a two-hour drive north to visit Estancia La Mora, owned by the Fox family. Roberto and Lujan Fox were there to greet us along with some of their five children. We enjoyed a day viewing their super carriage and book collection, eating an asada (barbecue) and watching the gauchos round up and promendade their 150 horses, 900 sheep, and 1,400 cattle. It was wonderful.
 
Then back on the road for another two-hour trip north and then east to Nueve de Julio. We were met at a roadside gas station and led twelve miles on dirt roads to Estancia Mainumbi, our home for the night. The group was split between two homes and we gathered together that evening for a wonderul meal shared with the Mulchay family after first walking about the marvelous garden. 
 
Wednesday, Nov. 11:

I have not had access to a computer for days, but now we are back in B.A. and it is possible again.

On Saturyda, after having a lazy morning, we boarded our bus and headed off northeast for the town of San Antonio de Areco and the Estancia el Rosario, our home for the next three nights. We arrived late, so we were met by the charming owners and shown our rooms, then gathered for an evening meal. The next morning, we set off for a drive out of town, where we met Juan Gibelli, who provided a four-in-hand and pair, and we all loaded in the two carriages for a carriage drive into town. We took dirt side roads and met little traffic, passing by Thoroughbred farms one after the other. Once in town, we unloaded and walked a short distance to a local shop, where we were offered chairs (plus refreshments and bathroom) to watch the parade of gauchos, horses, and tropillas (herds of horses). We estimated some 3,000 horses passed us by. The weather was perfect, and we all THOROUGHLY enjoyed the event.

Then it was off on the carriages again for a short drive to the home of Pepe Guevara for a barbecue lunch. Many of Pepe’s friends joined us there, and it was a great day.

On Monday, we drove 65 km to Capilla del Senor, where we hosted again by Juan Gibelli. He has a large carriage collection (of vehicles to drive). Of course we enjoyed lunch, then several carriages were put to and we all went off for an hour’s drive through the countryside. Field after field of cattle or horses, and no troubles at all. We were treated to a friend of Juan’s bringing his Hackney random, and he drove the cross-country course with us. I can honestly say that I have never seen a random drive cross-country before! The day ended too soon.

On Tuesday, we left Areco and made a stop in Lujan to visit the public carriage collection. Fascinating. We met the museum curator and the man in charge of conserving the vehicles. They were most interested in talking with us and exchanging ideas. Then we made our final visit to El Galpoon in Escobar: the weekend home of Dr. Guillermo Gibelli. Here, he houses most of his carriage and appointment collections. Again, a perfect day of sun and breeze, and we enjoyed lunch all together with members of the Gibelli family and invited guests.

All too soon, we returned to the big city and checked in to our hotel. We all gathered in the evening to exchange stories and highlights of yet another fantastic trip to the wonderful country of Argentina.

 

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