2003: New Beginnings

In a year fraught with many positive changes for Starstruck, again we had so much for which to be thankful in 2003.

The never-ending winter from hell FINALLY left, a bit late of course, and we saw the ground. It was not a green spring, but a brown one, thanks to the mud that the snow gave way to....fortunately we had the use of an indoor ring on occasion to try to catch up on all the lost time over winter. Poor Anjuli and Princess had so much to learn before the shows started!! Luckily, Princess was a great student and even learned to jump little courses by the first EAAHSC show in May (she had only been broke to saddle in August!)

The BRAHA Spring Show was two days this year with a whole day devoted to jumping! WOW! It was here that Braveheart made his show debut, as did Solidor, Khassi, Dolche and Princess.

A gorgeous, wildly-marked HUGE colt foal was born to our leased TB mare, Indian Fern, in May. We named him "Even Exchange," barn name Ricky.

The Mason-Dixon Classic, again with splattering mud all over us, was a learning experience for Kim and Soli. PX made it four in a row!!

Our next event was the May EAAHSC show in Bel Air. Missing our chief cook and bottle washer, Scott, (who was in Spain or China or SOMEWHERE but HERE) was a big change, but we adapted and survived somehow without his humor and help.

This was the first year we attended the Delmarva Classic Arabian show, as they added Working Hunter to their roster. Everyone had a good time and did well!

Next was EAAHSC at Fair Hill. Scott was back from WHEREVER and joined us YIPPEEEE! Some riders had a rocky first day, but most had it worked out by the second day.

This year we took a large contingent to the PA Junior-Amateur Games and stayed the whole weekend, even participating in the clinics offered. How fun!

Region 15 Championships followed, with Zeal, PX and Sol making the trip south.

The big MOVE to our new digs in Monkton occurred somewhere in here...its a blur! But all equines adjusted well to the change.

EAAHSC Dillsburg show was a huge success for the team members...fun weekend despite the drive to the middle of nowhere!

East Coast Championships at Quentin ended up with just Cassie and PX going; Kim scratched at the last minute, so it was just us!

Howard County Fair was its usual good time, despite our trailer being side-swiped on the way there, causing two flat tires!

EAAHSC Harrington DE - what can I say?? Scott joined us for one of the few shows he could attend, and he cooked up a storm! Always a fun show, we all had a blast.

EAAHSC Council Show at Dillsburg was just one horse show too many....horses and riders alike were tired of showing....nerves were frazzled, but we still had superstar performances!

And, finally, the inaugural AHA Sport Horse National Championships. PX ended his career on a mega-high note, Debbi got her first taste of a National level show, Cassie was short of Reserve Champion by a hair, and Kim succeeded in her goal for Sol.