Greetings from the West Coast,

It is a winter day with a fair amount of rain but as I sit in my office and write this, I can look out over the fields turning green and the vineyards getting ready for another bloom. We get to stay here year-round, no need to pack up and leave for the winter. Horseshave a vacation after the competition season without the complications of snow and ice. A medium weight rug is the maximum and most days they are out and able to enjoy beautiful sun.

Spring is around the corner and the competition season here has begun. There are many planning meetings that happen to figure out where each horse is going to compete and how much will be done here in our backyard, how much will be done on a trip or two to the East Coast and which horses will make the trek across the pond to Europe.

Being based on the West Coast does mean that you are used to traveling and so are the horses. There are many top-level competitions to attend, but the West covers many miles so you do need to get quite accustomed to spending time driving in your truck. My East Coast friends laugh at me when I talk about a 10-hour drive to a competition being just around the corner. Basically, it is one book on tape or some quality time perfecting that second or third language. I know every Starbucks stop that you can get a large rig in from Montana to Mexico and everywhere in between. Quality road snacks are a must for both human and equine.

The West Coast Eventing scene is really one big family, I call it the traveling circus. We all arrive, put up the tents, put on the show, pack back up and head to the next one. Everyone has a role and helps anyone who needs it. The level of competition here is quite high, quality horses and riders at all levels.

Being an owner on the West Coast is its own experience. I have been fortunate to see many highways and byways, have witnessed scenery I would have never experienced. I can recognize more rock formations, crop types, flora and fauna and marvel at Elk traversing a freeway, and a grizzly bear strolling along a riverbank. On the West you can prepare a horse for a 5* or a trip to Europe without traveling over the Mississippi to a competition on the other side of the USA. The footing is always very well prepared out here and you do not need to depend on rain for the footing to be reasonable.

Bring a sun hat, pour a cocktail and enjoy the West. Oh, and did I mention we don’t have bugs?