SEPTEMBER 2010
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Congratulations Jordyn
Hor witz & Lulu Shamberg
Lulu Shamberg with her horse, Merry Go Round,
and Jordyn Horwitz with Apollo have qualified for
the Land Rover/USEA American Eventing Championships,
September 9-12 at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Georgia. Cory
will be traveling with them. This is a very exciting event because it is
the World Equestrian Games qualifier for Eventing.
Mette has returned from
the USET Dressage
Festival of Champions.
As many of you know,
two of Mette’s horses
qualified
for
this
National
Dressage
Championship: Finally
and Taison. Mette had
a very successful show
with Finally finishing
10th and Taison
finishing 11th in the
Prix St. Georges/
Intermediare I division.
The event took place in
Gladstone, New Jersey at the USET
headquarters. For a detailed account and many
photos of Mette’s Gladstone experience, visit her
blog at: http://metterosencrantz.blogspot.com.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Congratulations to the following riders who have qualified to compete in
the USEA Area VI Championships:



Sadie Buchenau with Puddles
Brittany Clark with Prestiges Town
Gypsy
Joe McKinley with Mister Brightside


Madison Montgomery with My
Nirvana
Paulina Montgomery with King’s Cross
SEPTEMBER 2010
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Mill Creek Equestrian Center
Mill Creek Times September 1, 2010
millcreekequestriancenter.com
Lesson Updates for Fall
Beginning September 1, the 4th
Level Sunday class will be taught at
2pm (instead of 3pm).
Karene will be teaching a Training
- 1st Level Dressage Group on
Sundays at 3pm. (NOTE: That’s
Dressage levels and not Mill Creek
camp or Eventing levels.)
Vivian will continue to teach
through the Winter in the afternoons
and weekends (exact schedule to be
determined).
Credit Card
Payments
The Mill Creek office will soon be
accepting Visa and Mastercard for
riding lessons only.
At this time, boarders will still be
billed on a monthly basis and can pay
with Cash or Check.
As of September 1,
Cory’s lessons are as
follows:
 Training Jumping:
Wednesdays at 4:30pm and
weekends at 11am.
 Novice Jumping: Thursdays at
4:30 pm and weekends at 10am.
 Beginning Novice Jumping:
Fridays at 4:30pm and weekends at
1pm.
Check the website for full information
about the new group lesson schedule.
Online
Scheduling
Canceled
Cory made the difficult decision not
to use the online scheduling system
that was being developed for Mill
Creek. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t
working out as she had hoped.
Crime Rate is up this Summer
Cory Walkey reports an increased rate of theft
of tack, brushes and other horse-related supplies
around the barn. “What used to be ‘borrowing’ has
just turned into downright stealing,” says Walkey.
Riders should be careful about locking up
valuables and should try to help out their neighbors
by keeping an eye on their belongings, as well.
Be sure to report any suspicious activity to the
office right away.
est. 1973
New School Horse
Leasing Packages
Available
Cory announced this week that
there will be five new lease packages
for School Horses, effective
September 1. In addition, leasers
must sign a new lease agreement
(available in the office & the website).
Monthly packages are as follows:
 6 days per week (Full Lease):
$700; minimum of 3 lessons per
week required
All lease packages below require a
minimum of 2 lessons per week:
 4 weekdays (Tues - Fri): $300;
 2 weekdays, 1 weekend day:
$300;
 1 weekday, 2 weekend days:
$350;
 2 weekdays, 2 weekend days:
$425.
Holiday Camps
There will be two special day
camps held the weeks before and after
Christmas. Each camp will run for
four and half days: December 20 - 24
and December 27 - 31. The cost is
$300/week if you pay for the whole
week (a $70 savings) or $80 per day.
First Level and Second Level
(separate sessions) will be taught by
Vivian; Third Level will be taught by
Joe; and a combined
Fourth Level/Beginner
Novice camp will be
taught by Cory.
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Mill Creek Equestrian Center
CONGRATULATIONS!
Lulu Shamberg &
Merr y Go Round
A special congratulations from Cory
to Lulu Shamberg whose photo was
featured in the “How’s My Position”
column of the July/August issue of
Eventing Magazine. Cory says, “I
am so proud of Lulu. I have never
read another review in this column
that was so positive and without one
bit of negative criticism about the
rider.”
New Horses
Cara Julian purchased Wunder
Schon (aka Pia), a 4 year old
Bay Holsteiner Mare in April
and recently brought her to Mill
Creek. She is half sister to Le
Samurai. Cara says she was the
first person to sit on her! Pia is
just learning to jump and Cara
hopes to bring her to Twin
Rivers in September.
Tessa Robinson and her family
purchased Vivid at the end of
June. He is a 10 year old gray
Dutch Warmblood gelding,
who was imported to the U.S.
as a three year old. He was
doing 1.40 meters jumpers,
before he came to Mill Creek,
but now Tessa will be Eventing
with him.
Diani Lee & the 16th Asian Games
Hopefully some of you got to meet Diani while she was at Mill Creek. She just graduated from USC
and decided to stay in Los Angeles to train with Mette Rosencrantz. Diani will be competing at the
16th Asian Games this November in China, representing the Malaysian Dressage Team on her new
horse, Stravinsky (Sky for short): a 12 year old Trakehner gelding. Soon after coming to Mill Creek,
she discovered that she couldn’t meet the quarantine requirements of the Games if she stayed in the
U.S., so Diani and Sky will be going to Europe to train until November and Mette will join them
there to help with the training. The Asian Games happen every four years and are very big in Asia—
the biggest sporting event after the Olympics. This will be Diani’s second outing at the Asian Games;
the first was in 2006 in Doha, Qatar. Find out more about the Asian Games at www.gz2010.cn/en.
Diani loves Mill Creek and plans to return after the Games. She says, “Everyone here is so nice. I am
so thankful for everyone at the barn for their help and support. I could not have done anything
without people like ‘Mill Creekers.’ It will be sad for me to leave for a few months now, but I am
looking forward to coming back after the Games and seeing everyone again soon!”
SEPTEMBER 2010
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Mill Creek Equestrian Center
HELLO...
Peridot Burke and Mt. Colebrook
Peri and Colby just arrived at Mill Creek in August. Colby is a Canadian Thoroughbred gelding.
Colby's first career was as an Eventer in Canada before being brought to the United States to
show in both Eventing and Jumpers on the East coast. Peri brought him to California last
autumn and he had his 16th birthday in May. His favorite thing in the whole world is
marshmallow peeps.
Peri is 32 and lives in
Topanga. She shows on the
Southern California AA rated
Hunter/Jumper show circuit.
She has a B.A. in Equine
Studies
from
Virginia
Intermont College and has
Colby celebrating his 16th
shown and worked in Florida,
Birthday in May.
Virginia, and Michigan. She
has shown Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation, and Dressage, but
she and Colby now show in the Adult Amateur and
Modified Jumper divisions. She came to California three
years ago in search of good riding, showing and plenty of sun.
Colby and Peri are delighted to be at Mill Creek, not only
because of its great reputation and beautiful grounds, but
also for the location!
Kathr yn
Johnson
&
Wellington
Kathryn and
Wellington came to
Mill Creek in June.
Wellington, whose
show name is Set
Sail, is a 16.1 Irish
Sport Horse gelding,
born in 2000.
Peri says you can view videos of her showing on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/msperidot13
...AND GOODBYE
Simone Slater
Simone is heading off to
college at Otterbein University this fall. It's located
in Westerville, Ohio (just
outside of Columbus).
She'll be majoring in
Equine Business/Facility
Management.
Simone says, “I'm going to
miss Mill Creek and everyone there so much, but
will make sure to
visit sometime!”
Madison
Reeb
Madi has started college at U.C. Berkeley.
She is double majoring
in Art and Psychology.
Madi has been riding
at Mill Creek since she
was 8 years old and
qualified for and competed in the Young
Rider Eventing Championships the
last three years
in a row.
SEPTEMBER 2010
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Mill Creek Equestrian Center
Meet the Trainer
Cory Walkey
Cory always knew
what she wanted to
do in life. 'I never
had to think about
it,' she says. At age
11, her friend
wanted to keep her
horse at the stable
at Cory's house.
Her mother agreed,
but only if Cory set
it up as a business.
'She bought me a
ledger book and
Cory with Olympian and Horses in told me to keep
the Hood founder, Kathy Kusner.
track of all the costs.
Soon after, I had three, then four horses and was
running a pretty good business.' At age 16, Cory was
giving riding lessons after school and on weekends.
'From there, it just grew and grew.'
After high school, while most of her peers went to
college, Cory traveled to Sir John Galvin’s Estate in
Ireland. Galvin was a friend of her mother’s and one of
the world's richest men and sponsor of the U.S.
Olympic Eventing team. There she trained extensively
and received her teaching credentials in equestrian
sports. In the 1960s, Cory started the Will Rogers
Riding Club. When the state put out a bid for the
whole concession, Cory fought to keep her club. She
proposed a comprehensive equestrian package, wanting
to make it more accessible to the public, but 'The polo
guys had George Hearst, son of William Randolph on
their team, so I didn't stand much of a chance. The
whole thing went to the Will Rogers Polo Club,' Cory
says. 'Right or wrong, that's how it went.'
In 1971, she found the future site of Mill Creek, a
former walnut and egg farm. 'There was nothing there
but junk,' Cory says, 'but I thought, 'Yep, that's it.''
Throughout the years, she has turned the 30-acre
property off Old Topanga Road into a world-class
training facility for dressage and event riders.
'The kids at Mill Creek are my family,' she says.
'They're the ones who have kept the place going all
these years. What started as a passion for horses has
evolved into just enjoying spending time with the kids.
I love that stage from when they go from being
passengers to when they're able to ride. Everything at
that point for them is such a thrill.'
Adapted from a 2008 article by Theresa Kilkowski for the
Palisadian-Post.
Upcoming Shows
EVENTS/HORSE TRIALS






Copper Meadows Horse Trials, Ramona
Twin Rivers Fall Horse Trials, Paso Robles
The Autumn Event at Woodside
Ram Tap Horse Trials
Galway Downs International Three Day Event &
Horse Trials
Ram Tap Pony Club Benefit Horse Trials
COMBINED TEST DERBYS (GOOD FOR KIDS)*


Meadows of Moorpark
Meadows of Moorpark
*Open to all riders from Third Level through Training
SHOW DATE
September 10 - 12
September 24 - 26
October 8 - 10
October 23 - 24
November 5 - 7
November 20 - 21
SHOW DATE
September 19
October 17
ENTRY DUE
Closed
September 7
September 21
October 5
October 5 (3 day)
October 19 (H.T.)
November 2
ENTRY DUE
August 28
September 25
SEPTEMBER 2010
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Mill Creek Equestrian Center
Two More New Faces…
A Big Thank You!
A big welcome to
Cory’s and
Mette’s new
puppies:
Squiggles and
Pebbles. They
are Norwich
Terriers and
were born in
June this year.
To all of the volunteers who
helped with the Horses in
the Hood camps this
summer! We had another
successful season!
Inn of the
Seventh Ray
Squiggles
belongs to Cory
and Pebbles
belongs to Mette.
The Topanga Restaurant has a new
chef that is getting a lot of great
press. Cory recommends having a
family lesson at Mill Creek and then
heading down the road to Inn of the
Seventh Ray for dinner or brunch!
You will be
seeing them lots
around the barn!
http://www.innoftheseventhray.com
Recent Show Results
SHEPHERD RANCH, JUNE 25-27
Junior Open Novice:
1st: Brittany Clark & Gypsy
2nd: Paulina Montgomery & King
Novice Rider
2nd: Simone Slater & My Utopia
Junior Open Training
3rd: Lulu Shamberg & Merry
Intro A
4th: Monica Lehne & Jedi
6th: Madelyn Holtzman & Kooper
Email newsletter coming soon! Look
for this sign up box on our website:
Intro B
6th: Tommy Greengard & Marcus
Brittany, Pauline & Simone were the
Novice Team Champions at
Shepherd Ranch
COTTONWOOD DERBY, AUGUST 8
Young Event Horse, 4 yrs. old:
1st: Robyn Fisher & Wunder
Schon (owned by Cara Julian)
Submit poems, stories or
photos for future
newsletters by emailing
web@millcreekequestrian
center.com or by bringing
them to the office.
Young Event Horse, 5 yrs. old:
1st: Robyn Fisher & Zodiac
3rd: Robyn Fisher & Good to Go
(owned by Lorie Fee)
EVENT AT WOODSIDE, AUG. 13-14
Junior Open Novice
3rd: Paulina Montgomery & King
Open Novice
2nd: Joe McKinley
& Mister Brightside
Cory would like to extend a very special
thanks to Kathryn Johnson for donating
her horse Prince (now called Charlie) to
the School Horse Program. Cory feels very
honored to be entrusted with this
responsibility.
1881 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga, California 90290
(310) 455-1116 ◊ http://www.millcreekequestriancenter.com