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California Riding Magazine • November, 2009 Elizabeth Blaisdell Knox: Harvest Moon Stables |
Getting more bang for your buck is the buzz phrase of this bad economy and equestrians are as anxious as everybody else to get the most for their money. That trend leads the savvy hunter/jumper rider to Elizabeth Blaisdell Knox’s Harvest Moon Stables, located at the Del Mar Horsepark in San Diego. Since she established her own business in 2003, Elizabeth has built a track record of stellar successes for herself and her students at county, A-rated and national shows. Combining an effective training program and an enjoyable barn ambiance with a home base at the site of many county and A shows, Harvest Moon offers customers first rate services while cutting their competition costs by as much as two thirds. The Del Mar Horsepark hosts a regular calendar of well-run hunter/jumper shows, enabling Harvest Moon riders to save on stall fees, travel expenses, away-from-home training fees, hay and shavings. But it’s not all about the almighty dollar. Blaisdell Knox brings a wealth of experience to a program that treats each horse and rider as an individual. “The program operates on individuality. No one gets fit into a ‘box’,” the trainer says. “We evaluate every horse, rider or combination individually and develop a specific program for each. No matter if your goal is cantering around your first Short Stirrup course or traveling across the country to compete at the top shows in the nation, we work with every aspect of your mind, body and soul to help you achieve and exceed your every expectation.” Growing up on the East Coast, Blaisdell Knox rode with Leo Conroy and Barbara Feigus. She competed successfully in all the major medal finals that many of her students now aspire to. After college, Blaisdell Knox took a “real job” in politics, working for Governor Beasely of South Carolina while riding as an amateur under Grand Prix star Aaron Vale’s tutelage. Eighteen months in that job was enough to inspire a permanent return to the horse world, where she joined forces with Washington trainer Cara Anthony at Potcreek Meadows Farm. Anthony was a regular on the Grand Prix circuit at the time and Blaisdell Knox quickly assumed many of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the training barn. From 1999 to 2003, Blaisdell Knox retraced her junior years’ footsteps, taking several Pot Creek youngsters to the big shows and the medal finals back East and coaching them to several state championships. That was in addition to showing herself in the Open Hunter, Jumper and Grand Along the way, Blaisdell Knox made several California connections and lit out for the Golden State. She worked for Susie Hutchison for a year and is grateful for the veteran’s help in setting up shop for herself in California in 2003, a dream she’d been nurturing for much of her life. Because of Harvest Moon’s individualized approach, Blaisdell Knox likes to keep the horse head count to 25. “Our first priority is the care of the horses,” she says, “and having fun and helping our students achieve their goals.” One example she is particularly proud of is having students ribbon at this summer’s USEF Pony Finals in Kentucky. Those riders came to Harvest Moon with a desire to learn how to ride and two years later they hit the national scene. “Working with the client we create a plan to learn, compete and grow,” Blaisdell Knox explains. “Goals change with time and life, so our program flows with those changes.” At presstime, another Harvest Moon rider was “on the bubble” in the qualifications for the Maclay Medal Finals set for this month in Syracuse, NY. The stable’s schedule is dictated by clients’ needs, and it is usually split somewhat evenly between county and A-rated competitions. In addition to shows at the Horsepark, the Harvest Moon crew counts the Oaks and Larry Langer’s events at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center among its favorite destinations. Visits to the HITS Tucson and/or Thermal circuits are planned for this winter. Sale horses represent a sizeable portion of Blaisdell Knox’ business, which works out to be a win-win for sellers and her students alike. “It allows our young riders and adults access to different horses while allowing the sellers to have their horse be part of a quality training program and marketed at shows without having to foot the bill.” The trainer credits an excellent staff with helping everything run smoothly. Assistant trainer Jennifer Black has been a great asset. “She has a long history of success as a junior in California, and she and I have the same background and fundamentals,” Blaisdell Knox notes. “She has a lot of fun with our beginners and gets them started with great basics.” Brothers Jose and Carlos have served as excellent grooms for the last four years. “They are our eyes,” praises Blaisdell Knox. “If the slightest thing goes wrong with one of our horses they find it and tell us.” At Harvest Moon, each member of the team plays an important role in the success of the program. Whether they are training students or helping horse owners identify potential prospects, the philosophy is the same: a personal approach and customized plan produce terrific results
For more information on Elizabeth Blaisdell Knox and Harvest Moon Stables, visit www.harvestmoonstables.com or call 760-840-9304. |
