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GWIF News & Notes

Weekend Recap: Foggy Fun at Bouckaert Farm Schooling Show

A thick blanket of morning fog greeted our GWIF crew on Sunday morning at Bouckaert Farm’s Year End Schooling Show.  While the drive in may have felt treacherous, GWIF riders delivered solid performances through the haze. We’re especially proud of Jake, Raegan, and Olivia, who confidently piloted our GWIF youngsters through some of their first show experiences - fog and all!

FULL SHOW RESULTS:

BOUCKAERT FARM SCHOOLING SHOW - 12/7/25

GWIF Goes: The Near Future

• December 12th - 13th (THIS WEEKEND!) - Poplar Place Farm Schooling Show - Open to all students with trainer permission. We will haul out on Friday and compete on Saturday. Closing Date: Expired

• December 14th (THIS WEEKEND!) - GIWF Winter Jumping Derby - Team up with GWIF friends for the ultimate color-coordinated speed contest! All levels of riders are welcome - you choose the height you want to jump (with trainer approval, of course)! Awards for fastest timed teams, best team spirit, and best dressed! See the flyer below for more details and to sign up.

• December 21st (NEW DATE)- Make Up Lessons for Huntcliff Campus - If you ride at our Huntcliff Campus and missed a lesson in December, this is your opportunity to make it up!

• December 21st - XC Schooling - CANCELLED to accommodate the date change for December Make Up Lessons.

• December 22nd - January 4th - SCHEDULED BARN CLOSURE - Regularly scheduled barn closures are part of our normal tuition program. Makeup lessons are not scheduled for lessons missed during barn closures.

Keep an eye on our web calendar - 2026 dates coming soon!

PRO TIP: Click on the flyer to access the signup form!

Weekly Barn Tip: No Sweat, No Regret

As temperatures drop during lessons, it’s more important than ever to make sure your horse is fully dry before putting their blanket back on after a ride. A damp coat trapped under a blanket can lead to chills, muscle stiffness, and even skin issues like rain rot.  Think of it like putting on a winter coat after stepping out of the shower—it’s uncomfortable and counterproductive.

Real talk?  Sweaty horses don’t dry quickly in the winter like they do in our blazing Georgia heat.  Tips to help shorten drying time after lessons:

• Add a Cooler: Fleece or wool coolers help wick moisture away. Remember to remove the cooler once it is damp.

• Post-Ride Grooming: Currying and lifting the hair creates heat and helps air circulate through the coat.

• Walk It Out: A few minutes of hand-walking promotes evaporation.

Short on time? If your horse is still damp when you need to leave, please do not blanket and turn them out. Leave them in their stall with a cooler on and let a trainer, staff member, or experienced GWIF rider know.

Rider of the Week: Olivia Kinsella

Olivia began her journey with GWIF at just eight years old, and by ten, she and her family were ready to dive into the world of leasing. Olivia built foundational skills with Nacho and refined her riding across three transformative years with Cricket.  This Summer, she was offered the exciting opportunity to partner with Mac, a five year old Thoroughbred.  

One of Olivia’s favorite GWIF memories is navigating a training-level keyhole jump on Cricket during summer camp - an incredibly fun moment that solidified her desire to tackle bigger challenges. Looking ahead, her sights are firmly set on qualifying for the American Eventing Championships.

Halliea nominated Olivia in recognition of the maturity she has shown in building her partnership with Mac, especially during their first three-phase event together this past weekend at Bouckaert Farm. Olivia demonstrated persistence, patience, and grit - traits essential to bringing along a young horse and ones her trainers greatly appreciate.

Congratulations, Olivia, on being selected Rider of the Week! We are abundantly proud of you and Mac and can’t wait to cheer on your continued growth together!

GWIF News & Notes Archive

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