Packing my bag and Ms. Stella by Starlight for yet ANOTHER adventure

via Delta into Richmond, VA to help 'winter' move my daughter to Aiken, SC!  I am thrilled to be helping Laine in her pursuit of Rolex CCI**** in April and the road getting there!  So much to do.....so much pressure to produce blue ribbon results and a chance to fill a revered spot on the London USA team!  My confidence with "Al" and Lainey in the irons is bursting over and I welcome the opportunities to prove ourselves once again!!!  TEAM CROW'S EAR FARM!!!!!
Raptor has been progressing lovely.  Laine returned to CA for a clinic last month and we all hauled to Ram Tap for a wonderful day of x-c!!!  Raptor had NEVER seen a fence before in his life.....and after a couple of logs later....he found out he had rear legs to push off from!!!!  It's funny.  A race horse can run 26 times in his career and never realize that he has a back end that can offer strength and power as he changes his daily routine from 'breezes to squeeze through the treezes" on single track, sheer rock, steeply ascending "trails"!!!!!  He has been an absolute trooper with the entire agenda here on the farm and his continual 'yes I can do that' response will help him get to the 'starred' events he was destined for.  The words from his race trainer were "Valerie, this is a Special horse....he is going places.....and I want you to offer him the chance of proving himself".  Raptor Force certainly will be part of a historical list that his trainer and my dear friend, Rhoda March has offered to us.  
Raptor Force is scheduled to arrive on the east coast in April/May after Rolex so look for him for sale with Laine campaigning him in full 'Force'!!!!

Amanda Blaszkowski in the irons 

Whom else?  STELLA!!!!

Raptor Force will certainly BE a serious FORCE

in the seasons ahead!  I have yet to get on a TB fresh off the track and scale up cliffs and forage through rushing rivers with all the trust in the world in my influence to keep him forward and confidant.  This is a fabulous horse.  He is a prospect from the same trainer who has for over 20 years provided some of our very best horses.  Raptor Force is no exception.  Look for him to go back east by this coming Spring and begin his new career UNLESS he sells on the west coast first!

Crow's Ear Farm has a new arrival!!!

Raptor Force

An absolutely handsome 2007 dark bay (black) gelding with unique chrome markings that distinguish him as 'the man from the boys'.  He is a very light airy mover and quietly down to business as we work around him.  I am thrilled to have found such a remarkable athlete and thankful for the opportunity to bring him along in his new career!  "Raptor has the peachiest navicular x-rays" commented Dr. Jerry Parker, DVM from an OTTB especially after 26 starts!!!  

It has been a lengthy but excitingly progressive trek since my last entry

and I have been across the United States flying back & forth to help daughter Laine in her competition schedule as she has progressed to the incredible Rolex 4* International Event in Lexington, KY on April 27-May 1st.  I eagerly return to VA this Friday to haul Laine and our amazing Anthony Patch to this country's most prestigious event!  We are so fortunate to not only qualify but arrive with a happy sound competitor ready the 4* star task ahead!  There is a wonderful article in this month's Practical Horseman highlighting Laine's career and it is indeed a very heartfelt read.  Pick it up and get to know her on a more personal basis in "Making a Comeback"!  Cheer on #26!!!


The following pictures are just photo moments I shot when I attended her shows.  
You can follow the updates here on my site or go to rk3de.org
Remember to watch LIVE on NBC Sports the final phase of stadium on Sunday, May 1st at 2pm-3pm EDT.  
2010 earmarked daughter Laine as "The Come Back Kid" to my family.   Laine's galloping all smiles through the stadium finish flags will go down in my memory as the number 1 reason why Life remains so precious and fulfilling: About second chances and keeping the 'eye on the prize'.  Laine encompasses all of this.  She is a true grit example of hope to all of us and why this country even now at it's weakest, remains courageously strong. Let's all exhale and pause for a moment to realize that anything beyond last year is a bonus for us and Laine truly walked away THE WINNER.  I love you my daughter.  I am so very proud of you.  And ALL of our horses are proof of the loving character you demonstrate each and every day.

After a warm and brilliantly sunny St. Patrick's Day

the Ides of March set in!!!!  Though I can't say I have a set of snow shoes I can say I have a cozy courtyard barn in which every horse can see his neighbor and be out of the inclement weather.  We horse people know how satisfying that is for US!  I have to admit the farm looks like a gorgeous winter Wonderland.....

my front entrance gate with our Crow insignia!

our barn

the snow on this branch just slid off!  More on the way!