tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:05:44 +0000Get an inside look at the eventing world from Max Corcoran, Karen O'Connor's head groom, in this EquiSearch.com blog.http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/noreply@blogger.com (EquiSearch.com)Blogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-8990072550150560076Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:08:00 +00002009-11-16T15:19:22.054-05:00I love my house in Florida - it sit on the back of the farm; I have Doodle, Danny and Kobe sleep outside my house; great patio; and an orange tree 20 yards away... Getting here is not so easy - David left Sunday with 6, Lauren on Monday with 4, Brewster with 3 and myself with 4 on Tuesday, followed by Hannah on Wednesday with 3. AND - we have 8 more coming on Tuesday - phew. Moving dressage http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/10/great-migration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-6907257223766662543Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:10:00 +00002009-09-10T05:31:16.452-04:00There were some really good parts to Burghley... - Meeting William and Sarah Micklam - they bred Mandiba and haven't seen him since they put on a plane as an almost 5 year old. They are smart, kind, funny and fantastic horseman. Defiantly a good thing. - Getting to know Jessica Ransehousen - Missy's mom and dressage guru. She knows a thing or two about eventing too. She will be in the barns in a http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/09/good-things-about-burghley.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-284354146922570913Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:40:00 +00002009-09-08T08:06:49.351-04:00Wish we could do it all over again - This is a sport of highs and lows.... and when the lows come - you just want to get away from them. Looking back on why Burghley didn't go as planned - we can come up with a thousand reasons. Doodle was low on runs - He a gas belly ache three days before we trotted up - Karen's father just died - we missed Richland due to the funeral - footing was deceptive http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/09/too-much-too-soon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-2855455210564232292Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:55:00 +00002009-08-25T17:39:10.699-04:00Doodle and I made to England! Long week last week saying goodbye to Phil - SO many people calling, sending flowers, stopping by to send their love to Karen and the whole Lende family. A beautiful funeral on Saturday with all three kids speaking and student Hannah Burnnett bring the church to tears signing a new version of Amazing Grace. There was a reception at Karen and Davids house after where http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/08/show-must-go-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-5856859142989816950Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:28:00 +00002009-08-20T08:27:05.308-04:00We lost our surrogate Grandfather Tuesday. Karen's dad, Phil, died after he fell at the house. He had a cerebral hemorrhage and never regained consciousness. Phil was the kindest man - for those that knew him will remember him as soft spoken and funny. His dry wit would catch you off guard and have you laughing with him. He was very proud of all his children; Chip, Karen and Steve and all his http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/08/sad-times-for-oconnor-event-team.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-4060943572744981748Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:03:00 +00002009-07-31T18:28:43.921-04:00My holiday was great... Had very strange deja vu riding the 5:10 train from Boston to North Beverly like I did for 5 years when I worked in Boston - stopping in Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, Beverly, North Beverly, Hamilton/Wenham, Ipswich, Rowley, and Newburyport.... weird, huh? Heard it many times! The only thing that has changed is that there is wifi in the cars - and the price.... http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/07/stuart-vacation-and-burghley.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-1826504260568598968Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:54:00 +00002009-07-02T17:48:07.649-04:00We have an amazing vet - She's actually one of my good friends. It is amazing when you can go from client to friend to client again and back to friend; we have such mutual respect for each other. She is always trying to know more and be better at what she does - you would think it would take up most of her time, but she also is an Ironman Triathlete. Crazy, huh? YES SHE IS! Christiana went the dohttp://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/07/ironmans-surefire-and-delays.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-8451503386930171352Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:03:00 +00002009-06-21T14:36:37.948-04:00And the people you meet along the way!The Virginia camp is behind us and we are smack in the middle of our next one - at Rebecca Farm in Montana....Rebecca Farm is the vision of the Broussard Family - Becky and her husband Jerome along with their daughter, Sarah and her husband Drew. I looked at the photo album of the making of the farm - truly amazing. The ability to look at a vast piece of landhttp://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/06/oh-places-you-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-615552308853523149Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:03:00 +00002009-06-05T19:36:39.751-04:00I think I may build an Arc. It has rained 8 inches in the last 4 days.... my gray horse is orange - I am starting to like the way I look in rain pants - my dog has had 4 baths in as many days - and boots are being washed twice a day - ewwww. Things are busy at the O'Connor home base - All the horses are in full work, we leave for "camp" on Sunday, come home for 2 days at Seneca Horse Trails and http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/06/rain-rain-go-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-9034812114251770208Sun, 17 May 2009 22:28:00 +00002009-05-17T19:06:17.068-04:00There will be a few people that know what that number means....495 - is that the route around Boston that gets the bad weather west of it? Is it the amount of money in my checking account (well, could be)? Is it the number of entries at the VA Horse Trails this weekend? Or is it the temperature that you broil salmon? NOPE!!!!495 days until the opening ceremonies for the World Equestrian Games. http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/05/495-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-592249189259010686Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:30:00 +00002009-03-29T20:53:28.631-04:00We are rolling along here in Ocala - heading to The Fork in two days, the season has been very quiet but still so busy. We have new horses to be excited about, a new truck, green grass, and no ride at Rolex - very mixed emotions for sure. New to our crew are two horses from Louisiana - One Step Closer - a beautiful chestnut off the track that we call Sam (he has a bit of a parrot mouth - Toucan http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/03/spring-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-8169468501665959523Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:39:00 +00002009-01-20T09:37:21.273-05:00Well - 2008 has been less than great for the O'Connor Event Team. With the loss of family members, horses, dogs, hurt horses, sick horses, friends with cancer, friends with family members with cancer.... just no fun. Christmas came and went and so did New Years Eve - I would sit and listen to people talk about how "bad" it was for them and I would always say my year was worse. Yes it was terriblehttp://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2009/01/on-to-new-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-5011867200309745719Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:49:00 +00002008-12-26T15:59:15.567-05:00My painting from Steve Teachman.... per request. http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/12/photo-of-painting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-6380474197230095145Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:50:00 +00002008-12-26T14:36:37.049-05:00Tis the season to give - and I am of the "better to give than to receive" clan. As a groom doesn't make much money - but we are sure full of the ability to see-all and know what needs doing - it our job after all. And so - Here is my list of presents for my family and friends that cannot be bought: To my family - 1 week of uninterrupted holiday with me all rested for an adventure - no phone, no http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/12/what-i-would-give-for-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-9006637220460272771Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:30:00 +00002008-11-09T17:43:30.577-05:00Please excuse the tardiness on the Blogs... I thought my year couldn't get stranger... and it did. SO great to be at the farm in Florida - the horses just love it here - we all work hard and play hard here - our "team" becomes a family here.Since the last blog - wow - where to start? Good run at Southern Pines, good run at Middleburg Horse Trials. Upstage (Woody) had colic surgery, and then had http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/11/finally-florida.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-1075456921486751487Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:40:00 +00002008-09-10T22:22:39.754-04:00Been a busy week getting back into the groove here. Lauren and Hannah ended up riding the horses last weekend at Loudon and did very well - Karen and David had fun playing coach / owner, but I can tell you Karen is ready to get going again. The girls have done an amazing job competing the horses while we have been gone - and lucky them, they are both low on horses, so it gave them something to http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/09/little-things_10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-7103309366454716775Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:11:00 +00002008-08-29T11:10:10.161-04:00The world has only just stopped spinning and the jet lag is starting to wear off! It is great to be home - to see my dog, sleep in my bed, see my pal Woody (Upstage), and french vanilla creamer - in liquid form.... The results of the show jumping have been plastered all over the internet - some being truly great, some being very unfair and disappointing: Big Mac is one the biggest hearted horses http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/home-again-home-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-6226631204859978802Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:00:00 +00002008-08-19T13:15:46.599-04:00I've just put Mandiba and Comet on the lorry to head for the airport with US vet Dr. Sarah Gold - such mixed emotions; the trip is over, but we are on our way home!!! Sad to see the lorry leave - in a way I wished we could do it all over again, but I wouldn't take the experience back for anything..... So - back to Sunday - After Phillip's dressage, we were packing up to go to Bea's River where http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/cross-country-recap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-5461742125869157036Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:16:00 +00002008-08-17T13:58:03.633-04:00Where to start - Dressage - session 1 - Early Saturday morning - first dressage test at 6:30... AM that is. Amy was first to go for the team - 5th to go overall. Poggio is a funny horse. Not a big mover, but he tries so very hard. He is SO intense on his job that he can get himself wound up - so Amy decided to jump him at 5am. Sounds strange, but clearly it worked as he put in his best test ever.http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/finally-recap-dressage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-3620438356235315790Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:37:00 +00002008-08-15T09:15:18.057-04:00I am so sorry about being delinquent - been a very crazy few days!!!All is well here in Hong Kong and I promise a FULL report as soon as my head stops spinning! So much has been good and so much has been disappointing - good news is that all the horses have come through the event very well looking a bit sassy. Riders are all good too, except Amy Tryon who is stuck in the hospital with an http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/so-much-to-tell.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-7036736419221677693Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:46:00 +00002008-08-06T11:55:23.923-04:00So - when they say that typhoons bring a ton of rain - they really aren't kidding. We (Emma Ford, Phillip's groom) woke up this morning to a note under our door to say there was a level 3 warning. OK - so that means it is going to rain - by the time the riders got to the barn at 6:30 it was upgraded to a level 8. Level 8 means that the stock market is closed, the government offices are closed, nohttp://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/rain-and-rain-and-rain-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-6431964684008672551Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:20:00 +00002008-08-04T09:44:51.783-04:00We feel like we've been here for weeks already - we want the excitement to begin, but we have to be patient. Dressage today for everyone in a ring - getting the cobwebs out from a week away from "the box." The horses didn't have many to dust off - so we have left the morning feeling pretty good. Becky, Amy and Karen all had a quick jump today as well - horses are coping with the heat better than http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/waiting-game.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-4615547222967502904Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:33:00 +00002008-08-04T14:20:48.562-04:00Still cannot believe that I am here.... SO AMAZINGThe riders got here yesterday around 2pm; tired, but not too weary - very excited to see their horses so well. The grooms had been for their 1 hour morning hand graze and we got the chance to walk them around the main arena. The arena area itself is quite big with the stands far enough away to not make you feel too claustrophobic. Back in the http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/08/riders-arrive-bright-lights-big-city.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-8073530520395150548Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:05:00 +00002008-07-31T09:42:41.456-04:00Hong Kong is amazing!!　The people are so friendly and helpful - the city is so clean and the lights are bright!　Flight here was uneventful, many movies and a good book made the time pass quickly.　Aubrey, Allyson and I were greeted on the Jetway by Olympic officials who took us to get our credentials and whisked us through a special customs line. We were then handed off to Jim Wolf, USEF director http://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/07/we-made-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1247828218831380552.post-7570301552647461596Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:36:00 +00002008-07-31T09:39:46.428-04:00What a week we have had here at Barbury Castle - the crew here have been outstanding! The owner, Nigel, has catered to our every whim - Sara Ike has been tirelessly keeping all the stressed out crew happy and focused. We all have been working hard and having some fun. The sun has also brought some superior weather and everyone seams to have a pink nose! From jump lessons to fix-a-tests to gallopshttp://special.equisearch.com/blog/maxcorcoran/2008/07/very-ups-and-very-downs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Corcoran)19