Contributors

Dressage


Dressage (a French term meaning "training") is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet." Although the discipline has its roots in classical Greek horsemanship, mainly through the influence of Xenophon, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit during the Renaissance in Western Europe. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then and classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage.

Early European aristocrats displayed their horses' training in equestrian pageants, but in modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of "tests," or prescribed series of movements within a standard arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to ten - zero being "not executed" and ten being "excellent." A score of nine (or "very good") is considered a particularly high mark, while a competitor achieving all sixes (or 60% overall) should be considering moving on to the next level.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

PW Inspection!




PW was a star at her Hanoverian Inspection! Thank you Phil Silva for taking time out of his busy schedule to present her so nicely. PW was totally relaxed and showed everyone how beautiful she is! She recieved 7.0 and is accepted into the Main Stud Book. Gerd Zuther was complimentary about he and said " congratulations! She is a very solid mare!" Next year we will be there for the Performance Testing for sure. Thank you also to Lyn Spinella and Brookside Farm for offering the Farm for the Inspection Site. Everyone was totally dissappointed the brander was caught in bad weather and runway mishaps, so he was unable to show up and inspect the foals. We were lucky that they were able to ask Gerd to fill in and PW has the first blue ribbon of her career!!

Free Dressage Tuesday Schedule

Tuesday we are offering our Free Dressage Evening at Oak Hill Farm.
The schedule starts at 4:00, lessons are 30 minutes. There will also be time for Q and A if you cannot bring your horse bring questions!
Ann McKinney
Mary Smith
Stacey Baszkiewicz
Linda Powers
Leah Jameson
Kim Prehl

Auditors welcome, no charge, please bring a chair!

We hope to see you there!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Good Luck PW!


We leave tomorrow for Brookside Farm in North Smithfield, RI for PW's Hanoverian inspection!!! I am so excited I cannot stand it. She looks so beautiful and it will be a great experience for her to see a bit of the world.
Good Luck!

Monday, July 19, 2010

BIG congratulations to Ariel and Evita!





Ariel and Evita had a spectacular weekend, winning both Prix St. George classes and her freestyle with super scores at King Oak Farm.
Sax also came for a field trip and despite some sensory over load the first day settled down and worked hard and looked beautiful the rest of the weekend. Both horses gained many admirers at the show!
Matt also got this beautiful shot of the stabling after the storms past saturday evening. King Oak is always a fun show to go to, the people are so helpful, and the atmosphere is wonderful.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Date for Leukemia Lymphoma Fundraiser

Everyone is Invited!
Oak Hill Farm in Pepperell MA is the place!
September 11, 2010 is the Date!
Please help us kick off our Equestrian Of the Year Fundraising Efforts

Free for everyone, donations accepted. We are looking for silent auction items.
Food, music, demonstrations, face painting, pony rides and much more!!

PW

A big day for PW! We have been lunging beautifully with saddle and side reins on the bit! When we added the bouncing stirrups.............PW was quite sensitive to these and it has taken a couple of days to become relaxed. But today she was perfect! Lovely trot and canter in complete relaxation and looking for the bit! So we took the next big leap. I have been getting her used to me bouncing in the stirrup and lying over her back this week. Today Raymundo walked her forward while I was lying over the saddle! She was a bit shocked with my weight I think! But perfect!
2 weeks until our Hannoverian inspection! We are ready, she looks totally fit and beautiful with Raymundo's grooming.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

available for on farm lease

Omar is with us in Pepperell for the summer and will be in Florida for the winter months. He is working all of the Prix St. Georges/ Inter 1 movements. He is a super athlete as well as a good teacher. 16 hands, dutch, 14 years old gelding. Omar is available for lease. Call or email Nancy for more information. 561 714 7447, totallynancy@yahoo.com

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Congratulations!







Ariel and Evita had a great show at Westbrook bringing home 3 blue ribbons with 3 great tests. The first time over 70% in the technical test,(they had scored 72% in the freestyle in May), what a difference a year makes!!!

Also a big day for Alyson and Nirvana 69% that is alot of progress in a very short time! Congratulations!
And Melissa Bilodeau won 3 blue ribbons and made a succesful jump into 3 rd level with Versace. Great job!