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.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

PW

A totally exciting day for Pikksie Wish!!! Her first canter with a rider! I have to say I have never had such a balanced canter from a 3 year old..............even after they have been under saddle for much longer. She was so perfect! Another first today.............trotting around the arena without Raymundo and our life line, she was so good. We will have to get a video of her under saddle soon.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Perfect Pik!


Weare back in Massachusetts after an extremely enjoyable weekend in Climax, North Carolina. It was time to take Perfect Pik for his Oldenburg inspection at Pepperwood Farm in Farquay Varina. Matt came along for the exciting journey. Nancy Sharpless had done a wonderful job of preparing Honalulu and Peanut for the adventure, THANK YOU NANCY!

Here is a picture of the little peanut being perfect in the trailer.

He got his first plaque! and is a Premium colt! With 8.1 points!!!

He was on absolutly fantastic behavior, and when he was feeling his oats Jesus handled him beautifully.
We also had fun seeing Tami Batts and two of Ranko's babies that did extremely well, both Premium status as well. Congratulations Tami and Vicky!
The Oldenburg inspection at Pepperwood Farm was the largest inspection in the US this year! 37 horses. It was very well run with alot of quality young horses. We will find some results and post them soon. There were 4 premium fillies and 4 premium colts out of 25 or so presented. But, even in the group that were not premium there were some special babies! I was excited to see how my guy stood up to the competition, and the judge Christian Schaft was very complimentary and informative in his commentary. Thank you to all of the Pepperwood staff that organised all of the horses and owners so that everything could run so smoothly.
I am totally excited about Perfect Pik and his future! He is alot like his sister Pikksie Wish, and it is super fun to experience them from this age, I am grateful to have another opportunity.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

LLS Fundraiser Ariel and Mary

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Thank you Jane Batley for providing us with this wonderful video of Ariel and Mary's Pas de Deux in honor of 9-11.
You have to watch this it is so beautiful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_AfkhaIfHY&feature=email

Thursday, September 16, 2010

LLS

This is a really nice video that Mary Lauritsen did for the Cadence Farm Cadence Camera!

Thank you Mary!

Enjoy

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

LLS Fundraiser




































Here are some great photos of our fundraiser saturday! It looks as though we raised more than $4000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma treatment and research!!! Fantastic, thank you everyone. We are also excited that we were able to share what we do with our horses everyday! Thank you so much to Jayne Mount, Chris Allen and Michelle Osbourne for our reining demonstrations! Thank you too Stacey Ux, Linda Roth and Eileen Halloran for providing us with the driving demonstration. Thank you Thank you to Mary Lauritsen and Ariel Matisse for their moving Pas de Deux in Honor of 9-11. Thank you to Jane Karol and Hope Cooper who came from Concord and performed their beautiful freestyles for us! And thank you to Alexis who helped me show Jayne and Traveller Anything you can do We can do better!! and how Dressage and Reining really are similar in so many ways!

Monday, September 13, 2010

LLS Fundraiser

Thank you , Thank you, Thank you!!!! Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day and so many people came out to join our party. Not only did we raise money to fight Leukemia and Lymphoma but we enjoyed great demonstrations, driving, dressage and reining. The pictures are wonderful and will be up on Matt's website soon, and I will feature a couple here for you to see.
Thank you Mark and Linda Spengler for opening your farm to us. The farm looked beautiful and the work that you both did to make this all possible is irreplacable! Thank you!!
Thank you Maureen for spending the afternoon greeting our guests, and thank you Nick, Blase and Mike for manning the grills!
We are already making plans for next year and we would love for you to be party of our event, so please join in!
Pictures coming soon!!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Thank you!

Our Leukemia Lymphoma Fundraiser is right around the corner and we already have so many people to Thank!!
We have already received $1250 in donations to help pay for the party! Thanks so much to Cunningham and Cunningham Insurance and Frog Pond Farm. We estimate at least $3000 worth of Silent Auction Items have been donated !! Thank you ! The long list of donors to come soon. And hundreds of dollars in donations from people unable to join us but supporting our event...........THANK YOU.
Please, if you have not already, consider dropping a check in the mail made out to the LLS and send it to Nancy Later, 32 Yorktown Rd. West Boylston, MA 01583. OR better yet......join us saturday from 12 - 5 at Oak Hill Farm in Pepperell, MA. Call for more info 561 714 7447

See you then!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Fundraiser

Our Leukemia Lymphoma Fundraiser is fast approaching! Saturday September 11! Be sure to join us at Oak Hill Farm, 34 Elm St. Pepperell, MA from 12 - 5. So many exciting things happening, dressage, reining and driving demonstrations! Pony rides and face painting! Free food and drinks, music and...........a fantastic silent auction.
Thank you to our fabulous sponsors::
Cunningham and Cunningham Livestock Insurance
Anita Fialkow
Friends of Carousel Dressage
Frog Pond Farm
Mark and Linda Spengler of Oak Hill Farm
Matt Lavoie

Please Come, and if you cannot join us you can support the LLS by sending your tax exempt donation :
Payable to LLS
Mail to Nancy Later
32 Yorktown Rd.
West Boylston, MA 01583

Thank you!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Alyson and Nirvana for their first BLUE RIBBON ! Sunday at Beland Dressage, great job!! Also well done for Melissa and Comcord winners of the Prix St. Georges and two very good scores for Melissa and Versace at 3 rd level with 64% and 66%. Maureen and Laddie did great as well with good scores 66.8% and very good tests! Super job! What a nice day for a show, and the staff at Beland as always putting on a lovely show.