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, February 24, 2011

Dressage!

Thank you Mr. Schumacher for a fantastic day of true dressage! It was a beautiful day in Florida, sorry if you are not here, you should be! The lessons were great. Mr Schumacher somehow never looses his enthusiasm and keeps fighting with us, till it all works together in one wonderful harmonious flow. I had the pleasure of riding Casey Satriano's Roxanne and it was great! Roxanne continues to blossom and showing Mr Schumacher what she can do was definitely on her agenda today! She was great and stepped up to the plate as he made each exercise more and more difficult.
Ariel was fantastic with Evita, and Sax had his first introduction to Mr Schumacher and was brilliant! Mr Schumacher is starting to be one of Ariel's biggest fans, behind me, my Mom and Dad and Ingrid of course!
Suzanne rode only the young horse today, but he is lovely to watch and we would be spoiled if we watched Cooper , Suzanne and Mr Schumacher every day, that is just amazing!
Heidi Degele and Bianca Berktold both brought super horses and we all enjoyed watching their lessons.
Ingrid and Ruudi also took the plunge into the Mr Schumacher world and came out with complete success. Ruudi was looking beautiful and Ingrid even had a chance to have some fun in her lesson.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Most Improved Award for January!


In the end of December we welcomed Donna Armata and Gille. They arrived from the great white north ! Due to some injuries Gille had been out of work and was just getting back into shape. After 5 weeks of training she is going great and we are so happy with her progress. Have fun!

Equestrians of the Year!


Thank you everyone for your support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Mr. Conrad Schumacher

We have dates finally for Mr. Schumacher! Please come watch his clinic at Heartwood South! March 3 and March 8 , Thursday and Tuesday. Auditors are welcome, there may still be one spot availabe in the clinic and I am starting a wait list. We have been lucky enough to ride with him last week in the clinic organised by Bill warren and Bill McMullin and we are very excited for his return! Be sure to let me know if you need the schedule and directions.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

WE WON!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

So our annual cocktail party fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was thursday night and was absolutly wonderful!! mary Ann's courtyard looked so beautiful and the music by Drew Golden and the wine from David Page made such a wonderful atmosphere.
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy, busy schedules to support us!
And THANK YOU! for a second year in a row Ariel and I are the Equestrians of the Year!!! We have so many people to thank for their generous support of our campaign.
Thank you thank you thank you!!
Not only did we raise more money then the other participants but we raised alot more then last year! The total amount I do not know, but possibly double from last years effort.

So now that is over we can put 100% focus back on the horses! Who are doing fantastic.
More horse news to follow! We are off to watch the Freestyle at the show tonight! Good luck everyone!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Florida Fun!

The beginning of February and while everyone up North is piled under the snow we are finally enjoying some real warm Florida weather (sorry!) But, for everyone that is able to join us even for just a short time isnt it nice that it is warm!! We are loving it!
Mr Schumacher stopped by the farm today to say hello and organise our clinics dates. For anyone interested he will be teaching Thursday March 3 and Tuesday March 8 at Heartwood South. Auditors are welcome and there are still riding spots available, so call for more info, 561 714 7447.
Welcome Suzanne!!! Suzanne Dansby Bollman has arrived for the season with her three horses. So much fun to have another trainer and nice horses to watch!!
The farm is looking great! Finally the frozen grass is turning green again, I love it! And Matt has done some remodeling with the palm trees and this looks very nice! If we did not have horses interupting his work everyday he would really have the arena looking 5 star!
PW is finally able to go out in the paddock again after her surgery.............and is making us all suffer for the time she has spent inside! I cannot wait to ride her again! One more month!
So come visit us, the horses are going super and the weather is..................the best!