Nancy Later Dressage News

Slowly Slowly

2012-01-13T17:20:00.000-08:00

It is so much fun when you train horses that are interested in working and engage in the game. I am so grateful to have a barn full of wonderful horses that enjoy learning. Glorious is just coming along so well I am thrilled. He is so much fun to work with. An interested dance partner. With relaxation he is finally letting go in his back and swinging thru his body, his movement is growing everyday. These subtle changes are so fun to witness, and again I become delighted that I am finally getting educated enough to notice them.
I do have to say though that Barbara's horse Zonnestraal gets the most improved award this month. She is learning to use her back and haunches in a way she never thought possible. And she is so happy now and fun to ride! Barbara is back and they are such a perfect pair just beautiful to watch.
Ann and Sammy did the most exquisit extended trot today together. Absolutly amazing. Ann's girlfriends taking photos, so with any luck we got some proof of how far Sammy can still throw his legs :)
Looking forward to the Trainers Conference with Christoph Hess this weekend ! How lucky are we that he will be here in Florida to teach us, and how lucky am I to ride in it. Thank you Lendon!
As they say Make Haste, Slowly................it is so much fun when you have time to train the horses properly without pressure and outside influences pushing for goals that are unhealthy :) I am so lucky !

Happy New Year! 2012

2012-01-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

The first day of the New Year 2012 and as everyone wishes us Happy New Year it is also time to reflect on the past year, and all that we have to be grateful for.
2011 was fantastic in so many ways. I have so much to be thankful for. My wonderful supportive husband. Matt not only tolerates being married to a "horse girl" but embraces it and pushes me to go after my dream everyday. How did I get so lucky? My family and friends, my fantastic customers, who are more like extended family. The opportunity to ride horses everyday. There is nothing I would rather be doing. Again I have to ask...........how did I get so lucky?
Two most important things that happened for me in 2011 were the meeting of Jeanne and Charlie Parlee of Ashby Stock Farm. They have provided us with a fantastic summer facility and our 2011 summer was so enjoyable and productive due to their generous hospitality. And, our fantastic Symposium with Conrad Schumacher "Learn the System and Teach with Skill" . The symposium we put together with Bill Warren, Bill McMullin and Dry Water Farm was a huge success and a highlight for me. The response to the content of the symposium was so positive that it inspires us to put something together again in the next year. Although a huge undertaking I cannot be anything but energized by the way people embraced Mr Schumachers teaching.
My resolutions for the coming year: to continue with determination to become a more educated rider and teacher. Although I feel great success with my horses and my business even in the struggling economy, another resolution is to run my business with as much attention as I give to my horses care :) . This will make it possible for me to keep living this dream.
Happy New Year! Good luck and may you have a year filled with health, success and love.

PW

2011-12-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

How can I describe how much pleasure my adorable girl gives me everyday! She is so cute. Getting taller then I had imagined. I need to put a stick on her, but she is definitly 16.2. It makes me glad we have gone slowly as she is definitly not finished maturing. In her work she is very thoughtful. She has super balance and is very interested in understanding the aids so that we stay together. Her willingness to move thru her body is growing everytime I ride her. Presently she is working on the forward swing in the trot and some small leg yields. Her canter is becoming more easily forward but occasionally she still holds her breath. Our confidence is growing outside of the ring as well, and we have gone all the way down the driveway and back without one protest, away from the horses in the paddock and with Daphne running along beside! In Ashby walking around the stable grounds never was an issue and she was always happy to be outside and relaxed. In Florida the walk around the farm is away from her friends and I had to make a point to be the boss to get her confidence, but now it seems that she is relaxed to stay with me and our partnership is maturing. She is not as confident as her brother ( not blood brother ) Glorious who will take me around the farm on long reins just to see whats going on! But she will get there. So much fun to have these two and be able to keep working with them. Makes me happy I am becoming educated and will be able to teach them more skillfully.

Classical Dressage

2011-12-18T05:32:00.000-08:00

Horsemanship is a living art similar to ballet and singing. Living arts survive by the right advocacy of their practicioners. If one generation deviates from the inherited successful (classical) standards, a living art can be derailed temporarily or lost permanently. Equestrians are the custodians of a living art, and it is the duty of each generation of instructors to aquire a thorough knowledge of horsemanship and Not to reinvent it. This art is based on science. It must be understood by the mind and by the function of the human intellect. To become an equestrian, one must take a stance in life, showing devotion and commitment to the horse by practicing the classical principals of horsemanship simply because they are the ones proven to have worked.
Charles de Kunffy

Welcome to Florida!

2011-12-12T06:39:00.001-08:00

Season is here! The stalls are all full. So fun to welcome back Roxanne and have new additions, for training and for sale.
The horse show over the weekend was so much fun for me. It has been a long time since I have had a horse to show consistantly and build a relationship with in the ring as well as at home. I just love it. Glorious was so wonderful at the show. It is so rewarding to get the same relaxation in the ring as we get at home. He was focused and swinging and I just couldnt help but smile thru the whole 1 st level test. One of these times where you do not even care what the judges give you, he was just so good! But we will take the 70% as well :)
And Noah is really a character. We did our first 4 th level test 2 after winning the 4 1 Sat with 70 %. He was great. And although a bit perplexed that we had to do a different test, and...........yes pirouettes at the show! he was wonderful and 68%
I am really looking forward to a fun season with Ariel, Taylor and Janneke and such fabulous horses to ride!
Stop by 999 B road, Loxahatchee Groves and if you cannot tune into www.dressagetrainingonline.com and see about our horse friendly training techniques!!
Happy Riding :)

Happy Thanksgiving :)

2011-11-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSF-Louie-Schwartzberg-Grati

Please enjoy!!

Training

2011-11-17T04:54:00.000-08:00

November in Florida is one of my favorite times. The weather is great and my farm is peaceful. The rush for the season is not yet upon us. The days are managable , even if hard work. We have the nicest group of horses. Everyone making progress at a respectable rate. My babies are getting stronger and gaining alot of understanding. Glorious is so much fun. He is concentrated in the arena and learning his new excercises like a college kid, and he is fun in the field to trot and canter around without loosing himself, or me! PW is a constant joy. Her spirit in the barn is always noticable. She clearly knows she is special and wants to make sure we all recognize it. She is still on slow mode, the vets are asking me to take it carefully because this left hock is still not as strong, but she works everyday and learns quickly, so she does not get behind.
Noah is truely becoming a dressage horse. He is doing his pirouettes and half passes with understanding and perhaps even some enjoyment! It is really fun to see how horses evolve over time, and things that used to be difficult and not make sense to them start to click. Then one day it becomes that they are participating in the work and not just being asked to work. These days are what keep me refreshed. It makes it all clear why we train in the methods that we do, and even if sometimes it takes a couple of minutes longer, it is the right way, from beginning to end.
And Zee is not to be left behind! The girlie is learning to move her make under the rider and is becoming supple in herself, Barbara will be so happy when she returns to see her new mare!!
My Alexis is doing great, but so sad for me that the years have added up so quickly. She is going better then ever. Always teaching me more and more about the piaffe and passage. I can only dream to have another horse as athletic as she is in my future.
Enjoy your horses!

Horses in Peru

2011-11-13T04:50:00.000-08:00

Last week I was in Peru visiting with my friend Maggie helping her prepare for the FEI Challenge. It is amazing how far the care for the warmbloods has come since my last visit, 15 :( years ago. The biggest change I see is in the shoeing. They have gone to great lengths to bring in farriers to teach the local guys about the difference to the warmbloods and the thoroughbreds and it is an amazing improvement. The feed is also better, as the warmblood diet cannot be as rich. The horses are so happy and relaxed. It is amazing to see. The young girls coming up in the sport have such a nice feeling when they are riding. The level is improving, yes, but the partnership that these girls want to create with their horses this comes from nature and from their character. So nice to see. Of course as trainers we can help to educate the riders to ride more correct from back to front and the system of training dressage, but when you start with such sensitive, naturally talented students it is a very easy job. Congratulations for a succesful Challenge with a record number of competitors, and I look forward to my next visit.

Rainy Day in Florida

2011-10-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

Here we are with the remnants of Rina bearing down on us. We are very happy it is not Rina! This gives me a day inside to do paperwork and reflect on the last week of training.
The horses are great. Glorious is just improving day to day making huge progress. He is such a pleasure to work with. He is learning how to put his body in the right shape and put the power in the right direction and it is so much fun!
Taylor and Cookie are also improving day to day. If Cookie is longing for his cross country fences he is keeping it to himself! He is concentrating hard to make his tempi changes and power his extensions. Taylor is a quick study and there goal of Prix St Georges is definitly with in reach.
Ariel and Evita are moving to the next level, balance and more expression. Evita is an extravagant mover and as Ariel is learning to keep all of the energy going in the right direction it is an amazing picture.
When I was a kid all I wanted to do was ride horses, at that time I did not care what kind or how talented they were. Now here I am working with such talented girls and a barn full of athletic horses. This life is better then I imagined!

The Elements of Dressage Col. Albrecht Von Zeigner

2011-10-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Relaxation:
The fundamental basis of the form, relaxation is the absence of tension in the horses body and mind.
Regularity:
The correctness of the gait, including evenness and levelness
Freedom:
The desire of the horse to move forward with natural ease
Contact:
The horses comfort with the bit and reins
On the Aids:
The horse responds instantly to legs and seat while maintaining a steady contact with the hands, thus allowing the energy to circulate.
Straightness:
The ability of a well trained horse to move forward in a perfectly lineal fashion
Balance:
Established through systematic work in straightness
Durchlassigkeit:
often translated as "suppleness", it is the quality in a horse that lets the reins influence not just the head and neck, but also the hind legs.
Schwung:
"swinging of the back", maintaining tempo and regularity of the gaits
Collection:
horse takes more weight on the hind quarters, becoming more elevated in the forehand; longitudinally balanced, shows more cadence, and engagement becomes more marked.

Glorious

2011-10-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Fun show today at Jim Brandon, Glorious was so good! Natalie Lamping gave us 72% on our 1 st level test. I was so proud of him, he is really growing up! 9 on his lengthening in the canter! He is so good at the shows, even though everything is new and sometimes scarey he tries his hardest to focus on his work and be a good boy.
Noah was also good, but his pilot got carried away and was not patient in the canter work........62 in his 4 th level, but much more in front of me and swinging in the trot! We will do alot more shows this winter and really get it going! He was so much fun today!
Sorry to say it but Florida weather is great!

Florida

2011-10-19T16:30:00.001-07:00

So nice to be home. I loved Ashby and the Farm is great in Massachusetts. But, there's no place like home! The horses have all settled in so nicely. And thanks to Ariel, Taylor and Bundi the farm is looking great as well as the horses.
Show already this weekend! Because of the rain we had to run over to Tuny's with Glorious so we could actually ride a bit. Thank you! He was wonderful after two days off and not even turn out. He is getting so grown up!
Noah got to work around the arena in the afternoon and the footing was really pretty good. Tomorrow we will be back in business.
PW I have only ridden once since our return but she was perfect! I am so proud of her. She is also growing up. her balance is so good and she just loves to work, so much fun.
We are so lucky to spend our days with horses!

Symposium

2011-09-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

THIS SAYS IT ALL!
Dear Nancy, I wanted to take the time this morning to send my heartfelt gratitude to you for all your hard work to make this weekend possible! It was an outstanding opportunity to watch such terrific horses and riders. What a gift Mr. Schumacher has and how generous he is with his knowledge! I have been a "children's instructor" for more years then I would care to share. That being said, I would be happy to volunteer my services for any further events that you and "The Bills" might offer! As I listened to Mr. Schumacher speak of Germany's national system of training, I thought to myself, why not us, why not here, and what better time then now! Let's show what "made in America" can mean. Again, thank you so much for all of your efforts. You will be greatly rewarded! Yours Truly,Katie WardPocksha Farm

Schumacher Symposium

2011-09-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

The symposium was more than I could ever imagine! Mr Schumacher was so fantastic. I am so happy it will be on dressagetrainingonline so that more people can access it, and..........we can relive it again. He took so much time to work thru the training process and emphasized again and again the positive spirit of the horses and their desire to please. His technique and ability to choose the most basic factor to work on and move forward with the lesson is fantastic. We had more than 150 people there saturday and............100 people on sunday. So fantastic! Thank you so much to everyone that made it possible!

NEDA

2011-09-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

Sadly a raining day in Saugerties, NY today :( I spent the afternoon in the hotel scheduling the open clinic with Mr Schumacher that we will have at our farm next week. So excited that Mr Schumacher will be teaching at the Ashby Stock Farm! We have not seen him since March, so looking forward to my lessons!
Andrea and Lambada put in a nice ride today in the PSG. Andrea was lucky to beat the rain. Her pirouettes were the best this season and this is a great accomplishment! Andrea's positive attitude is contagious, and the great relationship she has with Lambada is so fun to watch. We have work to do to get the whole test stronger and I am looking forward to see the future of this combination.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the symposium next weekend. We are definitly building momentum! If you have not sent in your auditor registration, please take a moment and do that tomorrow!

Horses Horses Horses

2011-09-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

The nights getting cooler and the days sunny and low humidity, what better weather for riding?
The horses are going fantastic! My babies are growing up! Finally knowing enough to keep me entertained while I ride them, and much less time I have to worry about falling off! PW is becoming so mature and looking more and more beautiful everyday. She is a bit spoiled but always the perfect lady under saddle. Glorious is getting stronger and stronger and so handsome. He is learning big boy stuff and taking it all in stride! His lengthenings are becoming much more elastic and his counter canter very balanced!
The Ashby Stock Farm has been an absolutly fantastic place to spend the sumer :) We are working on our plans to spend next summer there, and it looks good!
The Conrad Schumacher Symposium is shaping up and we are so excited to have a fantastic weekend. Check out my website www.nancylaterdressagehorses.com for all of the updated information!

Dressage

2011-08-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here we are in the end of August! Still time flies by and I cannot keep up. A beautiful day in New England after a terrible weekend. We are so lucky to be where we are, the horses safe and very small amount of inconvienience from the storm. Our thoughts and prayers going out to all of those who are having problems from the storm. I feel bad that I have been able to go along business as usual and in doing so have found out how many friends and colleagues are without power and struggling with the basic needs of their horses and families. I wish everyone a quick return to normal!
My horses are so enjoying this fall weather!
Our Adult Camp was a great success to spite the bad weather. Thank you so much to everyone who participated and made it such a wonderful experience, and special thanks to Linda Powers who provided enough food to take care of an army for a week, we were all spoiled and now what will I do......no one to cook lunch for me?
Our Symposium is fast approaching. This is taking alot of my time, time that I did not have to spare, but when I get stressed about it I remember why I am involved in such a project. We are doing this Symposium so that more and more people can learn about Mr Schumacher's fantastic training technique, and when I think about it that way it all makes sense!
Hope to see you there!
Ride well and enjoy your horses :)

Developing Nations Symposium with Axel Steiner

2011-08-08T05:25:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic learning experience..............and where was everyone??? I need to go onto the USdF website and find out how many trainers and judges for dressage are in just the Massachusetts area?? Our "O" judge comes from California and spends 3 days teaching right here in our back yard and I think there definitly could have been more auditors. All of the girls did a great job showing dressage thru the levels, and Axel Steiner is so clear and precise about what they are looking for and how to make it better. If you missed this fantastic opportunity then you absolutly must go to www.dressagetrainingonline.com when it is posted and watch it on video! But, come on guys.................we need to be constantly looking for ways to educate ourselves farther and this was a perfect venue for that. Listen to Lendon Gray .................What have you done to educate yourselves in the past 6 months? If we teach we must stay on the right track, broaden our knowledge and keep our eyes clear! Thank you so much to Bear Spot Farm, Jane Karol and Cathy Zemaitis and Axel Steiner for putting on such a wonderful event!

King Oak always fun!

2011-07-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you once again to the staff at King Oak Farm for creating a wonderful show! We always love the atmosphere and the personal attention! And...who can pass up the strawberry shortcake?
Big congratulations to Ariel and Evita who won the inter1 and in two times out at the Inter 1 level have gotten their qualifying scores for the finals in September GREAT JOB!!!
Ariel and Sax were 4 th in the PSG with a slightly tense but very well ridden test, so much fun to see someone executing proper pirouettes in the show ring, way to go Ariel!
Alexis had a wonderful outing but I worry too much about her legs and schooling her until she was relaxed and doing the test seemed too much for my old lady. She did some super work and always a pleasure to ride such a talent.
Glorious was a star! Although I still need to work to get the points higher, he did the test much more on his own and was absolutly a pleasure in a completely new atmosphere and difficult warm up situation! 7.4 over all, his points were dragged down by the mark on the walk 7 which will come up whe he has more confidence in the show atmosphere. I have not had such a wonderful horse to work with in such a long time, his attitude about new things is wonderful and he is beautiful and athletic as well.........lucky me!
We are getting so much response to the Adult Camp we are offering in August! I am so excited. The format will offer sooooooooooo much for the campers and the price to good to pass up. Just having a weekend to enjoy the Ashby Stock Farm will be worth the price! We will be teaching lessons, doing demonstrations and lectures and Linda Powers and friends will be feeding everyone as well.............hope to see you there!

Ashby Stock Farm

2011-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the beautiful farm we have the pleasure of staying in this summer. Everyone must come visit. We will offer some training specials, so you can come for an overnight, a week or longer if you can...........but the facility is wonderful so come enjoy.

Favorites

2011-07-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love Astrid and her www.eurodressage.com website. Astrid has a fantastic view of the dressage world and never chooses to keep quiet when politics get hot. I love it. Her continueing coverage of the FEI and the tongue issue is great and a must read if you have not checked it out already.
My latest must read is Andreas Stano's www.worlddressagenews.com it is a comprehensive website containing news from all over the world, but most importantly thoroughly covers the US. And today I found an article by Lendon Gray about bettering yourself as an instructor and trainer! Thank you Lendon! In the article she states that she is saddened by instructors who claim they cannot take the weekend off to take a course and loose the income. Not only you should but you must! This summer in New England we have several great learning opportunities, make sure you join up, in the interest of your students and your horses!
Bear Spot Farm is hosting a Developing Nations Dressage Symposium with Axel Steiner in the beginning of August and we are hosting Conrad Schumacher in the end of September. Both symposiums have sponsorship and are inexpensive. I will ask you the same question that Lendon poses! What have you done in the last 6 months to better your education?! Sign up for an educational program today! And for heavens sake !pick a classically german trained horse friendly instructor!

Beautiful weather in Massachusetts

2011-07-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

Here we are 4 th of July weekend, I cannot believe how fast the time goes by. The weather is incredible. The day starts in the low 60's and sometimes this week even high 50's and we make it up to 80 after lunch time. No humidity an beautiful blue sky. The horses are loving it!
Westbrook was great! Ariel did well riding her first Inter 1 on Evita! They recieved 65% and second place, it was a beautiful debut! Sunday they won the PSG with a gorgeous test, lovely trot and canter half passes and (for the first time) a lofty and controlled extended canter!!!! Great job Ariel.
Glorious went on his first over night adventure and treated the whole experience like a pro! He was super in the stabling and also a complete gentleman in the crowded warm up. We are very proud. He did one first level test and recieved 7's and 8's on his trot and canter lengthenings! He is getting stronger! He also trotted thru the flooded arena with complete confidence and did not hesitate for one minute :) . He was super in his 4 year old test, and except for one minor indescretion where his rider did not prepare him properly for his canter depart and he put his head up and the transition was late he was 100% perfect! Unfortunatly the judges do not understand 4 year old test and penalized him severely for this one mistake and he got 7.2 which is not a qualifying score. Very dissappointing, but more important is how our young athlete is coming into his own and handling these new situations with such grace and beauty!

Ahhhhhhh New England!

2011-06-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

Well we waited a little longer this summer to make our move North, but it seems as though we picked the perfect time. The weather here is fantastic, and Florida..........heating up! The New Stable is wonderful. The horses are in heaven, a bit fresh from the cool weather, but happy to be fresh.
Ariel and Evita are already back to work practicing their test for Westbrook, moving up to the Inter 1!
Ann Friedlander's new horse Royal, a very cute Oldenburg gelding by Royal Diamond is settling in well and enjoying his new family, congratulations Ann!
We have a new addition for the summer, Nancy Sharpless's 5 year old gelding Cicero will also be out of the North Carolina heat and enjoying the New England summer.
Come visit us at The Ashby Stock Farm, it is a beautiful place to train beautiful horses! Thank you so much to Jeannie and Charlie for making it possible for us to be there.

Back in New England

2011-06-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Phew we made it! 12 horses are now happily settled in at The Ashby Stock Farm and loving the scenery and fresh weather!
After quickly unpacking on went on my way to teach at Wells Valley Farm and Sunny Field Farm..............so much fun, super horses and eager students, it is great to be back up North!
Many thanks to Ralph from Meadowbrook Transport for arranging a super driver and truck for our trip. And once again, thank you to Robert and NSE stables for a very relaxing layover in Fayetteville North Carolina.
We are busy making plans for our symposium with Mr. Schumacher which is going to be a great weekend. We are looking for sponsors and advertisers so please contact me if you want to help bring this wonderful symposium to New England.
Come visit us at the Ashby Stock Farm in Ashby MA. We are open for business, training, lessons, trailers in welcome!

New Summer Home Official

2011-06-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

So it is officially arranged, the new summer home of Carousel Dressage Horses, aka nancy later dressage horses, will be the wonderful Ashby Stock Farm, Ashby, MA. We will be arriving there wednesday June 15 th and be ready for business! From Florida we will bring 9 horses. Over the summer we plan to show at The Westbrook Hunt Club Qualifier at the end of June, King Oak Dressage Days and GMHA in July and Saugerties in August. We are super excited about our move. Florida has been fantastic and May was a wonderful month for training and catching our breath after the winter, but Massachusetts cool weather is starting to look pretty good just about now!

Big Day for PW

2011-06-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

What a special day for us! I have been waiting 3 years for this! PW went on her first outing today and what a success it was. Rikke did a great job riding her. Thank you! PW was perfect, just like at home! She is becoming very fancy as she gets stronger. I am so proud.

PW is growing up!

2011-06-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

How cute is she? PW may have had some time off this winter, but she is catching up fast!
Watch her video here http://youtu.be/03I1of34ZjE this is yesterday, our first day riding with no lunging!

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

The official beginning of summer! We find ourselves still in sunny Florida! The horses are working so well and the training progressing in a really positive way for everyone in residence.

Exciting news that we will be moving to the famous Ashby Stock Farm for the summer months. We are so happy to find such a beautiful farm to spend the summer. We will be offering trailer in lessons, short and extended training programs and Nancy will be available to travel for clinics. Please call or email 561 714 7447, totallynancy@yahoo.com for scheduling.
The plans for the Conrad Schumacher Symposium "Learn The System and Teach with Skill" are coming along and we promise to create a very special learning opportunity for all. Please stay in contact for further updates and be sure to Save the Date September 23 - 25 and plan to be in Massachusetts at Dry Water farm! Also, we have sponsorship opportunities! Please support this special learning event and promote your product/ stable/event. We appreciate your support, any help you give will make it possible for more instructors to take advantage of this special event!
Do not forget to honor our past and present heros that are protecting our Freedom this Memorial Day. Lots of love to all of our service men that are over seas right now taking care of our interests, most especially our own Dan Lavoie, we love you and wish you swift and safe return home.

What a great day!!

2011-05-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Ariel and Evita for getting a 67% in their PSG today at Wellington Classic's Dressage Days. This was good for 3 rd place in the biggest class of the show! Good job! Ariel and Evita looked completely at home in the ring with beautiful half passes and extensions!
Alexis did not give her age away in the Inter 2 and was wonderful! A little looking at times but an 8 on one of our piaffes! and 7's on her passage means she must have been paying a little attention to me for a change! She got 68.9 % and was second behind Jan Brons. Good girl!
Leo felt the impending storm rushing toward us and was not completely cool about it, however, he held it all together and brought alot of energy and enthusiasm to his PSG. Luckily we were not in the same class with Ariel as she would have beaten us :) He got 65% and had wonderful changes and the pirouettes more fluent then two weeks ago. He gave a super feeling and with just a bit more strength and confidence he is going to be a superstar!
Now the storm is upon us and although the trees are super happy with the rain it sounds as thought the heavens are going to explode!
What a fun day for riding!

Conrad Schumacher Symposium

2011-05-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

Exciting news!!!! We have settled on a date for our Symposium with Mr Schumacher!

Save the Date! September 24 + 25, 2011

Bill McMullin, Bill Warren, Dry Water Farm and Carousel Dressage will be hosting a Trainers and Instructors Symposium.

This is a NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT!

We are looking for Sponsors and Volunteers and Riders so please contact us for more details 561 714 7447 Nancy or totallynancy@yahoo.com

Great Show!

2011-05-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Noah! Wellington Classic Dressage held another successful show at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center this weekend. Although quite a bit smaller then the shows are during season the classes were not small especially the upper levels and the competition still on a high level! Noah was very good for his 4 th level test 1 and won his class! he got super marks and the judge was extremely impressed with his fancy extended trot :) .
Leo was wonderful in his Prix St. Georges. he got 66% and a 10 from his rider on concentration! He was such a good boy! We need to build some strength in the canter work to bring our points up, but the judge was super positive about his expression and ability so we made a great impression. We are very proud!

PW

2011-04-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

Pw is doing so well! Very little time back under saddle and she is being so great! Such a smart girl. Thank you Rikke for doing such a wonderful job!

Zee is Home!

2011-04-27T04:43:00.001-07:00

Hurray! Zee is finally let out of Quarantine and is home safe and sound.

Some pictures of Kika's Show

2011-04-26T04:32:00.000-07:00

Kika's Show

2011-04-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

Kika's Art work will be on display until the end of the week in Cambell Hall, NY.

Congratulations for a fabulous presentation!

If you are nearby you absolutly must stop in!

Bye to Florida Sun!

2011-04-25T10:51:00.001-07:00

Bye Bye Gille ! We will see you soon!

Fabulous Florida

2011-04-25T10:21:00.001-07:00

Here we are quickly approaching another months end. So quickly the time passes when you are doing what you love. We are missing our colleagues. Gille and Donna back in Connecticut, Karen took a trip up to PA and will not be back for a couple of weeks, and Ingrid is back in Wisconsin :( We are happy to have Ruudi stay with us for a couple of extra weeks until the Wisconsin winter finally gives up.
Looking forward to Zee getting out of Q tine tomorrow! and finally coming HOME! She has been such a good girl in her temporary home and is quickly attracting a fan club. Thank you to Rich Favor for doing such a great job with the q tine.
Clinics are starting to be scheduled for Milford, CT and we are working on dates for Aiken, South Carolina and Wisconsin, so if you have interest in participating or scheduling something please call or send us an email so that we can create a schedule that accommodates everyone.
We are also excited about a symposium we are putting organising with Mr Schumacher together with Bill Warren and Bill McMullin in MA in September, so stay tuned for more info about this.
Florida weather has been absolutely fabulous and the riding could not be better.
PW finally back under saddle has been looking beautiful with Rikke last two weeks and finally I sat on her myself over the weekend. I am very very excited to have her back in work, and she is so happy to have all the attention of a big girl again.
Glorious is a blast to train and 4 years old so brave and honest. Week by week he is really improving and such a pleasure to work with.
We have show plans for the weekend, Leo and Noah both going to Jim Brandon for a field trip saturday. Really looking forward to this as both of them are going great!
Good luck to Ariel for her year end exams!!

Congratulations!

2011-04-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Barbara Stern is the new owner of a lovely new 7 year old dutch mare! Zonnestraal arrived last week to quarentine in Wellington, FL. We cannot wait to get her home to the comfort of our stable. The quarentine is great! They do a fantastic job managing the horses coming in and out and all of the breeding and vet exams, however I think we will all be happy when she is home! Good luck Barbara and have fun, she is so beautiful!

Congratulations!

2011-03-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Great Show at White Fences over the weekend! Ariel did great in her Prix St Georges with Evita winning with 65% Beautiful extensions and half passes, very good work! Glorious was a star and won the young horse division with his first ever outing and recieved a 7.96 . Thank you Rikke for doing such a beautiful job! Roxanne was wonderful and recieved a 67% in her 2 nd level test and high point for 2 nd level. Roxanne was an absolute dream to show. Her wonderful willing attitude and fantastic confidence are traits not often found all in the same horse, and she is beautiful! What a pleasure to have the opportunity to train her! Noah..............well Noah did not want to play this weekend! So he was not getting his usually deserved high marks for participation! Noah was 4 th with 62 % in his 4 th level, and he did leave us a bit of room for improvement! Next time we will be on top again!

March in Florida

2011-03-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

So last weekend was fantastic!! Watching the horses in the Masters was so wonderful, congratulations to everyone! Steffen and Ravel look better then ever. So nice to see the harmony and trust they have built together.
Everyone that had a hand in putting the show together deserves a big hand and THANK YOU! The arena looked fabulous , they created an atmosphere that is necessary for top shows such in a place that was not built for such a show. GREAT JOB!
The Challenge of the Americas was also a blast! If you have not come to the breast cancer benefit be sure to put it on your schedule for next year. The rides were great, food was great and with the whole dressage community showing up the company was super.
At Heartwood we are all doing well. We have a new working student on board Heather has joined us and we are enjoying her positive energy and helping hand. The horses are all improving in leaps and bounds. Noah and Roxanne are entered at the White Fences show again at the end of the month. Glorious is doing super and we hope to get him into the 4 year old qualifyer at Equestrian Estates at the end of March. And PW is starting back to work........finally. She is happy for the attention and looks lovely on the lunge line, so we hope to get back on her this week.
Florida weather is picture perfect! Time to come visit!!!

Carousel Classroom

2011-03-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

Here is the first edition of Carousel Classroom!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh-oq6bZv5w

Thank you for viewing!
Please give us your feedback!!

White Fences Horse Show

2011-03-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic weekend!! It started Thursday with Mr Schumacher teaching a fantastic clinic at our farm. The horses went GREAT!! He is such an inspiration. Then Friday schooling with Noah and Roxanne at the horse show. Ariel being at school put a hitch in my get along...........however, we worked it out and both horses were wonderful. Polite, well balanced and so much fun! The show management at White Fences were wonderful! Saturday classes went super. Ariel back on duty to braid beautifully and help with the eyes on the ground did an expert job, and Roxanne was 2 nd with more then 71 % and Noah second with more then 69% in his fourth level. I was very proud of the guys!!!

Sunday we had Evita entered but sadly she was not perfect on her feet, so she got to stay home, but, Suzanne did us proud with Cooper in the Grand Prix and 69% !!!! Great job and beautiful test.

Monday I spent the day at Bill Warren and Bill McMullin watching more of Mr Schumacher teaching and today................he was with us at the farm teaching again all day. No one could ever ask fo more! Florida is the best place to be in February and March!!

Dressage!

2011-02-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

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.

Most Improved Award for January!

2011-02-17T04:51:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-02-17T04:50:00.001-08:00

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

Mr. Conrad Schumacher

2011-02-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

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.

WE WON!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

2011-02-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

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!

Florida Fun!

2011-02-03T16:46:00.001-08:00

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!

Dressage and..........

2011-01-27T04:53:00.000-08:00

Natalia and Matt's backhoe! Mondays are a day off........or..........a day for landscaping!

Winter in Florida

2011-01-27T04:29:00.000-08:00

Already the end of January, time passes quickly when we have so much to keep us engaged! The horses are doing great! PW has come thru her chip surgery and is going to be able to go out in the paddock for the first time today!! She has been very good during her stall rest but is definitly ready for a little romp in the field!
Alexis has a new best friend! Barbara is in Florida for the winter and has engaged me to teach her on Alexis several times a week. Alexis and Barbara are having a tremendous time together. Bad news for Alexis that I will probably still try to get a couple of small shows in this winter! No retirement yet!
Our new 4 year old Glorious is coming along very well! Ariel is arranging some photos we took last week and they will be up on the website very soon! He is wonderful to work with and such a lovely athletic mover.
We have a new working student from Peru, Natalia, and her very cute leased horse Arrow. Natalia is a fantastic addition to the stable. She is a pleasure to teach and her eager attitude in the stable is fun to see. Natalia has alot of talent and I am sure we will be seeing her alot in future dressage and jumping competitions.
Donna Nita made a visit south from Aiken to escape the cold and the snow. Although she was only able to stay for a short 10 days, wonderful progress was made with the horses and another visit is planned for early March. Donna has lovely talented horses and we look forward to her next visit.
The shows are in full swing and we had the pleasure of watching the Grand Prix and the GP freestyle last weekend at the Gold Coast Opener. So great to see so many quality horses and riders in one place for the winter. Watching definitly makes me want to get myself back in the ring again..........the wheels are turning!
From Carousel Dressage we all hope tha wherever you are the weather is being kind to you! Enjoy your horses!

America needs to fight for American riders!

2011-01-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

Just a thought: I understand the desire to be famous and successful. I understand wanting your horse ridden by the best! I am 100% understanding that several of the European countries have more experienced and better trained riders than we do. But.............how did they get better and more experienced? Because people gave them a chance to ride nice horses and they had opportunity to train with good (very good) trainers. For Americans to train with the best we have to go to Europe , this takes money, many good riders cannot afford it on their own.............THIS HOLDS US BACK! So do not send good American horse flesh to our competitors! Sponsor AMERICANS! This will help us build a good solid team with depth! Just a thought!

Thank you everyone!

2011-01-13T04:51:00.000-08:00

Our Fundraiser at the Players Club last night turned out to be a huge success! Thank you to everyone that helped make it possible! We will find out the total amount that we made later today, as Darby and Marissa took the proceeds back to the office! Such a fantastic turnout for the event! The staff at the Players was great! And the models for the fashion show! Marvelous! Thank you everyone! It was a fun night!, but for an important cause and we all appreciate your support!
We are looking forward to seeing you at Grant farms in february for our annual cocktail party!

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-07T16:33:00.001-08:00

I still cannot believe we are already well into January of 2011! Heartwood Farm is buzzing with the excitement of the Florida season! We welcome Donna Armata and her mare Gille, as well as Ingrid Wallin and Ruddi back from Wisconsin. Roxanne unfortunately got snowed into Greenwich in the last terrible snow storm that hit NY and CT, however she is now safely on her way and we look forward to her arrival.
We wish Ariel luck this weekend her first show of 2011!
On a sad but good note, PW had to go to surgery thursday..........we found she had a chip in her hock that was going to become a nuisance.........good news is she came thru the surgery in great shape and is home safe and sound. Now we are just looking at 2 months recovery and then....Back to Work!!
Our new dutch boy is doing fantastic!! Pictures will be coming soon! He is now 4 years old, as we pass the New Year. Very special mover and wonderful temperment, chesnut gelding by Game Boy.
So Happy New Year!
All of us from Carousel Dressage Horses wish you love, health and happiness in the coming year!

Please Join Us!

2011-01-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-24T19:03:00.001-08:00

All of us at Carousel Dressage Horses wish you a:

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!

Love from,
Nancy, Matt and Ariel!

Finally Warming Up!

2010-12-17T16:12:00.000-08:00

Today was a beautiful day in Florida, reminding us why we make the migration down here! Freezing temperatures have killed the grass :( and everyone around us has head colds! But, the sun has prevailed and today was back into the 70's.
The horses are doing great! Ariel went to the Toy's for Tot's Holiday show at Jim Brandon last weekend with Evita and Nirvana. Evita was good the first day with no mistakes, but a bit over sensitive to the legs, its a girl thing! But, the second day they had no mistakes and she made it look easy and they were 3 rd with 68 % in the open class.
Nirvana looked great and was very well behaved, since he has not been out to a show since september. He was right at home and ready to show off. They learned the new USDF tests quick! and were 2 nd the first day in first level with 65% and 5 th the second day with 62%.
Alexis is going fantastic for 18 years old! We have plans to show in January. I am really looking forward to it!
We are busy making the barn ready for our winter arrivals. Ruudi arrived yesterday from the artic Wisconsin and Ingrid will be following near Christmas. It starting to feel like the Florida season is starting.
Make sure to check in with us again soon, we will begin posting our new series The Carousel Classroom! We will have mini lessons available online. If you have a specific question that you would like answered in the Carousel Classroom be sure to send us an email at nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com Thank you!!

PW out on the town!

2010-11-15T10:55:00.000-08:00

We made good use of our firt show in Florida and took PW for a little trip! Her first horse show experience! She was great! The show was quiet and perfect for her to get a taste of what she will be experiencing in the future! It is fun to see her out in public, she is starting to look all grown up! A big change from a couple of short years ago.

Congratulations Ariel!

2010-11-15T10:49:00.001-08:00

Our first show in Florida ...Ariel and Evita looked great! On Saturday Ariel was 6 th with 65+% and a very solid presentation of the Prix St. Georges. Sunday's test had a bit more sparkle and they won with 69%. The show, run by the Gold Coast Dressage Association, was very nice. Perfect weather and professional staff and facilities create a wonderful atmosphere. We are very lucky to be able to enjoy our sport in Florida for the winter!

Inspiration

2010-11-13T04:26:00.000-08:00

Since we lost Latamanda it has been a slow climb back up the hill for me. Going to the barn everyday and seeing her empty stall just leaves such a hole in my heart. Even when you know ÿou did everything" and ït was the right decision" it does not make it any easier.
I love riding and training and having my own stable where I can nurture my horses in the best way possible. But I have to say this tragedy and my birthday, marking my increasing age, started making me ask myself what is it all about? Maybe I should not being doing this anymore............
So it takes a clinic in Texas with a group of fantastic Dressage ladies to get my mind back on my job, and it takes being able to still ride and enjoy Alexis everyday to make me love riding again, and it takes being able to ride a piaffe passage transition and control the hind legs going out and remind myself "thank you Latte for letting me learn that!"and it takes the support of my husband and Barbara and Ariel and Raymundo to help me realize that I still love riding and I cannot stop riding even if I tried.
We are so lucky to have horses in our lives.

PW

2010-11-04T04:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big day for my PW! Since we have been in Florida and in an outdoor with no walls....................we have continued along in the same fashion as we were working in the indoor! We have not been in Florida long, and I have been travelling a bit, but PW does not forget! Yesterday we cantered outside (on the lunge, Nancy is careful!) but in such a balanced and organised way, we will be motoring around the ring free in no time. At the end of our lesson we walked with no help from Mundi around the arena, steering and stopping and completely focused! Monday she was a bit energetic after taking the long weekend off while I was away. Funny she is actually fit enough to notice when we do not work now. We had to lunge a bit longer to find our brains, but we rode anyway, only with a leader, she was very good. The next day, tired! But so perfect and back to earth. Wednesday we were almost to where we were when we left Massachusetts. It is also nice to feel her accepting my reins and my legs. She is starting to understand the reins through her body and keep moving along when we need to turn! Better then some of my grown ups!
It is also nice to see her in the big field by the house next to her good buddy Noah, they can stay out for a long time and enjoy the shade from the trees. Yes it is true Florida is still hot!

Fort Worth Dressage Club

2010-11-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I spent the weekend in Forth Worth Texas teaching the FWDC's adult camp. Thank you to Teresa Deeter for taking such good care of me, and GOOD LUCK at the Regional finals this weekend!!
FWDC is a super group of dressage enthusiasts. I was definitly inspired by their energy and desire to learn. It is also fun to see a club like this that is able to make things happen for their members. The cost of the clinic was minimal because of fundraising done over the summer, in which members volunteer, and grants available from the Dressage Foundation. Their club is not super big, so it is easier to keep the members interests in mind............members interests in mind, food for thought!

Latamanda

2010-10-29T05:33:00.001-07:00

It is with great sadness that I must report the loss of our beloved Latamanda. Although we have only known Latte for a short time, she has meant so much to all of us. For me she has reinvented my faith in the human / horse relationship and for everyone in our stable and family she has been a symbol of honesty and strength. Latamanda's passing will leave a large hole in our heart and in our days.

Home Sweet Home

2010-10-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

So nice to be back in Florida and settled at home! The summer was great and Mark and Linda Spengler are wonderful hosts, however, there is no place like home!
We arrived last night after a surprisingly trouble free journey. The horses travelled fantastic and even PW was on her best behavior. North Star Equine, the best layover barn in the world, was a welcome rest along the way. Thank you to Robert and Kim for making it so easy for us. We arrived before sundown to our wonderful farm, and it feels so good to be home.

Where was everyone?

2010-10-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Cutler Farm for bringing Heike Kemmer to Massachusetts over last weekend. Ariel and I totally loved the experience, wish she could stay for a month!
Very dissappointing was the auditor turn out. Where was everyone????? Someone of this caliber comes to Massachusetts, to our back yard, we need to be there watching, even if you cannot ride.
I do realize that there were other events going on over that same weekend, but from what I hear there were not alot of auditors at these events either.
So come on everyone! If we want to get better at our sport we need to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities that these facilities bring to us!!!
Heike's clinic will be featured in www.dressageclinic.com so you have another chance to see what you missed!! I highly recommend you check it out.

Alexis and Evita

2010-10-14T05:25:00.000-07:00

Friday Ariel and I are off to Cutler Farm for a clinic with Heike Kemmer. Auditors are welcome, not sure of the cost. We are totally excited about riding with this super trainer. Hope to see you there!

PW

2010-10-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

A big day for Pikksie Wish! PW has been getting more and more confident with a rider. We have had one bad day so far...........when she became confused about stopping and going...... however I realize that it was a miscommunication between my handler and myself about where our circle was going and it all seems perfect again!
She is getting more fluent with cantering both directions and.............yesterday we cantered off the lunge line for the first time. Today will be our last ride in the indoor as next week we will move to Florida and then we will be outside everyday. I am very pleased with her progress and her wonderful balance. As a mare every once in a while she has something to say about how things should be done, but her mind is quickly changed when we stay on our path and she is eager to do things right.

Cold Already

2010-10-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe another summer is gone by so quickly. Next week we will be leaving for Florida. Freestyle Serious Fun was great! Girli was beautiful and although not as brave as some of the other competitors she took the atmosphere in stride and showed off for the crowd. The weather was perfect and I am happy to say that I think the spectators were given a wonderful afternoon of horse entertainment. This is all to benefit the Bear Spot Foundation and their therapy with horses program. All of us who work with horses everyday cannot dispute the harmony they create in our lives and the stories that we hear from Jane's farm about the children and the horses are amazing. Please put next years Freestyle afternoon on your calendar now so you can enjoy the demonstrations and support their cause! For more information about the Bear Spot Foundation go to their website www.bearspotfoundation.org

Bear Spot Farm Fundraiser

2010-10-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Everyone must come to the Fundraiser at Bear Spot Farm in Concord, MA this sunday 12:00. There will be freestyles and some other wonderful demonstrations, all to benefit the Bear Spot foundation!
Come be part of the fun and vote for Alexis and I !!!

PW

2010-09-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Perfect Pik!

2010-09-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

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.

LLS Fundraiser Ariel and Mary

2010-09-19T11:49:00.001-07:00

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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

LLS

2010-09-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

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

Thank you Mary!

Enjoy

LLS Fundraiser

2010-09-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

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!

LLS Fundraiser

2010-09-13T05:49:00.000-07:00

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!!

Thank you!

2010-09-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

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!

Fundraiser

2010-09-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-09-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

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.

PW

2010-08-27T05:12:00.001-07:00

We trotted for the first time yesterday!! PW was fantastic! With Raymundo at the controls he led us down the long side 3 times for a very relaxed and obedient trot! PW is really being a good girl, and loves the attention. Steering and stopping aids are still touch and go, but she is learning!
Thank you so much to Alyson Miller.............. who bought me a fantastic helmet from Euro American saddlery over the weekend at Centerline Events CDI. Now I have a proper helmet to wear while breaking in my baby! THANK YOU ALYSON!!

Congratulations

2010-08-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

FINALLY it has been a long wait, but finally Ariel and Sax made it down the centerline. They looked fantastic and placed 4 th with 66 % in their first class together. We are looking forward to seeing this pair in the ring alot more in the future!

Pictures from the show ring coming soon!

Website!

2010-08-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am very excited that our website is getting overhauled and soon will be up and running. Thank you to Frank and Ussupernet for his patience and understanding! The website is really looking great and I cannot wait to get it out there for everyone to see.
We also have some new projects that will be up on our blog, so stay tuned!
Visit us at www.nancylaterdressagehorses.com

PW

2010-08-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

So PW is just doing fantastic I am just so happy with her. And...............having time for her is making the whole experience so much more gratifying. Yesterday there was excitement at the farm, a trailer in lesson loading and leaving and her best buddy Graci is back. These things created some distractions during our lesson. But, taking our time and letting her settle into her nerves and she particpated in our lesson and was perfect. She is such a good girl. It was in my mind not to get on her yesterday just because she was feeling so distracted but, we kept to our routine and she settled right in and in the end Raymundo led us around the whole arena with out a problem. She is also getting so nicely muscled and looks beautiful on the lunge.
Yes! Graci is back, my 6 year old oldenburg mare by Glorioso Noir. She is a big girl, and I was thinking of selling her because she is too big for me. But, we will ride her for a couple of days and see how it goes. Yesterday we started to get to know each other and I have to say for how big she is she is light and comfortable to ride. We will see.

Who am I?

2010-08-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed -- you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great people and, alas, of all failures, as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin -- it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am habit. . .a habit is a system that you have mastered through practice.

Practical Horseman

2010-08-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

Our new article is out in Practical Horseman! It looks great and I think the article gets across our message............give your horse some confidence! He wants to do it for you!
Check it out!
Also, Ruudi, who is pictured in the article and his owner Ingrid Wallin went to their first horse show last weekend. Congratulations!!! First time out and 3 rd level ! 65% Great job!!

Gladstone

2010-08-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

Matt and I made a trip to Gladstone to support our friends that are trying out for our WEG team. What a beautiful day. New Jersey weather was kind to the riders and it was cool and not too humid for the morning Grand Prix. They have done a wonderful job renovating the indoor arena! That is so nice to see, it is no longer dark and depressing but beautiful light finished kickboards and eurofelt footing gives us the feeling that we have people that are interested in promoting our sport and riders!!! Fantastic!!
I was dissappointed not to see more spectators.........we need to rally the troops and be there to congratulate all of the great combinations that have made it this far in these WEG trials.
I will stay away from commenting on all the rides. There were alot of great things and it was wonderful to see the improvement in many of these horses. If you have the opportunity to make the drive to New Jersey DO IT!! They need our support and energy, it is our sport and we need to show people that it means something to us!!!
If you cannot go in person Mary has a link on DressageDaily.com and you can watch it live.

PW

2010-08-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

PW is making wonderful progress! Friday I got all the way on and Raymundo led us down the long side! She is still not sure what to make of it all! She loves the attention and is really a good girl. She is alert and smart, does not miss a thing! But, she also loves to be engaged and wants to please. I am looking forward to training her from the saddle. It is so much fun to have time for a her and have a quality young horse that benefits from everyday we spend with her!

Free Dressage Afternoon!

2010-08-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well we had a great time at our FIRST free dressage afternoon, and thank you everyone for coming! And thank you everyone that brought refreshments that was GREAT! We will definitely have another tuesday lesson afternoon before the season is over.
We want to hear from YOU! What can we do to make it better? How can we find more dressage enthusiests and get them to join in? Why are we doing this? Because we want to grow our sport in our area..............so if you want to become involved in getting the word out that dressage can be fun! Please let us know you are out there............and join us on our next free dressage afternoon, Date to be announced! Email Nancy at nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com with your comments!! Thank you for joining in!

PW Inspection!

2010-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

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!!

Good Luck PW!

2010-07-22T17:14:00.001-07:00

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!

BIG congratulations to Ariel and Evita!

2010-07-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Date for Leukemia Lymphoma Fundraiser

2010-07-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

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.

available for on farm lease

2010-07-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

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

Congratulations!

2010-07-01T19:51:00.001-07:00

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!

PW

2010-06-19T04:42:00.000-07:00

PW is learning so many new things, and she is doing great. Since coming to Massachusetts she is lunging in the indoor perfectly. She learned in Florida about the surcingle, but yesterday she wore a saddle for the first time. She was very grown up about it! She is moving great on the lunge. She was definitly wondering what that funny feeling was, but never got upset or tried to get rid of it, I am happy about that! I hope to have a video up soon.

Congratulations!

2010-06-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Ariel, Alyson and Maureen !! Ariel recieved 65% in the Young Rider Prix St. Georges, with a very strong test. Ariel also catch rode Nirvana for Alyson sunday and recieved a 68% ! Alyson back in the saddle only for a short time now did a fantastic job in Training level with Nirvana getting two red ribbons with 62% and 66%! What a way to start the summer! Maureen also achieved her goal of getting over 63 in her Training 3 and 4 recieving 65% and 64% sunday. Well Done everyone!

New Baby Pictures

2010-06-05T04:45:00.001-07:00

Moving

2010-06-01T03:43:00.000-07:00

On our way to Massachusetts! Horses being loaded and we are making our way to our summer home in Pepperell. We will see our summer friends soon! Looking forward also to Mystic Valley Hunt Club Show next weekend!

Congratulations

2010-05-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

Best of Luck to Julie and Robin! Thank you so much to Caroline Pepin and Gail Gibbs for making this wonderful partnership possible.

New addition!

2010-05-29T05:08:00.001-07:00

Here he is! Our new addition! Born May 27 a bay colt out of our wonderful mare Honolulu by Pik L.

More pictures to follow!