MERRY CHRISTMAS

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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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

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

Thank you Mary!

Enjoy

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!

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!!

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!

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.

PW

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

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!

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

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?

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?

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

Practical Horseman

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

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

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!

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!

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!!

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

PW

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!

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

Moving

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

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!

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!

Journey to MA

The move to Massachusetts has begun! Matt and I have taken the camper up to the farm in Pepperell and now we are back in Florida to pack up the horses and move them up to our summer digs. New England is so beautiful this time of year, it was fun to everything in bloom. Our first horse show in the North, Mystic Valley, is right around the corner! We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

New Addition!

Honolulu has had her baby! A bay colt born today May 27. Honolulu my lovely mare by Hailo was bred to Pik L and we are so excited to have a foal. Thank you to Nancy Sharpless in Climax, North Carolina for her great care. Pictures will follow!

PW

Here she is, PW going to school! She is doing great! lunging lessons are going well and yesterday she wore her surcingle for the first time. She wanted to know what that is all about, but took it in stride. She is always looking for affection and that is not hard when she is so cute!

Phil Silva has agreed to take her to her Hanoverian inspection in July, so that will be great!

Getting ready for our journey home. We will leave with the horses June 1. Lots of packing to do...........................

PW

Pikksie Wish is continuing her lessons and really starting to enjoy them! She is very clever and likes to please. As long as we do not cause sensory overload she is 100% willing and trying to get an A+ on every lesson. She is wearing her cute little bridle, not completely sure what to do with the bit, but she is accepting the idea! Her work in hand lessons are going very well and her trot is looking quite fancy. Raymundo is very patient with her and she is giving him all of her attention during the lessons. We are hoping to do some breed shows in the summer, I think she will do quite well! Also will take her to her Hanoverian Inspection in July.

Congratulations!

Good job! Ariel and Evita recieved 72% for their Young Rider Freestyle last sunday at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge. The music is absolutly wonderful and Ariel and Evita are really beginning to find their confidence in the arena. That is our last show here in Florida. Time to start thinking about organising the big move to Massachusetts at the end of May. During June we will be at Mystic Valley Dressage and Westbrook Hunt Club for Centerlines Events summer dressage show.

LLS

Absolutly wonderful news! We have our first sponsor for our 2011 Leukemia Lymphoma party!!! Anita Fialkow of Bronxville, NY and Wellington, FL has pledged to sponsor the food for our Equestrian of the Year fundraising party in Feb. This is a fantastic gift and we are so appreciative that Anita has stepped up to make this generous donation! Please join Anita and the LLS team to make the 2011 Equestrian of the Year fundraising effort the most succesful to date. We need your help!! We still need sponsors for the bar and dessert! Please contact me if you are interested in helping, remember all your donations are tax excempt! Thank you! Nancy

Our biggest fans!

Gold Coast Dressage

Ariel also did her PSG Freestyle with Evita for the first time this winter and they did great. Marlene Whitaker has prepared a beautiful freestyle for Ariel and it really shows off her beautiful Evita. Here she is preparing for the big test.

Gold Coast Dressage

Congratulations to Gail Gibb's Noah and his second and third place finishes at the show last weekend. Noah and Nancy competed at third level and Noah recieved 8's on his half passes and a 9! on his last centerline and halt. Good boy Noah!

Gold Coast Dressage

Congratulations to Ariel and Alyson Miller's Nirvana. They competed last weekend in training and first level and were second in both classes! This was Nirvana and Ariel's first outing together and Nirvana's first show in more than 8 months! They looked beautiful and did a great job!

Leukemia Lymphoma Society

Many of you know that I actively fundraise every year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Mary Ann Grants Equestrian of the Year Competition. For those of you that don't know Ariel and I were named Equestrians of the year this past February! This has given me new momentum for next year and we need your help!! We are looking for a sponsor that will be willing to donate money that will go toward the costs of the party, so that even more of the entry donations will go directly to LLS. To begin around $15,000. So this could be one person, or 3 people with $5000 each or 5 people with $3000 each. We all know people affected by this terrible disease. The Leukemia Lymphoma Society is such a fantastic organization, helping people hands on with counseling, travel arrangements doctor and treatment help, as well as funding research.
We need all hands to help us with next years fundraising campaign and party in February. Lets show the Leukemia Lymphoma Society that Equestrians can make a difference!! So let me know if you are interested to be a volunteer, make donations or become a participant.
Thank you!!

PW

Yesterday was Pikksi Wish's first lesson! Pikksie Wish was purchased from Horses Unlimited as a weanling in 2007. She is by their stallion Pik L and out of a Wolkenstein 2 mare. She spent last winter with us and in Florida and then went to Nancy Sharpless beautiful farm in North Carolina to grow up on the hills. Last week she arrived back in Florida as a 3 year old! and we will begin to break her in. Yesterday April 9 was her first lesson and I am not sure she was a fan. She is still learning about the cross ties, but because she is shedding so much it is not hard for to figure out she needs to stand to get this nice brushing. The bridle was not as much fun for her, but she handled it. I do not think she loved the bit in her mouth but by the end of the lesson she was relaxing. We went to the arena for our first lunge and without some assistance this process was not going anywhere, so Raymundo helped to walk her around the lunging circle and they even did a couple of rounds of trot.
From this point of view she was looking very beautiful. She has very good hind legs and a very elastic gait. I am excited to see what she will grow into.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Tiron and Matti Karni for the purchase of Domingo's Shadow! Good Luck and we look forward to seeing you in Florida next winter!

The Beginning

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought." Basho