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.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
PW
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.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Classical Dressage
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
Charles de Kunffy
Monday, December 12, 2011
Welcome to Florida!
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 :)
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 :)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Training
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!
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!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Horses in Peru
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.
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