I haven’t posted anything in awhile, I didn’t realize until just now that I had not posted anything since my last show in NC last November. It seems that we have been socked in with snow since just before the holidays. Sadly, Vinnie colicked during one of the snow storms/subsequent melting and crashing on the roof, developed a twist, and was put down. I missed him the first week especially, as he was my teaching partner, and I ran a half-day camp the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
That camp was a smashing success for our 4 participants who worked hard, played hard, and rode together each day. They learned to identify the movements in PSG and I-1, and the lower level foundational movements as well. They helped with the horses, kept everyone groomed, cleaned tack, scrubbed buckets in below freezing weather – without complaint. This was a great group of girls ages 12-18, with Emme for Tuesday only, Emme is 6 this year, she rides Callie. Thanks to Jennifer Fox for the use of Fergie and Hickory for the last two days of the camp. Fergie and Hickory are two of Jen’s lesson horse fleet. Jen’s program is Fox Trot Riding School, and we are pleased to host her winter-time lessons here every other week. Fergie was Liza’s first time cantering horse, and if I had scoured the Earth, I could not have had a better teaching partner than Fergie, she was fantastic, they both were. Hickory discovered some gears he didn’t know he had under me, once he stopped treating me like a beginner student. He is a very smart horse, in fact, he’s pretty sure he knows what I wanted moreso than I did. Horses who are career lesson horses are very special, Jen’s horses are devoted to their people, and somehow, they never seem to sour, which is unusual for a lesson horse who works as hard as Jen’s do. Jen runs her program out of her family’s farm, Fox Trot Farm, in Skipton, MD. I highly recommend her for beginners.
Congratulations to Devon Duvall on the purchase of her new jumper from Anne Altvator. Best of luck with him! Send pictures!
Turner brings good news always from Aiken, he is doing well in training with Ryan, but if he doesn’t sell by Williamston, he will come home to do dressage with me. He’s so talented and he just isn’t an everybody’s horse. He has always been a perfect gentleman for me though, and Richard said after the first week that Turner had “picked me” to be his person, and would not be leaving. Richard is wiser than words, looks like Turner’s not going away. I learned some great new techniques while in Florida working with Libby and Jules Anderson, and some softer techniques for riding that are highly effective. It was very confusing for me in the beginning, as I have been studying German Technique with Becky pretty seriously for the past two years. There are many paths up the mountain, and different techniques work well for different horses. Thank you to Libby Anderson for her infinite time and guidance and friendship in the past month. Libby is a retired GP rider/trainer, and also an International FEI Judge (ret.). She has infinite patience, and a deep wisdom regarding the horses that I have not seen in a long time. She is ageless, and it was a great honor to have been able to work with her intensively. Jules, Libby’s daughter, is a current GP rider/trainer, she works as hard as anyone I’ve seen, and is an outstanding pressure player in competition. She was short-listed on the Australian Dressage Team before Beijing (I think….), then later moved to the US. The name of Libby and Jules program is Teamwork Dressage, they are located in Jupiter, FL through late May, then they will return to their Virginia farm for the summer.
Debra Brookhouser, my FEI Lady (boarder), brought her 17 yo Holsteiner Gelding, “Sebastian”, and also her 12 yo TB/Han g. (GP HORSE!!) “Par Avion” both down to Florida and also stayed and trained with Jules and Libby, Debra has been working with Jules and Libby for 8 years. Congratulations to Debra and Sebastian on their first qualifying score toward’s Debra’s USDF Gold Medal. Sebastian and Duell are both glad to be home, and can’t wait for the snow and ice to melt so they can get turned out. We are fortunate to have the indoor for them to at least roll in the dirt and stretch their legs.
Duell and I showed two days at PSG at the Jim Brandon EC in Wellington, FL. On Saturday I was SOO HAPPY to see Robin Shehan coming to see us go as we were warming up. I hadn’t seen Robin since she last came through with her now retired from competition GP horse, “Marsaelis”. Robin has officially declared herself as a “Professional” with the governing bodies of the sport, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am looking forward to offering Robin Shehan clinics in the future. Robin is excellent with students who need to build confidence, excellent. I can’t wait to work with her with my guys, she has been working for GP riders for as long as I have known her, she is very good and has an excellent eye for movement. On Sunday, Steve, Debbie, and Jeremy came up from Ft. Lauderdale and watched us go. The best I can say is that it was GREAT to show in Wellington, I actually competed against Ahsley Holzer and Pop Art on Sunday – I had the ride directly after theirs. Wow, she’s a hard act to follow! Duell was great and seemed to be happy the entire time, he’s a good guy, I love my horse. Our next show is Southern Comfort in Aiken, and after that March Magic in Williamston. It’s looking like I will have a conflict for Aiken with Emily’s Spring Break from GFS, so may just do March Magic and leave early. Debra is also considering going, Becky will be there too. I think Larry and Colt are going to come with me, so I know we will have a wonderful time, as we did in Florida!
Gen and Amore have been with Silva Martin at True Prospect Farm while I was away, and I can’t wait to see them go under Silva (I’ll get pictures!). This promises to be a big season for all of us this year, Gen is late to start competing at 12 yo, but in my mind, that’s when a dressage horse will peak, after he’s fully matured and really WANTS to work. Gen had a rough start in life, but has the best dressage foundation money could buy at the time, and I look forward to riding him for the judges. Amore has tons of talent, but lacks maturity, at least as of the holidays, he did. We’ll see how he’s doing now, and I am very grateful to Silva for putting some miles on both horses and giving me a great head-start to the coming show season. That said, I”ll be glad to have all of my horses back home and to be in full work.
Thanks again to all who have made the past couple of months of preparation for the coming season so much FUN!!
Here are some pictures that Libby sent me from the show. Enjoy!
