2010 Show Season Continued--- Galant did his first CDI competition in the small tour in September. Although we had some bummer mistakes and little miscommunications both days, he was FANTASTIC and was exceptionally proud of himself. I was also exceptionally proud of him. Now we're working on strength, fitness and greater degrees of collection in preparation for the Grand Prix ring in Florida. Hopefully we'll be ready to do a few Intermediare II's by February.
Comtesso and Annabel did their first Grand Prix in October and did very well at the GMHA Dressage Fall Show. She earned her first score for her USDF Gold Medal as well as an additional score over 60%! Next, while I had to stay home with a sick horse, Annabel went, all by herself (with her amazing husband for moral support!), to Mystic Dressage and earned two more good scores- including one in the mid-60s! HUGE Congratulations to Annabel and Comtesso. I can't believe she got her silver AND gold medal this year! Hard work does pay off!
Ups and Downs--- In October, Allure, the five-year-old mare I've had for the past year left to go to a trainer closer to her owner's home in Indiana. Although I was sad to see her go, I still strongly believe that she will be a great horse and look forward to seeing her success in the show ring. This is always the hard part of riding horses that you don't own- sometimes they leave. Of course I still miss her and miss riding her, but life goes on. While that door closed I received an e-mail from a woman that bought a now four-year-old gelding from us a few years ago. Bellagio or Baloney as we call him has now returned to me for training for a few months and we are having a BLAST! He is comfortable and fun and fancy and safe and honest... I like him even more now than when we sold him! I am so looking forward to bringing him to Florida and competing a bit. As a youngster we always thought he could be a successor to Fizzy and he's proving that to be a very realistic future. He will return to his owner in the spring but until then I know we are going to have a ton of fun together.
I Love Teaching!
I did two clinics this fall- one for Lendon Gray's Dressage4Kids that was a pony clinic, and one at Silvercryst Farm in Massachusetts. Both clinics were a great success and made me realize how much I enjoy teaching. All of the horses and riders made progress with some combinations really excelling. It is so fun as a teacher to see horses and riders "get" something and watch their entire demeanor change. As I gain experience and knowledge I realize how much better I am at reading horses and how to best help them achieve success and gain confidence. Riders, too, but especially horses!
Fizzy Rocks Equine Affaire
While Fizzy had a fairly quiet fall we did gear up to do a four-night Freestyle performance at Equine Affaire this November. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. With one night of rehearsals and three nights of performing it was definitely a tiring week, but Fizzy walked out to perform each night more excited than the night before. He LOVED the audience- 5,000 screaming fans, a spotlight and a completely blinged out, rockstar costume- what more could a self-centered, cocky stallion ask for? Even while the crowd cheered, whistled and clapped through our performance, Fizzy quietly performed each night PUMPED, but totally obedient and on-the-aids. I'm pretty sure we'd both like to run away and join the circus. So much more fun than dressage shows!!! For a video of our Friday performance, please go to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pfl6eC5nMk
Galant Rocks Equine Affaire, Too!
One of my stipulations for performing in the Pfizer Fantasia with Fizzy was that I could bring an extra horse with me. I thought this sort of venue would be wonderful for Galant with so much going on, but absolutely zero pressure on him. On a whim, I called the woman organizing the Hanoverian breed demonstration to see if I could ride Galant in it, and as luck would have it, we ended up getting to be the stars of the show! Galant was fantastic and has matured so much in the last year. He had the best time handwalking all over, going adventure trail riding, meandering through seas of people, having his picture taken approximately 1,000 times and meeting and seeing all sorts of horses. Driving horses, Gypsy Vanners, Spotted Drafts, Miniature horses, Icelandics, Friesians, Paints, Clydesdale's and everything in between! He is for sure the most accepting, unbiased horse I've ever met. While Fizzy was appalled at all the different shapes and sizes (and not going to lie- wanted to do some BAD things with those Icelandic ponies!), Galant was thrilled to visit (nicely!) with everyone. He really is something else. The gentle giant.
Musings on Equine Affaire
I had a wonderful time at Equine Affaire. Fizzy was great. Galant was great. Everything went perfectly. That wasn't what was so wonderful however. The wonderful part was how many people I met that genuinely love horses. Of course, Galant at 18 hands with four white stockings and a big blaze garnered a ridiculous amount of attention. Number one asked question was, "how many hands!?" He stood perfectly to be petted, admired, scratched, admired and photographed by his fans. Emilee and I joked about "catching" people in the barn having their picture taken with him. He loved it. So did we. Sometimes at dressage shows it feels like everyone is so wrapped up in THEIR thing that they don't take the time to look around and appreciate everything. At an event like Equine Affaire, we have time to appreciate. I watched Denny Emerson teach jumping clinics. I rode Jane Savoie's horse simulator. I got teary-eyed watching some of the versatility horse and rider combinations and thinking about how much those horses really trust their riders. I talked to people riding their Spotted Draft Horse's bareback about how I trained Fizzy to do so much cool stuff. I learned about reining and cutting. I met cowboys and saddleseat riders. I got to sit on Jerry Diaz' gorgeous Friesian stallion Rosario during Pfizer Fantasia while he had to help his wife, Stacie, do her Roman Riding act. Rosario was perfect. I was flattered. Sometimes when you get in the heat of the moment, at the height of competition season, you can lose sight of why we all do this. Please don't. We are all so lucky to have horses in our life and do what we love.
Florida 2011
So, it's official! Coltrane gets to come to Florida. He's just starting under saddle now and is a delight. He is so smart and so enthusiastic it's ridiculous. Just like his father he will do ANYTHING for a cookie. His nephew, Copland, will also be coming. Copland is Baloney's full brother and if it's possible, even taller and darker and handsom(er?) than his older brother. My old Young Rider stallion, Hierarch, will also be coming for my working student to ride. He is PHENOMENAL and at 21-years-old having a wonderful time teaching Emilee about the highest levels of dressage. Comtesso will also be joining us, as will of course Fizzy, Galant and one new horse. I am so looking forward to warm weather! We will again be in White Fences and of course taking advantage of "the loop" for fitness work. Pretty cool statistics on our crew this year- four Grand Prix horses, one Intermediare horse, a five-year-old and two four-year-olds. Talk about the whole spectrum!
