tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32047698603170817902024-03-17T23:03:38.006-07:00Dressage PonyNotes from a competitive FEI dressage rider's regular life. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-32799637223087366062017-06-19T14:10:00.000-07:002017-06-19T14:10:58.303-07:00Can't bribe the door on the way to the sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After several long, exhausting weeks of showing, horse-related events and clinics, we've hit a minor week-long lull in the calendar that's allowed me to kinda catch up here. This odd hungover space where we can loosen up a little bit and get an idea but not relax so much that everything goes to hell.<br />
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While we kicked off our season early at Paul Fraiser CT, my first love, the Spy Coast Young Horse qualifier, officially opened spring for us.<br />
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We were set to bring out a record four horses for the team, but as fate would have it, one scuffed himself up, one went home and the others went through Frankenstein-worthy growth spurts that made us shelve whatever plans until their bodies caught up with whatever they were doing.<br />
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So it was just Alberich.<br />
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Show-cation with one horse and visitation with several other friends.<br />
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As of today, Al has been off property now about four or five times. Each time is a little different, and <br />
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each time gets a little better. He's a horse that takes a bit to adjust to a new place and people. He worries about traveling, so the more he does things, the better.<br />
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This time around, I popped on and took him for a spin. Even though I wasn't registered as the rider, it was something I was looking forward to for a long time. He was a good boy, and went on to do three classes the next day.<br />
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His materiale scores were flat, simply because we had over estimated the time (and the panel ran late) and honestly speaking, he's not a materiale horse or an obvious young horse candidate.<br />
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Like with a lot of the Olympic Ferro and Rubenstien offspring, it takes time to develop the gaits. It doesn't change my opinion of him, I still think he's going to be something for the upper levels, but it also means that until he has a change, and some pi/pa/pir work, he's going to be a little bit meh in motion at the start of his career in comparison to something more modern. <br />
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But we also took him through the jump chute not expecting much and came out on the other end realizing that he does have a fair bit of style over fences. Which bodes really well for what the primary aim is- licensing. We were encouraged to enter him last minute in the chute, but declined. Three classes, the cold, and lack of sleep was finally catching up to us all.<br />
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The week was quickly followed up by Rolex. I didn't attend this year. It just felt flat and I felt anti-social with everything going on. I also didn't want the temptation to shop.<br />
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Rolex ended, and then William Fox-Pitt's clinic began. I ridiculously decided to work with William.<br />
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I've worked with WFP as an organizer for about three years now; I like his style and approach to training, but I'm a dressage rider, and usually there is a bit of a difference with the quality.<br />
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With a normal eventing clinic, I just go crawl off into a corner on dressage day with the excuse of paperwork, William is someone who I think can span both disciplines successfully, and I have nothing but utter respect for that won't over face a young horse.<br />
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I figured it was a soft way of getting Al into a few lessons without a huge audience and little pressure for being five and not doing the FEI five year olds.<br />
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Well, I was only half right.<br />
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William took us through our paces in a group lesson. It was nothing new; just good basics and things that we were working on as a pair already. Where I was more gun-ho about working some items we've been schooling on (walk-canter-walk), he brought it back to the details.<br />
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It was refreshing to get some tips about how to ride a short thick neck out and also to hear about getting relaxation in a charged environment.<br />
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William was legitimately curious about him, what he's produced (two crops, good improvement), what he's been doing and where he's been going.<br />
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What I didn't expect was the 50 or so people to show up to watch Al go. But then again I'm not used to what Al is- black and a stallion.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/18444527_1755860738058159_6222452325278023680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/18444527_1755860738058159_6222452325278023680_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's fairly curious to show up on a pure dressage horse in an eventing clinic, especially one that doesn't even remotely fit in gender (not a gelding), type (short-coupled, thickly built) or in stereotyped behavior (not trying to cover everything that moves) for a clinic like this. We also went in with the express knowledge and statement that our end goal isn't eventing, but the licensing this year.<br />
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But it did give me some allusions of grandeur by trying to qualify for AEC's at BN.<br />
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At the end we got on with it, and had a good couple of rides. We had our first public outing as a pair together, got some help and enjoyed things along the way. Nothing Earth shattering, just good basics, but it gave me a good idea of how the rest of the year should go.<br />
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Then he was promptly followed out of the hall by a few people asking questions. The entourage was friendly, if not curious and supportive.<br />
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We rerouted Al from KDA's annual to take a more serious approach to the year end goals of getting through approvals and substituted Sine Metu instead. Another showcation with another singular horse.<br />
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I'm happy I did this; the KDA show was overall very low scoring and there were a few other things <br />
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that raised a bunch of concerns. We went out not sure what to expect and got away better than most, placing over mature horses that have twice as much time under saddle but still not quite happy with the scores.<br />
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My biggest concern was the bone of contention with the management when he was put in to a class with five-year-olds and four-year-olds.<br />
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It's not illegal to combine the age classes, but it's fairly unethical, if anything unfair. Especially given that the show prize list billed it as a separate class and three year olds have more of a propensity to be silly versus a maturer horse. Then there's the issue of comparing very different stages of development in a singular arena.<br />
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We're not afraid of not pinning but at the same time, we want fair scores that potentially eliminates comparative bias; and comparing a three year old to a four year old and a group of five year olds is irksome.<br />
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We ended up with a solid score (the lowest in the group was in the 60's, unusual for materiale) and topping out the five year olds in the group. The next day we won with improvement and took Sine Metu home to prep out for the next two weeks for Majestic Farm.<br />
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Majestic is usually at the top of June, and it's sometimes a hit or miss show on the calendar. We tend to aim for Tryon, but with no one big horse in the barn with no major young horse championships on the calendar- really, it's a wasted trip. We routed out to Ohio, and brought Sine Metu and Jolie Etolie (Emici/Rose Noir 2), a client's horse, out for materiale again.<br />
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It was a very productive show for both horses. Sine Metu, who's now an old hand at showing- went out and just clocked around his classes without a care.<br />
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More impressively was Jolie Etolie that we started back in May. She absolutely owned the place, turning in solid performances and showing three very good gaits for all of 13 rides under saddle.<br />
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It was her first time off property and really allowed her to grow up. She blew both Michael and I away with her rideability and her elastic gaits. She handles pressure enormously well. Can't wait to show her again in July.<br />
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In the meantime there are several wonderful things on the horizon that will keep us busy well after Fall and possibly into Winter.<br />
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But for now, the top of the season is here, with a clinic this weekend with Oded Shimoni, a show two weeks later our calendar is booked. I'm looking forward to the slower pace from mid-July to August where we can breathe a bit and focus on the details of keuring, inspections, licensing and year end championships.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-14079877793833104512017-04-12T05:45:00.000-07:002017-04-12T05:45:02.440-07:00BelieverFirst show of the year is in the books for us, and it was somewhat strange to be back out again after a<br />
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hiatus from essentially last June. Normally our kickoff is SpyCoast in May, but with it arriving early this year, we decided to start out with something a bit sooner on the calendar.<br />
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Local schooling shows for me, are approached with a somewhat split feeling of happy anticipation and dread.<br />
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Anticipation for getting out and seeing new people, showing the kids what life can be, seeing them on their maiden voyages in a situation that in all respects, doesn't make or break a career, meeting new people and catching up with the old groups.<br />
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Then there's the dread.<br />
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The dread of people in your space, navigating a warm up that is, at best uncontrolled chaos, arenas that aren't set up as professionally as they should, making sure that no one dies/cries/embarrasses themselves too badly and above all making sure that said kids have a good time.<br />
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I knew walking in what the comments would be, and what approximate scores he would get- and we got them from the judge and the rail birds. <br />
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Al's first show was successful in many ways, and shows room for improvement in others.<br />
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What I, and Mike weren't prepared for was the amount of people who came by and followed us to and from the arenas. Part of it was I think the idea of a stallion of that quality at a show, but the other part I think people were genuinely curious. Either way, it was something new for us, and felt a bit odd. Al just accepted the accolades graciously via carrots, admiring glances and the occasional insistence on a butt scratch.<br />
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We came home and addressed what few issues he showed us, and already I feel he's ready to go back out. I was for the most part, pleased about how he behaved in the wake of a Spring outdoor show and how he went to work despite the looney environment that he woke up to.<br />
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It was quiet on Friday, with the arenas basically with four or five people total in them. He schooled in and around the arenas fine, we rolled through the test and called it a day. Our class was put in the early afternoon, so we were literally sitting around doing nothing for the morning and afternoon (one horse at a show is boring nowadays).<br />
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Next day, everyone arrived. It was pure madness in the barns, and the arenas exploded with people and activity. Ponies, kids, riders who got a little too close while walking near us with their horses, traffic, trailers coming in and out fast, people who lingered at his stall trying to pet him (which he was confused about as to why they weren't scratching his bum).<br />
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I wanted him exposed to all of this because it's only going to get busier from here on out. We went on a few long hand walks which helped. Hindsight I should have lunged him, but the available lunging area was a pitched surface and not dragged. So, I put him under his Back on Track sheet to keep him limber and made miles under our feet.<br />
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To his credit, Al held himself together.<br />
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We were concerned about the warmup, where it wasn't as regulated and my concerns were realized when he was t-boned by a junior rider on her horse (everyone was fine). Even though he was sore he still put in a good, focused test. It wasn't a winning test, but that's what you get with young horses going against horses that have done more than a few seasons at training level.<br />
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Overall, we have a better idea going forward what to do with him, and how to prep out. He's back at the farm working towards SpyCoast and the May series.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-19641437242544892862017-03-12T08:37:00.001-07:002017-03-12T08:37:39.587-07:00Pole dancingBeing stuck in the great indoors this winter isn't exactly thrilling. Same four walls and a ceiling every day, the great outdoors too inconsistent to risk a tendon or a thrown shoe. Our past month has been as wild as the weather.<br />
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It's seriously swung enough keep an entire wardrobe in my truck because in Kentucky, just wait ten minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/16465615_432001690524516_1434792996993236992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/16465615_432001690524516_1434792996993236992_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>What's even better is the long monotonous drag of getting the kids from essentially green broke to their careers.<br />
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It's a daily grind full of important tedious details that get addressed day in and day out. Bend that <br />
way, go to and from legs, go on the bit, go to the contact, go over this pole or that pole, stand at the block, don't spook at the flappy thing. <br />
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Between that it's the stacked appointments of nutritionists, sponsors (we have new ones!), photoshoots, video creation, suppliers, farriers and vets.<br />
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It's this creation of boundaries and the never ending point to point to do list that gives us a nice competitive start within the 20 x 60 meter box.<br />
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Some are taking it well, Irish Warrior (2013 Warrior's Reward) is coming along stellar in his development, going from downtime to jumping around a small course here and there.<br />
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Of all the horses in the group he's the steadiest of the bunch, and is really is just happy to go along to get along. Talent wise, while he's not a Fahrenheit, or a Haiku, he makes it up for sheer wanting and trying.<br />
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Sine Metu (2014 Sezuan) is following in Fahrenheit's footsteps and been one of the easiest horses to <br />
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back and start.<br />
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At nearly 17 hands, we're taking our time, but so far he's excelling, willing and is very steady. At 10 rides he's already hacking around and we're thinking of which shows to point him towards. He's very much Mike's ride, long legged, sporty and modern with multiple gears. <br />
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We also now have a group of rising five year olds.<br />
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Five year old year is typically one marred with a lot of drama, hissy fits and various shades of nopes. So far, we've had a few mild cases, but after laying down the rules they're pretty undramatic.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/17125821_168964710283634_684166342969917440_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/17125821_168964710283634_684166342969917440_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>The two five year olds this year, Alberich (2012 Armani) and Equibest Delphic (2012 Don Index) are interesting to develop.<br />
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Alberich has developed steadily. Becoming more consistent in his work to the point where I'm now starting to ride him. He's really a fun ride so far with 90 or so rides total with him and unlike a few prior horses I got on with, he's wonderfully uncomplicated and genuine. We're still sorting the relationship out, not because of personality but because physically he's a very different ride than most horses. Al is incredibly short coupled, and combined with a thick neck, a low whither it's like driving a sports car around the arena that occasionally does the Toyko drift.<br />
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His ultimate aim is the stallion approvals this year. I'm considering him for the Five Year old classes later this Fall (not Young Horse Championships), but we'll see how this all goes.<br />
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Consistently across the board, he's come a long way in a very short amount of time and he's not done yet.<br />
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Delphic is progressing as well, he's enjoying the work, and the harder it is the more clever he <br />
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becomes. He's smart, almost too smart. Not unlike Al, he's taken awhile to physically mature as well. He's put on about two inches of topline in 90 days thanks to Progressive, Nutrena and our system, and lost the pudge.<br />
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He, like several others before him, have the jumping bug. He's brave and quiet to the fences and shows very classic form over them. He's thrilled to do it over 20 meters of circle any day of the week.<br />
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Like Al, we've started to incorporate poles within his daily routine to help him mentally focus and a gallop day to help him become fitter.<br />
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I have a feeling the majority of his show time will be in the hunters and not the white box or the event field. Which is a shame because I think he would be an easy AEC and Regional-qualified horse.<br />
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Our first shows are later this month at the horse park. I think this year because of the hodge-podge of the type and goals involved that we might skip the big outings. Which is fine, considering there's a larger agenda in place for next year already.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-78571515410599799832017-01-03T16:47:00.001-08:002017-01-03T16:47:18.560-08:00When I die, I'll be on timeI've been overdue to write here for sometime and I've been avoiding my desk in a non-purposeful fashion.<br />
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I've also haven't really felt like writing in the past few months. I think the premature end of the season plus more than a few bumps in the road has just took the wind out of my sails to talk about life. Combining this with a lot of travel, unpredictable weather, massive end of year clinic schedules, and other things, I've just been feeling that I should crawl under a rock and stay there. It's that uninspiring.<br />
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It has been the year of very high highs and very low lows.<br />
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It's been a year of travel.<br />
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We went out of state a few times, got to show at Tryon, I traveled to New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, poked my nose in at Wellington and a few other places. My plans for Europe in 2016 took a shelf as I felt it wasn't right to return at the moment. Paris had happened, followed by Belgium as I was making plans and for once, I just felt like staying home.<br />
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It's been an active sales season in my barn.<br />
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With two selling within three weeks of listing, and I think a few more sales abroad that are coming into contract. There's also two new faces in the barn, bringing my population back up to four.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15781610_10104081258691790_6146613151810956568_n.jpg?oh=3b9fce8450da647d4f6d9ea758edc05b&oe=58DACAD9" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15781610_10104081258691790_6146613151810956568_n.jpg?oh=3b9fce8450da647d4f6d9ea758edc05b&oe=58DACAD9" width="282" /></a>The season ending up here also means Florida is rapidly approaching. Only one of us is going, and much to my chagrin, it's not Mike or myself.<br />
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But it doesn't mean that we aren't totally out of Florida land. There's a few certifications and some business of the non-horsey nature that I need to attend to. Even if it means I have to come back to the bi-polar tundra of Kentucky.<br />
<br />
PostScript is in Florida to do the pony jumper circuit.<br />
<br />
The talented little pony needs some miles on the circuit and will probably not be coming back to my barn in Spring. Which was always the intent- to sell.<br />
<br />
I'm very proud of that pony who has come a long way in a short time. While I know she's the odd duck in the barn (shortest, oldest), to see her transform from this raw, feral field pony to an athlete really give me a lot of great feelings. She may not be the fanciest of movers, but she will jump the standards for you, she's impressed a few people along the <br />
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way.<br />
<br />
Her southern move comes on the heels of dealing with some unplanned physical issues among the horses.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15780887_10104081237344570_6178309182056570279_n.jpg?oh=3e323068d7a596d41b8822f17926b6f8&oe=58D9D55F" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15780887_10104081237344570_6178309182056570279_n.jpg?oh=3e323068d7a596d41b8822f17926b6f8&oe=58D9D55F" width="240" /></a>Namely Al who developed a crack in his hoof and required special shoeing, complements of Rood <br />
and Riddle.<br />
<br />
Looking like the complete idiot, he was sporting hind shoes instead of fronts. One Z Bar, one regular. Almost three resets later, we're back to barefoot. He also had about four weeks off during the prime fall season, which puts us behind in training, and we're now just getting back into the swing of things.<br />
<br />
For a horse that's used to working, it was equally hard on him to see the other go out and not him. He had to contend with hand walking for three weeks, and then an extra week off due to my obligations with the clinics and travel. <br />
<br />
Moppi had a small bout of cellulitis which left him feeling sorry for himself, but bounced back, then went through a series of growth spurts. He's been lightly lunging here and there while he gains all his weight back.<br />
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<br />
The DeLaurentis mare that I was very hopeful and excited as a broodmare passed suddenly in her original owner's care as we were arranging shipping. Leaving us with two mares instead of three. Still looking around for another and kicking some other ideas around as well.<br />
<br />
Moose, the Cliff's Edge OTTB gelding, sold but not without some drama prior to, where he stepped on himself opening an old scar. His new owner is thrilled with him and I think he'll be a good performance horse for her.<br />
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Equibest Delphic has also come on board for the winter season hopefully to be sold. The black Don Index gelding was one that I had extensively worked with while in Germany, and his current owner bought him as a resell project. <br />
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Then there's the new OTTB by Warrior's Reward. The three year old gelding was purchased by an owner and let down starting in June, and now just making his way back into work. </div>
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<br /></div>
Seriously it's been the year of almost, and not quite and I'm not exactly sorry to see the backside of 2016.<br />
<br />
But I have a few bright spots on the horizon in 2017.<br />
<br />
Early next year is already active, with travel, shows and horses needing to be started. I had to expand the staff. I have a few clients who are looking for their next horses. There's even some debate about doing the five year olds with Al and Delphic, and I managed to diversify a bit and it's starting to show dividends.<br />
<br />
So to recap 2016 Goals:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1. Pursue young horse track. Get into the observation sessions. </span></span><br />
We pursued the young horse track with a vengeance this year. Fahrenheit ended up 5th in the nation, one of my graduates won HOTY honors for materiale (funny because the horse is on track to do eventing, not dressage). We were on track for the USEF Young Horse Championships and we didn't get into the observation sessions for a few reasons, but namely by the time that the nearest session came through, Fahrenheit was sold, Flair went home, Al wasn't even started, PS isn't even the right horse, and Moppi well, Moppi is only two.<br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2. Continue to increase fitness (human and horse).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">By Summer, the 2016 string was actively working six days a week and turning out well. Flair had finally lost the broodmare look and had put on a ton of topline in the process. I was going to yoga twice a week in addition to riding and walking quite a bit. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">3. Continue to sell and source horses world wide. '</span></span><br />
This was a major success this year. All horses that were on the sales list, sold. Quickly. We sold close to six figures of horses. We sourced Fahrenheit's half brother for one of my clients, Equibest Sine Metu G. (Sezuan/Calypso II) (nee, Moppi) and he's in development for materiale next year. We unexpectedly sourced PostScript, who turned out much better than expected. Our partner's in Germany started gaining interest from people, and there's a bit of a push in the British market.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">4. Continue to create and dedicate personal educational opportunities once a quarter. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I started doing this weekly with a local instructor who I have quite a bit of respect for, and I changed focus of the clinic side of the business, drastically reducing the amount of clinics I host per year, and adding ones that are personally beneficial to me. I also started creating partnerships within the community to create regular opportunities. This will continue to trend like this for 2017 as there are other things that are happening that are taking me away from the clinics. </span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">5. Continue to develop Flair.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Flair. Flair and I's arrangement came to an end in July. I still like the mare quite a bit and she was schooling an easy change and a fair amount of p/p/p in the process. But things happen and she went home. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">With that being said here's 2017:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">2017 Goals:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">1. Continue developing young horses. Qualify for championships in multiple areas.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">2. Continue to increase fitness both horse and human, and also develop a better diverse portfolio for investments.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">3. Solidify sales sources and barn.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">4. Continue education.</span></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-65035130842622166732016-09-25T18:04:00.000-07:002016-09-25T18:04:04.407-07:00Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)It's beyond mid summer and Fall is already starting in. <br />
<br />
Most of my Summer has been about acquisition and some loss.<br />
<br />
In August, despite being down two horses, I moved to a new property due to the upcoming expansion of my herds and also some other resume-changing items.<br />
<br />
The property is not ready to be truly discussed as things are still very much underway, but I felt, and still feel, its a good move for a variety of reasons.<br />
<br />
The physical space while a work in progress, has been a welcome relief of sorts. I have all my horses under one roof, my paddocks are private/semi private again, I have expanded amenities, it's a shorter commute for Mike, and the best of all, it's five minutes from my house and another five minutes to the Kentucky Horse Park. I feel to sell, train and do things successfully it's a good place to be.<br />
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The barn itself has been fairly quiet, but I'm no less busy with some new faces peaking in and many more who are just starting out.<br />
<br />
To start, I lost my ride on Flair. She went home to Canada.<br />
<br />
I don't have anything bad to say about the mare, she was really lovely and I do wish her success in whatever her next steps will be. I'm also and will always be very proud of her and what she's accomplished within my program in such a short time- going from field to third level in about a year and a half.<br />
<br />
But as they say, life goes on and my herds are no different.<br />
<br />
My breeders acquired three new broodmares through me that I'm thrilled about, the Aprio, the Fabuleux and the DeLaurentis are really standouts for mare quality, and hopefully we'll have some 2018 foals.<br />
<br />
The DeLaurentis especially excites me since there's the classic Donnerhall- Rubenstien cross, and very recently within the pedigree (within the first two generations). The bloodlines can contribute just about anywhere, and have been super rideable.<br />
<br />
Back at the performance side of the farm:<br />
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PostScript is continuing to improve and develop. The little pony schools about a meter on the <br />
occasion, but has been focusing on the basic things.<br />
<br />
At 90 days out of the wild, and 30 rides under tack she's schooling regularly off property and just progressing fitness wise. She's gone around and schooled cross country, she's starting some early fall conditioning.<br />
<br />
She went out and most recently started lessoning with Derek Braun at Split Rock. While there are a lot of similarities between starting a dressage horse and a jumping horse, when it comes down to specific developmental tracks, it helps to have a specialist on hand.<br />
<br />
The move has helped with that, and now we have a plethora of Grand Prix jumpers living down the road who don't mind when the dressage people show up.<br />
<br />
Split Rock and I go back to about a year ago, when I started hosting with them for clinics, so it seemed like a good progression to ask for help.<br />
<br />
Derek did wonderfully with her and Mike, and gave us several exercises and direction as to develop her for the over fences work.<br />
<br />
It's slow work but work that will pay off in the long run when she goes onto a new rider eventually. In the meantime, she's ready to go out and explore a show atmosphere and see how she takes to having a job.<br />
<br />
Then there's this guy:<br />
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Alberich. (Armani/Ferro), a 2012 ISR/OLD stallion. He arrived back in August. Owned in partnership, he's is settling in great and has begun work.<br />
<br />
With just a handful of rides, he's a quick study with an easy temperament, like all good horses, there's a try in him. I'm lucky that he's stepping in quickly to be developed as my horse.<br />
<br />
Al's personality is a lot like Flair in a way, but with breeding horses, it's to be expected. He was a little slow to open up, but he's a goof who enjoys having his butt scratched and told he's the best.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/14330167_10103762969316250_678150723307055180_n.jpg?oh=54e9218b3aa9173cbef904cd515b2f73&oe=5875D1D3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/14330167_10103762969316250_678150723307055180_n.jpg?oh=54e9218b3aa9173cbef904cd515b2f73&oe=5875D1D3" width="320" /></a>Despite being so green, he uses himself very well.<br />
<br />
By the fourth ride I already get the impression that collection isn't going to be an issue with him. He readily accepts compression and his first response in anything is to raise the shoulders and lower the hind end. He's hot enough that you can drop a whip, but not stupid.<br />
<br />
The rest of his 2016 schedule is pretty active for a green horse- a few clinics, a few off property jaunts and more prep for 2017's schedule.<br />
<br />
The other new face at the farm is actually an old school three year old Thoroughbred gelding by The Cliff's Edge. He's track trained but hasn't raced. He's affectionately known as Moose around the place.<br />
<br />
A massive 16,3 hands at three means he's taking twice as long to develop, and that's alright by us. Where Al, Moppi and PS are developing, poor Moose has gone through one or two growth spurts. Combine that with being trained to not move throughly, he's taking his time. He's no less talented than the others, and I think he'll either end up as a hunter or in the meter jumpers really easily.<br />
<br />
There's also this guy along the way:<br />
<br />
Equibest Sine Metu G. (Sezuan/Calypso II), a 2014 gelding that's half brother to Equibest Fahrenheit G. He was purchased as a project via an investor to train and eventually resell within the three year old year.<br />
<br />
I love the addition of Sezuan into my herds, and out of George's dam, only makes the cross more attractive. <br />
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The lack of full KWPN in my herds is sorely obvious now. My heart is always partial to Dutch (and both boys are technically part Dutch and the pony sports some Dutch blood), the German blood in the barn is proving equally as good especially when combined with KWPN.<br />
<br />
But I do miss having a good Dutch horse, especially around Keuring time.<br />
<br />
Also part of Fall is inspection and Keuring. It's becoming a regular staple on my calendar to attend most of them within this area. They're educational and a good way to see where you stack up in comparison.<br />
<br />
With the addition of Al, and the mares, my 2017 is going to be split between licensing, and getting the mares prepped out and inspected.<br />
<br />
With Flair's absence and Haiku's sale, our plans to ride at the Indiana keuring were out. It's a bit sad since she was easily ready to retake the IBOP and I so desperately wanted to get another horse into the year end standings (Fahrenheit is 5th in the nation, Starkozy is first, Sincerely G moved up to the 3' divisions). But secretly I was relieved as I went on my yearly sabbatical from the circuit in August with my family in upstate New York and the turn around was killer.<br />
<br />
I still went up anyways to help and observe. I love the Indiana Keuring for a variety of reasons. It's an excellent facility with a professional staff, the quality of horse is super and it's also a good excuse to shop for the next top horse. It was a good visit, I caught up with old friends and what has quickly become my second barn family.<br />
<br />
The rest of the fall is spent from October to December in pushing with the clinics, and getting the investors aligned for the Spring season. Until then, it's just a daily grind of developing and figuring out what the next teps are.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-19501367182695584562016-07-24T09:13:00.000-07:002016-07-24T09:13:39.214-07:00I'm a sucker for pain<span class="_5yl5"><span>I'm a sucker for mares. Pony mares are truly my soft spot when it comes to things. </span></span><br />
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<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>So
when I sold Fahrenheit and became in between serious sales horses I
started wandering around the internet just looking at things. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>I
had a few owners looking in the market but they were looking for
broodmares or lovely young horse resell projects. I wanted really wanted
something with no expectation. In short, I was wanting a summer project
to fill a gap. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>I
never particularly commented or showed interest in anything I saw. They
were just horses that I knew were not in the best of ways or needed a
lifestyle change, they would get those with the people responding to
them. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>When I stumbled across an ad for a free RPSI pony <a href="http://finalchapter-karen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">via a friend</a>, I stopped and responded. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>She was pretty, fairly good type and relatively near. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>So I jaunted out to see her. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>She
was less than impressive with her presentation. The owners had cut her
tail off, wretchedly kept feet, covered in dew poisoning, unhandled, and
her mane was wild dreadlocks. In many ways, it reminded me of when I
pulled Sinari out of the backwoods ghetto tobacco field at three. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>She
was the essence of ghetto and the definition of redneck. But still all
the parts were in the right places. The then owners were basically going
to give her to the Amish, and knowing what unbroke, slightly
opinionated ponies do, it would have not been a good ending for either
pony or human.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>A
few phone calls, I convinced an owner to take her on, so a few weeks
later after we cleared the health papers and paperwork she got into my
trailer with some chemical and physical assistance and headed to a new
life. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>When she stepped off the trailer, the mutual reaction of people was of general concern for my mental health. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>The
problem is after you've had a Haiku, a Fahrenheit, a Flair and even a
Sinari, the expectation becomes a double edged sword. On one hand, you
have really nice horses, that have gone on and done good things, and the
assumption is that you'll continue on this path. On the other hand, the
perception is you've had it easy and those nice horses were just
flukes. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>Truth
is, in this industry, you're only as good as your last horse and while I
choose nice horses, my team and I have to make them even nicer. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>The
first days were interesting. She stuck out like a sore thumb with her
tail bobbed off, and lack of social skills in a herd of 16 plus hand
mares. Her world, basically was turned upside down. Everyone thought she
was a yearling with her size and lack of maturity. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>She
became a project, first were the feet and teeth, then it was getting
her into a nutritional program that wouldn't overwhelm her. She was
groomed, daily, and taught to tie. Then the work began. </span></span><br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span><br /></span></span>
<span class="_5yl5"><span>She
took to it, happy to have something to do. She liked the attention and
every time out she improved a little. There was never a real issue that
she could do whatever job I asked. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>21
days later she's started, and already she's showing good talent and
what's more is she's unafraid. It's an asset to have any horse like
this, it makes working them easier, and it's a gift especially with the
ones that for the first three-quarters of a decade haven't done anything
except eat and loaf. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5"><span>While
I know my barn will be full again with super horses in a very short
time- I'm enjoying the little downtime with this one, and also the
several the mental health questioning and seeing where this takes us
all. </span></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-30428392534333248832016-06-25T04:20:00.000-07:002016-06-25T04:20:39.196-07:00Mountain at my gate<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Summers are a balance between financials and goals. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13495222_10103557977516460_3153911634589129447_n.jpg?oh=9fa3f334099384bbe0a1b9992d0ed3c2&oe=57EC3402" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13495222_10103557977516460_3153911634589129447_n.jpg?oh=9fa3f334099384bbe0a1b9992d0ed3c2&oe=57EC3402" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On one hand you have the pursuit of goals, hours are spent at home riding, plotting, planning from early in the year. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the other hand your wallet screams in pain at every rip of the check book when the vet, farrier, coach, voodoo priestess, nomination, registration, show/clinic entry comes along. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a nice relationship. They play, I pay.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My team and I have started a little later for our qualifiers, and this year the big goal is the USEF Four Year Old Finals in August. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The calendar year for qualifying is short, and not every show counts for scores. There is only one qualifying class in the entire show and you need two scores, preferably three. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> On top of this you have to count for growth spurts, horses doing stupid things to themselves, weather, crazy judge panels and a few other things. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm also notoriously choosy about shows. Having been to the majority of grounds in the U.S., I know what I like and what I don't like. I also know since it's my money that I'm bleeding I get to make that decision. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our first qualifier is later than expected, Kentucky was a nice stepping stone but with young horses and KHP you never know what you're going to bring out. We were lucky that it went well on a basic level for materiale. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two weeks later there was another semi local qualifier that we passed on due to footing, panel and prep time. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead, we traveled to Tryon over Majestic (six hour drive versus an hour) for better footing and a better panel. It's also the last score Fahrenheit needs for HOY materiale. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The facility, which is new, is beautiful. You cannot really want for anything out there. The stalls are <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13413749_10103545230182220_683485469731816546_n.jpg?oh=91d2d0559226c7bffeedb1bbfe773799&oe=57FF467A" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13413749_10103545230182220_683485469731816546_n.jpg?oh=91d2d0559226c7bffeedb1bbfe773799&oe=57FF467A" width="320" /></a></div>
great, matted, with fans. They lead out directly to the arenas. There is a dedicated horse path that takes you around the property and there are shaded wash racks. Live scoring, shopping, restaurants and accommodation on site. If you live locally, you can haul in and out and work off the trailer for the day. It makes showing much more easy. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They're still expanding. A new covered arena is developing, the cross country course for AECs is finalizing. You can see direction and joyfully, logic, for competitors and spectators. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The show itself for us was a mixed bag. The first day was brilliant, Fahrenheit scored beyond expectations, a 79,9 with a giddy judge panel that confirmed what we've always known- he's a horse with a stellar future. They gave us things to work on.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The materiale was better but, the score wasn't reflected, we still out scored the other horse by a solid 10 percentage points, but it brought our average down. Sitting second in the nation isn't such a bad thing especially given who is leading. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13495199_10103546962186270_1535213525203250342_n.jpg?oh=a7a2ccef999270fcc9c93a8899f41271&oe=580922B5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13495199_10103546962186270_1535213525203250342_n.jpg?oh=a7a2ccef999270fcc9c93a8899f41271&oe=580922B5" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The next day we were all exhausted. Between running around getting the truck fixed on the road, showing, socializing, strange beds all week (I shifted houses since my air conditioning broke and it was 100 degree heat index) and scheduling things, we made a calculated error in over warming him up. He lost the electric sparkle but still put in an obedient, quality test for a middle of the pack placing with a fair yet tough international panel. Impressively he still scored a 7,9 on the canter work. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are a bit bummed by not achieving that one goal this year, but really at the end of the day it's about producing an FEI horse. He will easily be that. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also in perspective we achieved something in 90 days of work (you're average horse has had about a year of under saddle time doing this program and has at least three shows already this year) that stood up to a good standard, it was a positive experience for him and for us and we're into our second year of producing from gate to arena. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're thrilled about the initial successes and what's coming down the pike, we got home safe, and the horse had a positive experience. You can't ask for much more.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps then it's a bit ironic and bittersweet that because we do so well in developing, that they sell well. </span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was exactly three days after the show, that a professional came in looking for her next Grand Prix horse and scooped him up. It's an excellent match, and she clearly adores him and will do a fabulous job and we're excited and pleased. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it means, as usual that we begin again. It's the nature of sales and young horses that we always start over and there is a lack of permanence in the barn. But we're not for wanting, there are two new horses coming in, one sales, one long term horse, and my breeders are breeding or buying more with their now consistent income from the work from my team. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Flair is still being aimed for Fall shows and the IBOP, so I'm not without a ride. However, the barn will feel a little emptier and a bit more quiet that the goofy German chestnut is gone. </div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-78223270940252746762016-06-07T06:43:00.002-07:002016-06-07T06:43:56.722-07:00I spent a lot of nights on the run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLUXQSC6Xg5vCF3Q-8myk0OIWMIgnNuHn4nw4yXZGcfXoCEWwlanpnAxIXst9hblGIS1XH_LWBdX-cChYygMPvbcNsKkWFIPKTbJDlby0XXYn7-Rjc0X4nARmSuUQjkJlaN_bLnQuTwM/s1600/13307431_10103493485733510_4241244632124576798_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLUXQSC6Xg5vCF3Q-8myk0OIWMIgnNuHn4nw4yXZGcfXoCEWwlanpnAxIXst9hblGIS1XH_LWBdX-cChYygMPvbcNsKkWFIPKTbJDlby0XXYn7-Rjc0X4nARmSuUQjkJlaN_bLnQuTwM/s320/13307431_10103493485733510_4241244632124576798_n.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
It's been a few months since an update happened here.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's not because there isn't anything going on, it's actually the opposite. Myself and my team have been busy, and to the point where I just didn't have time to update. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13244823_10103491515831210_6564436259748923124_n.jpg?oh=c5ba1d44ed6a551840bb0b13195399a9&oe=57D88435" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13244823_10103491515831210_6564436259748923124_n.jpg?oh=c5ba1d44ed6a551840bb0b13195399a9&oe=57D88435" width="240" /></a>Spring is here, and that means a lot of things in this region. It mostly means that we've stepped up to a full week of training, that foals are being born, dams are being rebred, horses are being sold, and the rigs remained fully hitched to go places. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's been a lovely blur. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
May we started back out showing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First up was the Spy Coast Young Horse Series, a show that I've come to love and really appreciate as a relaxed starter for my guys. We brought everyone out except Flair (who aged out of contention this year), and came away with qualified horses, ribbons, highpoint and cash. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We then turned to Kentucky Dressage Association's Annual. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/13330964_10103498079412740_5360100493469900963_n.jpg?oh=0e4a38eba128c30529ea4e8592fdd49c&oe=57C6B77E" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/13330964_10103498079412740_5360100493469900963_n.jpg?oh=0e4a38eba128c30529ea4e8592fdd49c&oe=57C6B77E" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This has been a staple in the community for 30 years, and I occasionally come to play there. It's my way of catching up with people, saying hello, and getting to sleep in my own bed at the end of the day, which if you travel the circuit, you come to really appreciate. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's not my favorite to bring untested young horses out since the atmosphere can be too intimidating, but we took Fahrenheit out for just a materiale class. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The problem is that both Mike and I couldn't ride. Mike had to have some unexpected time off (he's fine), and my allergies had become so bad I had to carry an epipen incase I went into some weird attack or had a reaction to whatever happened to be in the air. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I asked a favor and got a nice junior rider to pilot him instead. With four rides, he confidently put <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13312719_10103500367377640_8468456419227487012_n.jpg?oh=52aa27bab97803a8d91397e106afe49f&oe=57D54986" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13312719_10103500367377640_8468456419227487012_n.jpg?oh=52aa27bab97803a8d91397e106afe49f&oe=57D54986" width="320" /></a></div>
out a great result (78,9 and 81,5), and handled everything that the Kentucky Horse Park threw at him. We're now focused on USEF Four Year Old Qualifiers at Tryon, Dressage at Lexington and a sale. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then there's Flair, who has become savant-like with work. On great days, she gives you changes (right to left is fab, left to right is... interpretive), piaffe/passage work, working pirouettes, walk pirouettes, super lateral work; and on the bad days well... the walls take a beating. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She went in front of JJ in April and we've been taking semi regularly lessons off the farm. It's been a tremendous amount of help in developing her since it's been a bit of time since my last young horse and my expectations have undoubtably changed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But putting it in perspective is that she's only been under tack for a grand total of a year. She's vastly <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13254189_1025472897560690_8640632161750068136_n.jpg?oh=0dda2d599d566415cb01d79df099ec5b&oe=58045ED0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13254189_1025472897560690_8640632161750068136_n.jpg?oh=0dda2d599d566415cb01d79df099ec5b&oe=58045ED0" width="320" /></a></div>
changed from the Alberta Brown Cow to a lovely, modern sport horse. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This year she has IBOP on the menu and I would really like to get her out at third if we can get our acts together. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then there's the steady drippings of sales, and looking at prospects. Already this year two have sold sight unseen. Justus SSM (Diamond Stud/Flemmingh/Ferro) and Mirage CBF (Balta C'zar) sold pretty quickly to their respective homes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My contacts in Germany are already looking at another young horse to come in, I have another client wanting to breed mares, and then there's another partnership in the works with another nice, young, horse, which will be sorted as soon as everything else gets sorted out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As for the rest of the year, Tryon will play a pivotal role as to if we pursue the rest of the Young Horse classes, or if we go more for the HOY items. Then there's the year end things of Inspection and Keuring, with no less than two or three to attend to in the fall, and the fall clinic schedule to host. </div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-40731949466735385262016-03-22T07:25:00.000-07:002016-03-22T07:28:08.650-07:00Take time, don't waste time<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10401932_10103202862110580_4750045391676403165_n.jpg?oh=d1edb7343a48a98b6ef86c8a8440b348&oe=57961076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10401932_10103202862110580_4750045391676403165_n.jpg?oh=d1edb7343a48a98b6ef86c8a8440b348&oe=57961076" width="173" /></a>Spring is here, and very fortunately for myself and my crew we were spared the majority of winter.<br />
<br />
Instead, it arrived all at once in two, one week spouts and then promptly melted off to a consistent 50 degrees.<br />
<br />
It didn't prevent me from going to Florida for a few days in February for business, but at the same time, it allowed me to continue on with training.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My winter barn was full of young, green horses. Some client owned, some of them are my partnered horses, all of them are warmbloods from the Dutch or German books. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The oldest of the bunch were currently five rising six and the youngest were three. My time was and</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
is still split between two properties at the moment. Winter was also a time that we really focused in on basics, and addressing some other things.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While there were several people aiming for an early start to the season, my season doesn't really kick off until May, at the Spy Coast Young Horse Show, so it's nice to take a breather from the constant push.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For me, winter is the "off time", despite still maintaining a six day a week schedule when the weather allows. The kids are still in school, just relaxed. </div>
<br />
The relaxed time also means I get to catch up on my desk, and let's face it when I'm bored or trying to avoid reading the latest email, I read OpEd from the horse world. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/535788_10103324465371670_5333488268800811624_n.jpg?oh=0360517967d57dcaef2b492b5b7cb2c9&oe=578FF749" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t1.0-9/535788_10103324465371670_5333488268800811624_n.jpg?oh=0360517967d57dcaef2b492b5b7cb2c9&oe=578FF749" width="179" /></a>Young horses have recently become very popular to write about within social media.<br />
<br />
It's been great to hear about other people's experiences and opinions on their own programs and theory. It's been interesting to hear perspective, from multiple sources, of a number of subjects, including the state of America's/Europe's breeding programs, Euro versus American breeding, import versus local, the use of Thoroughbred blood in the modern sport horse, thoroughbreds in sport, developing stages of the young horse, how horses "should" be developed, everything under the sun- if it was there I read it in the hours before I conked out for the evening. <br />
<br />
While a few blogs grabbed me this season, <a href="https://ayankeeinparis.wordpress.com/2016/02/25/a-good-horse-and-a-trainer-who-didnt-ruin-the-good/" target="_blank">two</a> entries really stood <a href="https://ayankeeinparis.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/timeframes/" target="_blank">out</a>. The blog, written by a local Adult Amateur who rehabs, shows and sells thoroughbreds for herself and others, they write effectively, and entertainingly. They have a good platform, and for OpEd pieces they're easy, quick reads.<br />
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Therein lies the problem, when you have a platform and it's popular, I think due diligence on what you write is very needed. <br />
<br />
I don't know whether it's a lack of individual understanding, or a lack of general public knowledge, but where we are with young horses, isn't the same even from five years ago. Where we are as riders and a pool of specialist who do ride, and develop the young guys has evolved. <br />
<br />
Over ten years ago, we did not have a single championship for Young Horses, in any discipline, then the powers that be in USEF decided to pilot a program for dressage.<br />
<br />
It bridged the gap from three year olds to four through six, then it expanded to include the Developing FEI classes. It gave young horses and young horse riders a niche market. It actually helped drive value in the young horses, and now with a bunch of young guys, I find myself starting to participate in that program with great horses that are wonderfully marketable.<br />
<br />
If you're curious, Eventing, Hunters and Show Jumping followed suit to various degrees of success, and now Combined Driving.<br />
<br />
We have major national championships, field the teams to world championships, have a great, growing pool of people (younger and older) who specialize, and unparalleled access to resources (both equine and education). We have professionals looking for their next top horses as yearlings and two year olds now. We have people who are just as well known for producing babies as others are for FEI horses. Heck, we even have qualifiers within an hours drive in the majority of locations.<br />
<br />
It's progress and it keeps progressing.<br />
<br />
Which leads to this, because of the quality of horse, the specialist nature of babies, and the generally good quality of rider, horses can be produced a bit more efficiently. It doesn't mean we don't take time, it means that we don't waste it.<br />
<br />
Like human kids, every horse has mile markers in it's age.<br />
<br />
For dressage the hard and fast rule is: three year olds should be going training level, four year olds should be doing first level, five year olds should be developing for second, and by six you should have a change. The window to easily put fitness on a horse, to have it open to new things is short.<br />
<br />
It's the same reason why we start human children reading as early as possible versus waiting until they're 10 years old. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm not saying that every horse needs to be an FEI horse by seven, and I'm not saying that this is a hard and fast thing- some horses need more time, some horses, like one of my own, are a year behind because of other things (Flair was a broodmare), but if we're doing our solid basics from day one- 30 days should be looking like this:<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
(that's 15 rides) </div>
to this:<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(that's actually 20 rides)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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and this:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and maybe after 90 days this:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<br />
So, yes, while the horse dictates a lot of the job, we cannot waste the time and windows given to us. Training is hard, and I know all of mine would much rather be eating grass than having a job, it's always a fine line. But honestly, no one ever died from being worked six days a week in a fashion that was tailored to them.<br />
<br />
Not every horse is bound for Rolex, or World Cup, but as young horse riders, we can give them a huge, solid foundation to be great for whoever inherits them next.<br />
<br />
So if they want to spend the next ten years bopping around at Training level or Novice or going all the way, they have the luxury of doing so because we developed them, from the start to be relaxed, submissive, straight, forward and going into a good contact. <br />
<br />
We cannot allow people behind keyboards to pass judgment us on moments in time (because babies have a lot of moments- good and bad), or to take it personally because it's window of time that will pass.<br />
<br />
But because of the way the world is, we also can't shutter ourselves in. What we can do is educate them and use the platforms that we are given as trainers and let the results speak for themselves.<br />
<br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-86967622644488494402016-01-11T18:08:00.000-08:002016-01-11T18:08:09.101-08:00We can be heroes I haven't talked about Sinari in a bit.<br />
<br />
Sinari has been a mainstay in my barn for over a decade and is the reason behind my career, and this blog title. She is the original dressage pony of Dressage Pony.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/12471560_10105827219871480_2588578171085472935_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/12471560_10105827219871480_2588578171085472935_o.jpg" width="400" /></a>Back in 2012, we finally made it to PSG, and in 2013 after much hammering at fourth level, we achieved the Silver. She also earned my Bronze as well. She still remains a firm highlight in my career so far; but in 2014 looking at her age, and how much effort it was taking to do the grinding work of the Grand Prix it was time to take a step back out of fairness and also to keep her in good health.<br />
<br />
I was disappointed that we couldn't do it. It's was a huge thrill to knock on that door. At the end of the day- we had our time in the sun and more importantly, I have to do what is fair for her. <br />
<br />
I left for Germany, she stayed at home to winter, hacking occasionally with a friend, not really knowing what to do next. Sinari has never been, and never will be for sale. She's earned her retirement, but at the same time, she's not ready to retire.<br />
<br />
At first I really wanted a junior for the FEI ponies. It would professionally be a blast to have a kid reach the highest point in a pony ride. After interviewing a few kids, it wasn't 100 percent the right match, plus the idea of pursing USEF Championships, as tempting as that would be, wouldn't be the right thing for her at this time after a long four years of putting together two medals, she still needed time. After a little bit of time, I found that person and Sinari was pushed back down the levels for her new adult amateur.<br />
<br />
I've been quietly sitting on the sidelines as they've been getting to know each other for the last few <br />
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months with the focus of getting Bronze scores, as Sinari regains fitness and as her rider figures out her the buttons are.<br />
<br />
It hasn't always been easy to watch her with another rider; and I'm sure she hasn't been the easiest horse to figure out especially after being developed to be a hotrod. I'm also admittedly a bit jealous (this includes after getting the rides on Flair, Haiku and Fahrenheit) from time to time. I miss the familiarity. <br />
<br />
It wasn't until the the other day though when I was sent some photos and I knew in an instant it was the right decision to do this, and I can't wait to be the loudest fan in the cheering section as Sinari brings another rider out and gives them the dream I have. <br />
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-77071221135278440762015-12-31T19:35:00.000-08:002015-12-31T19:35:03.529-08:00Blue on BlackI've had been sidelined until recently. <br />
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<br />
Two days before Thanksgiving, Fahrenheit, showed how athletic he could be, and cow kicked my upper thigh.<br />
<br />
It
wasn't his fault, he became scared over a noise and as young horses
are, reacted. I was also at his shoulder, so for him to plant one
solidly on my leg took some talent; I'm not only reminded of this from
the lump but also from the increasing pile of dead bellboots from when
he's having a '10' day.<br />
<br />
It hasn't been my year for
injuries. I went to keuring with a black eye, and I remember doing a few
naughty things to myself in Germany. I'm a klutz of the first order for
2015. <br />
<br />
So, I was temporarily sidelined with a
sleeve of black and blue bruises and an Easter Egg sized lump. The lump
has gone down, but for the first few weeks I was miserable.<br />
<br />
I
was cleared to ride again about two weeks after that, at the walk and
the trot, I was still doing yoga and I went through the repetitive
motions of lunging everyone as much as possible.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12342557_10103147568898620_2599467785565979954_n.jpg?oh=a9431ba2ab01367c907e96d234056cf2&oe=570ECDF5" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12342557_10103147568898620_2599467785565979954_n.jpg?oh=a9431ba2ab01367c907e96d234056cf2&oe=570ECDF5" width="320" /></a>But
honestly, when you're used to walking a half marathon everyday, five
miles is boring. It wasn't until a week ago did I feel honestly
comfortable enough to canter, and strong enough to really do good work. <br />
<br />
As boring as my rides have been- they've been more productive and I've been able to address Flair's trot more and little habits.<br />
<br />
Flair has been roughly under saddle for close to eight months.<br />
<br />
She has vastly changed from the Alberta broodmare to a sport horse who keeps on developing day in and day out.<br />
<br />
At
first, we were just focused on getting through all the physicality that
she had to process, and now, my main focus has been developing her
carrying capacity and balance. It's a tricky line to walk with her. She
gives as good as she gets. If she's feeling physically great, she gives
you everything, if she feels less than stellar then you have to discuss
things and keep her mentally fresh. <br />
<br />
This is a
mare who finds all the upper level movements easy and without question,
fun. There's not a day that goes by that I don't feel that she will be a
very competitive FEI horse, but apart of the entire lifestyle change
that she underwent is keeping up and ahead of the physical upkeep, she's
doing well.<br />
<br />
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Winter is going to be full of refining basics, which is a welcome relief versus gearing in for spring.<br />
<br />
Fahrenheit
continues to progress, he currently has nine rides under saddle and is
solidly walk/trot/canter with a smidge of lateral work and lengthening.
Outside the arena, he hacks. Alone. He's a great combination of
sensitive, forward but with a brain firmly between the ears. He's just a
neat horse.<br />
<br />
Sinari continues to work well for her AA
rider. I'm really pleased with how this pairing has turned out. She
spoils her more than I do. She's not fully accepting that she's not the
FEI horse anymore but I think she's much more comfortable in her roll. <br />
<br />
I'm
ending my year at home, something I rarely do these days, as my current
schedule is fairly booked. Something I didn't expect. But at the same
time, it seems to be the theme of the year; not quite what I expected.<br />
<br />
I ended up in Europe (subsequently I was invited back but had to defer this year due to obligations at
home), I met amazing people, I developed riders to their first medals,
coached riders to the FEI, sold horses world wide, I have two regular
clinics in Ohio and in Virginia, I developed horses to the top 10 and
number one spots for the KWPN NA, we took two green (and I mean out of
the field unbroke) and won, a lot, with scores breaking in to the 80's. I
started importing my own horses from my source in Germany, and my
investors and partnerships continue to expand. <br />
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My team and I did it. We were on the books successful. <br />
<br />
<br />
But for every success there was a setback. There were untimely deaths, there were friends who contracted crappy <a href="http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/groom-spotlight-crystal-lee-lives-ride-and-rides-live" target="_blank">diseases</a>,
there were accidents (both personal and from friends), political
backbiting and unprofessional antics; some from the usual sources and
many from unexpected sources, there were unexpected bills, there was
heartbreak for both myself and friends, lots of proverbial slamming
doors and lots of tears.<br />
<br />
But like time, I and my team, kept going and will continue on. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2015 Goals:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1.
Expand clients, horses in training and investments that are capable, at
minimum, of shining on the national stage and continue to be fiscally
solvent. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Done and continuing. Haiku, Flair, Fahrenheit were wonderful additions to the 2015 herd. The herd is also set to temporarily grow again with two more training horses for winter. Still working on growing fiscally. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2. Continue to increase fitness (human and horse).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Done.
My average walking distance (according to iPhone) is 10 miles. A day. I
conservatively burn 1,500 calories from just walking. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">3.
Pursue the young horse track. Develop horses for the USEF Young Horse
Championships alongside the USDF Breeders Championships with the aim of
looking toward Verden. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Done
in a big way. Flair is pursuing the Developing Horse track, we need
more time. Fahrenheit is working towards the four year olds, and if
someone doesn't buy him by the end of the four year old year, he will be
my Verden bid. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">4. Dedicate personal educational opportunities once a quarter with my coaches (in a non-clinic capacity) to keep developing. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Kinda
done. My first quarter and my second quarters were booked with Germany.
By third quarter, we were hitting our stride and four quarter was a
flop. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2016 Goals:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1. Pursue young horse track. Get into the observation sessions. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2. Continue to increase fitness (human and horse). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">3. Continue to sell and source horses world wide. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">4. Continue to create and dedicate personal educational opportunities once a quarter. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">5. Continue to develop Flair. </span></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-61852594960438724562015-11-22T17:56:00.000-08:002015-11-22T17:56:10.029-08:00Nothing ever lasts even a cold November rainIt's taken me a while to write this post.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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My Fall was already packed and going strong but around the end of October, things took a quick turn south and then proceeded to turn more south. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Between William's accident, scrambling unsuccessfully for Mary King to come over, coordinating Fahrenheit's delayed arrival and keeping Flair going I was overwhelmed and very much running on empty.<br />
<br />
Then came the series of minor little incidents. The time switch and I lost hours of daylight alongside the reminder that I'm not heading South for winter, not being in control of my own schedule, odd bills showing up, some random theft, some untimely deaths and a few other situations that just knocked me off my flow. I felt like I lost ground and whatever momentum I gained from the summer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All of it happened within a span of two weeks, whatever motivation I had pretty much went out the window. It wasn't anyone's fault.<br />
</div>
<div>
Things are slowly returning to a proverbial normal thanks to going and teaching, gaining a few new sponsors, some new clients, and planning 2016. It's still a long way off of wherever I feel like I need to be, and somedays are still tough. <br />
</div>
<div>
The horses are thankfully, going right along. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Flair continues to develop with me. She's solidly riding five days with me and going out and doing sets as long as the footing remains consistent.<br />
<br />
Her personality has really come out, she, like Sinari, is the queen bee of the barn, you know exactly where you stand with her. She's more sensitive than the pony- both in personality and in physical nature.<br />
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There are days that her gut bothers her (rapid weather change isn't helping), or that she doesn't feel quite up to the task. Sometimes her personality is easily offended, which is to be expected, but for the most part she likes to work.<br />
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She has found more of her gaits, but the canter remains a tad overwhelmingly powerful. She's also starting to turn heads. She is also still playing catch up. The idea is to keep her developing throughout 2016 with minimal show obligations, going back to keuring and maybe going out to the shows as an HC. </div>
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Fahrenheit has begun work. He's everything I remembered when I first saw him, incredible rideable <br />
personality and three good gaits.<br />
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He's gone from unbroke to lunging in a matter of a week without so much as a hitch.<br />
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I have a few thoughts for his schedule but until he's actively under tack I'm holding off anything. He's set up to be backed next weekend by my usual guy. It was supposed to be this weekend, but I was feeling not so prudent about starting a horse in 30mph winds and a 30 degree temperature drop. <br />
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His focus is on the next 90 or so days, and developing condition to do the work for 2016. </div>
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Joining the herd in the next few weeks are two more mares in for winter training (and one for sale). I'm really pleased to see the quality grow.<br />
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Europe has also been on my mind lately.<br />
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Not just for the attacks in Paris and abroad but the big question on everyone's mind is if I'll go back for an extended stay.<br />
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The short answer is no.<br />
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With horses actively developing under tack, coming in to ride, the most I can get away with is two weeks. So I'm trying to condense four countries, all the shopping, looking at horses, awards, and business meetings within those 14 days.<br />
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Overall, I'm already looking forward to spring. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-8076884071637710812015-10-06T18:45:00.000-07:002015-10-06T18:45:19.223-07:00Orange is the new blue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the overall KWPN - NA keuring tour over, and back from break/vacation. I feel more confident about recapping things.<br />
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Keuring was probably one of the most stressed out times I've been through.<br />
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This was our end of year hurrah and it was the first time I felt like the program was being seriously evaluated with what we training for and choosing horses out of the fields. I love choosing the raw horses, but sometimes it's hit or miss. <br />
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This was an important time in each mare's life and would add street credit to not only their future as broodmares, but to the overall concept of the program that we're doing.<br />
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Keep in mind, Haiku is only three years old with less than a year under saddle going against horses that are more mature, and Flair, while five, only had less than 90 rides at that point. <br />
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There was heavy amounts of Tums being passed around, possibly some mimosas.<br />
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Combine this with a spike from cooler (we were training with 70 degree weather) to hot (keuring day was 90 degrees). I was really worried about horses becoming flat, tired and dehydrated.<br />
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Needless to say, things worked out.<br />
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Flair made Ster and PROK; with complements on her topline and overall suppleness. The juries asked that she be represented next year for her Keur and Elite since she will be more developed then. Overall she ended up in the top 10 of the North American tour. I couldn't be more pleased with the development at that keuring and her continued development. <br />
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In the end it was Haiku's day- earning 80.5 percent for the under saddle work, 80.4 for the DG Bar Cup, 75 for conformation; making Keur. The compliments and comments were too many to really go over. A huge accomplishment considering she is only three. Her PROK status is still in the air due to KWPN head office but it should be resolved out within this month.<br />
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Overall she ended up taking home Mature Dressage Horse at the site. Then going on to win the DG Bar Cup for Three Year Olds, is the top three year old in the North American Keuring and was fourth overall for the IBOP against mature horses with very established farms.<br />
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I'm thrilled and excited for her to finish out her three year old year on top, and undefeated. I'm even more thrilled for the recognition for the program that I developed with horses taken from point zero. I'm really looking forward to going out in 2016 and doing something special again. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-87614855140199653312015-09-19T17:49:00.000-07:002015-09-19T17:49:15.375-07:00Keep you like an oathI'm a deadline driven person. <br />
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I blame getting my degrees and then learning to organize. I like punctual, I like routine and I like familiar. It's comforting and gives a sense of control, even when I don't have any. Minus my personal life which never runs on time, my professional life is more orderly.<br />
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A few months ago, I entered into a partnership with Germany for a horse. With two other partnerships (Haiku, Flair) on the table and going successfully- it was a giant step in a direction.<br />
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I'm thirty-something years old, two years into my training business and I've started developing a larger network in Europe for career horses this year. I successfully sell everywhere (this year alone was fun to see how many places the horses I've touched have gone to).<br />
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Where and who I source from is very important to me because the clients are often buying sight unseen often on my reputation and while there are many great breeders out there in the the world, very few I feel can match the quality and ethics of the people who I personally have relationships with. <br />
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When I left Germany, I left my partnered-horse-of-choice behind to spend the summer growing up; as for the rest of us, we've been working our butts off, actively campaigning and developing.<br />
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He needed the extra time to develop more and I needed space to focus in on the mares. So there he went out in to the fields like the rest of the chuckle heads in his age group. <br />
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The plan was always to export him into America in the Fall as a longer-term sales horse (focusing in on the four year olds for 2016). <br />
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Somewhere between April and now, I lost track of time. <br />
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It was easy to forget about him, he's just 2,000 miles away and the only real images I have of him are a photo on my mobile, and a video on my YouTube account. Like an arranged marriage, every once in awhile I'd pull out the cute photo or watch the video on a few loops to figure out what exactly I agreed to. Every time I understood, and every time I question my sanity.<br />
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But with the 90 degree heat, the current workload, the foliage still kicking it's Summer hue, Fall, until today was a distant thought.<br />
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So came the call from Germany a few weeks ago that basically was my alarm- it's time, the boxes are needed for other incoming horses and I need to begin focusing on developing another horse with Flair and Haiku safely cooking along. It was time for him to fly over. <br />
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Thus began the importation for October, one of the busiest seasons for any quarantine station let alone Kentucky. I'm excited in a lot of ways and holding my breath in many others. I was lucky to see him go for 60 days in Germany but for the last 180, I only have him in his winter coat still rough looking from the field.<br />
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But like pulling any young horse from the field, things change rapidly with work, maturation and nutrition- and like the girls I know he won't disappoint me. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-63443924390038452802015-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:002015-08-11T09:00:00.986-07:00Lean On<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11012643_852792128162102_4324788776808823503_n.jpg?oh=e8c39a7d79c2af0081811e0e5ee95318&oe=5680FBB8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11012643_852792128162102_4324788776808823503_n.jpg?oh=e8c39a7d79c2af0081811e0e5ee95318&oe=5680FBB8" width="400" /></a>The last few weeks have been the stretch run of summer. It's the quiet lull of the routine between shows, clinics and events that make the days drone on. Every day is a little like Groundhogs Day. I live in the same twenty meter space or out in the same wide open field. Every day, the same, but a little different.<br />
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Mostly the weather hasn't cooperated in our favor. It's rained about 3/4's of the summer, and when it hasn't rained the fields have become utter slop. <br />
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Thankfully, the season is over half way done. </div>
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Still on the girls' docket is KWPN Keuring, Devon and maybe Tryon YHS if the calendar leans toward it and if we feel like traveling out again.<br />
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The KWPN Keuring has been the first priority in the books.<br />
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Both mares are putting the finishing touches on the IBOP test and working in hand. There are some other minor details to take care of but, those can only be taken care of over time or at last minute. The difficulty of Keuring isn't it's just a one and done deal, and if you flop it there's very little chance of a good re-do. It's a lifetime impression. So I'm pretty bent on creating this solid impression for both horses. </div>
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Despite my worries for the Keuring, I'm so thoroughly happy with how both girls have developed this year. It positions us really well for for 2016, and focusing us on the young horse things. </div>
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Flair has begun the transition to becoming my main horse. I'm having a blast just starting up with her. Most of the rides have been comprised of just stretching over the topline and getting used to her gaits which aren't together yet. Like every green horse, they loose balance, speed up, slow down or become disconnected over the back. She's no exception. I enjoy her work ethic, which is outstanding, she gives you 110 percent every time out. <br />
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Haiku has gone through growth spurt after growth spurt. With the Keuring approaching I just have to put blinders on somedays and hope that she doesn't look downhill and like a mule. In her growth, she's put on a full hand and at least 100lbs of topline in the hind end. Her weight looks great. I wish she would gain some width in the chest, but I think that will be given with time. <br />
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Still I know I'm being picky, for a three year old she's very much ahead of her group. I'm lucky to get to view other US based three year olds frequently, many of which aren't started or in any shape to be started.<br />
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Over the past weekend we went out and trained with Elly Schobel, who came by to teach over two days. Elly, aside from being a good friend, is an excellent teacher with a very straightforward approach that is rooted in producing good basics. She's very good with not just with the mature horses, but has a really solid view of what young horses are. Plus we jive well. <br />
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Having a fresh on the mares was really important to me- simply because I see the same horses day in and out and sometimes the training becomes plateaued or I'm getting stuck in an approach. Despite having the August 30 outing on our calendar, Elly encouraged us to keep focusing in on the smaller details while focusing in on the larger picture at hand. Even in the arena, I forgot that we could change things up with different little gymnastic exercises to focus in on making the bodies more reactive.<br />
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Overall, things are cooking and in spite of my personal opinion things are progressing once again. </div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-56990715148978771682015-08-02T04:47:00.000-07:002015-08-02T04:47:12.753-07:00Tough skin, Elastic Heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIgoJ1yv8sz1ohwJPw5YJ27bcKcKZIYX560Nd_xFmG_IXEJkBDLZZv5GvzG8lwKziw5RrvdQJvtMcglFEEc5N74UhQuiRD8veJOjW8pj0TJ28BmFX6o681K1tgtvMTD0Y1X9uP6sQjx8/s640/blogger-image--1028481154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIgoJ1yv8sz1ohwJPw5YJ27bcKcKZIYX560Nd_xFmG_IXEJkBDLZZv5GvzG8lwKziw5RrvdQJvtMcglFEEc5N74UhQuiRD8veJOjW8pj0TJ28BmFX6o681K1tgtvMTD0Y1X9uP6sQjx8/s400/blogger-image--1028481154.jpg" width="400" /></a>Bringing out young horses is always an adventure, and much like Forrest Gump's saying, it's much like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.<br />
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Flair has been off the property in an unofficial capacity a few times. She gone to the local parks, went and did opportunity classes at the little show venue, and even has done materiale over at Spy Coast. For the most part, she's done very well. Not everyone can say with 30 or so rides that they have a fairly straightforward horse that goes places and scores decently.<br />
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I can confidently say, we do.<br />
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Sometime around June I felt it was necessary to take her out to her first recognized show to start giving her an official record. I'm always nervous about this because developmentally, she's still on a huge learning curve and not every place is a good place to take a horse like this out. <br />
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Venues are really important to me, and I'm known for being particular about where/how I show up. <br />
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The Virginia Horse Park isn't too far off from the Kentucky Horse Park in the way of atmosphere- it's large, with active arenas. But unlike Kentucky, it's fairly quiet and the riders who ride there are mostly professionals bringing out their kids or gaining scores for Devon or Young Horse Championships. It runs an active breed show alongside it. The footing is decent and the management does a great job hosting and running the event itself.<br />
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It was an ideal match and I wasn't disappointed with the results.<br />
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Flair, through torrential rain, deep footing, wind, kamikaze pony riders, twirling umbrellas of doom and arena switches was unfazed and managed to pull out a solid score at Training one, ending third in a class of 12 experienced horses. <br />
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It was good to be back after a hiatus. It was good to see familiar faces and be in the fold again and I'm looking forward to eventually getting back myself.<br />
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Back at home the focus has shifted to the Keuring in August. I love inspection and there's a certain amount of pride this year going in. </div>
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First is that Haiku is peaking just right for this. She's fit, and cooking right along in training. She's now regularly going off property, and is doing regular work. </div>
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Flair with now about 45 or so rides is developing her gaits while maintaining her usual rideability. Over the next few weeks, the IBOP test is our biggest focus. Making it smooth and rideable without loosing the quality of the paces. </div>
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Between rounds with Flair, I've begun to take back the ride. I finally got tired of sitting on the sidelines and so we have begun transitioning her over to me. She now rides five to six days per week. Three days is spent on new concept, three days are spent just stretching and the final day is either a lunge or hack day. </div>
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Either way, we're over halfway through season, with one, maybe two more shows left in addition to keuring.<br />
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-89990532901274066292015-07-13T11:19:00.001-07:002015-07-13T11:19:40.368-07:00The show must go on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I, like most competitive people in this sport, show my and my clients' horses on a frequent basis. It means like everyone else I have to scrape money together to get five minutes in front of a judge to get scores for what goal du jour I have that year.<br />
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It's tough but it's<a class="yznyqypoca" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3204769860317081790#61028558" title="Click to Continue > by MacCost"> apart<img src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" /></a> of the job.<br />
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It's a tentative,<a class="yznyqypoca" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3204769860317081790#2233861" title="Click to Continue > by MacCost"> balanced<img src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" /></a> relationship between organizers, who put on recognized events in a waffley economy and with a scattered population, and the people who show and expect things like nice ribbons, low entry fees and reasonable scores. </div>
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Recently, Region 2 lost a local show venue. It was a small Regional Qualifier show with just two arenas that ran a total of three weekends a year - six shows total. <br />
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I competed at this little venue on again and off again. I've taken my horses
also to school there occasionally. It's not bad, but it's not the best.
The footing was average, the stabling was alright, the warm up in one of
the arenas was sketch city, and the secretary wasn't exactly all there somedays. You go there when you need a last minute
score or just need to get a green horse out there for miles. It's quiet
and it's about 20 minutes from my farm. It's not my favorite, nor is it my least favorite, it's just average and served a purpose. </div>
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Over
the years, the organizers have poured countless hours, dollars and
ideas into the show series. It's endured for better or worse,
secretarial changes, horrible weather, and a few other items only to
really see an overall decrease in population with rising costs. </div>
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In other words, the ROI sucked and it became the white elephant. It had to go. With the show gone it leaves one host and venue in the state to dominate
the area. Kentucky showing for dressage, and some parts of eventing has
become a monoculture. </div>
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Not soon after <a href="http://eventingconnect.today/2015/07/07/cheap-ribbons-and-empty-packets-do-events-appreciate-the-clientele/" target="_blank">Eventing Connect put out a piece</a> on organizers not stepping up enough to do for competitors. <br />
<br />The timing between the closing and the article struck a small nerve for a variety of reasons, but mostly it's serving as a personal wake up call as an organizer that the business has irrevocably changed. </div>
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I've been on both sides of the fence, as competitor and organizer. I frequently organize large-scale clinics, and I've been apart of show management before (both local and international). I respect that hard decision to cancel or not host. It sucks. However, if it's a choice between fiscal solvency and being a community player, I<a class="yznyqypoca" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3204769860317081790#76105355" title="Click to Continue > by MacCost"> choose the<img src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" /></a> money. Every time. </div>
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<br />Because I run large-scale clinics, I'm privy to the numbers and to people's wishes. I'm literately a one man band when it comes to running things.</div>
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It's a point of huge pride for me to be able to give twenty something people at my largest clinic a goody bag of stuff (valued by the way at: $300-$500 per bag), an even larger point of pride that people; riders, sponsors, staff, facilities come back and invest their dollars into my program, business and trust the quality people I bring in. </div>
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But at the end of the day, this is a business. I need to earn a living, and at minimum break even, and I'm not shy about saying I need to keep a roof over my head and food on the table. <br /><br /></div>
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If you run the numbers, at minimum to host a recognized show is $8,000 (for reference: large scale international clinics you're looking at closer to $10-20,000, for schooling you're looking at $3,000).<br />
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That's $8,000 before a single competitor (or sponsor) steps foot on property. That's your licensing, officials, travel, accommodations, food,<a class="yznyqypoca" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3204769860317081790#40877163" title="Click to Continue > by MacCost"> prizes<img src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" /></a>, advertising, et all., that an organizer is taking the liability on.<br />
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It's a huge gamble to take responsibility of that checkbook.<br />
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It takes at minimum, a three month lead up time, and an average of 60-100 hours to pull off a recognized event. Again, before the event ever goes off. That time, an organizer will most likely never see a penny for those hours, or if they do, they make the child labor in India look rather well-off. </div>
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So to break even at a show, at $35 a ride (going price in Kentucky for Intro - 4th level), you need roughly 115 rides over two days (at worse case scenario assuming everyone just does two rides over the two days and no FEI rides). </div>
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This cost and volume has also lead to an increase in schooling shows and the USDF<a class="yznyqypoca" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3204769860317081790#79202073" title="Click to Continue > by MacCost"> Opportunity<img src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" /></a> Classes, which show a stronger ROI and lower base costs associated with hosting. </div>
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This forfeiture of the dates, alongside of the outrage of "why isn't my show organizer doing more and giving me more free stuff?!" has caused a big community outcry.<br />
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Which really makes me wonder, if the show and it's venue was that important- why wasn't there more done on the competitor side to assure the success and helping underwrite the costs of doing business?<br />
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Do you want free things in your packet, better ribbons, prizes, et all? Then volunteer to sign on sponsors. A lot of them. Or donate your own money, goods and services to buy the ribbons. <br />
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Do you want to help lower show entry fees? Volunteer for any position with management, not just the during show operations. <br />
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You want a friendly, non-stressed out staff? Become apart of it. <br />
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You want more regional/national qualifiers? Organize. <br />
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The answer is, and always was if you want the show venue to<a class="yznyqypoca" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3204769860317081790#89985923" title="Click to Continue > by MacCost"> continue<img src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" /></a>, if you want the organizers to keep organizing, support them. Not with words but with actions. We know we will never be millionaires and a thank you, alongside an appreciative crowd that pays its bills on time, goes a long way to keeping the population in ribbons and scores. <br />
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Show business is a business, and businesses aren't run off of wishes, they're run off of numbers and facts. If you want to support the economy of showing, clinics or any event then become an active part of that economy and put your wallet where your wishes are before they become relics of nostalgia. </div>
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-8186776278999829922015-07-05T08:22:00.001-07:002015-07-05T08:28:23.657-07:00On the road again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the last two years, my summers have been relatively quiet.<br />
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Yes, we did travel a little bit, taking trail rides and going to clinics; but for the most part my herd and myself were homebodies.<br />
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It was for a variety of reasons. Sinari needed to then concentrate on the GP work, Danzador needed to grow up (or get over cellulitus) and the dynamic duo of Flair and Haiku weren't around yet. The homefires were strong and the trailer was regulated to it's parking place at the house.<br />
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The homefires are put out and we're already off to a running start for the summer season. The season is steadily going forward with the girls working about six days a week, and trying to keep the appointments on schedule. <br />
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The trailer this year has barely been unpacked and remains a consistent fixture on my hitch some weeks. Good, bad and otherwise, I've missed the travel. <br />
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Flair, for now, going out more frequently than Haiku, who had some unintended time off due to rolling in an ant pile. Both girls are again steadily progressing within the work. It's amazing how far they've come.<br />
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I know I'm bias, but Haiku is just flat out pretty and exceptionally mature looking for the age. I was so lucky to have found her and receive the backing to bring her along. While I'm itching for a four year old bid with her, I know that she will probably sell by the end of this year.<br />
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Flair who has been nothing but a joy to bring along, is more of a power ballad than anything else. She's my cup of tea. She has about thirty or so rides under tack and already has a steady balance point with a very powerful canter. Sometimes she just doesn't know where to put everything, but at the same time, she comes out and works 110 percent everyday. <br />
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The focus for both mares really has been the materiale and to see if we could make them land in the year end standings, and then later in August, the IBOP at the KWPN keuring tour in Indiana. We have been focusing on the tests, and ultimately it's where we will most likely end up this fall. <br />
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This July we're heading out of state to do one of my favorite dressage shows- Dressage At Lexington (just Flair, Haiku is staying home). I missed this show for the last two years for a variety of reasons. But namely just didn't have a horse peaking at the right time to send over. <br />
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Because of the required three scores, from three different judges from three different shows the goal to land in the year end awards is a tricky one.<br />
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The problem that we're facing with the materiale is that the majority of shows do not have it, or if they do have it, it's not being judged by sport horse breeding judges, which leaves us with some weird feedback or the class being judged more as a dressage test. So that leaves us scrambling for the scores on a local level (more oddly the new local USDF BC qualifying breed show doesn't have a materiale?) and spending more miles on the road.<br />
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Flair's schedule is Dressage at Lexington, Dressage at Devon and one more TBD show (either Virginia or Ohio). Haiku's is tentatively Devon, and then probably the Ohio shows. We are invited to the Spy Coast Championships (non rated), and most likely will qualify for the USDF BC in the Midwest. But doubt that we will attend simply because of the timing of the clinics I host and that I feel that we need to reserve the horses for Winter. <br />
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If this was five years ago, there wouldn't be so much travel. But the economy and several other factors have really done away with the shows. <br />
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Breed shows, no pun intended, are a dying breed. They're expensive boutique shows that are highly contingent on economics, how good the organizer is, timing and how liquid/available the young horse market is. <br />
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The other problem we're facing is time.<br />
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The normal season runs from October to September. Which, if you have an older horse doing tests isn't bad. You have plenty time to gain your necessary scores and qualifiers. <br />
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However the focus with the young horses, it becomes tricky because of the some of the age requirements (you have to be 36 months to be allowed in the materiale-- which leaves the the population starting to show in May/June/July), and the majority of the breed shows are either late summer (read: very hot, very flat horses) or fall (cutting it close to the deadline).<br />
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If your focus is the Young Horse Championships, like what ours will be come next year, qualifiers run from January to July, due to World Young Horse Championships. You also have to declare no later than April and then guard your average and hope that you make it to the top ten or get shipped out. <br />
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Combine with lets say, having a bad winter, inevitable growth spurts, real life items on your to-do list, getting training so you have guidance in development and your season gets pushed back or shifted around.<br />
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Despite all of this my group continues to push on and we'll see where we all end up. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-68093071812975380702015-07-05T06:14:00.000-07:002015-07-05T06:14:06.657-07:00Living like we're renegadesMay and now most of June was just completely non-stop with sales, lessons, clinic planning, personal items and shows. I may have gotten a day off, but I couldn't really tell you otherwise. <br />
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I finally got back to my desk in May and put together Ulf Moeller's details and sent out. I adore this clinic because it focuses exclusively on young and developing horses. It's also held at one of my favorite facilities, High Point Hanoverian in Maryland. Ulf, who is popular as a teacher is such an asset to have in the program, and finally I have a few horses to go in the arena with him. I also have a lovely local clinic with Elly Schobel on the books who I'm looking forward to hopefully having out regularly as well. <br />
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Both mares are excelling. It's so nice to be back in my regular grind. It feel different this year with the majority of my barn being under five, it's a low key situation that allows for breathing room to keep things light but progressive.<br />
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Haiku looks just wonderful. Even through young horse moments, she's proving to be mature, capable and very level headed. Which is unusual for the breeding between Jazz and Ferro. The mare is such a good egg. She rides three to four days a week currently and another lunges two to three. She's also had some time off from time to time to keep her mentaly fresh. Physically she's very fit for the age, and beyond what we're doing currently there isn't much we can do. <br />
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So it's just a focusing on how good we can make the basics. With Haiku it's easy to fall in love with her gaits. For a three year old, she's developed easy 8 gaits all the way. Her next outing is in August, a schooling show, a clinic and the IBOP, with schooling outings in July. I wanted June to focus on development.<br />
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But, while we're in it to do well in the young horse classes, the real goal for her, no matter with who she ends up, is the Grand Prix. <br />
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For now, we focus on the tedious details that will pay off in about eight years.<br />
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It's hard to think down the pike when your focusing on somedays getting through an awkward growth spurt.<br />
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It's days spent on the ground stretching or doing things under tack that just mind little details, like how straight we can make her on non-supported lines, how clean those transitions can get or how square the halt can be or can she really follow the connection where ever we put it. Strength comes from the details- and with young horses it's all about making the details fun. <br />
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Flair is skipping right along.<br />
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Under saddle she's powerful and does whatever you want her to do, no matter how green. For a mare that has had about 30 rides at this point, she's incredibly straightforward. She picked up changes (really accidentally) easily, and is schooling good lateral work. She's been off property a handful of times now, most recently to Meadow Lake and Masterson Station to go school in the arenas some of the cross country, go see the dressage arenas, start thinking about tests and go for a walk. <br />
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Flair is on a similar schedule as Haiku, three days of riding and three days of lunging, which has been upped from her bare-bones winter schedule, and she's blossomed for it. </div>
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It's easy to forget that while physically she's older, but in reality she has less rides collectively than her three-year-old counterpart. The focus really has been to get her up to speed for the age group while developing strength. Her focus and capacity for work is huge, but because of the heat, and lack of strength she tires out. So we're especially careful not to burn out and create negative experiences. </div>
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We know this year is out for the FEI five year olds, so the focus is the six with a large late summer and fall schedule.<br />
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-91435431459699297132015-05-14T10:43:00.000-07:002015-05-14T10:43:55.582-07:00Only looking up when my head’s down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've been on the struggle bus since coming back from the show.<br />
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My horse trailer looks like it's had a bomb set off in it. I have laundry up to my eyeballs, my tack wasn't cleaned until Monday, I still have hay in the back of my truck, and a stack of emails and paperwork I've been ignoring (sorry) since last week. I was also not the smartest scheduler- I did 8am lessons the day after, and then had an 8am farrier appointment the day after that. Tuesday was the first day I "slept in" until 7am and then promptly went to yoga. <br />
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I also found out that my supplies from the trailer need to be replenished. I normally carry two of everything around in that trailer simply because I don't like packing and repacking. Over the year I used up things or repacked them elsewhere. The inconvenience of trying to find extra treats, the spool of wax thread or my cleaning supplies during a show just kind of added into the small chaos. <br />
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I also will happily pay that price again if it means I could have every weekend as well-done as that one.<br />
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The quality of the show was really high, with several people trucking above five hours in, and the horses reflected the investment of the time spent putting them on a truck and bringing them down. <br />
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Haiku pulled out an early monster score of 8.64 for her first show for the three year old materiale with the highlight being 8.5 for rideability. Her in hand class was also highly competitive, and was overall second, despite being flat from working earlier in the day, she came away with an 8.7, second out of 15 horses and a fanbase.<br />
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Flair followed suit, pulling a 7.6 - a huge positive considering the show was her 15th ride under saddle, and was behind the winner of the class by two points. Her canter work was the high point- 8.5.<br />
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The judge was kind enough to take me aside and not only give the mares huge complements on their breeding, training and manners but also give some ideas towards development. This was a lot of personal validation of what I've been doing over the last months from a very respected source. <br />
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What's even more impressive is that both mares were exceptionally professional about the job. Yes, they had green moments, but went in with no lunging, or calming supplements in their systems. They went in and knew what they were supposed to do. The cherry is that they are both qualified for the finals in November at Tryon and depending on how that weekend will run, we might just attend. <br />
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Which leads me to the next show schedule. It's very tempting to throw them in again and just keep pushing for year end awards.<br />
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My focus on Haiku is more or less just one more show, at training level, before going to IBOP and quitting for the year. To me the three year old year is a learning curve. Yes, they need a record. Yes, they need to do stuff, but they don't need to be trucked from here and beyond to show extensively and potentially develop a bad reputation. Haiku has already answered a lot of questions for us, and continues to mature beautifully. <br />
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With Flair it's get her into the regular tests as quick as possible. She can do training level tomorrow if we asked but I would like to see more condition from her at first. I also don't necessarily want to put the investment toward the lower levels, a mistake I made with Sinari. My focus for her is in honesty, next year for the six year olds. So we're focusing on Virginia to get some miles under her belt with me in the irons. Dressage at Lexington is on her radar because of the nature of the show and my clients who go.<br />
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So the focus is really on the fall and winter seasons, with the eye towards Dressage at Devon, IBOP and other fun items. But for now I think we have all the right pieces in the right ways. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-77157583797844011632015-05-09T02:53:00.003-07:002015-05-09T02:53:41.156-07:00Geronimo <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Getting back to the grind has been going well, minus one or two weeks where life was interrupted by Rolex and Kentucky Derby, everyone has been getting back into a more committed schedule.<br />
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It's finally nice to have everyone in a singular place again. Steeple Pointe Stables did a great job keeping everyone in order, and my student did a nice job hacking and keeping some order in the face of horrid weather and random schedules; but in all honesty there's no place like home.<br />
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Having everyone home also means being able to focus on the immediate of re-establishing a full six day week, and attending to the details. Needless to say my trailer got ripped through and the unpacking, rearranging and organizing is still continuing. My truck looks like it exploded with blankets, wraps and stuff everywhere. I spent the majority of Thursday just cleaning both of them out and giving the truck and trailer a solid wash. <br />
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Adding to the stress was someone stole my purse, the entire thing, out of my truck last Saturday. The purse I don't mind so much- it was just a canvas one. But the contents were a tad bit more important. All my ID's, major cards, license, passport, and alot of memories are now just gone. The week prior my accounts were flagged for fraud, so if there's any silver lining to any of this its that I at least have one debit card that escaped, and I don't have to wait around another five days. Compounding the issue is my only final form of ID was in NJ. It's disappointing and ultra frustrating that I now have to deal with four notoriously slow government agencies (DMV, Passport Control, and Social Security office) and their paperwork. <br />
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If there's anything to look forward to this upcoming weekend, it's showing. I've been wanting to show Spy Coast now for years. It's a fabulous show with excellent footing and drop dead gorgeous facilities. However bad timing on my end or having a horse that's not in the right age group or going through a weird growth spurt really stifled those chances.<br />
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The girls look the part, the weekend is free and so I dropped the entry in. <br />
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Haiku is especially ready to do something. A full hand bigger and mentally ready enough to step out, she needs to stretch out and get some miles without getting permanent ink on her records. She's stellar, and very fit for the age group but still hasn't filled out width-wise quite yet. She's business like about her work, she's handled change very well. The goals are pretty much to just have a solid first show, and to hit in the 7's-8's consistently. <br />
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Flair looks equally as good. She's not as fit, as she's started three months after Haiku, but needs to just go out and start thinking about larger concepts. I really don't care about scores, I just want her to go out and have a positive experience. <br />
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It's easy to look at Flair and go she's ready to do something more. She can easily go zero to FEI in her balance points, she's easy on the eyes, offers things up and is exceptionally trainable. She's very mature in her looks. But as fast as she's developing and giving, you can't put topline on overnight. <br />
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But Flair has been getting the baptism by fire the last three months.<br />
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Her entire world has been flipped, reversed and changed. She's in a program, she's worked, she's getting fitter, she's handled every day, twice a day. Every day she looks better because it is an aggressive, everything including the kitchen sink program, that addresses a lot of different things. I think some part of her goes, I'd rather be barefoot and pregnant, and the other goes this is rather neat. She's got the best temperament, goes out and tries, doesn't make the same mistake twice. She's straightforward, but green, but lacks the carrying power to sit under saddle correctly to do anything beyond what a three or four year old is required to do. She's not ready for a test, she's not ready for anything but straight materiale, but needs to go out and learn what being a show horse is without the world judging her. <br />
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So, Spy Coast is really an ideal place for both of them. They've done an excellent job developing something for all young horses in a quality environment. The series has a number of things going for it- like prize money, inclusive handler fees, great judges and year end series championships. They understand babies are going to be babies, and allow them to act that way accordingly. There will be plenty of other opportunities to get them to the larger rated shows, but for now, they need to stay in the kiddie pool. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-50543083433929277252015-04-29T08:41:00.000-07:002015-04-29T08:41:30.958-07:00My type<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was raised with the idea and notion that European horses were superior sport horses, and that the baseline quality was, and still is to some extent, much higher than that in the US.<br />
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How could I not? I was raised with the ISF adverts and being around people who purposely bred with those lines, and constantly imported ones who were added into the genetic and talent pools.<br />
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While I will dispute some of that notion (there are a number of North American breeders who in my opinion are out producing Europe- including the one I work for [see <a href="http://www.ssmeadows.com/index.html" target="_blank">SunShine Meadows</a>]), after visiting Holland and starting to develop in Germany, I think for the most part it's accurate.<br />
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There's no question that the US has a lot of the same lines within its borders as breeding technology advanced (frozen semen, embryo transfers) and we've come a long way since a lot of the first horses were inspected and approved within our boarders. But still there is a decisive lack of knowledge among riders about pedigree and we may have the sire lines, in general we lack quality broodmares to support those sires.<br />
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Compounding things is the idea of breeding itself. It's the idea of breeding is generational versus immediate results. The former instead of the latter is the core philosophy with the people who I was around. They aim for sensational, but at the same time, they have to put the sensational back into the breeding pool to reproduce itself for future generations.<br />
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There's also very little sentiment in breeding in Europe, yes, they do have favorite mares and stallions, but it's a practical application on limited resources. You will not find many, if any, Cinderella crosses competing successfully. <br />
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In short, pedigree matters, and in Europe it's a very large part of the sport.<br />
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To the riders, it's more than a pink piece of paper, its the basic roadmap where quality develops and gives a timeline of how horses develop, it helps price horses accordingly at their raw state, make black and white decisions, and decisions on who gets to reproduce or go to approvals. <br />
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There are nicks, lines that cross consistently well, to produce above average and there's a wild amount of access and support to develop horses from in utero to under saddle. It's also hugely political in many ways with the influence of the foal market and who is stamped as a breeder on the papers. <br />
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Europe is special in a few ways as well. There's the population, where you can see 50-75 of a stallion's offspring within a few hours' drive, in many stages of development (everything from just born to some cases international horses), there's government sponsored breeding stations (Celle), there's shows, exhibitions and things to do with your young horse, in addition to coming to know stallions that aren't popular or even represented within the American market (Don Index, Detroit, Destano, Saleri, Sarkozy, United, etc) and how they, and they're offspring have developed.<br />
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You don't have a huge frozen market (it's expensive to develop the facilities to freeze), instead there's a lot of fresh-chilled which can be more consistent than frozen and more widely on-demand. <br />
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But for the most part, there are a few principle dressage lines within both the Dutch and German books, with repetitive nicks that have produced very consistently over the generations.<br />
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While the two countries have developed differently the end goal is always the same, produce good horses for top sport. The irony of it is while they are both very competitive with each other, because of how each of the books have developed, they need each other for outcrossing purposes, which is seeing another generation of sport horses that are realizing the best of everything.<br />
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Until recently, my barn has mostly been KWPN. Partially because I work for a breeder, but the other part is I love dutch horses. To me they're very consistent and taking the sport to a different level. The book is very forward thinking, which is sometimes good and bad.<br />
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My background with German horses has been the American representation, which I haven't found too appealing for the end goals I want. Are they pretty?, Yes. Are they nice to be around? Sure. They're great horses in their own right. It wasn't until I went to Germany and was in a barn and with a breeder who has that same ideas, did I end up finding the horses I want, and even then, the barn was the exception rather than the rule. <br />
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In the Dutch books, the focus has always been on progressive gaits, and more recently adding good rideability. The four stand outs are Jazz, Flemmigh, Oscar, and more recently Ferro. Ferro and Oscar (who bred Uphill) are known for hind ends, producing piaffe/passage/pirouettes, and Jazz, and the Flemmigh offspring are known for front ends. Flemmigh is especially known for temperament. You see them all crossed very consistently for the upper levels. They're not necessarily horses for the young horse classes or amateurs, but they do have good batting averages for the Grand Prix.<br />
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In the German books (Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Westphalian, Holstein, Rhineland), its more about tradition and regionalism. Each book has their own aims and goals, but the overall effect is producing horses for the top level that pretty much anyone can be around. The idea of German breeding is traditionally towards German farmers, versus the Dutch book where it was really the first book to focus in on the FEI sports.<br />
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German horses, in general, were bred for every person. A horse in Germany has to be sound, rideable or workable by your average rider, but still have the ability to do the sport at a very competitive level. It really wasn't until nearly two decades ago, did the focus change from producing for everyone to producing specifically for sport. The idea of sticking to tradition, has caused some degradation in the books for dressage, but for jumping, the Holstieners and Hanoverian are still exceptional.<br />
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In the Hanoverian and Oldenburg books (what I'm based out of) there's the A (E), F, D, G, R, S and W, lines. You see Donnerhall, Sandro Hit, Rubinstein, and Fidertanz, Weltmeyer, Laurie's Crusador (thoroughbred) very frequently crossed for the sport. Of the lines represented today, the modern D, F, R, S with a background of A (E) is most prevalent with hints of W hanging back.<br />
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Donnerhall, and secondly Fidertanz and Rubinstein, is especially represented in a lot of modern pedigrees, with the majority of German horses carrying him at least once or twice within their papers and crossed on everything. Donnerhall, like Ferro, produces hind ends, but he also produces really wonderful temperaments, walks and canters.The F and the R lines lighten them up without loosing the temperament behind the horse.<br />
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The last ten or so years both Holland and Germany have been outcrossing more to introduce more blood and variety into the pedigrees. This has been done with varying amounts of success, and it's a trend that I think that will continue on, especially for stallions and mares who don't meet criteria in one book and can in another. <br />
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In the end, the lines and the use of the lines are personal as well as performance based, there's history, and effort to get the horse that you sit on to you. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-77529875638876369642015-04-11T08:02:00.001-07:002015-04-11T08:02:19.538-07:00Feels like home again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I made it home Monday after three flights. The highlight of it was being stuck in Atlanta for a few extra hours and getting to roam around trying to find a good milkshake (no dice) and my new Timbuk2 bag's wheels getting knocked off by Delta (jerks).<br />
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I was technically scheduled for more travel this week to Vegas World Cup. I've had numerous people ask me to go, and while I initially committed to going for another business, I'm happy the obligation was canceled. There's so much that needs to be done, and things that I've been ignoring- such as the clinics, need to be dealt with. So I'm home for at least a month before I adventure out again.<br />
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Being home is strange after being away for so long. In one way the familiar comfort of my house and everyone with it is lovely, on the other hand, the mentality I got into while in Europe is something that I don't want to give up, it just simply doesn't exist prevalently in the States on a consistent level.<br />
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So, my heart is now on two continents. I find myself in the old routine from Germany, and for the moment, less population.<br />
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The competition season is just starting here, and I'm eager to really to start it. I have my first entries printed off and ready to go out this weekend, hopefully the US postal system won't repeat their mistakes last year. <br />
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Despite my absence from the show arena several of my sales graduates have already started competing. Reba's Song MF (Rotspon) is back in action after an extended period off due to rider injury, she was out competing at Novice and was once again in the sub-30's for dressage, Sincere G (Savant) has been out on the jumpers with Emily Williams in Ohio as well, producing solid rounds with minimal mistakes and Danzador MSM (Apollo III) is out at the Region 2 schooling shows pushing mid-60's to 70's at Training level.<br />
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I'm also reminded I need to do a lot of other things associated with the business (taxes, answering the mail, updating the website, making sure the truck still runs...) and playing catch-up. This first week back feels more like I'm attached to my cell phone more than anything else.<br />
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Flying in to Lexington was also a little surreal after leaving at the start of a horrid Winter. I was somewhat expecting to see a more decimated town from UK's Men's Basketball team's loss in the Final Four, and also from what looks like the flood-like rain the region has experienced. While there weren't any fires lighting the runway, we definitely have new lakes. It's also delightfully warm.<br />
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My first stop before I even went home was to look in on the pony.<br />
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To no surprise, she's fat, happy, shaggy and hard to catch. My first order was to make her look less of a wild pony and more civilized. Slowly and begrudgingly she's reemerging from the winter woolies and embedded dirt. She was ridden, washed and will probably do a lot of that until her new lessor takes over the reins.<br />
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I went up to see Flair and Haiku on Wednesday.<br />
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Haiku grew another hand and a half, and sports a strong topline and is swimming right along in her progress. Despite looking good, she needs some more calories due to the amount of growth she's experiencing. She's not thin, but honestly she just needs that much support. The Pennfields line has been helping her out tremendously in developing her growth while not creating a hot horse. The spring grass should also help her out. Her attitude is still the same, willing, straightforward, workmanlike. She's not even three, and she's just ahead in so many ways.<br />
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Flair arrived back in January after I left. Like many things with her and I we just keep missing each other. She arrived about 200lbs heavy from post-baby and in no shape whatsoever to do much of anything. So seeing her 200lbs lighter, under saddle, and developing with about 40 days under tack is really neat. It's a shame that February in Kentucky was a total loss and parts of March were even worse. Essentially, she is where Haiku was when she started. Give it three months of good work, and things will be fine. But still, there's a long way to go from nothing to our tentative goal of Devon's Five Year Old division is a big leap, but one that I'm really sure that she'll do well to progress towards. <br />
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On top of keeping up all the horses there's also catching up with the calendars. My business has started to expand to include teaching clinics around the US. I like to teach, and this allows me to keep up on the daily training of my horses and keeping a serious base of home clients. I will be out in VA in June and August. Plus a few other places as I start setting the calendar for the year.<br />
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Also per reader suggestion, I will talk more in depth about all the German breeding, riding, training and all the other things over the next few posts. I just couldn't type out as much on an iPad as I would like. But for now, I'm home. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-34329394422425643112015-03-28T05:25:00.001-07:002015-03-31T11:40:59.157-07:00Make it back home by MondayMy time in Germany is coming to a close, next Sunday I pack my bags and I catch a flight early Monday morning back to the states to begin my season there with my girls. It's crazy to think my first show is May, and my season's calendar is looking booked with shows and clinics. <div><br></div><div>It's strange to imagine that the time has passed that quickly but in the end, it was very useful. I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">have few regrets here, I know I'll return next fall/winter before migrating to Florida. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm sad but excited to go, the place has given me more perspective and tools about riding, teaching, selling and the business that I can't wait to incorporate into my own herd when I get home. But at the same time, I don't want to leave. The place is a second home. So, in a way, I, like everyone else who does this has a heart on each continent. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's also been busy here, the last two or three weeks have been nothing but sales calls. We sold five horses in two weeks, internationally, and with a few more pending as this week opened up with queries on two of the top young horses in the barn. I'm also excited to announce my partnership with my German breeders who starting in Fall 2015 will begin pushing horses to the states for me to sell into the American market. The first one being the full brother to one of my favorites, Fairyland, who's lovely personality and raw gaits look like a good match for America. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The funny thing is I'm typically not a German horse fan. My exposure has been to mostly the U.S. with the Hanovarian and Oldenburg books, and my herd is primarily KWPN but there's good blood, a good program, and stellar movement here, so, quality is quality no matter how you register it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J2LlHhx0kyNOaHplhwSTXviSHnc4r7xIszfOuOrMt6w-xrFvde-xBZqoj4_5DPhN-lLUHL_oJ5l5K0ZC77dOSC1SwQLyJmFFGYLjC0XDO_7UNpPJ9jMUv5K9k9OOcil1l3IDfz6Dx34/s640/blogger-image-109508668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J2LlHhx0kyNOaHplhwSTXviSHnc4r7xIszfOuOrMt6w-xrFvde-xBZqoj4_5DPhN-lLUHL_oJ5l5K0ZC77dOSC1SwQLyJmFFGYLjC0XDO_7UNpPJ9jMUv5K9k9OOcil1l3IDfz6Dx34/s640/blogger-image-109508668.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204769860317081790.post-18492044987498279942015-03-12T08:39:00.000-07:002015-03-12T08:39:02.430-07:00All alone she moves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the toughest things about what I do is being 4,000 miles away and ahead five hours.<br />
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By the time I'm going to bed, I'm getting updates from the U.S. and the rest of the world. Majority of the time it's great, it's students who are checking in or my barns giving me updates or my other calling me and asking me how my day went.<br />
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It's a voyeur lifestyle being able to look, but not actively participate in something very far away. My news is sometimes second hand. It also screws with you just a little bit.<br />
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Homesickness is a bi-product of the job. It's what everyone, regardless of industry, faces at some level when their ambition takes them beyond the familiar recesses of their current life to achieve something. </div>
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I love traveling, and I've done it actively since I was 14. I'm used to going away for extended periods and miles. I'm used to long horse show weekends and training trips. I've learned to be lonely but at the same time, I'm lucky that 21st century technology and social media has allowed me to keep abreast without committing to hours on the phone. Plus being busy all day, everyday, leaves little room to think much about anything else but what's in front of me. </div>
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So, by the end of the day, only three primary emotions really exist with me: exhaustion, hunger and because I'm honest, a twinge of jealousy. </div>
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I'm not really a jealous person. But like what most people experience as they go through expansion, you go on it alone and you question everything. Everything from: did I that make that corner correctly to did I just tell my boss that stallion is a little schnitzel?</div>
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You also ask the question why a lot. Why did I just leave my country to do this? Why did I leave steady income behind? Why do I have heartburn from that currywurst? The list goes on and on as you muddle through exhaustion and the other emotions du jour. </div>
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You also romanticize your lifestyle at home (bed, TV, barn) and become somewhat jealous as friends, students, other pro's, even people you've barely met post photos and statuses belying their successes, their general satisfaction about their life or goings on or even the commiseration of just how utterly crappy the weather is. </div>
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So while I can't commiserate on the weather (it's been seriously lovely), and I've become jealous at the early season successes of some while I'm here; I also find myself knowing a few things. </div>
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First, that while ribbons and riding time is nice, I'm also here because for me. I have to be uncomfortable to progress. I have to make my mistakes and be put into situations where I know I'll make them. It's given me a sense of purpose to do more things and be a little hungry. </div>
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And secondly, that Europe is the sport and standard of which we compete with within the discipline. Even though I'm not in Florida (the nearest moral equivalent) or at awards banquets collecting trophies, I know that what I'm doing here is having an impact on my career and business and I have to do it now. My mom always said, the circuit will be there when you return, and she's right. I'm putting together my schedule for teaching, showing and hosting and it seems like its going to be an active year. Coupled with a new venture starting in Europe, I'm starting to put the foot to the floor and go hard for the next six years. </div>
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I genuinely love it here, I'm finding myself getting excited about going to the barn, but what I'm doing and seeing. I'm equally eager to put things in motion when I get back. So while I feel left behind, I know in the end I'm uncomfortably ahead. </div>
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09671546506163752884noreply@blogger.com3