This was a big weekend for Team Equisential. Royal Waltz did his first Grand Prix and won his class with a 64.7%. What a big milestone that was for him since he started training with me as a six year old and he is now eleven. He is such a prince, he put in a great effort and produced a really clean test. He rested on his laurels the remainder of the weekend, enjoying a nice hack on the other days of the show.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Final Show of the 2014 Summer Season
Last weekend we attended our final show of the summer season in Grass Lakes, MI. We got so lucky with the weather because earlier in the week the forcast was for rain but as the weekend progressed, we ended up with hot and humid, minus the rain.
This was a big weekend for Team Equisential. Royal Waltz did his first Grand Prix and won his class with a 64.7%. What a big milestone that was for him since he started training with me as a six year old and he is now eleven. He is such a prince, he put in a great effort and produced a really clean test. He rested on his laurels the remainder of the weekend, enjoying a nice hack on the other days of the show.
Damon had a huge weekend. He needed Thursday and Friday to settle in and he showed Training Level 2 on Saturday for a 75% and Training 3 on Sunday for a 70%. We were able to warm up with all of the other horses and he marched right down to Ring 3 and was able to compete with confidence even though we had not had a chance to school him there. Just as importantly, he was able to hack back up to the barn through all of the traffic and confusion without being escorted by his bonus mom, Mary Anne. He finally relaxed enough to really show his beautiful gaits in the competition arena.What a great ending to a fun summer! We are headed back home to Florida around the beginning of October and we are looking forward to great Winter Season!
This was a big weekend for Team Equisential. Royal Waltz did his first Grand Prix and won his class with a 64.7%. What a big milestone that was for him since he started training with me as a six year old and he is now eleven. He is such a prince, he put in a great effort and produced a really clean test. He rested on his laurels the remainder of the weekend, enjoying a nice hack on the other days of the show.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Settling into a rhythm........
Just before the July Waterloo show, we bought a different saddle for Damon in an effort to find something that will accommodate his large shoulders. In Germany, he was ridden in a Passier, so I bought a used one with a wide tree since the open style of pommel suited him better than my beloved County Perfection. When the saddle fitter came to adjust it for him, she gave me the bad news that the entire underside of the saddle had to be re-fitted which would require taking ALL of the flocking out and starting over. The good news is she did a great job(Katie Gussenhoffen)and Damon has more freedom but I can't say that I care for the seat and it is hard to keep my leg in position because of all of his huge movement. I miss my County! But, we are trying to buy some time to be able to find just the right saddle for him since he will be changing and growing as a 4 year old.
Since we haven't had any shows in the last month, Damon has settled into a nice routine at home. He loves to be ridden first thing in the morning and then enjoy a couple of hours of turn out afterwards. We have even been able to venture out for longer hacks by ourselves, which he seems to really enjoy.
I had some minor surgery which puts me on light duty for a few days and Mary Anne has been great to step up and ride Damon and Royal for me. Damon was a perfect gentleman for his "bonus Mom" and she did a great job with Royal, working all of the movements from the Grand Prix. It is really nice for me to see the horses go and know that they are so rideable for someone else.
We are pondering going to the August Waterloo show at the end of the month. It would be our last show of the summer season before heading back home to FL in early October. Time goes by so quickly, we are already making plans for the Winter Season.
Just an interesting side note, one of our clients, Rachael Horton, has a 5 year old from the same farm in Germany where we bought Damon. His name is Franklin HW aka "Frankie", also a very talented young horse. I wonder if Damon and Frankie know each other? Most of the horses at the farm in Germany have been purchased when they are 6 months old, turned out until 2 and a half, broken at three, turned out again and started again 6 months later. They have a great track record of producing good looking horses with good minds and that have been handled and ridden well. If you are looking for a wonderful young horse, go to their website, www.hwfarm.com .
Since we haven't had any shows in the last month, Damon has settled into a nice routine at home. He loves to be ridden first thing in the morning and then enjoy a couple of hours of turn out afterwards. We have even been able to venture out for longer hacks by ourselves, which he seems to really enjoy.
I had some minor surgery which puts me on light duty for a few days and Mary Anne has been great to step up and ride Damon and Royal for me. Damon was a perfect gentleman for his "bonus Mom" and she did a great job with Royal, working all of the movements from the Grand Prix. It is really nice for me to see the horses go and know that they are so rideable for someone else.
We are pondering going to the August Waterloo show at the end of the month. It would be our last show of the summer season before heading back home to FL in early October. Time goes by so quickly, we are already making plans for the Winter Season.
Just an interesting side note, one of our clients, Rachael Horton, has a 5 year old from the same farm in Germany where we bought Damon. His name is Franklin HW aka "Frankie", also a very talented young horse. I wonder if Damon and Frankie know each other? Most of the horses at the farm in Germany have been purchased when they are 6 months old, turned out until 2 and a half, broken at three, turned out again and started again 6 months later. They have a great track record of producing good looking horses with good minds and that have been handled and ridden well. If you are looking for a wonderful young horse, go to their website, www.hwfarm.com .
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