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| RENO |
That's a wrap! Liz Puerner and I competed all three days at the SFDA show at HIPICO this past weekend. We also competed in the NM-RMDS show in May. Liz has now earned her USDF Bronze medal(in a sudden monsoonal downpour, no less!), and has qualified to compete at Regional Championships at Third Level with her sweet potato, Joyero XXV. JoJo is a 15 year old bay Andalusian. Reno is becoming very steady and consistent in his first show season as a 5 year old, and is qualified at Open Training Level for Regional Championships. Lucky for us, we don't have to go far this year, since Region 5 Championships will be at HIPICO in September! It's a beautiful facility with great footing, good stabling and onsite RV hookups. The setting is spectacular. Frisco has competed in the Intermediare I this year, and we are getting much needed miles in the FEI ring together. He's become reliable, honest and a pleasure to be around. Being a big brother has brought out the best in him. Karen Shaw brought her boy Kilkenny, a Canadian Warmblood, for show schooling, and "Ernie" went around that warmup arena with horses zooming past him at all angles like he'd been doing that all his life-first time away from home under saddle. Ernie will probably trot up centerline for the first time in October.
Linda Thompson still takes virtual lessons with me since I moved away and left her all alone in the black hole of dressage that is southern Utah. She and Cazador RHR earned a 63% on Fourth level test 2 at the Millbrook Farms Summer Dressage Festival. This is Linda's first score for her Silver medal. She has worked hard for this! I also stay in touch virtually with Ashley Adams, who now has the ride on Diane Johnson's Lusitano, Pi'Tou. Ashley has moved back to St. George and will be riding Pi'Tou until he sells or until Diane returns from her mission.
It isn't ALL about the showing, however. I have been working hard to develop programs for my new clientele here in Santa Fe. Figuring out the best approach with each horse, finding out how to make them happy and comfortable, and keeping my riders safe, is always my priority. Horsemanship comes first. Carol Williams' 16 year old Hanoverian, Cluseau, a GP horse trained by Simone Williams(funny enough, no relation to Carol or to me!) of Ontario, Canada has really blossomed. He and I get along great, and Carol and I have worked hard to rebuild his conditioning and his confidence after a difficult series of setbacks last year. He is back to schooling most of the FEI work and Carol hopes to show him at Third level next year. Liz has two other sweet boys: Xirope, and Contoneo de Ramos. Xirope is an 18 year old black Lusitano who schools all of the Grand Prix. Liz and I are working to build her and his strength and stamina to hopefully enter the ring at I-1 next year. Xirope is a true schoolmaster in every sense of the word. Her new boy, Contoneo de Ramos, is a grey 7 year old PRE, who schools Third level. He's a beauty, and we will probably take him to the October show to school and see the world. He hasn't been shown since he was in the young stallion classes in Spain. Janet Duncan's darling 13 yr old bay Section B Welsh Cob mare "Ginger"(Banquo Lady Valerie) is schooling all of Third level with me, and becoming a good professor horse for Janet. Janet didn't start riding until five or six years ago, when she bought Ginger. But what she lacks in hours in the saddle, she more than makes up for in determination. Ginger is also trail horse extraordinaire, and who doesn't love a dressage horse who can go out for a trail ride?! Janet has an exciting young prospect on the way next week, a 6 year old grey Lusitano named Macarrao. "Noodle" schools Third level. Liz Garfield's sweet 7 year old AQHA gelding Casual Attire "Ty" has found an advocate in her. After facing some training issues, and coming to me for help, we implemented a training program, and worked together to figure out just exactly what was bothering him. Liz and Ty are the trail pros at LCEC, and Liz had hoped to be able to ride him over fences herself at some point. I had been riding him twice weekly, but, progress was inconsistent and he was clearly uncomfortable. With the help of our diligent vet, Mark Medleton, it has come to light that Ty has EPM, and bone spurs in his coffin joints. This is what I mean when I say that there is a lot more to this than showing. Horsemanship, and being an advocate for your horse, are number one. Liz and I communicate regularly to assess Ty's progress during treatment, and it is hoped that he will respond well enough to trot and canter under saddle again. In the meantime, they spend precious time together, with friends out on the trails. We are very lucky here to have onsite access to many miles of well maintained trails, which is great for all of the horses.
My boys are very happy at Las Campanas Equestrian Center. The staff is amazing and the facility is first rate. It has been so easy to become a part of the Santa Fe community, and we have been welcomed with open arms.
