May 29

Written by: Ilse
5/29/2008 12:04 AM

s anyone going onto my website will notice, I have not been attending my site...at all!! Being something of a technophobe, and being generally busy enough elsewhere to always have an excuse to avoid figuring it out, I have let it slide..NO MORE

Since my last very brief entry way back in 2008 alot has happened. Perhaps of greatest relevance has been the sale of our magazine, Horse Sport USA right after the 2008 Olympics (I'm said to say that the new owner have not published a single issue). This encouraged Ken to start a dressage news website, he has always been a newsman, so the chance to combine his passion for "breaking a story", horses and photography seemed to go good to ignore. Hence www.dressage-news.com was created. This is relevant to my website, as I was forced to learn how to add posts, upload photos and generally get my feet wet in the website side of things.

On the horse front, in a very quick summary, Sauvignon (Sandro Hit x De Niro x Landadel) was tremendously successful through the2008/2009 winter season, being virtually unbeaten at 3rd level, with scores into the low 70s. Her first foal (via embryo transfer by DaCaprio), a liver chestnut filly was born in mid-May. She is breathtaking and belongs to Amy Swerdlin. We have managed to get another successful embryo transfer (at last check) by the stallion Hofrat..this one will be mine.

 Cadenza (Contango x Swashbuckler xx) kept me busy with all sorts of veterinary issues, the worst being a hypersensitive mouth that led me to school him in a hackamore for nearly 4 months...what a learning curve. However, as of today, he is fitter than he has been in probably 18months. His back is the strongest it has been since he damaged it so badly nearly two years ago and...we rode 3 days in a row in the double bridle...a first since last October (2008).

Robbie (Rubato- Rosario x Swashbuckler xx)) has proved the easiest chap ever to train and at the grand old age of 5, I would feel confident going down a 3rd level centreline. Obviously, that means he knows everything for the 6yo division, which is what we will concentrate on next year...although hopefully he will find a new owner soon.

I have 3 horses entered in the region 3 finals, which will be held in Wellington at the Jim Brandon Equestrian center from October 22-25. Sauvignon at 3rd level, Gisele (Welt Hit 01 x Uniform) at 2nd level..her qualifying average is 74.5%, and Sacusca (paint oldenburg by Sydney) also at 2nd level. Three students have also qualified. Colleen Wilburt on Royal Zarasto at 3rd level, Holly Wahl and Evensong at training level and Lynn Steinhardt on Sterling at 1st level. So it will be a busy few days for me!

So, it is a Sunday, which means Angela is having her HUGE half day off (I am so spoilt) and I am on evening stables. Hence, I'd best make a move and head to the barn.

more regular...dare I even say frequent??..updates promised
ilse

Copyright ©2008 Ilse Schwarz

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