now it is May....where did the time go???

Mon, 10 May 2010 22:40:00 GMT

where to begin? Obviously season is over...It was amazing. My horses were, quite simply, awesome. Cadenza finished at the last show with a 70% in his 5th Intermediaire 1, Savi the princess, made 4th level look like child's play, winning the only 3 classes she showed.

why did she only show 3 times...that could bring me to one of my favourite topics...footing, but let me just say that, due to the footing in the USEF rings at Jim Brandon, I have decided to wait until she is confirmed small tour before she shows again.

How about a brief synopsis month by month...with reports on specific events in another update.

January. We started with a couple of shows in literally FREEZING weather..yep, sleet, below freezing wind-chill and clipped horses, just beautiful. Savi proved that she could heat up the arena at 4th level and Cadenza showed me that freezing rain hitting his butt really assisted his FEI focus! Champus and I managed what I politely call an interprative Grand Prix. Given the poor guy was shivering as we tacked him up I'm amazed we made it to the centreline at all!

The last weekend was truly of Epic proportions. We had Steffen and Kyra here all at the same time...I was riding with Kyra on two horses at her symposium, gave up my rides with Steffen whilst still organising his clinic...that was tough, but I can only be in two or three places at the same time! Did I mention that I also had two 18yo girls from Australia arriving...they were staying with me. I had to clear out the "spare" room....yikes!

Emily and Sarah made it to Wellington on Wednesday evening, and except that Emilys wallet went missing somewhere between Miami and my house, they arrived in fine form, brandishing the Australian flag everywhere possible. The next few days were a bit of a whirlwind for their jet lagged brains and bodies, between my daytime lessons with Steffen, his weekend clinic and then the evening symposium with Kyra and just adjusting to a different country. Of course, at their age I would have just about given my left leg for the experience.

February opened with preparations for World Dressage Masters. With Steffen, Isabel, Anky and Kyra in town it was a dressage who's who and you never knew where you would run into someone famous. Neither Emily or Sarah had their full drivers licences, and with Australians driving on the left side of the road, I wasn't releasing control of my car to them. So between the three of us and Matilda, my car was a pretty funny sight! We took the opportunity to try to watch all of these amazing riders schooling their equally amazing horses. The girls also got a chance to see some of the Wellington Equestrian architecture. They were is a continual state of shock and awe. It always so much fun to have my Aussie girls visit. It certainly stops me from taking any of this amazing area for granted.

February also had many shows. Two CDI's (I think). The first had been during January. I showed a bunch of different horses. Cadenza started to settle into the FEI ring again..after 18months sidelined with a back injury. Sauvignon just rocked 4th level. At home, my horses were being tremendous fun to ride. Robbie started playing with all things FEI....I had to continually remind myself that he had not yet turned six! His gaits had become so big and elastic that I second guessed myself almost daily having him for sale. That is the reality of the sport.

Before the girls went home, we had to do some serious shopping. I sent them to the mall multiple times for regular clothing, but when it came to horse stuff I could participate. Lets just say that going home with them was a custom saddle, one pair of Der Dau boots...complete with bling, one pair of Cavallo boots...zippers installed overnight. At least one bridle and mulitple pairs of britches and cool polo shirts. I love shopping vicariously!!

March This was a relatively calm month. One clinic with Steffen and more shows. March 2010 will probably be remembered most for the accident of Courtney King, which has forever changed the way that dressage riders view helmets. I am sponsored by GPA and was very vocal in the push for professionals to wear helmets whilst schooling at shows. Cadenza did his first Intermediaire One test with me wearing my helmet and , like the majority of riders, a green ribbon to signify brain injury. I am thrilled to report that, as of today (May), Courtney has made a tremendous recovery. She still has a long way to go, but has almost all her memories, can stand on her own and is starting to walk. She has also posted a message herself on her website.

blog active again...

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:36:00 GMT

I messed up on last addition and couldn't change date, so it is actually current information..just dated wrong!!

I promise to update regularly!!

Thu, 29 May 2008 08:04:00 GMT

this should be a regular update of my days in dressage-rich Wellington and travels

Ilse Schwarz Dressage

now it is May....where did the time go???

blog active again...

I promise to update regularly!!