So the great Jim K came to day to do a clinic for us.  April is away on vacation, so I got 3 lessons!  Phew, I don’t know how April does it, riding multiple times in a day with Jim.  I am still tired and I have even had a nap!

first lesson was Xavoy, he warmed up really well today, stretching long and low and really really round, it is getting so much easier to get him there and even to keep him there. Now we have to add power to that long and low so that his hind legs don’t drift out behind him. That’s harder, but I am beginning to get the feel of it.  It changes the way he moves entirely when he stretches over the back, and then bring his hind legs up and under. We are slowly getting used to that FEI frame we are now supposed to go in.  UP and round and forward, it is hard and takes a lot out of both of us. But boy does it make the canter work better he just floated around in the pirrouettes and the tempi changes were amazing, he only sent me out of the saddle a few times!  It is still hard to get him to stay round and up hill in the lengthenings, and we have had to go back a step and work on  those, doing more collected-medium-collected than extended.  I am still having trouble with the 4 te,pis. it is so hard to count to 4, while simultaneously keeping him up, round and forward!! Just sayin’.

Next lesson was Xafaire, and it is still a struggle to get him to really give over his back and release his neck. He’ll go round but he does not release. So forward and back, forward and back and all the time working to keep him round and trying to keep his hind legs coming up and under.  But he has made progress, it’s just that he is big and strong and a little indifferent, no worries about sensitivity here!   But as usual, Jim got us going and by the end he was softer and more through. His canter work was awesome, we did some good canter half passes and he did some really nice walk-canter;walk transitions.  Trot is always harder for him, he wants to drop his shoulders and brace against the hand, but lots  of leg yeild on a circle, plus the shorten lengthen and he finally lifted up his bak and came round. Boy does he have a nice trot when he does that.

My fional lesson was on Arwen, April being away I snuck in a lesson on her. She has so much power and lift, but she is sneaky, she can fell round and through but she isn’t really and it’s hard for me to fell it yet. but again Jim worked us until we got that forward roundness, and it d=felt so good at the end. But I was wiped out!

Hillery rode her yellow pony Ohle, Mikey had a good lesson on Levi, who still is not convinced that Mikey has any business asking him for stuff!   Sabine came and rode Midneight, and Kiki came and rode Bulgar. All in all a great clinic.

MW

The local dressage club, Shen-VADA hld a fun at CCS. We opened up the dressage arena, the show jump ring, the cross-country course and the trails for them.  11people with came to play bring with them 8 horses.

Most of them wanted to jump the cross-country fences, which they all did. I led a few out on a trail ride around the farm.    We then went to the jump ring and they tried show jumping. Finally a few of them went to the dressage arena and did that. It did seem to me that the dressage was vastly improved for having gone cross-country and show jumped. This might be a thought for event organisers!

After riding horses were put away and we all repaired to the Ride with Pride class room for a picnic. Yes I know it should have been out doors, but rain had threatened all day, though it never actually rained. So we decided that dicrestion was the better part of valor and ate indoors.

People all brought a dish, and we had plenty to eat.

Ride with Pride was having an Exceptionally Cheap Tack Sale as well so people were able to pick out all kinds of bargains for themselves.

Thanks for coming guys.

We had a great fun time!

MW

However I have some good news for you.

Firstly Shen VADA will be having a fun day at Cedar Creek on Sat 17th Sept.    Lots of fun for all.

Then Ride with Pride will be having a used tack sale on Sat 24th at CCS, it’s a great way to get some gently used stuff for your barn and help RWP.  They have winter blankets, saddles and all kinds of other equipment. Come on out and join in.

We had a GREAT clinic to day with Jim Koford. It was a short one, but all the horses went so well and the lessons were just fantastic.

Xavoy and I did all kinds of stuff but finished up working on passage and piaffe and X was such a good boy!  It never ceases to amaze me how much strength it takes for the horses to do this kind of work. and how by patient repetition you develop that strength. X has gotten so much stringer and better balanced than he was this Spring.

Xafaire has learned somewhere over the summer to half halt and stay round and he was a blast doing his lateral work and even some pretty decent half passes in trot and canter.  Halifax is back with a vengance,  he and April were looking great. Jim worked his usual magic on all of us, including Hillery and Sabine!

we plan to have Jim back next week. Let me know if you want to ride, we don’t know the day yet, but if you email me I can let you know as soon as I know.

The babies are looking great, weaning has begun so far it has been very peaceful. The grass is growing like crazy, it has been a very good summer so far.

Don’t forget out Horse trials and show in Nov. Hope to see you all some time.

MW

OOPS had the date wrong folks! It’s July 2nd  that’s next Saturday. Come on out and have fun!

July 2nd, at CCS. Entry forms and waiver on the VA HTs website.

http://www.vahorsetrials.com/horse-trials-events/view-events/vht-events-monthly-calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2011/07/02/59/-/cedar-creek-combined-tests-ct-ht-a-dressage

Come and join us for a day of fun. Excellent opportunity to get your young horse or rider out on a simple easy to jump X-C course, hills and dales. Ditches, small bank, water all in a safe environment.   Hope to see you all there.  MW

Dressage Clinic with Patrick Tigchelaar. Thursday June 23rd. A few slots are open.
Lessons are $115 each.
Please contact Melyni at Melyni@foxdenequine.com for more info.

It’s only Mid Feb, but it’s 60 degrees, and sunny. The grass is greening up, I can see teeny tiny buds on the trees. The horses are all shedding, It really feels like Spring!  Lets hope we don’t get a last blast of Winter!

To add to the Spring like feeling, Rosie (in foal to Ecuador Skrødstrup) is up at the barn on foal watch, she is due the beginning of March.  She’s as big as a house! And she’s not too happy about being awat from the other broodmares! But it will all be worth it when the foal comes!

Peony and Paula are not due until April, but they are plenty big as well.

Casey is building our stocks ready for the mares to be prepped for the up coming breeding season. We have 3 nice warmblood mares to breed to Halifax this year.

The first group of youngsters have started being ground worked ready for under saddle work.

Rohan is being the star, she is so willing and easy going, she is already on the longlines and out of the round pen! It won’t be long before she and Mikey are riding around.  It’s those Knabstrupper genes that do it!

Lola is also coming along nicely, less laid back than Rohan (no Knabstrupper genes) she takes longer to get used to things being different!  But she is coming along nicely, it’s just hard to be best when you have to compete with Rohan!

Ricky is the slowest, she is NOT impressed with all of this and expresses her self quite vehemently! So it’ll a while for her.  But she is a lovely mover and very athletic, as we get to see on a regular basis!

The warm sunny days lend themselves to lots of trail riding, but Arwen, Sugar, Xavoy, Halifax and Xafaire are all in full training for the next show season.  We have so many nice ones, I feel very spoilt to have so many!  It’s gonna be hard choosing who goes to which show!

Pictures will be taken next week and will be up soon.

Melyni

MW

Alice sends her love and tailwags!

I wish for you all happiness and prosperity in 2011.

May you have a great year.

MW

Jim came by just before he headed off to Florida. He really came to see Dux his youngster, but while he was here he taught a clinic.

April rode 4 horses no less. Donna R was her first one. Donna is a very technical ride, she a big mover but likes to drop her back and brace, she looks good but the rider can tell that there are no half halts when she does that. and then when you want the canter to be straight she gets wired and resistant. But Jim had April working her over the back and then into the half halts and wow did she begin to sit and flow. Her worst thing are the changes, you get a few then she hits the roof and things get wild. But Jim had April keeping her straight, leg yielding in off the rail, change, leg yield out to rail, change and bam lovely soft clean changes with no excitement.

First up for me was Xafaire, we have been working on keeping Xafaire soft through all his transitions and NOT bracing against the leg or hand. And it seems like all our work on those circles, those endless circles, has paid off. Jim was pleased with how much softer and rounder X2 was thru all the transitions and changes. He pretty much has the counter canter nailed and he was listening to my leg and stepping up to the bridle. Best of all was when Jim hopped on and asked him for a flying change in each direction. Oh the hand (seat) of the master, nice relaxed and easy, no problem at all. So if we can get ourselves together enough to get our scores at second level,  it looks as if X2 will have no problem moving up to 3rd later on.

Then Tinuvel, with April, working her forward in a nice soft outline working to encourage her to sit and accept the weight onto the hind legs and get them quicker. Sugar is only 3 coming 4 so she can only do so much, but she worked hard, and really showed improvement in engagement and throughness by the end.

Melissa and Sabine came from Shenandoah Farms with one of the Akhal Teke stallions (I’m sorry I have forgotten his name), but what a nice  horse.  He a cremello 5 yr old, and a really super mover, with lovely soft fluid gaits and a really good mind.  Again working to get the half halts through and to get the horse to be round and soft over the top line and to bend correctly in corners esp at canter. Once again Jim worked his magic and by the end the horse was moving even better and certainly carrying his rider in a softer more accepting frame.

Xavoy and I did some work to get that ever elusive throughness along with being quick enough behind and having enough power.  We get through,  and round OR  powerful but not through and round, it’s all 3 at the same time that eludes us!   We worked on piaffe, and on the canter zig zags in half pass, plus pirouettes and then on to the trot work. Oh boy Jim made us do shoulder in and renvers until X decided to step up the bridle and carry! and he felt so good but I was about wiped by the time we finished.  It’s great to know that he can do that but I fear there  is not way I can reproduce that effort on my own.

April again on Halifax,  they did work very similar to Xavoy and I getting acceptance of the half halt and staying round and through in all the transitions, (must a family tendency).  But Halifax is a little powerball and he is so athletic and elastic, he gets it all so easily!  They will be moving up the levels pretty quickly at this rate.

Then Mikey on Sheela, Sheela has not been ridden that much, and is usually used as a guest horse and trail horse, so her dressage experience is limited, but Jim had them leg yielding and doing shoulder in as well, all of this being new to Sheela. But as she is a Knabbie she just gets on with it even when new and difficult stuff is presented so she shouldered on and by the end was doing some nice work.

April again on Cita, working to get the hind end up and quick. Half passes, extended trot and canter, Flying changes including some 4 tempis and the beginnings of pirouettes. Phew some tough work for our little beauty queen.

Finally Mikey on Arwen, and boy have these two made some progress. Arwen is so much better balanced and is beginning to accept the half halts though she is a lot of horse for Mikey to ride! Her canter is so much better as well, and she is really good about trying new things and not getting upset.  Mikey and she were leg yielding and doing 10 and 15 m canter circles, plus some lengthening at trot.

By the end we were all exhausted, horses and humans, but we are all still feeling buzzed and have lots of home work to do.

We all miss Jim since he took off to Germany, but the work there has really helped him to sharpen his eye and know what to say and do to get the best out of each pair. He always did have an outstanding feel for what a horse and rider can do, but the stay in Germany has really moved that up a notch.

A great clinic and all the horses did so well.  Hopefully we’ll get one more in some time this Winter.

AG, BN & N, T/N Horse Trials , Combined Tests & Dressage Schooling Show
Sunday Nov 7th , 2010

Show Host: Melyni Worth

Judge: TBA

Send Entries: Ross’, 1350 Decatur RD, Fairfield, Va. 24435?540.348.1152 or contact us via email

1. All divisions of HT AG/BN/N = $52.00, All Divisions of CT =$48.00. AG – T. Save $5.00 “Special Fees” – Enter Two consecutive levels, same horse/rider, immediate “family” discount (e.g. mother/daughter, sisters, father/daughter, Pony Club and 4-H with membership card. One $5.00 discount per entry.

1a) Horse Trials : New 2010 Eventing Dressage Test. Advance Green, 12 XC type fences in open field Max: 18″ – 2′ . Beginner Novice, 12 XC type fences, in open fence, Max height 2’7″. Novice 10 – 13 open fields, Max 2’11″. Training/Novice division: Training level Dressage test, mixture 10 – 13 Novice & Training level Heights

2a) Combined Tests – New 2010 Eventing Dressage Tests. Green, 2) Advanced Green 3) Beginner Novice, 4) Novice 5) ON, 6) Training 7) OT, 8) Preliminary. 9) OP, All dressage tests will be ridden in a small arena 10) Intermediate tests ridden in a standard arena. b.) Draw checks to VHT-CCS c) Refunds (must be in writing, faxed or e-mail): Before closing date all, after CD: NONE

NO shows- no credit, no refund. Post entries available when scratches occur. d) Negative Coggins required within 12 months.

2. All Dressage Show Entries=$21.00. USEF 2007 DRESSAGE TESTS . Prix Caprilli Tests & Freestyle Tests = $18.00 Same “Special Fees” apply for dressage as for CT. 2007 USEF/USDF Dressage Tests: Intro/Training/First 1 ridden in a small arena. Frist 2 and above standard arena. NEW USEA 2010 Eventing Tests, your choice of test (BN – I) Entries will be split or combined, should entries warrant. All tests to be ridden in small arena.

3. Tentative Time Schedule: 8am HT & CT Dressage, 10am Stadium, 11:0 XC, 1pm Dressage Only

4. Awards: 6 Ribbons in CT & Dressage.

5. Starting times: available on http://www.vahorsetrials.com/. Thursday before or by phone 6pm – 9pm only

6. Stabling: Limited call ahead first come first gets a stall.

7. Directions: Cedar Creek Farm is located North of Staunton. From South; take I-81 to exit 225 sign posted Woodrow Wilson Parkway aka 275 W, take 275W go to 3rd intersection. Take a right on Shutterlee Mill Rd, stable is on the right about 1 mile. Look for BIG barn down in the Valley on right. Sign post on Rd turns to gravel. From North; take I-81 S to Exit 225 follow directions above. From East I-64 to I-81, go North to exit 225. Follow as above.

8. Dress: casual, must be neat and tidy with boots, breeches ASTM approved hardhat, body protecting vest & medical armbands (available at show) for all jumping phases.

9. All Dogs must be on leash. Concessions available.

10. Level requirements: Horse Trial & Combined Tests Dressage and jumping heights:

Green: Walk/trot – 2007 Intro B, Jumps Max 2′. 6 – 8 cross rails simple changes of direction.

Advance Green: 2010 BN Test B, jumps 2′- 2’6″ verticals and small gates 6-8 obstacles.

BN: 2010 BN Test B , jumps Max. 2’6″.

Novice Jr/SR: 2010 Novice Test A, jumps Max. 2’11″.

ON: 2010 Novice Test B, jumps Max. 2’11″.

TN ( HT ONLY) – 2010 Training Level Dressage test A Mixture of N & T heights

T CT Jr/Sr: 2010 Training Test A, jumps Max. 3’3″.

OT CT 2010 Training Test B, jumps Max. 3’3″.

P: 2010 Preliminary Test A, jumps Max. 3’7″.

OP: 2010 Preliminary Test B , jumps Max 3’7″.

It can be really exciting and fun when a young horse understands what you want and boy can it speed up the progress.

Miss Arwen started out with not the worlds best canter (to put it mildly), she basically flung herself around on the lunge and riding it was an exercise for the truly brave! As March once put it, “That canter, Oh Boy!”

But we persevered, working her in canter on the lunge and eventually under saddle. lots of work at bending and staying balanced, well trying to stay balanced that is.  She’s a BIG girl which does not help, all that body mass to move around!  Then  about 2 weeks ago I got the first semblance of a response to a half halt. things started to look up, the canter to the left got almost acceptable, the right was still pretty scary!

During the Matt clinic we had a slot come open due to a lame horse, so April jumped at the chance and filled in the slot and rode Arwen.

And Matt worked his usual magic, he showed April how to really establish those half-halts and wow what a difference. I got back on her on the Monday and I had brakes, I had balance, we could canter! The left is still better than the right, but both canters are so much better and I can balance up on the straightaways and do circles now!  Progress is being made in leaps and bounds.

I am so excited, riding Arwen has taken a whole big step upwards.  We plan to take her to the Starter Horse Trials, at the VHC to do two Training level tests. April will be riding her. This will be her first competitive outing.  So if you are in the vicinity of the VHC, Lexington VA on Aug 29th come on out and see us.

In the mean time I am really enjoying riding her. She gets more and more like her mother!

MW