Ethics and other stuff

I am re-vamping the new facility, that has sat dormant for a few years. In the process I'm learning carpentry 101!

I am really appreciative of the huge amount of help from my hard working, supportive friends. The precious technical advice from the Contractor who is working on the Guest house has been huge. His best advice is , " If it's not fun, Tracy, then you won't want to do it!"

How true this statement is at this point in my life.

This brings me to ethics of Dressage Training and Competition.

So often I see horses being pushed a bit too much in the warm up arena by my peers. You see the Amateur and Junior riders trying so hard, to reproduce what their trainers seem to so easily produce, from their mounts.

I personally refuse to over face my students and horses, sometimes to my own demise!

Since it's not easy for us to admit when we are not quite up to the level, yet.

It seems almost an insult to hear. We all work very hard on our sport.

But as a wise Carpenter recently said, 'If it's not fun, you won't want to do it! "

So let's work hard and have fun! Then we can rest easy knowing that there is always another day, another show and that our horses will try harder for us, if we ride them with the compassion and respect that they deserve!

Dressage lessons for the Hunter jumper rider!

I really enjoy teaching riders from other disciplines and quite often help riders who compete over fences fine tune their flat work skills. As a young rider and into my thirties I competed in Eventing and Show jumping and can really appreciate the benefit that good flat work can be to these disciplines.

The very fit jumpers are not quite so fit when asked to bend correctly and stretch over the top-line and their riders are amazed at how much work Dressage really is! They really enjoy the new challenge and it pays off in the medals classes and the flat classes, whens they can really ask their horses for more precise transitions which gives them an edge on their competitors!

Getting out of the school and back to nature

It is so great for the Dressage horses to get out of the arena and onto the fields and hills to relax their mind and cross train their bodies. It also helps them to develop trust in their rider. Of course it is important that you can safely walk, trot and canter in the school before you start to ride away from home. I always make sure to have a calm, babysitter type horse to accompany my young horses out on their hacks until they are familiar with the new environment before I take them alone.I am a big believer in doing your ground work and some warm up in the school before you go out, just to check the mood of your horse and ensure that everyone is relaxed before their new adventure!
Happy Trails!

Keuring 2011 at DG Bar Ranch

I just returned from a fun filled few days at the lovely DG Bar Ranch in Hanford CA.

First I must say what a welcoming place this is, such nice friendly, family oriented people, who have a true passion for horses.

I had the opportunity to present Brigette owned by Lisa Pincus. Brit as we call her is sired by Facet and is a lovely chestnut mare. She was second premium and thus made it into the mare book. I rode her in the IBOP test and she was very obedient and scored 7 on rideability. She is a very compact 15.3hh and perfect for her Amateur/owner. Whilst at the ranch she fell in love with her stall mate a foal sired by Totillas, she has great taste!

I had never experienced a KWPN Keuring before but have presented mares in performance tests successfully for Oldenburg and Hannoverian. It is an interesting process, first we present the mare for measurement and they must be at least 158cm, Brit is 160. Then they are trotted for soundness on a hard surface. Next the horses proceed to the jump chute and if presented for Dressage are just turned loose and evaluated on the 3 gaits and conformation. A few hours later the are ridden in the IBOP, a long dressage test in a short court (40m) arena that consists of 20m circles, serpentine, lengthening of stride at trot and canter, trot stretch circle and walk on both reins working and free walk. The test is called since it is very long and difficult to memorize! After this is the group session and DG Bar Cup. According to age the horses show circles, lenthening, trot walk, canter walk transitions, leg yields and shoulder in, stretch circle and free walks as announced by the inspector. The standard is higher for the older horses and the judges are really looking for very supple horses with elasticity, willingness to work and ability to lengthen, collect and relax. Overall it is definitely worth presenting your horse if your intention is to breed and it can l help the owners and breeders decide what the weaknesses and strengths of their horses are before they enter the competition arena. if you have a very willing rideable horse who is not necessarily a superstar you may want to save your money and just go watch instead!

New beginning for my wonderful Broodmare

My wonderful mare Silver Prinzess* is moving to her new home tomorrow evening, in Loomis, CA. She will be co co-owned by two wonderful ladies who I have known for over 13 years and I could not be happier for her to go to such a wonderful farm and people.

She will be dearly missed.

For the last five years she had given me three amazing foals, each of which are turning out to be lovely horses and showing all the best traits of their dam. For the first time in over three years I am finally lucky enough to have all my horses stabled in one place and it has been a much cherished time watching the mama and her two daughters play and groom one another in the pasture. Her last foal Wintz Charming (Folly, born April 1st!) has also enjoyed having mum back! Tomorrow will be a tough day for us to say goodbye!

I have all the foals I could have ever wished for and will be excited to see her next offspring!

She is the best mum and deserves to do what she does the best.

I purchased her after she had injured her stifle and had always wanted a broodmare, and have always had a soft spot for Greys! She truly has made all my dreams come true! I hope she continues to do so in her new home, for her new owners. I love you mama, make more beautiful babies and live happily ever after!

Amazing long lining by Olympic trainer Bo Jena

Listen to Tracy on a radio show talking about Hilda Gurney as a mentor.



http://dressageradio.horseradionetwork.com/2011/03/10/dressage-radio-episode-94-great-partnerships-with-hilda-gurney-and-keen/

Tracy loves to show and makes it fun for everyone.