Winter is coming......

Con Mar and I acheived all our summer goals this year and are on to winter goals...I have not yet figured out WHAT they are going to be.... I think we will school all the 4th level all winter and then bring him out in the spring to show @ Copper Creek Dressage shows to start... (they have safe stalls!)....

I am so thrilled with my "little" who is not so little, Stallion.... to me he is a pure joy to ride and work with...he is not easy don't get me wrong..but, challenging enough to make this fun for me after 35 years of riding then training Dressage horses!

My goal for this Blog is MORE PICTURES and video...I think I am going to get a new "flip" video cam..they are so EASY to use...no excuses after that, right?!!! :)

Good Job Young Grasshopper!

Summer has been wonderful for Con Mar and I.... I could not ask for better weather, and a better student at this point.  Today Con Mar did 3 changes on the diagonal (no count) in the snaffle like he has been doing it all his life.  He was so proud of himself and immediately got to quit training for the day and go for a walk outside in the morning sunshine.  It is AMAZING to me how things fall so easily into place when you are riding CORRECTLY.... the pieces of the puzzle just fit...no struggle, no fight... easy peezy. 

It has taken all of my years of riding and training to get to the point where "my system" just produces horse after horse easily achieving the desired results of moving through the levels.  It is so refreshing...but, the best thing of it all...MY HORSES ARE HAPPY and they perform because they understand and because they love the work. WOW.

Thanks to all those horses, Mom and Dad, and Mr. Karl Mikolka (even if it was just a few lessons, it was eye opening)

Conversano Marina (Conversano Barbarina X Marina by Pluto Bona II) 6 years old.

1, 2 and...........3??

Flying changes that is!!!  We finally have two changes on a line... we are working towards #3 pretty soon!! Yesterday 1 and 2 where very very easy to get!  Good Boy Con Mar!  I will say that even though he is a super talent... I have had EVERY version of Flying Changes known to horses....it has been VERY amusing and I have had a very hard time not LAUGHING at him when he is going through his leaps and kicks... He has more control over his hindquarters than any horse I have EVER trained... he enjoys showing me how much control he has on a regular basis!
The trot work is coming along as well.  He has all his lateral work and the extended trot is FINALLY starting to make an appearence... this has been his most difficult thing... but, it is coming! 
I was right about the double bridle...he does prefer to wear it..he is much more comfortable in it (the weight I believe) so he is wearing it more regularly... I also prefer it with a stallion just in case!  My dad would tell you just because you have it doesn't mean you USE IT.... I agree.  SO.... because he is being such a good boy...he will be getting a new double for Christmas!!  There is so many to chose from that it will take me that long to get the one we both want :)
I haven't forgotten about VIDEO and New PHOTOS of Con Mar and I.... and hopefully we will be attending a clinic in October/Nov.... To Be Announced!  HAPPY RIDING!

The dog days of summer

It has been a very HOT summer so far this year... Con Mar is handling it pretty well, considering he hates the COLD weather I am sure he is thankful for the SUNSHINE :) .  Training is going very well.  We finally have a little bit of canter half pass...and starting some super collected steps which eventually will turn into passage or piaffe.  I am starting to feel the level of collection I have been looking for!  The double bridle is only be used 1 x weekly as I am not a HUGE fan of using "equipment" to train a horse to do dressage... He has accepted it's use very well and I think he will be a horse that prefers the double to the snaffle in the end.  The work he is doing in the double is very nice...and there is definitley a feeling of "I am an upper level horse" coming from him.  He is a very proud stallion! 
I haven't taken him out yet as I have been very busy training horses and showing my "Oscar" at PSG his first year (doing very well)... but, that will come before Fall... I have a few more shows in July and August and then I am looking forward to a BREAK! Photos and videos will come THEN :)

what a joy!

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful Lipizzaner stallion!!!!  'Con Mar' is doing wonderfully... he is very happy in his work and we are perfecting the 3rd level work.... I believe that 3rd level is the longest stage in a horses training after the "green baby" phase... it takes time to go from being a "baby" to being a grown up horse and having to do grown up work.  I am looking forward to the summer months and possibly showing him this year.... he will go on many "outtings" to get used to working out side of his comfort zone.

This year I will be posting some training videos of 'Con Mar' and I .... as well as a summer photo shoot!

SPRING is in the air!!

And my young stallion is BEHAVING HIMSELF (so far, as we know saying anything for sure in horses summons that behavior!)  I am very much looking forward to riding him outside this year.  We are smoothing out 3rd level and perfecting all our work...gaining strength, and collection and introducing the double bridle! Con Mar so far has ZERO issues with any of this... as he comes into his 6 year old year (july 10).... I am so proud of him...he is a wonderful horse and I am very grateful for him.

2010... A new year!

2010... wow. I have owned Con Mar for almost 3 years already! I seems like he has been with me for a lifetime already!  I am getting very excited about him.  He is doing wonderfully (still) and we are looking forward to the Spring and Summer.  Con Mar's training will continue through the winter as the temps permit...and I do think he will be training 3rd seriously and schooling all of the 4th level by mid summer.  I am not sure if he will show this year... or just go with me to school and do some clinics to get "out and about".... He is doing wonderfully and I have no desire to stop his training to be in the show arena with him... Grand Prix is the goal and we will continue on our journey there and make shows/clinics as necessary during that journey.  He is a JOY to ride/train... showing and making public appearences are always icing on the cake! (not to mention I have two of my horses who are higher levels and older so will have first choice in the show ring)

Here is too another WONDERFUL year... and enjoying the journey of my young Lipizzaner Stallion!