Genius?

Con Mar's training continues to go very smoothly...he is so very smart and highly in tune to correct dressage training that it is making this journey SO MUCH FUN. He has really responded to coming more into his outside rein and his LY and SI are becoming very easy for him....today we even played with haunches in at the trot and my goodness he did it! Only to the right.... the left we are both outta whack...but, for the first time doing it very well in once direction is WONDERFUL.

I am considering taking him into the FEI 5 year old classes and trying to qualify for the Champoinships....what was going to be a training year...is now being considered for a showing year due to his super talent and work ethic.

I will keep everyone posted!

Spring???

Well there is finally light at the end of the tunnel and Con Mar's training has begun again after a short "winter break".....

This spring Con Mar is learning the beginning stages of Selfcarriage. For him particularly this is very important at this age/stage due to his coarser neck and front end. He is doing VERY WELL and as usual excelling quickly.

Showing this year is up in the air....I have 3 other horses two of which are much higher level. So Con Mar may take this summer to grow and train. I am looking foward to showing him at least once but, no major campaiging....His strong suit is going to be the FEI levels....so we may come out at 2/3rd level next summer instead and just do field trips... stay tuned for the final choics on that! :)

Living in Siberia

We are entering the coldest part of the year here in Michigan. From now until February it will be VERY VERY COLD here and little official training gets done. Of course we will always be monitoring MANNERS especially with Con Man and Con Mar over the next few weeks!!!

Please stay tuned for this Blog to be updated more regularly once we are OUT of this cold snap!!

'Con Mar' was one of the featured horses in artist Karen Brenners study of "The Beautiful Horses of Michigan" We are extremely HONORED to have him in her series of horses for Michigan. Please go to her website www.karenbrenner.com to view the whole collection of amazing paintings!

Custom Saddles...Oh boy!q

I have had HUGE issues with Con Mar when it comes to saddle fit...so I finally broke down and bought a Custom Saddle Advantage. It fits alright but, not perfectly and is somewhat comfortable for me...but, I HATE NEW SADDLES...ick. I have a sneaking feeling that he is going to be an on going challenge when it comes to saddle fit...boooo hiss.

VERY cold weather here. Buckling down and keeping the horses happy and worked is hard now, but it sure does make you appreciate SUMMER!

Winter is coming

Con Mar continues to develop into a wonderful dressage horse. He is working on improving his leg yeild and new to him shoulder in. He can do the First Four counter canter loop with no issues what so ever! I cannot tell you what a wonderful thing it is to have a young stallion who has a CANTER! All my previous horses didn't have the canter that he does...what a wonderful thing a good canter is!! This winter we will continue to build strength and stamina, as well as working on perfecting his first level work. He is a very talented young man undersaddle and I am excited to show him at first level. I am not a big fan of training level!!

I am hoping to take a ride in the snow this winter which should be really fun!! Depends on if the footing under the snow stays good...no ice for me!

I am also planning on doing a Christmas video of both stallions....so look for that!!

Those Wonderful fall rides

Con Mar and I have been enjoying some very warm fall weather. He has really started to mature and the change in him has been amazing. He is schooling most of first level and the plan (so far) is to show First Level at the USDF shows in 2009.

We had a wonderful hack through the tall grass in our LARGE pasture yesterday...he was (as normal) perfectly behaved.

I cannot see where this little stallion's future goes....he is such a wonderful horse undersaddle.

stretch.......

I know I need to get 4 year old photos of Con Mar!!!! I will do that next week!

Right now we are working on quality of gaits (more trot, bigger canter) and STRETCHING at all gaits...Con Mar LOVES long and low....he can stretch more than any Lipizzan I have EVER seen, which is really really good for him. He is doing VERY WELL and growing so much...his neck is MASSIVE and he is developing the rear end to go with it...the rear will take some time though ;)

Look for 4 year old pictures next week!!!!

Outside ... Again

Yesterday Con Mar went outside again...he was WONDERFUL. We have been having a slight issue with right flexion and during this ride he was flexing on his OWN to show me he was being a good boy!! He did a wonderful w/t/c and LY...we even did the First Level Counter canter loop!!! It is so EASY for him (the Canter) it is amazing to me as I have never had a horse with an easy CANTER before!!

I am so pleased with him and his progress. I have to remind myself he is ONLY FOUR!!

Lesson day

Yesterday was my lesson on C.Mar....he did very well. He is schooling some of First level already which is really nice. My trainers (who is my mother) only comment was that he needs to get back outside in the outdoor arena AND in the pastures to add some vareity to his work. I agree fully in this and will do that starting Monday.

On a different note..I am still having a saddle issue...and have pretty much concluded I need to have one of my Kieffers MOLDED to him and will just to have it changed as he grows...the only good thing about this is that his little brother will have saddles that fit b/c I have already done it once, and C.Mar will hopefully be done growing at that time and can just hand down his saddle (the one that can be fitted) to C.Man. WHEW!