The first Dressage Mentor reunion took place in Wellington, FL, Jan. 20-24. The theme was “Live Your Dreams!”
All I can say is “Wow!” I expected it to be fun and educational, but I was completely blown away by the amazing women who made the event so special.
We had 4 full days of demo rides, position lessons on Rocky the mechanical horse, critiques through headsets at the horse show, Q and A sessions where everyone did a big “brain dump”, an Emotional Freedom Technique practice session, and lots of fun and food at Buca di Beppo and the Gypsy’s Horse restaurants.
One of the highlights for me was the sneaky surprise party after the musical freestyles at the show Sat night. Each person dropped a pearl (a real one!) into a heart-shaped vase and told me of the personal “pearl” they had taken away from the event. That red vase of pearls now has a place of honor in my home.
And just in case you think it was ALL work and no play, check out the Dressage Mentor Camp Song composed and sung by Janet Laprade, Deb Datsko, and Pam Datsko at the Gypsy’s Horse Restaurant.
Shoulder-in is the father of the advanced lateral dressage movements. It does many wonderful things for your horse. Here are just some of them:
Shoulder-in is a suppling exercise because it stretches and loosens the muscles and ligaments of the inside shoulder and forearm. During shoulder-in, your horse passes his inside foreleg in front of his outside foreleg. This motion increases his ability to move his forearm gymnastically in other movements.
It’s also a straightening exercise because you should always straighten your horse by bringing his forehand in front of his hindquarters. Never try to straighten him by leg yielding his hindquarters out behind his shoulders.
Shoulder-in is also a collecting exercise. It increases your horse’s self-carriage because he lowers his inside hip with each step. As a result, his center of gravity shifts back toward his hind legs. His hindquarters carry more weight and his front end elevates. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10240
Wellington, FL – February 11, 2010 – Professional hunter championships were awarded today for the fifth week at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. This week saw increased hunter entries in the professional divisions, as competitors are making their final preparations before taking center stage in the International Arena next week during the AHJF Hunter Spectacular week.
Louise Serio piloted Bright Star 158 LLC’s mount Kid Rock to the championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunter division, sponsored by Western Hay and Suncoast Bedding. The pair won both classes over fences yesterday, and took home the first and second place ribbons over fences today to secure the championship this week. The reserve championship was awarded to Valentino, owned by Margaret Shank Benjamin, and ridden by Caroline Weeden.
Serio contributed her success this week to her mount’s consistency, and noted, “All of his rounds were exactly alike. He got three scores of 86 and one 85, so I think that’s a really good week when you can produce that many rounds that are consistent.” Serio continued to compliment her horse and said, “He’s always the same horse. He tries hard, and he’s really fun to ride.” Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10236
Live Foal Born after Embryo Biopsy, Vitrification and Transfer
Lexington, Kentucky – February 11, 2010 – Minitube International has achieved a scientific breakthrough that will allow for genetic testing and preservation of equine embryos. The world’s first foal from a biopsied and vitrified embryo transferred into a surrogate mare was born on Wednesday January 27, 2010 at Minitube International Center for Biotechnology in Mount Horeb, WI. Both the mother “Lola” and foal are doing well. The birth of “Biopsita” marks a new era in horse breeding, providing horse breeders with an opportunity to directly test embryos for genetic traits including gender, coat color, genetic diseases, etc., and select desirable genetics from stallion and mare combinations. The study will be presented at the 10th International Symposium on Equine Reproduction being held in Kentucky this July.
According to Mats Troedsson, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT the Director of the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky and Director of Equine Research for Minitube International, “Embryo transfer and cryopreservation have been steadily gaining traction in equine reproduction as the technology further develops and the equestrian community adjusts registry requirements. But the ability to genetically screen an equine embryo before transfer would change horse breeding as we know it today. The economics would just make sense.” Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10234
Olympian Bernie Traurig taught a successful clinic at The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala, sharing his vast show knowledge with professionals, amateurs and youth. (Photo courtesy of the Equine Chronicle)
Ocala, FL (February 11, 2010) – A clinic by Olympian Bernie Traurig, held at The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, proved to be an over-the-top success that brought in top professionals as well as amateur and youth riders. Traurig, one of the most respected and sought after clinicians in the country, gave the clinic in conjunction with Global Connection, and a portion of the proceeds from the event benefited Horses and Heroes.
“Bernie’s clinic was an amazing success,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “The Saturday night gala dinner and silent auction were standing room only, and a great deal of money was raised for the Horses and Heroes charity.”
Traurig reached the top of the horse show world in all three of the International Equestrian Olympic disciplines — show jumping, dressage, and eventing – and was able to share his vast experience and talent with the clinicians. “Bernie is considered the greatest master of equestrian sport, so it was a thrill to watch him teach,” McDuffee said.
In addition to teaching the clinic, Traurig was available for a meet and greet during the Saturday night gala dinner and silent auction. “We are thrilled with how well the gala and auction went,” McDuffee said. “It was standing room only during the evening and it was exciting to see how much money was raised for charity.” Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10232
Wellington, FL – February 11, 2010 – 2008 Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze (CAN) and his young mount Coriana van Klapscheut, owned by Artisan Farms LLC, rode to victory in today’s $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Five. Today’s grand prix competition had a full afternoon of entries, as riders took part to be one of the top 45 finishers to qualify for Saturday’s $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 3*, presented by Spy Coast Farm. Following Lamaze in the victory gallop was Mario Deslauriers (USA) on Urico, owned by Jane Clark, in second place and Peter Charles (GBR) with Murka’s Rubert R, owned by Olga White, for third place.
The fifth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Spy Coast Farm and runs through Sunday, February 14. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Richard Jeffery of England was today’s course designer, and he set a difficult challenge to cull a jump-off from the starting list of 79 entries. With an open water jump and various technical challenges, he saw 16 clear rounds for the jump-off. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10230
Wellington, Florida – February 12, 2010 – As horses and riders prepare for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the USET Foundation’s Road to Kentucky fundraising benefit welcomed owners, riders and fans of every discipline as they joined together in support of the elite athletes on February 5, 2010 at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. The largest social event of the 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival season, the Road to Kentucky celebration raised a remarkable amount of money in the name of equestrian excellence.
USET Foundation President and CEO, Jane Clark, and Event Chairs Bruce Duchossois and Robin and Gerry Parsky greeted 450 guests as they entered the sold out event. Once the crowd was seated, the USET Foundation presented the highly prestigious Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Award and Whitney Stone Cup trophies as well as numerous USET Gold Medal Club Anniversary Awards.
Each year, the Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy is presented to a Young Rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who exemplifies both sportsmanship and horsemanship. After putting in multiple impressive 2009 performances, Jennifer Waxman was chosen as the 2010 recipient of the prestigious award. Waxman, who trains with Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Stables in Wellington, FL, graciously accepted the trophy and thanked her many supporters. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10228
This is your premium equine online magazine portal, news aggregator and THE place
to list your horse-related equestrian events and advertise your equine
supplies, services, products, horses, ponies, equipment and target the Southern
USA. We are constantly enhancing HorsesintheSouth.com to be better and better
for you!
