Summer schooling show

The Haku Baldwin Horse Center in Makawao is always where I love to show. The big outdoor field of grass surounded by Jacaranda trees with the back drop of Halaeakala Crater is so peaceful.

Oahu Dressage Show

I just spent 2 days judging on Oahu at Hill Top in Waimanalo. It was truly spectacular with the arena bordered by all the beautiful shower tree's in Bloom. The back drop was the high fluted Koolau mountains topped in the clouds. Spectators lounged under the trees on the hill overlooking the arena. It was relaxing as a light breeze kept us cool through the weekend. Photo's to follow when I can find my camera cables :)

John Lassetter Clinic Report

We are indeed fortunate to have John Lassetter travel half way around the world to teach us. He arrived exhausted but was blessed with 3 days off before he had to teach. Jessica got him wading in the ocean and he spent some time delivering flowers with Dad. The lessons started on Thursday and ran through Sunday. Before we knew it he was "leaving on a jet plane". We had 3 new riders which was great. I was totally bummed that I could not ride Kalae. Marilee was probably exstatic to ride Kalae for the 4 days and she did a good job.
Once again riders were reminded to be Dillagent int making sure their arena figures were as accurate as possible. To remember to always reward the horse with voice, a scratch or a pat.
During the rides he continually advised the riders: Upper body back, stretch tall - up from the waist. Shoulder blades flat. Look up. Keep the tray level ( meaning dont have one hand lower or higher than the other as you imagine you are carring a tray of glasses and dont want them to slip off the tray).
He wanted the horses in general more forward. Come! They must start to track up and be more active behind. More off the leg. He had one horse who's hind quarters were trailing out behind and taking little steps go to canter for a 15 m circle then trot, then canter and over the poles in trot. His downward transitions were dying into a walk or halt. No you must keep him forward in the down transition, now canter again! This got him going and by the end of the lesson he was round and using his back properly.
Another rider wanted to work on more collection. Her lesson incorporated shoulder in to halt and off in shoulder-in again. 10m circles and the shoulder-in. Next medium trots across the diagonal. Shoulder in on the center line. Head to the wall leg yeild changing the bend to the opposite direction. The medium trots were coming along nicely.
One rider had a great lunge lesson where her position looked fabulous.
Of course I though the best lesson of the whole weekend was Zach riding Rupert.
With just 30 days under saddle he went in his first clinic. All the people lining the rail, the loud speaker in the corner and people on the observation deck he handled it amazinlg well. The 20m square to diamond pattern helped him. He did his first trot pole and soon there after did the whole curved line of 5-6 poles. He cantered both ways easily from the corners and down the long side. I was a proud mom!

April Competing in Colorado

I was generously offered to ride my friend Gwen's up and comming Grand Prix horse Safarie. She hopes to show him I2 and then GP at the end of this comming show season. He is a big handsome dutch gelding by Flemmming. The goal was to ride/show Prix Saint Georges to optain scores of 65% which would allow me to apply to advance in my judging from a "r" dressage judge to a "R". I arrived on a Monday with our 3 day show starting on Friday. I have trained my own mare Kalae to 4th level. We have been stuck on the flying changes for a few years due to lack of help. We just need tempi changes and we can show PSG ourselves. However due to the few shows on Maui, once I am at PSG it may take 2 years to even get 5 opportunities to show. That first day I was please I could sit his big suspended trot. That had been a worry. I could not get him to canter though. Safarie would give me a big walk to Passage transition instead. Each day we improved. I "walked" the test in the outdoor arena (no horse) and practiced my tempi changes in the car. On Thursday as we headed out to Colorado Springs we stopped at Kristi Wysocki's beautiful facility to ride in a regulation indoor. Kristi has been coaching me and will help me at the show. Here I would ride the full PSG for the first time. It went fairly well, I was happy and have learned so much. On the last extended trot I had gotten left behind in a chair seat and had felt a twinge in my upper back. By the time I walked back to the trailer I could hardly breath. This was most unfortunate as that afternoon as we walked in the show ground indoor I found I could not even post the trot. Off to Walmart for motrin, tiger balm and a back brace. The 3 days of cometition were very educational. My nerves affected me, my back was killing me and Safarie had spooked prior to my 2nd test, jumping on my foot and breaking a little toe. It was almost hummerous. I scored in the mid 50's. It was pure determination, I really have no idea in retrospect how I rode. It was a godsend that the show the nest weekend was cancled due to low entrys. On returning home I was found to have compression Fractures in the mid thorasic back.

Dressage Judges Forum in Los Angelous

Every 3 years the USEF requires the licensed officals or Judges to attend a 2 day forum. Usually there are 100+ judges together but the last forum I attended was a small gathering which I found to be much more productive. There were good discussions and questions were answered. This year they had a similar format and there were 25 of us. From learner judges to FEI judges. No class room, we sat on the sidelines at the Los Angelous Equestrian Center show "Festivle of the Horse". It was a good 2 days with lots of upper level riding which I enjoy as I do not get to see much of it being on Maui. 8 riders in the Grand Prix Special. What made it special was a friend from High school 4-H times was there apprenticing for her "r" license. We shared a hotel room and she knew the local spots to eat which made it great. Before I went to LA, right after I made my plane reservation everytime the TV was turned on it was a program about the "San Andreas fault, or Pacific rim EQ, or Tsuami. "Hello, what are you trying to tell me?" I was putting out the energy that the 3.5 days I was there there would be "NO EarthQuake". I left LAX on Easter Sunday at 8am and within a few hours there was a 7.0 EQ in nearby Mexico which rattled LA with over 100 after shocks. :) I actually felt 2 small tremblers while in Prescott AZ. a day or two later. While in Prescottt I was able to teach some lessons which was great. I also got a driving lesson by Dianne with "Thunder". That was fun. I was alittle trepidacious as he half reared in the shafts when Dianne first started out but she sorted him out quickly> apparently a new occurance. The next day he got out into the arena and was blasting every where, jumping the rail. Jim made the observation. "Hey Dianne I bet if you lunge him before it might help."

April showers bring May Flowers

It has been raining quite a bit on Maui. The good thing is the Alfalfa is really doing well! After the first cutting Dad fertalized it and in no time it was almost 2 feet high. Taste test. Feed orchard hay, alfalfa cubes and fresh cut alfalfa toghther to see which they prefer. FRESH of course.

Rupert at walk, trot and canter

Rupert is on ride number 6. Zach is doing a great job! A few days ago he cantered a bit after walking and trotting in the round pen. Friday he put on a side pull bridle and walk, trotted and cantered to the right no problem, nice and relaxed. Canter to the left was a rodeo bronc ride. I don't know how Zach stayed on as long as he did! He got right back on trotted around then got off and put a snaffle bit in. Thank goodness as the next L canter was a total take off. Haunches down, forehand up and scooting as fast as he could go in the round pen. In 30 seconds I think he went around 2-3 times. Zach was amazing staying on that. Lots of experience starting young horses well over 1,000 is what kept him on. His comment "That is a lot of horse". He repeated it again with the same scoot and run. Very interesting how the Right canter is so relaxed and to the L, his stiff side it is not.
Photo's to follow :)