Hi again! So I promised to fill you in on the Steffen clinic, which was the official Developing Riders list clinic. I ended up bringing Quincy, and he was a super star.

He traveled pretty well, as we are only about 2.5 hours away from Gladstone. He got there and settled in right away. Made friends with Sue Jacoma's Wadamur, who won the special at Devon, and I think handled arriving to a new place really well. I decided that I should ride him indoors because I didn't want to waste my whole lesson cantering him around, wearing him down!

So the first day, we worked on making him honest to my half halt. Because he is a very emotional horse, Steffen felt it was really important that he stay focused on me. He is spooky only sometimes, and then sometimes the work makes him really nervous. He is  hard to read that way. There were these acorns pelting the roof of the arena, and he never even seemed to notice that, but someone walking through the leaves outside the arena totally freaked him out. Never a dull moment with him, but wow what a horse! After our lessons on Friday, we watched all our lessons on the big screen in the USET library, and I just think Quincy is a marvelous horse.

With Steffen, it always comes back to basics. It never is about fancy moves or stress, always just about getting the horse through and with you. Which for Quincy was perfect, because he can do all the movements, but when he is all keyed up I don't have his back or his head for that matter. So I think I got a lot more access to him by putting him a little deeper in the neck, and when he starts to get emotional, I can collect him with a deep neck and "make him wait for me". It worked great in the canter, but I think he gets a little too tense in the trot, because he does not know piaffe well enough yet. I think in about six months, it will be very helpful in trot as well, but just in the last 3 weeks have we been able to get him to relax about piaffe. The whole thing is exciting! I also think Quin felt special being the only horse we brought up there, so that deepened our bond. With Quin, I think that bond will be very important in the years to come. Steffen thought I was doing a great job, and that all Quincy needed was relaxation, suppleness, and time.

On Thursday, I flew to Fl to look at a horse for my student, Jean. It felt wonderful to be back in Fl, staying in my condo, and eating dinner at Nicole's. Fl is such an amazing culture to be a part of. It was fun to see familiar faces already and I have not even moved down yet for the season. Jean and the gelding got along great and we will do a vetting in the next few days, so keep your fingers crossed!

I had to hurry to the airport on Fri to get back to Philly, so I could catch my flight to northern Wisconsin to teach a clinic at the Fosters. And just when I think I may be starting to get tired from my crazy schedule, I get to my destination and just get so inspired by my students and I get all enthusiastic about dressage again. Good I love this sport!

Clinic went excellently and everyone is doing a terrific job! Even though Katie will bring George to Fl, I hope to still get up there at least once over the winter. After all, Lynne built a barn with heaters, so it won't be too cold.

On a very sad and disappointing note, Rb will be going home back to Suzanne Dansby-Bollman's farm. It was an awesome 6 months and I enjoyed riding him immensely. I have learned a lot, and really fell in love with him. I will miss seeing his sparkling eyes in my barn, but that is the sport. I wish I could own them all and keep them all forever. We had been going over the details of the contract, and we just were not able to reach an agreement, so he will be heading back home. I wish only the best for both Rb and Suzanne.

This week I am looking very forward to getting to know the new boy, Odie who moved in this weekend. He is 4, and maybe heading for the young horse classes. I do have to say that I ADORE the new girl, Princess. She is a 3 yr old Royal Prince daughter, owned by Wendy and Marty Costello (www.KentIslandSporthorses.com). Princess has the best attitude I have come across in a long time, one of the easiest babies I have ridden, ever! Emily Covington did a super job starting her, and I'm very excited to be taking over the ride. She may also do the young horse classes, although it is so early yet to be able to tell. But I love her already. AND, this weekend the Young Dressage Horse Trainer's Symposium is happening! Thanks to the generosity of Harmony Sporthorses, the top young horse trainers come and gather and exchange ideas. It is a wknd full of inspiration, education, and also lots of fun! Will fill you in next week! Til then, happy riding! X