Delphi's New Friesian Stablemate

...and the bartender says "Why the long face." The Friesian says "Well you would too if you were forced to wear underwear on your head." Heh heh.
This is Delphi's new stablemate, a four year old, beautiful, super-sweet Friesian gelding:
Here he is cuddling up to Buddy:
Don't ask me his name: it's some fancy-schmancy word I can't pronounce much less spell. His very kind owner said she hasn't picked a barn name for him yet.
Welcome to the neighborhood, tall dark and handsome!

The Big Horse

Here's Karen Brown schooling her Trakehner filly Lola:

and then there's me

Got to ride the big horse today! You can't even imagine how fun she is.

Turn Like a Ship

Quarter turns in canter, like the ones you must make make in second level test 2 from E to B with a simple change of lead at X with a 10 meter circle before and after at V and R, were the focus in our lesson this week. Begin by cantering a straight line-- think shoulder fore-- keep it straight with both your legs at the girth. You can even occasionally test the contact and suppleness by asking for a little counter flexion then back to normal flexion, but always staying straight in canter (as in shoulder fore). When you turn, ride a square 90 degree angle: half halt strongly on the outside rein, bring your outside leg back, and bring the shoulder around as though making a quarter pirouette. Then ride forward completely straight, and even test the straightness, throughness and suppleness with some slight counter flexion again. When riding 10 meter circles, make them a series of straight lines (like a 10 meter stop sign) with small turns on the haunches, bringing the shoulder around the circle keeping the horse in the outside rein with half halts and supporting the turn with your outside leg slightly behind the girth while your inside leg at the girth supports the bend.

Top 10 Reasons to Admire Tina Konyot

10. She owns and rides her own horse, the Danish Warmblood stallion Colecto V. No fancy schmancy syndicates here. Her recent win at the 2010 Festival of Champions August 15 at Collecting Gaits Farm in Kentucky was inspiring to watch. Photo credit SusanJStickle.com:
9. She is one of the most tactful riders you've ever seen, and you can see her horse giving to her and trying for her in every move. In her own words, "My first weekend, my horse was a little tired. But he never says no. He never, never says no."

8. Her stallion stood absolutely immobile on a loose rein while Tina kept one hand over her heart and the other hand on the buckle of the bradoon rein during the entire national anthem at the awards ceremony while the other horses circled nervously around Colecto or even had to be held by their groom while their rider was still mounted.

7. Colecto's stable mate and "girlfriend" is a miniature donkey that Tina got as a Valentine's day gift.

6. Tina refers to her horse as her "best buddy."

5. Among many other accolades, her team mate Steffen Peters stated she and Colecto have "the international picture that we like to see-- there is no doubt."
USEF team members for the FEI World Equestrian Games Todd Flettrich, Katherine Bateson, Tina Konyot, and Steffen Peters. Photo credit SusanJStickle.com:
4. Before her tests at the Festival of Champions, Tina casually walked Colecto calmly around the outside of the ring, occasionally giving his neck a pat, while waiting for the bell to ring.

3. For their victory gallop at the Festival, Tina galloped Colecto energetically forward on a long rein or at times dropped the reins altogether. Photo credit SusanJStickle.com:
2. She and Colecto V have had 11 consecutive Grand Prix wins over the last year, including Aachen, Germany.

And the number one reason to admire Tina Konyot:
1. She lets her stallion and international level dressage mount be a real horse by trail riding, allowing him to play outside a stall, and by being an all-around excellent owner to her beautiful boy Colecto V.

The Fat Envelope

Today I mailed Delphi's entry for the Windy Knoll USDF/USEF recognized show on September 25, 2010. Click here to read what was in the envelope.
We're one step closer to going down centerline toward General Burton!

Braids, continued

After three practice sessions, here's where we stand with the braiding as of today:

Still need to get the braids even tighter, but they are nicely down on the neck.

Braiding

In continued preparedness for recognized shows, I've started refreshing my braiding skills. I figure practicing at least twice per week will help the braids look more professional and less home-made. Here's where we are now:

I need to work on braiding tightly and securing the braids flatter to Delphi's neck. Also, I should change to gray thread instead of white.

LIVE Broadcasts from 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

Lexington, KY - Join the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) for a beta broadcast experience - four days of free LIVE streaming video from the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, in Gladstone, NJ.

This LIVE broadcast coverage will span two consecutive weekends, August 7-8 and 14-15, and will be available exclusively on USEFLIVE.com, a new video platform designed to showcase some of the very best live action equestrian sport in America.

Watch LIVE as 15 horse-and-rider combinations battle it out during USEF Selection Trials for a coveted slot on the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and watch LIVE as national champions emerge in five divisions including the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship; USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship; USEF National Young Adult "Brentina Cup" Dressage Championship; USEF National Young Rider Dressage Championship; and USEF National Junior Dressage Championship.

To view the broadcast schedule, competition program, photos and more, visit USEFLIVE.com