Trakehners at the 2010 WEG

The following full and half-Trakehners competed in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky:

Dressage:
EXQUIS NADINE by E.H. Partout, out of Charites (KWPN), rider Hans Peter Minderhoud, The Netherlands – 10th after Grand Prix, 22nd after Grand Prix Special

HALBGOTT, approved stallion by E.H. Partout, out of Hatari by E.H. Consul, rider Marco Bernal, Colombia – 63rd after Grand Prix

MOORLAND’S TOTILAS by E.H. Gribaldi, out of a Dutch mare by Glendale (KWPN), Rider Edward Gal, The Netherlands – Individual Gold, Team Gold, Individual Gold in Freestyle

PRINS 32, Russian Trakehner, rider Susan de Klein, Netherlands Antilles – 39th after Grand Prix

SEDUC by Induc - Go On Then xx, rider Anne Troensegaard, Denmark – 47th after Grand Prix

Eventing:
JAKATA by Abdullah *Pg*E*, rider Piggy French, Great Britain – 24th after dressage, 12th after cross-country, 16th final

OPPOSITION BUZZ by Fleetwater Opposition, out of Jungle Bee xx by Java Tiger xx, rider Nicola Wilson, Great Britain – 42nd after dressage, 20th after cross-country, 15th final

OSTLER by Juror xx, out of Ostka by Jaskier, rider Lukasz Kazmierczak, Poland – 52nd after dressage, 54th after cross-country, 49th final

So, this moves Kobra von C and Kougar von C right to the top of the potential husband list for Delphi. Not that I'm looking, of course...

It's Always Something

In preparing to introduce Delphi to the double bridle, and as a useful training tool we are using a kimberwick bit on Delphi:
Delphi goes wonderfully in the bit and I am learning to develop more feel. However, Delphi has an ~10 centimeter benign melanoma right under her chin:
So when the kimberwick chain is not in action, it rests directly on the tumor:
Under her veterinarian's orders, we are starting Delphi on oral cimetidine to reduce or hopefully eliminate the melanoma. There is always the option of surgical removal, but I strongly hesitate to create a wound where there is otherwise nothing open. We'll see what happens on the cimetidine.

Gryphon Gives a Lesson

Some photo highlights of a Centerline Training lesson I audited this week:

Pleasant connection:

Good jump in the canter stride:

This tall Trakehner has a huge canter stride that Crystal does a nice job organizing:

More lovely connection:

The bounding canter:

More elastic trot:

What a good boy!

Photos from Windy Knoll

Active hindquarter:

Tom Poulin "S" in green at C:

There were moments of uphill tendency and suspension:

Nice braids:

At 59.2 our score wasn't quite there, but we're almost satisfactory at second level. Keep on striving!

Ye Ole Kimberwick

Our trainer has once again come through with another brilliant training aid. While a kimberwick bit is not legal for dressage competition, we are using it as a training tool.

Wikipedia defines the kimberwick as "a bit that offers the rider a slight curb effect and provides a bit more control than a snaffle."

We tried Delphi in a kimberwick this week. For my part, I like it. It allows me to take my focus off of constantly testing for throughness (by allowing me to keep Delphi more through with less effort) long enough to focus on things like my lower leg position or transitions without being distracted by the constant effort to keep Delphi relaxed.

When Delphi and I go back to our dearly beloved pattern of maul and pull, stiffen and yank, brace and tug (a pattern we've worked hard at these last five years), the kimberwick interupts the behavior-on both our parts-allowing me to feel how much more or less to half halt and release more clearly and allowing Delphi to self-reward and/or self-correct if she juts her head up in an effort to brace or get heavy. By interrupting the unwanted behavior and reinforcing the desired behavior, the kimberwick has become a good training tool for both Delphi and me.

At Journey's End

Actually just starting the journey. Team Delphi earned the first score toward our USDF bronze medal at Windy Knoll Farm's show September 25, 2010. We couldn't have done it without our trainer Karen Brown and the dedicated equestrian, technical, and emotional support from our groom Ceil and her assistant Marlene.

One for the scrapbook; I got a "fairly good" from General Burton on my RIDER score:

Other good scores:

• Both halts: 8, "straight."
• 10 meter circles and both leg yields: 7, "accurate" and "supple."
• Canter trans: 7, "balanced."
• Change of rein through trot at X: 7, "fluid."
• One loop maintaining counter canter: 7, "active."

The collective remarks from General Burton were: "Well done. Need to ask for more in extensions. More zest and enthusiasm."

We can certainly add more zest and enthusiasm now. After getting a score of 62.1 at first level from General Burton we truly are zesty and enthusiastic. Well done indeed, Pumpkin Pony!

Update: For a fun photo of General Burton, click here.

Delphi Schooling with Karen Brown

Braids Triumphant

The button braids won for our final practice before the WKF show:


And don't worry; I shaved those fuzzy ears today.

Ride Times and Forecast

My ride times for the WKF show Saturday September 25 are as follows:

• 8:11am- Second Level Test Two in Ring 2 (Judge Tom Poulin)
  

• 4:44pm- First Level Test Four in Ring 1 (Judge General J. Burton)

The weather forecast is: 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.

Update: Delphi will be going over to WKF Friday evening since I now have a stall due to our early morning ride time.

Keep Testing for Throughness

During our lesson today (the first in three weeks- woot woot!) we worked on "accordion horse" with an emphasis on keeping Delphi supple and through the aids. When I remember to apply the suppling aids before during and after the transitions, especially the transitions within gaits from collection to mediums and back to collection, Delphi stays much more through.

Keeping my legs back with a soft knee helps Delphi to come under from behind. I must focus on keeping my lower leg back on her side behind the girth: Karen suggested thinking of my lower legs as a paintbrush that lightly sweeps the horse's sides hanging from my relaxed knee.

Concurrently with the the leg (and whip as needed) aids, I should keep Delphi's jaw and poll relaxed. Do this with flexions and counter-flexions, even over flexions, then GIVE somewhere to let the horse stretch down, then do flexions and counter-flexions again. Same idea with half halts: half halt strongly, but then GIVE somewhere.

Never maintain a mauling pull on the reins if the horse gets strong. Especially when returning to collected gaits from medium gates: it's okay (and necessary) to half halt strongly, but remember after each half halt there must follow a give, and the half halt must be concurrent with leg aids behind the girth, then repeat as necessary and keep repeating in all gaits and paces to keep the horse through and supple.