HRH Lola Kai

Lola posed for us at the trailer after our ride:

Chocolate Bayou Trail Ride

Karen and Lola, Rachel and Wizard, and Delphi and I went for a hack along Chocolate Bayou today.

Lola and Wizard stop for a snack:

Karen and Lola in the honeysuckle:

Rachel and Wizard enjoying the view, with Delphi in foreground:

Delphi and I pose, with Lola's ears in the foreground:
Prissy was our advance guard:

Lola and Wizard had a gallop through the wildflowers:

What fun!

Delphi on the ATA Home Page

Click on "Delphinia and Chaffin win at Topsider Farm Dressage I" to see the News From the Show Circuits on the American Trakhener Association website.

Barn Buddies

As seen from Delphinia's back today during our trail ride with Wizard and Rachel:

Photo Shoot

Because we took absolutely NO pictures at our last show (Topsider Dressage I) today I braided Delphi, got her all cleaned up, and put on her show browband to take a couple photos for posterity's sake.

Long Lines

In-hand driving is an excellent way to develop balance and engagement; it encourages the horse to better connect from behind so the hind legs can step under to carry weight.
Karen taught us some basics in our lesson this week.

We begin:

Just as in riding, I keep my elbows down and my core engaged:

Though we'd like to see her neck more relaxed, Delphi is engaged and becoming more uphill:

Delphi is relaxing into the work; I need to lower my elbows so my rein aids are more effective:

Uphill canter; engaged and in self carriage:

The uphill tendency is there; we would prefer Delphi's neck be more relaxed so she can better raise her withers:

Inside (Delphi's right) hind leg stepping well under her body, with withers raised in relative elevation:

Photo credits: Karen Brown

Cloning and Gene Banking

ViaGen, "The Cloning Company" can produce an exact genetic replica of my horse. Okay not MY horse, of course, but one's horse. Allie comes to mind: a 25 year old Hanoverian gelding with the patience and demeanor of a saint; Moorlands Totilas also comes to mind: how many horses earn in the 90th percentiles in Grand Prix dressage? (That would be a sum total of one: the Trakehner Totilas.)

So, for only $150,000 one can have an exact genetic clone produced of one's mare, stallion, or GELDING. Not sure if it's right for you now, or you just want to have a safety net to fall back on in case of accident or you geld a colt that later proves it could have been stallion material? For $1,500 you can gene bank your horse's DNA for storage for future cloning. But act now: only live tissue can be used so if your horse passes it's too late. Be aware: in my sport of Dressage there are no current restrictions about competing on clones; the Jockey Club flat refuses to register any clones and the AQHA racing industry is trying to fight the registration of clones for race track use.

Personally I see both sides: as a scientist it is definitely tampering with nature to throw out the possibility of desirable genetic mutations by making a heritable stamp of an existing animal (for example, Allie cribs: would his clone crib also?) and possibly stunting natural genetic progression for the improvement of modern horses. On the other hand, as an amateur horse owner, I certainly see the allure of reproducing an exact replica of a beloved animal that has proven itself in the barn aisle, competition arena, daily schooling, and maybe even the breeding shed.

Either way it is exciting to think about the possibilities of attaining the "perfect" horse, whether through the new hindsight of cloning or the traditional methods of humans trialing genetics over successive generations through selective breeding.

Where Are They Now from Viagen on Vimeo.

Topsider Spring Show Stills

Team Delphi bids a fond farewell to first level, and a warm hello to second and third level.

Topsider Dressage One Highlights

Delphi acquitted herself nicely this weekend and got her final first level medal-qualifying score. Judge Joan Darnell's comments were:

• For Karen in Second Level Test Three: "Nice pair- horse needs to better connect from behind so hind legs can step under and carry weight. Lateral movements need more suppleness and engagement."
• For me in Second Level Test One: "Attractive horse-" (At least she didn't say "Nice tail!") "Needs to improve uphill balance and engagement for improved collection and self carriage."
• For me in First Level Test One: "Attractive, willing horse. Try to develop more balance so horse isn't on forehand. Shows bend, but could have more energy at times."

Show Strategy

With our next recognized show less than a week away, show nerves have started creeping their way up my spine. Instead of trying to shrug them off or ignore them, I've decided to face them head on:

• Remember that I've stacked all the cards in my favor: while I may not ride the fanciest or most expensive horse, I ride a very nice mare that I love dearly and am proud to own. She has been consistently tutored by the best possible trainers, including Jeff Moore, Lurena Bell, and Karen Brown. Karen will be at the show to warm up Delphi and coach; I've done clinics when available; take a weekly lesson; Delphi is schooled and consistently ridden (wet saddle pad syndrome); I can honestly say I've done my due diligence.
  

• Rather than say "I'm not going to worry," I drew a bath, set a time limit, and said "Fine, go ahead and worry-- whatever your worst fears are-- dwell on them for this time period." After my time was up, I resolved to act on my chiefest fears, namely forgetting something important or leaving something undone or neglected. I made a list of everything to bring with me from house, grocery, and barn, and made a list of everything I must get done before the show date.

• Keep positively focused on our goal: we have every reason to expect that we will earn our final first level and initial second level scores toward our USDF bronze medal. And Delphi, piloted by Karen, is quite capable of qualifying for the second level open championship.