Arabian Horses are FUN!

Sunrise Farms South (in Jupiter Florida) has bred some nice arabians and half-arabians that have come to Sunrise Farms Sport Horses for some mileage. This video is from the first day of galloping in the 'back forty' in Newberry. Check out this video! I forgot how fun these hardy horses can be!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRO0wdF9R2w

International Dreams become Reality for Marquis and Lily

Marquis de Matcho and Lily Zilo are pictured here moments after winning the Prix St. George with a score of 67% at the White Fences Dressage show on June 12, 2010. The winning score also completed her certificate of competency to compete in the 16th Asian Games in China this coming November. Lily and 'Paco', (owned by Jillian Costello of Gainesville Florida) will travel to China to compete for team Hong Kong. The two qualifying scores were earned in less than two months after Lily and Paco joined up as a team. I am very proud of their progress, thus far, and look forward to coaching them through the next few months.

My Summer at Camp

The summer went by quickly for me as I taught 38 kids how to ride at a beautiful facility on Raquette Lake in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains in NY. More than half of the little ones had never ridden a horse, but by the end of July they were at least trotting on their own. Much thanks is owed to the gentle creature pictured here. He is a 21 year old purebred Arabian ( Skusic ++/)gelding with my 6 yr old granddaughter, Arienne, astride. I also had my niece, Alivia, with me who rode every day and was quite comfortable in the saddle by the third week. I will treasure the memories and photos of these two for some time to come, as they live more than 4 hours away from me and I almost never get to teach them to ride, and pass along the passion that I share for horses.

US Para Equestrian Competitors Need Funding

I am writing this from the CPEDI3* Para Equestrian Competition in Ashburn, Ontario. This is the largest Para Equestrian Competition ever held and there are 40 horses here and 7 nations being represented. By far, the Canadians have the best team of horses and also the most organized and professional looking Team. They are well funded, and each athlete has a team of helpers.

It is amazing to see how much effort it takes each athlete to prepare, and mount their horse. Imagine sitting in a wheelchair and leading, tacking, cleaning feeding and watering your horse. Now imagine getting to and from the show office over gravel, dirt and grass terrain. It is all such an effort!

The American team (there are about 10 athletes) are all self funded it really becomes a struggle to keep up with the other countries. Most are riding borrowed horses and some do not get to test out that horse until the day before the competition. What bravery.

Some of the Athletes are born with disabilities and some develop them through life (accidents, illnesses). All of them have a great positive attitude and super friendly.

In this photo is Kim, my student, riding Windsor's Mira. What the photo does not show is that it takes two people to get her on the horse- One to hold the horse and one to spot Kim as she transfers from the wheelchair and onto the block and then hops up to the top step and then a final push gets her on the the horse.

For more information about Para Equestrian Sports in the USA go to www.uspea.org.

Have some fun with IT!

My sister was having some trouble with her horse 'Florian's' desire to go forward in the 'big giant sandbox' at her facility in Wellington so Kismo and I joined her for some Pas de Deux fun. At first Florian was a little wary of this horse keeping pace with him but it is evident in this photo that he joined right in the dance!

Sometimes you have to be creative with your horses and take a risk and have some fun for goodness sake. Here we had the music up full blast to something latin (I think).

Photo credit: Erol Pinto

Hard Work Pays Off in Piaffe

Marquis de Matcho performing the Piaffe after working a great excercise (thanks Juan Matute) with his owner Jillian. His hind leg is active while he remains softly on the contact.

It is important to recognize that even trainers need a trainer or ground coach to help develop the sport horse.

I got some great coaching this week in Wellington and was able to pass some of the lesson along to Jill on 'Paco'. It is tiring for the horse to travel and exhausting for all concerned and thank GOD my other clients are patient for my return.

This photo shows that hard work does pay off! -SVdN

-SVdN

Adult Clinic retreat weekend

Marquis de Matcho -working piaffe

The weather was spectacular-finally a break in the cold snap! Donna learned to long line Charlie and Gift and then rode each after the long line work. This work is so important to supple all the muscles in the horses top line and bending through the neck and poll.

Martha learned piaffe and passage on Dancer, after riding her own Icaro XXIV who is just 5 and has not learned this yet.

Jill rode her own Susquehanna and we worked on the tempos for the new musical freestyle and the music that was selected for the 11 yr old Hannoverian mare.

Alexia rode Karona who is working all third level work (half-passes and counter canter and wald-canter transitions) and she is still confirming that the mare is in front of the leg in all movements. Alexia warmed up Dancer for Martha and was a great help in getting all the horses ready for work.

Jill also rode Marquis de Matcho (pictured above) and we worked on transitioning from collected trot to Piaffe and out. It was fun to watch the trot change after this work and get livelier and more animated. I also explained how this work puts the horse in the stress zone for moments and it is important when to know to go back to the comfort zone to calm the nerves of the horse who now has his adrenaline up.

Everyone worked very hard and I think all were exhausted but entertained.

Thanks to Jillian and Terry for the wonderful photos!

Marquis de Matcho Montage 2/16/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

Super reliable FEI horse for sale for an amateur, JR or YR!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Gladiator's Montage at OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ezmarelde sale video at OneTrueMedia.com

This is your chance to own a great mare at a nice price. Nice bloodlines with huge ground covering gaits and a super mind- this mare can be your new dance partner.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sunrise Farm Sport Horses Commercial

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Adult Weekend Retreat Clinic February 20-21, 2010

Sunrise Farms will be conducting a clinic the weekend of February 20-21, at the facility in Newberry Florida. Riders can bring their horse for one lesson each day and also ride one of the resident school horses at the training facility. This is a rare opportunity to learn the feel of a finished FEI horse and get balanced seat coaching to better achieve the timing and feel required to be a more successful rider.

Lunch is provided each day, and we will host a dinner Saturday night and topics of discussion will include saddle fit, chiropractic care and the use (and overuse) of supplements.

Stalls and overnight camping are available (at nominal charge) if arrangements are made in advance.

Price for weekend activities is 350.00.

Contact Shelley at 561-906-8910 or at srfsporthorses@gmail.com