Rodeo debuts his Grand Prix Kur earning 67.8%

Rodeo enjoying his gallop on the 'Track'.

Despite the 92+ degrees in Tampa, Rodeo scored a 67.8 in his Grand Prix musical freestyle. The choreography has a lot of passage including the centerline entry to salute and passage voltes with transitions in and out of the trot and extended trot. It was written for cooler weather, for sure. The two tempi's happen on a short diagonal and continue along the rail, and the one tempi's start along the rail and have two 90 degree turns at B and E. It took some coaxing but the big guy figured out the trick after a few practice rounds. I was extremely happy with the 7.5's on both extended trot and canter since the heat was so oppressive and they both happen after all that Passage!

Rodeo is offered for sale...please Shelley at 561-906-8910.

Rodeo will be training in NY until August 10, 2012.

Safari wins FEI Freestyle in back to back Florida Shows

Safari, a 13 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Flemingh has won the FEI Intermediare Freestyle again, with another score over 70% at the Sunburn Classic in Tampa on June 10, 2012. This fancy and level headed 16.2 hand red head loves the music and the flow of his test, and is one of the easiest horses I have had the pleasure of showing. He is straightforward in his warmup and doesn't look at a thing outside the arena. He had never done changes (in a test) on the broken line, but I decided that it was time to try the shallow serpentine for the three tempi's and the half-circle in the two tempi's. The steep canter half-pass leads to the full pirouettes, and he scored 8 on his balanced extended canter. I am pleased with his willingness to try new things!
Safari is for sale...contact Shelley at 561-906-8910
Safari will be training in NY until August 10, 2012.

Congratulations to Maya Hebert!

Congratulations go out to Maya Hebert of Jonesville Florida on the acquisition of Ramena Celine Neroli (Ramiros x Quelle est bella Neroli), a 4 yr old Holsetiner mare, bred by Sunrise Farms Sport Horses and Vertu Sport Horses.

Congratulations to Kristen Reed!

Kristen Reed of Dallas TX is the proud new owner of Die Sonne (Dutch), an 8 year old Hanoverian Gelding by Del Piero out of Wolkenrose.

Rodeo and his first Grand Prix

So proud of Rodeo and his first three shows at Grand Prix. This powerful 17.2 hand dutch gelding (Jsselmeer x Abolien) came to me from Sharon Criswell (Murietta California) after he had spent ten months in the pasture resting from a small tendon inflamation. He arrived at SRF Sporthorses in November (a week after I broke my leg) and we both began our rehabilitation together. I'm sure it was s painful for him as it was for me. Nevertheless, not even four months later he has completed his third show at Grand Prix, and we are figuring it out together. There is much to consider: feed schedule, vitamins, supplements, shoeing, turn out schedule, and schooling schedule. At the show we have to consider the warm up time and techniques to get this big guy to sit down, handling the spooky stuff, consider the footing in the arenas at the shows, and the ever changes weather pattern in florida (minute to minute).

Rodeo has been a challenging project, and it is more than a full time job, but I have loved every minute of it.

I have to thanks my family for understanding my absence during the holidays, and my husband for his never ending support. Also thanks to Greta Wrigley for her 'eyes on the ground' and to Sheri for having the faith in me to send the Big Guy to me.