Sunrise Farms Sport Horses, Inc.: World Famous Lipizzaner Stallion Show

Sunrise Farms Sport Horses, Inc.: World Famous Lipizzaner Stallion Show: "Lipizzaner"

World Famous Lipizzaner Stallion Show

The past 6 weeks has been an unbelievable experience. The schedule is grueling but the horses are stoic and wonderful and it is immediately evident that they are truly 'war horses'. They frequently have 15 hour work days, many hours of which are schooling on a concrete floor, or standing tied to a hay string on a tie line back stage, standing in their tack during the 1.5 hour show doing whatever is asked of them at the moment - and everything is in collection. This collection is asked of them with out a warmup. The warmup is walking in a 10 meter circle , all 8 stallions back stage for (maybe) 8 minutes.

When the curtain opens, even the most scared horse on the squad lifts his shoulders as if to say silently "I am here and this is my job!" Yes, the rider still has to ride the stallion through the show and stay straight, engaged and on the aids, but the good riders always make it look to the audience as if this is the easiest job in the world.

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.