Friday afternoon at the World Cup in Las Vegas was a heartful one as Debbie McDonald retired her mare, Brentina. I am very much looking forward to interviewing Debbie today as I’d like to know just what was going through her mind as Brentina piaffe and passaged her way (in-hand) out of the arena to that fabulous well know tune for the duo, Ms. Aretha Franklins “Respect”.
Here’s a few pictures of the event…
A friend up in VA is hosting Michael Barisone at her facility. I’m quite bummed we’re shooting and too busy to attend the event!!!! I wanted to share as it sounds just too neat, I hear he’s a fabulous rider and trainer and she has just a beautiful facility!! Check it out if you have a chance! Here’s the info…
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Dressage Clinic with Michael Barisone
April 25th and 26th 2009
Barisone and Neruda solidified their place in the international dressage ranks in 2006 with two Grand
Prix wins in Florida, then they traveled to Europe and gained valuable international experience against some
of the world’s best. They returned to the U.S. and won the CDI3* Del Mar in April 2008. They were sixth
overall at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions in June. The pair had excellent finishes at
the Saugerties CDI3* and at Dressage at Devon during the summer of 2007.
Barisone was a member of the 1999 USET Developing Rider Tour, and earned a Team Silver medal at the
Nations’ Cup in Hickstead, England. In 1997, he earned a Team Gold medal aboard Comanche at the
CDIO Hickstead in England, the first time the U.S. had ever won a dressage Nations Cup, and finished a
strong second in the Grand Prix Special behind teammate Susan Blinks.
Barisone is a U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist. He is also a former
winner of the USDF Junior/Young Rider awards at the First and Fourth levels. He was a traveling
altenate for the 2008 Olympic US Dressage Team. Come join us, either as a rider or an auditor, for two days
of clinic with Michael Barisone. Forty-five minute private sessions are $190 each. Auditors are welcome for $30 per day which includes hot lunch.
Please contact Shannon if interested in attending either as a rider or auditor. Email: gp588@hotmail.com.
Phone: (703) 431-5663.
Please send check to: (your check holds your space)
Shannon Pedlar
ATTN: Michael Barisone Clinic
41793 Tutt Lane
Leesburg, VA 20176
Indicate which days and the time of day you would prefer. We will do our best to accommodate your requests.
CLINIC TO BE HELD AT:
Riverside Equestrian
19267 Foggy Bottom Road
Bluemont, Virginia
540-554-8221
Please see website for directions.
www.RiversideEquestrian.org
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The barn is functional. The perimeter fence set. The dressage court ready. All it took was moving a few simple potted plants around to make the cute little barn a tad bit elegant.
Oh and check out those FABULOUS mats. They’ll be appearing in a future webisode and dang they were soooooo easy to install!!
I know most think of dressage and/or horse gals as typical prima donnas who’s nails are manicured and shirts starched. Well I’m here to tell you that most love horses so much they will do everything and anything it takes to make their passion a reality. That doesn’t stop with bucking hay. Here’s the 16 bales before and the nicely stacked and organized 16 bales after. It was actually a great working out and with proper lifting fabulous for my lower back which are muscle we use to ride so win-win situation.
Nothing is more rewarding than accomplishing something. Nothing is more rewarding than accomplishing something that my small size and stature would suggest I’m not capable of! It took me a while doing it solo but it was so worth it snapping this photo of the front gate after I’d hung it!
Next step? I’m going to paint it red to match the farmhouse door and barn roof!
I couldn’t pass up this photo of a friends front license reflecting on the car park!
Last but certainly not least we’re getting the dressage court put in. Here’s a series of photos from near start to almost ready for riding.
I’m REALLY excited to use my ABI tool to get the product moved evenly. But moreso, I can’t wait to start riding in it! Yah!
Some leveling:
The ruts. What would make someone thing a dump truck full of sand-like product would not get stuck in a very wet area? It has been raining for 3 days before hand. LOL!
Round and round and up and down and we’re almost there!
It’s getting closer! Does look pretty but next is mixing the product in.
This is after the first drag. It’s going to take some work to get the material perfect but it’s a fabulous start!
Here’s a cute picture of Cararra’s first night in her barn! We’ve been riding regularly and are planning to enter our first show together and her first show EVER here very soon!
We’re getting the perimeter fence up. Ex is a master of mixing concrete and leveling fence posts!
They are EXCELLENT supervisors!
