Welcome to Barnmice, Brenda!
Great photos, can't wait to see more!

I am just figuring out this board and wanted to send you private message. But anyway...YOUR horses are so beautiful! I am so jealous you have TWO andalusians and, it appears, your own farm! I know little about andalusian bloodlines, but learning and also interested in the history of iberian breeds over the centuries.
thanks again about your comments but Tess looks SO different since she has started dressage trainer. And please know that is NOT ME riding her. I am just lucky to board at a barn with an FEI rider who is desperate to ride but horseless. She had never ridden andalusian and was VERY skeptical about perch aspect but now has changed her mind!
I should show you before and after photos, after 4 months Tess is conformationally a different horse. I really could use a similar bootcamp myself, in more ways than one. Barb

Hello again,
This is quite an interesting site, to see other people's horses, read their concerns and interests, and make a new friend how loves horses too.
I looked at the site where the horse was lunged ?? can't remember ..and became muscled and collected over a period of time,
I want the book The Art of Lunging so I can use that along with my riding to build my horses bodies.
I'll post another pic soon of my little Morgan buddy, he hasn't been ridden much yet, I was in no hurry because I wanted his head to get settled, he was too spunky for me at first, I don't want to get thrown and break anything, I love to ride and am being careful.

How much is the board where you live? In this area it ranges from $275 for min. (no indoor riding) to the sky is the limit. My instructor has an arena, see her site at On Eagle's Wings Farm, Plainfield IN, and see her horses too, she charges about $325, may be going up.

How far away is your barn? any chance to get her home? and sometimes home isn't the answer, cause if you go away there is always a struggle to find someone DEPENDABLE

oops! dependable to do the chorse for me.

I have been working on this place for several years, first we had a run-in shed and a small paddock. we moved here in 2000, I had an antique Pony, about 40 years old, and my 25 yr old first Morgan, stallion, I loved so much, Pony was my children's mount and I bought the Morgan as a yearling. Just got the barn finished and the pony died and then in the same fall my Morgan fell and broke his leg. I thought we were both going to die, I still dream about riding him and hope when I move to the next life he will be there.

I'm in no hurry, got to get on to raising this special foal and I hope for more.

Talk with you again I hope.
Brenda

Thank you, it's been a hard week. I'm trying to smile and laugh, because Esme was all about smiling.

Hey Brenda,
it WAS warm but now cold front, 37 degrees tonight, dark and windy. Tess was energetic which unfortunately can transmit into stubborn temper tantrums. She tried very hard to buck me off in a sequence energetic flip flops at the bottom of a hill...you know, it's just SO SO HARD to think about walking up that LONG hill. I make her walk up...She thinks, "my mother abuses me so..." haha, poor Tess, her mother really does not love her enough to be so mean. I just made her attack that hill repeatedly until she decided to wallk up nicelely.
Then wem leave the evil pasture, tempi change down the road to the home barn floating across the asphalt wiht her mother imagining down the road, back to the barn, in a perfect passage.
Couldn't ask for
Thankfully for this 52 yo woman, dressage has taught me to sit deeply, confidently, and drive the honey/bitch forward.
We both survived

whew sorry for all the misspells. I do believe I was falling asleep while writing that entry! Last night was exhilarating but once the adrenalin rush over, I just wanted to collapse. Bad behavior is so rare for Tess but when it happens I've just vowed to never let her get away it. Looking back, I am actually glad to be going to work today (where life's a bit tamer).

Thanks so much!!! We are working on everythng but my main idea would be dressage as well. Her pedigree she is out of 2 horses at Sunny Acre morgans, her dads Samor's Excalibur

Congrats on that new foal I would love see some pictures!

Thanks for your enquiry you can find me on Facebook, where you can go to my groups and under Gweek Riding Center should be the info you are looking for. Are you referring to the CHA clinics?

Hi, I am sure she would be happy to talk with you, but will ask her before posting information. He is a wonderful little guy. His sire is georgeous, and I think her plans include Dressage for him. Donna.

Hi Brenda, we just last year bought 103 acres of land, built a house, a yr ago Feb. we moved in and in May we started the barn so we're always building something. The barn has been up a year now and we have 6 stalls, tack room, feed room, lounge, bathroom and washstall. Not all completed yet but this past week we built lockers. I have 2 horses of my own and 1 boarder, another coming on Sunday and another on the first of July. That's enough for now. We have about 5 acres fenced in board fence so far and 50 acres to go, god sounds like a long project but nice to hear you've been at it 8 years and still building. Now I don't feel so bad. The time and $$$ dosen't come fast enough. I've been riding dressage for 20 years but not getting consistant lessons . Only do it as a hobby. Not into showing so my horses are my pets but I love dressage and my bay gelding has the movement and is a lot of fun to school but I'm only doing basics.

Hi! I'm doing better (still extreamly busy though! :) ) I'm glad to here that everything is going well for you and I hope for the very best when august rolls around!

Hi Brenda I am the one with the Don Marco gelding. Arador will be 2 this July, he is growing up fast. Who was the Dam of your mare Fiesta? I have lots of photos, depending on what you want to see? Baby or older.
There are not too many Don Marco babies out there and he is about 20 or more now.

Hi Brenda when I figure out how all this barnmice group works I will add more photos and, do you comment to a group or individuals? I can sent some stallion info too.
Don Marco is at the farm Arador came from, Miraval Andalusians. She also has Malibu K, and Aragon ( son of imaginario) and also
Mazarati DW (Don Marco x Ferrari K), now sold. I know of other nice looking stallions will get back to you.
Cynthia

Hi Bren....the Don marcos gelding's owner is now on here. I will let her answer all your questions !! Hi Cynthia !! Welcome !!

Well, I've been working with a youngster at my barn named Cole lately...He is three and a half years old. I've been riding cole for three months now and he's wonderful horse, but it would be nice if he could just focus for five seconds! I love him though and should have pictures to upload soon. I'm working with Cole and will show him next summer. I'll be the first to show him, so it should be interesting... ;)

You have been busy! Where are you located? Could drop by one day and would still like to keep in touch. Glad you got the bulk of the work done. I did now know you were old. I got the first pension cheques last week. The big 65. Keep in touch. Gail.

Hi Brenda
I am in ther process of adding photos have some up and more uploading. Is this the late comment you left? it says you left a comment but I am not sure if this was the one? Only one I can see though.

Hi Brenda - Natalie and Miriam will be attending the Eq. Aff. this year. If you wish to book and appointment for them to see you, please contact Miriam directly at mboutros@schleese.com and let her know your needs.
Thanks!

I'll be showing this summer. It's still pretty cold here right now, but I'll be doing plenty of jumping comps. as soon as it warms up. heh, good luck with your show horses, sounds like it's going to be an interesting season for you, but hey, there's still plenty of time to work out the kinks! At my barn everything is in full swing, everyone's preparing for the upcoming show season, and numerous clinics that are planed for this year. And there's always the unofficial comps between the owners of the various horses at the barn. School will is going to be wrapping up soon, and I'll be thankful for the extra barn time.
Great to hear from you! ;)

Hi Brenda
I have not been on this site for awhile. I had signed up to facebook as well and the more I view it the more I find friends and people I know in the horse world. looking forward to hearing from you. So you are going to the equesterain games in Kentucky 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games? I would love to go to that have been thinking about doing just that. email me at home if you still have my email.
cynthia

Well slight change of plans this summer. My old instructer had some issues in her personal life and she resigned from her position and so I spent the summer in search of a new barn. I finally about a week ago joined Beckett Run Equestrian Team and my first IEA show is going to be on October 9th. So naturally, I'm just happy to be riding and again. The thing is, I've only been riding dressage, but Beckett Run is a hunt seat barn... so I've got a lot of relearning to do in a month. I guess I did always say that I wanted to be able to ride several different disciplines... Anyway, schools started for me again, and life's crazier than ever. Great to hear about your showing this summer! :)

Hi Brenda
I have not been on here in a long... while. Wow I wish I were going to the WEG We were planning to but so difficult to find a resonably priced hotel! too bad I would have loved to have gone. I was thinking about signing on to the games FEI tv but have not:( How are you and your horses? I have ridden Arador a few times with nurtural Bitless bridle and saddle, with lead attached, so far so good!! I should get some new photos up! email if you get a chance, if you do not have my email any more let me know :)

Brenda,
there is a long explanation and a short one to the problematics of so called "jaw flexion" (no, I am not talking about rollkur, I am talking about messing up the horse's mouth so it would bend its neck a give a rider better control of its body). The long one would make a brochure. The short one is simple: what you perceive as a relaxation is actually a submission. It is the inability of the horse to fight you. It feels soft to you. But it is still a bad form of training, and most people never progress far since they never actually learn how to ride a horse without using their hands to manipulate the horse's neck.

Only in horse riding, we use a mouth of a living creature to "relax" the body. I would like people to name me one human experience, where such physiology would take place? Crazy idea, isn't it?

When we manipulate horse's mouth, we make it helpless. Mentally. The horse bend their neck, they cannot use all muscles for propulsion, and they become mentally subdued. The resistance seemingly disappears, and we are free to do our way. Therefore, mouth-neck manipulation has been a staple method of training, in all disciplines, no exception. People go by their own feeling, never even think for a moment, why the horse in their opinion is supposed to feel good all of the sudden about something, he would never give up voluntarilly? Strange thing, isn't it?

But I have been through it. Many times. I have left this practice. I no longer use bits, and I don't demand - so called flexed necked. Flexion of the neck must in my training come from the athletic development, from the body itself, from increased level of coordination NEVER from the hands of a rider. I learned, that if I cannot train my horse through the whole body, through a friendly approach, positive motivation, free of fear, force, exhaustion, without taking his freedom, I am nothing, but a sorry state of a rider.

Hi Brenda,
the whole idea behind bitless is to learn to use different riding practices, which can be radically departing from the "usual". I emphasize CAN, because some people are stuck with a head and neck manipulation even when the bit is not there. They just use pressures and friction movements on the nose instead of the jaw.

I know, there are federations that do not allow bitles bridles in the official competitions. That is not going to hold forewer. There are already some federations in Europe that either approved, or are in the process of it. Our Club, that uses bitless bridles as a staple tack has just been asked to forward recommendations to the Czech Equestrian Federation. It is a start. Of course, the next challenge is to learn how to train horses differently. That is not going to be easy under the current state of equestrian decadency.

All methods are currently based on submission first. Submission is achieved when we restrict horse's freedom to the point, it realizes he cannot do much about it. It can be done via a roundpen, flexion exercize of the neck, manipulation of jaws, rollkur, even lunge-lining with sidereins etc.. It can also be purely psychological. The so called excellent trainers have one thing in common - they achieve this type of dominance quickly, without any apparent resistance.

We, in our Club are striving for different approach. The approach is based on helping the horse to discover the benefits of being ridden, and accept work as an evolutionary concept. The motto is simple: SKILLS before FORMAT. Never the other way around. The result is fabulous, but it takes longer. Friendly horse, mentally stable, healthy and not proned to injuries and stress, pleasant to ride, showing you a joy ... and people actually leaving stable HAPPY, with no need to compete or show to get a thrill. They are in different places :-)

Hi Brenda. Thanks you so much for this info! I have already been in touch with Cordia Pearson about a gently used l&r elipse saddle to see if she can make it work for us. I find the idea of a 17.5 tree with an 18in seat most intriguing and may be the answer to our problem! Apparently Cordia has much experience fitting andalusians so we will see. My spanish mare Solara de los encantada is by Malandante and is half sister to Millenium TCV and Renaissance TCV. She is registered with IALHA but not spain. The Canadian association CAPREH told me it would not be possible to get her revised because her dam was never presented. However, after meeting the people at the Foundation for the PRE at the WEG, I learned that this is not so. Since Solara's breeding is all spanish, I would be able to get started by having her inscribed. Well I am so pleased to learn this and not very happy with the rep at CAPREH.. My beautiful Solara is 8 yrs old now and we purchased her in New Hampshire unstarted 4 yrs ago as a dressage prospect. she is rather timid and spooky so have not shown her to date but attend clinics regularly. We are looking for a nice stallion for her known to pass on a calmer temperment. A cowboy reiner has helped me tremendously with the behavior issues recently and I am confident that we will be showing next yr. We also have a home bred part andalusian by Botijo M. We call him baby brio, haha and he has the golden temperment that I wilsh Solara would have. Regrettably, he is on the small side at age 4, 15hh. Nice talking to you
Best regards
Mona

Hi Brenda. Yes, I think I am indeed confused. The rep from the foundation says they are recognized by ANCCE? Perhaps I misunderstood as I am not well informed on these matters. Yes Solara is registered with the IALHA and has a (s) suffix after her registration #, which apparently signifies a spanish lineage, I have not investigated any further regarding cost and did not even think about asking about a passport. As you can see, I have much to learn about this process.if the foundation is not recognized by Spain, I will not bother for sure. She did though mention that Spain has opened the books at different times allowing spanish horses to be included in the registry? ,Do you know what she meant by this?
Thanks again Brenda
Mona