I'll pick up near where I left, Sunday at the horse show. During the break between the Medien Cup and Grand Prix Freestyle I was trying on some new riding pants and threw my back. I wish I had some exciting story that involved injuring myself on a wild horse and my heroic & amazing riding efforts, but no, it was breeches. On sale. Yeesh. After whining my way through the afternoon I decided to go to the hospital, where a bit of chiropractic work and some good pills saved the day and by the next afternoon my lower back was fine. Then my middle/upper back & neck started to hurt. Tuesday's visit to my regular sports medicine doctor and a bit more chiro helped my middle back, but by Thursday night/Friday morning my neck was in a bad way. After riding my big gelding Friday morning I went back to the hospital to see the magician who fixed my lower back Sunday night. He tried some more chiro work but said my muscles were extremely tight and so we opted for a cortisone injection. Hurt like a SOB, but man, the relief is worth it!!

After three doctors visits in six days, I went Saturday afternoon to a horse show with my big pony, Dutchman. Now, Dutchy and I haven't been having the most stellar time lately, as he is simply a man's horse . Not just any man, but a big man. While I don't consider myself a delicate, wee girl, this horse makes me feel like just that. In other situations that might be nice, but for my job it sucks. So it was only with the thought of keeping the boss happy that I saddled up Dutchy for competition once again. Our first test, Dressurpferde L was an odd go. We got the great marks of "8" for walk, trot, and canter, then a "5" for submission & throughness. That was probably because we couldn't show left bend and did an awesome giraffe impression in most of the left lead canter. Gads. We ended up with an overall mark of 7.2, not too far from placing. 

I really didn't want to bother with the second class, another Dressurpferde L, but this one an LVM qualifier (tougher competition), but the boss was encouraging, saying what have I got to lose, it's only going to get better through experience, and all the other wise, encouraging words I didn't want to hear. So I was the first to go in the LVM class, and what do you know? We rocked it. Dutchy got great marks finishing with the elusive 8.0, we finished 3rd, even beating Ingrid on Ratzinger and one of her lovely eventing five year olds!

Sunday I got to show Dante again, at M10 and S6. I rode the M10 in Munster in July, but this was my first S6, which is in between a PSG and I1. I didn't have any eyes on the ground at this show, so I was happy with our scores of 64+% in both classes. In the M it placed us 8th of 27, but in the S we only finished 16 of 26 combinations!! A lot of really good quality in the S class, which was won by a wee boy who's probably a few years away from being eligible for his driver's license! While of course I had fantasies of placing MUCH higher than 16th, I was happy with our first attempt at that level. After watching the video I wanted to kick myself for the silly mistakes where I just gave points away (that left pirouette that felt pretty good? No, that was a small circle!), but that's how we learn! I will try to post the videos of our tests in the next week, so that you can watch and learn what NOT to do! Once again, I can't believe that Ingrid has given me the chance to show her wonderful Dante at the higher levels, giving me the experience and exposure here that is so important for my future. I maybe haven't mentioned it in three postings, but Ingrid is the most amazing woman I've ever met!

Speaking of the Amazing One, its official, she's on the team for WEG!!! Since I'm there already to watch the dressage, now I'll have to watch the Eventing and cheer on Ingrid and Braxxi! Wohoo!

Ok, off to work now. I will write another update soon about my fantastic trip to Canada. While it was a nightmare for me physically, all the important parts (heart & mind) are refreshed and happy after some amazing, if too short, time with family! Wonderful clinic & great visits were exactly what I needed. I will have to also update on the Bundeschampionate, which started this week. I'm planning on going tomorrow to watch, and maybe Sunday if I can squeak it in. 

Cheers,

Eiren 

(I am updating from the airport in Vancouver, BC, waiting for my last flight in a very long trip over to see the family. Yay for free wifi at airports!)

The show in Muenster was fantastic. It was a treat to have the German Championships for Dressage and Show Jumping a ten minute bike ride from my apartment. Unfortunately, I had to drive to the show and my only complaint I just HAVE to make is the poor organization of parking. If you were a rider or sponsor, no problem. For ordinary spectators though, good luck finding a (close, convenient, or affordable) parking spot anywhere in the city center for the entire day Saturday!

Once I got over my grumpiness about the parking situation, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. We watched the Grand Prix Special where Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht put in one of the best tests I've ever seen from them. Normally Warum Nicht doesn't do too much for me, I much prefer Satchmo's style over her big chestnut's Steady Eddy look. However, Saturday's test stood out so much from the others with it's pure confidence, accuracy and ease, it's understandable how the judges just throw the scores at her.

My second favorite (and second place finish) was Anabel Balkenhol with her young star Dabalino. In an electric and exciting test hey won the Medien Cup competition last year, claiming the title for best young Grand Prix horse in Germany. The difference a year makes! Here they are trying for a spot on the German WEG Team and looking confident and grown up in the test. The horse is simply stunning, and the only detraction from the overall impression is Anabel's lack of confidence in the presentation. Where Isabell just sits there with this look of absolute certainty that she will perform the movement for a "9", Anabel sits in the saddle with a bit of "holy crap I hope this will work and if it does it will be great but it might go all horribly wrong but it worked okay on to the next movement I hope it works but…"  

Now don't misunderstand me. That horse is super sensitive and I'm sure not an easy ride. She does a masterful job presenting, she is a skilled and talented rider,  but I sort of exhale after every movement. It's exciting to watch anyway.

There were many other highlights, but those two stood out without me having my score sheet and notes (yes, I take notes. I am a DQ) in hand. The Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday was a little less spectacular for me, but still great. Warum Nicht was behind the vertical almost the entire test, but still maintaining all the expected uphill balance, self-carriage, rhythm, expression, and subsequent scores. Dabalino unfortunately showed his age and had an unsteady ride with some mistakes to finish 6th. The quality is there and surely with time he will become more reliable and consistent. Hopefully he'll reach that point in a month or so, since I believe he made the team for Kentucky…

The best freestyle for me was Sabine Becker and her Lamarc WRT,  who I believe were on the German Team at the European Championships last year. In Windsor her horse was considered to inexperienced & unreliable by some, but in the Freestyle Sunday this combination impressed me the most. Her music was absolutely lovely and fascinating, and the horse performed with confidence & fluidity, all of it deserving a higher placing than the 8th they finished with. It was worthy of higher scores in my opinion, but since I'm only sitting in the bleachers instead of the ringside wooden booth, what do I know. 

The dressage was some of the best to be seen in the world and it's a privilege to have the chance to see it in my backyard. However, what I absolutely loved was the show jumping classes. I feel like I'm cheating on my discipline, but I just can't help it! It's like driving around in a fashionable limousine and then seeing someone fly past your ass in a Porsche. 

What stands out always to me when I watch the jumping at the highest level is how much the horses seem to love their job. A Grand Prix dressage horse can seem miserable and still do the movements. However, I can't imagine a truly miserable horse jumping those huge fences, not in a clean or safe run. While I saw so many horses jumping around like they were just playing a game, the horse that absolutely inspired me was Stakkato, the 17 year old stallion with his rider from the beginning, Eva Bitter. Winning the Women's Championships, Stakkato looked like he was very much thinking and playing all at the same time, clearing the impressive course with his tongue hanging out the entire round. While I have seen other horses jump with more electrifying style, this old guy looks like he really wants to do the right thing by Eva, like he would take a bullet for her. Who knows, maybe he's really a stinker, but that's the impression I get. He jumps with absolute skill and delivers the goods regardless, and the emotion on Eva's face after clearing that last fence for the win… that was a little bit of magic. Good boy, Stakkato!!

As always it was also a thrill to watch the Grand Prix jumping class Saturday night. It was a very tough course and the few that made the jump off were wildly applauded. The winner of it all was Marcus Ehning, who always impresses me with his style and skill. He has better hands than most riders out there, always maintaining a steady, soft contact and never looking like he makes corrections or reacts to anything. Watching that kind of jumping riding makes me think maybe I could do that! Well, maybe if you lowered the fences by about half. Then another half. Then maybe.

It did really make me miss working in Ingrid's program where jumping was just something you did, whether you were a dressage queen or not. I'll not be so bold to say I became good at jumping, but I got some confidence while riding super horses under super instruction, and maybe developed a little bit of skill (remembering that I started with absolutely NO skill when pointed at a fence, unless you count closing your eyes and really, really hoping a special kind of skill). Since I'm now the "dressage rider" at my jobs I jump less than I'd like, and even doing the cavaletti work gets forgotten. It's great to be able to go to such horse shows and get re-inspired, even if I'm only going to jump the horses over something I could clear on foot!

So that was my horse show round up, or at least the round of up Important Horse Shows. I showed in two shows this last weekend but that will be for my next update. For now I'm going to get some Tim Horton's coffee, some Timbits, & enjoy the sunset over the mountains  as I watch the planes take off & land. It's good to be home, eh?

Cheers,

Eiren 

So really nothing to say tonight, just posting two poor quality photos (taken with my phone, what do you expect?) from the horse show in Munster.

First the amazing Isabell Werth and her trusty Warum Nicht, on the way to becoming 2010 German Dressage Champions.

Next picture is Eva Bitter & Stakkato, 2010 German Women's Show Jumping Champions. You can watch the video of her winning rounds by clicking on the photo.  

I have lots to say about both the dressage and jumping, but not now.  Once again, sit tight...

Eiren 

After returning from the fabulous horse show at Verden I went through Internet withdrawal since my home line crashed. I was so excited to write about the super weekend I had but had to wait. It took over a week to get it all repaired, and I had time to watch another show last that needs talking about as well. The Turnier der Sieger, here at the Muenster castle, right in my backyard, was another spectacular event. This always beautiful show was the host to the German Dressage & Show Jumping Championships this year, and acted as the final selection for WEG. 

Starting with the first show, Verden was awesome. A great highlight was Ingrid & Alfie beating their result from last year, finishing sixth place in a very competitive class of six year olds. Hoorah for Ingrid, Alfie, and his owners, Mr & Mrs Wallace. I found the judging in the Six Year Old Finals to be the finest and most logical of the Young Horse division. The Five Year Old Finals was really rewarding auction style riding, as was the Small Finals for Six Year Olds. However, Sunday's judging rewarded good training, relaxed and happy horses, and of course combine that with outstanding dressage ability and you've got some jaw-dropping combinations. This class was celebrated as a Don Schufro extravaganza, as he was well represented by the winner, Uno Donna Unique and five others (including Don Schufro as dam-sire). Naturally, I went and explained to my perfect little Denny Crane that there are now even higher expectations on him... 

We also watched a lot of the advanced dressage, including Nurnberger Burg Pokal (young PSG horse class) and the CDI Grand Prix and Special. There was some amazing horses, some amazing riding, and some combinations that I watched and thought, pfft. I could do that. I write that with a giggle, because even though I may think that, I know it's never as easy as some make it look. 

Sunday after the dressage we watched the Grand Prix jumping class, which is always a refreshing way to finish a show, especially when you have a 2+ hour drive home.  

My partners in crime this weekend were Nicole, who celebrated her 21st birthday!!, my great friend Eliza Sydnor, who flew over from the States for the week, and Meaghan Byrne, an American rider working for Heike Kemmer. I also got to meet Pia Fortmuller, another Canadian rider over here, also training with Heike.  We actually went to the party on Saturday night, the first time I've been out in a while (I think it showed). It was great to see old friends from across the pond, friends I've made over the past two and a half years in Germany, as well as meeting some new people. For many reasons Verden is always a great show, and once again it fulfilled expectations and made me promise myself to come again next year. 

... and as much as I want to talk about last weekend's Turnier der Sieger, I really just need to get some sleep for now. I kind of sort of vaguely promise to write more before the week is over, since next week I'll be in Canada and not thinking too much about the blog. Ok, sit tight reader, I'll be right back.

Eiren 

Today, the stars aligned and Hermann gave me a bit of a lesson on one of my favourite ponies, Romeo. Romeo is a 10 year old (I think) Grand Prix horse. He's got lovey movement and an incredible character, it is really a treat to ride him. Even better is when Hermann decides to give me some help with him! Yay!

Besides working on the positioning of the horse's neck & activity of the hindlegs (good lord, I have to think of both ends at the same time?!) he also tweaked my position. I was tight in my knees and sitting too much in a driving seat. This made it hard for me to effectively communicate with Romeo. I really noticed when I needed to "sit to the right" in the right lead canter when I need to collect him but keep him softly bending. Aha! Looser knees, longer leg, straighter, softer upper body... oh wait, I already forgot about the horse's hind legs... dammit, there goes the neck... what? Sit right? Sonofabiscuit!!!

It was a lot to think about, but I had a really good feeling and Romeo was happy. I wish Hermann would give me more lessons, because the man can be a genius. With his help the horses go wonderfully and I always have a better feeling about what I'm doing. Nicole also has had a lot of lessons from him on some of the top horses the past few days, so we're all having lots of fun! Hoorah! 

Tomorrow I have my show with Dutchman, and it can only be better than the ride I had on him today. Blah. 

After the show I'll head to Hermann's to ride a few then Nicole and I will drive up to Verden. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for Ingrid & Alfie tomorrow morning during the qualifier, you can follow the results here http://www.verden-turnier.de 

Cheers,

Eiren