This weekend in Florida, where it surely didn't mimic Denmark and hit -20C, was the Wellington Dressage CDI-W (W = World Cup qualifier). In some circles, it is being called the Jim Koford show. 

Jimmy, as he was known by in Germany, became a good friend and trusted pair of eyes on the ground when he was training and competing in Germany. I've ridden with some pretty amazing riders, trainers, and coaches, and I still stand by my opinion that Jim is one of the best coaches I've had help me. 

There are few people who will work as hard as he does while maintaining absolute enthusiasm for the journey and pure love for the horses he works with. The horses recognize Jim's passion and end up giving him their best. There are only a few people I think who are deserving success like Jim is, so I was thrilled to see his amazing results this weekend, just fresh off his World Dressage Masters debut. 

In Friday's CDI Grand Prix Jim placed 3rd & 4th with Rhett and Pharaoh respectively. Saturday he WON the GP  Freestyle with Pharaoh, scoring a great 73.30%. You can read an article in dressagedaily.com here. This win puts him in 2nd place in the rankings for the North American World Cup standings! Holy crap!

Today was the GP Special and Jim placed 2nd behind Queen Canada, aka the amazing Ashley Holzer, with a great 68.13%. One of the judges gave him the magic 70%, which is very exciting! Here's an article on dressage-news.com. 

It is really thrilling for me to see people who I know work so hard get the success and affirmation of their work that they dream of. Jimmy truly deserves it. My only concern is that the word is going to spread, and he'll be too busy and popular whenever it is that I return to North America to be able to help me! :)

I have to share this video of "Sezuan," a three year old stallion from Andreas Helgstrand. Blah, blah, blah at the beginning, it's all in Danish. But if I had to guess, he'd be introducing the horse, his breeding (Romanov x Don Schufro) and then saying something like, "AND HE'S MINE! Haha suckers! Have you ever seen anything move like this?! The hindleg is just as good as the front, and he's coming THREE! He's a freak! Haha!"

Maybe that's not really what he's saying, but it's what I would say if I owned that. Enjoy clip to the right ---->

or click here to see on youtube 

Yesterday Morten and I drove to the north of Denmark, taking Double Up to Andreas Helgstrand's stable. With constant clients coming to his stable looking for horses, Andreas is always moving horses and Morten wanted him to see the Banana in all his ginormous glory.

I've been up there once before, while Morten rode some horses for clients. This time however, it was me in the saddle. Gulp!

It was pretty awesome being in that ring, with 9 other horses of varying degrees of fabulous, and a whole lot of good riding everywhere you looked. I was a little intimidated but once we warmed up and started doing our exercises, Banana gave me confidence to just relax and ride, knowing he was impressive enough. He did everything I asked, no mistakes, and didn't bat an eye while we worked around other horses schooling piaffe, passage, changes, or that one three-year-old careening around just barely in control. It was awesome! 

Later this week Morten & Sarah are heading off for a well-deserved vacation. This means I'll have a few extra horses to ride, which is always fun. We're planning a lot of fun & easy work, hopefully some cavaletti, so the horses almost get a holiday too.  

I'll have one less horse to work though since we left Double Up behind at Andreas'. I know it makes sense since he'll be seen by more people up there, and I won't be able to drive him up there at any time while the bosses are gone. I know it makes sense. I know he's a sales horse. I know it's business. 

But DAMMIT! It sucks! I really miss seeing his big head hanging over his stall door, always with his ears up, ready to say hello and have a scratch. He's just such a good guy and I've been having so much fun with him, that it sucks now that he's gone. I know what makes a good business, but I just don't want him to be sold. I surely won't get employee of the month with that attitude, but I can't help it. 

However, he is an 18 hand horse. The market for that type is very small, which is unfortunate for Morten, who is trying to run a business, but good for me. I consider it slim chances that someone will call Andreas looking for something the size of a bus, even if he does ride like a sporty machine now. 

So if anyone out there is looking to collect horses, big horses, just let me know. I know a really good one that wants to stay with me and go to Grand Prix.  

This weekend in Florida was the World Dressage Masters, part of the richest dressage competition series in the world. The Masters has different shows throughout Europe, and just his one in North America. Many of the world's top riders were there and there was some great riding to be seen. 

I was able to watch some of Friday's Grand Prix online, but missed Saturday's Special and Freestyle classes. But the awesome people at Horse Junkies United were all over the coverage, posting updates on facebook and being the first to have videos up. What a great way for me to wake up this morning, to be able to watch top riding with my morning coffee. Thanks HJU!

Grand Prix

GP Special recap & video of winning ride

GP Freestyle 

My favorite stars on the scene right now are Charlotte Dujardin and her pony-like gelding Valegro. She rides so nicely and Valegro looks always forward, light, eager, and so happy to do the job. Oh yeah, and his mechanics are fabulous. They are both young and talented, and look so happy with each other that I find it hard not to be inspired by them. 

Ah, mistakes. It's just what I do, it's how I learn. 

Of course I wish I did everything in life perfectly the first time, but it seems the more I screw something up the more I eventually understand how to do it right.

Once in a while, we get a golden mistake. Where you don't get what you intended, but something even better. 

Today, my coming 8 year old superstar Double Up and I were playing with the flying changes. After perfect 3's and 2's, I set in for the 1's. I asked for six. He gave me eight.

And Morten just happened to see them and said they were super.  Bonus!

Such a clever one, that big Banana. It's not often the ponies get a reward for doing something I didn't ask for, but this was a mistake I'll take any day.