Second Show

I am happy (and late) to report that the second show was a success!  All the young horses were great again.  I still can't believe the maturity and confidence these 4 year olds have away from the farm!  In the 4 year old class, there are 2 horses in the arena and the judge calls out what to do.  This can get a little confusing because I don't speak Danish, so I do a lot of following and looking around.  I understand some words, like the gaits, but it is safe to say I have a lot to learn.  I placed in a huge classes with solid scores (7.6 and 8.1).  In the FEI 5 year old class I placed 5th with a 7.9.  Dino and I were more in sync than at the last show and the test was much improved.  He is also such a confident horse who likes to show off, so once I trusted him and didn't hold him back it was a lot of fun! The show was about an hour away at a riding club.  We took 6 horses all together so it was a busy day.  Kathryn and Sarah rode as well.  Our next show is in a few weeks so we are busy preparing for that already.  I am so excited and appreciative I have the opportunity to show here!  

Bogdan went home to Romania for a month, so us 3 girls have been doing all the work around the farm.  I learned to drive both tractors (one for dragging the arenas and the other for lifting hay and straw) which was very entertaining!  They are quite different from the Kubota I drove in America.  I am finally getting the hang of it but at first it was a little scary!  We also use the tractors to move and stack the dirty straw and bring water to the horses who live outside.  I worked my first weekend alone and survived.  I was tired, but it wasn't so bad.  I cleaned all the stalls and turned out the horses.  Needless to say, I will be a little relieved when he is back to help us in the barn! 

I was really excited when my old friend Kaja (who I met while working at Hilltop Farm in 2009) contacted me and said she would be 40 min away in Denmark!  She drove up to the farm and I gave her a tour before we went into Silkeborg and had dinner.  It was so nice see her again and to catch up.  I miss home a lot but I am very happy here.  Time continues to fly by... I can't believe it is the middle of the summer already.  As the lone American, I celebrated the 4th of July by watching a video of fireworks my Dad sent me.  Hope everybody is surviving the heat (guess I should specify I am talking about New England!)... it is a comfortable 70 and sunny here :) 

 Awards for 4 year old class (I am on the far right)

 10th place out of 43 with a score of 8.1! 

 Kathryn and Zap Zap (5 year old)

 Dino and I (5 year old) 

 Home cooked lunch 

 Home cooked dinner

 Tyson (the barn dog) eating pizza

 Relaxing 

 Artsy shot of the new footing in the outdoor

 My new buddy Tyson 

 Meet my new friend...

 ...And his big brother!

I can't resist art

Kaja and I at dinner.  American/ Hilltop reunion!!

Showing!

Well, I survived my first show in Europe!  In fact, all the horses were great considering they are so young.  On Saturday I rode in the FEI 5 year old class, and on Sunday I showed two 4 year olds.  I was so impressed with the quality of the horses at the show... so I took a lot of short clips with my phone and put them together.  All the horses in this video are 4, 5 or 6 year olds (and none of them are me riding).  Hope it works!  I was blown away with how many young horses were at the show.  There were 39 horses in my FEI 5 year old class and almost that many in the other young horse classes.  I was also surprised when I got my ride time and it was 8:54pm!  Luckily, it stays light so late here so it didn't feel like night time (until the 2 hour drive home).  I am actually showing again tomorrow, so I am off to bed early.  Very exciting!  I will post in more detail about the shows soon.  

Young horses from show.  Including Andreas Helgstrand, Sune Hansen, and many from Blue Hors.

 Artsy shot, pretty browband! 

 Downtown Silkeborg 

 American 50's Diner... 

 Horse show!

 Horse show lunch.  Note the salt. 

 I rode at 8:54 pm!  

 Dino checking out the show grounds. 

 On our way! 

First European show. 

Lot's of Photos!

When I look at all the photos I've taken, I realize I haven't blogged in a while!  I guess that is a good thing, as time is flying by and I'm still having a lot of fun!  Everything continues to go smoothly.  Last week was very busy as both Kathryn and Morten were away.  I rode more than I've ever ridden in my life... no better way to spend a working day.  After riding 12 horses, my abs and thighs were very tired and I crashed after work on more than one occasion!  I must admit, I am enjoying riding the young horses more than I anticipated.  I don't have a lot of experience riding 3 and 4 year olds, but that is changing!  I am currently riding two 4 year old geldings who are good natured and eager to learn.  I also ride two five year olds who both feel trained beyond their years.  Riding these youngsters is a change for me, but I am learning a lot and they have turned out to be fun and rewarding.  

Within the last week, two foals were born on the farm.  It was very exciting because I got to see my first birth!  My room is closest to the foaling stalls, so I got to be in charge of the birth alarm.  I have never seen anything like it.  It is a surcingle that detects when the mare lies down flat on her side.  There are different settings, so the alarm either goes off after the first or third time she goes down.  Both births went smoothly and quickly.  I remember how great it is to have babies around!  Thankfully the weather has been warm and beautiful, and they are already going outside for half a day.  I will post more pictures with the next blog entry.  

My other newfound enjoyment is cooking.  I have been experimenting in the kitchen, and I was going to include a photo of last night's dinner but decided it was too embarrassing.  The taste was decent, however the color and texture were questionable.  of course, I couldn't start with easy things I know how to make like pasta, potatoes or chicken... I had to jump straight into the curries and meat sauces.  Luckily, as with riding, practice makes perfect... and I have been practicing!  

 First trail ride in Denmark

 Driving into Silkeborg 

 Spring is here... I think. 

 New discovery/ addiction! 

 Driving back to the farm.

 Just a small and random hail storm in early June! 

 Night check.

 Artistic, my favorite :) 

 Just stopping by a bakery...

 ...overwhelmed by all the choices.

 My dream house, just down the road from the farm. 

 Silkeborg.

Statue in Silkeborg. 

One of the new foals!

Been here a month!

Time is really flying, I know I've said that a lot but I can't get over how true it is.  I don't feel like the new person here anymore!  The past two weeks have been busy and business as usual.  Kathryn (the Canadian) is going home for a visit this coming week so I will not be slowing down soon... we might be a little lost without her but will manage just fine.  At the end of last week I rode some of "her" horses so I could get to know them before she goes.  I really like riding new horses and seeing how quickly I can figure out how to best ride them.  As Pam calls it, this "diagnostic"period consists of checking their response to the aids and determining their natural tendencies. Are they lazy or spicy? Do they lean right or left?  Which gait and direction is easiest for them?  I find myself thinking back to Pam's advice everyday.  While this makes me realize how valuable my time with her was, it is also extremely bittersweet!  However, I am taking advantage of getting to practice what I've learned AND continue learning from Morten.  Can't go wrong!

There is rumor I will be showing two horses in June!  I love to show so this is an exciting and unexpected opportunity.  I ride a gelding who will be showing "M" level, which is a Danish national level equivalent to third and fourth levels.  He is a sensitive guy, but I enjoy riding him a lot and think he will be fun in the show arena.  I will also do the FEI 5 Year Old classes with one of Dressage Arvé's own horses.  I haven't ridden him as much, but he is very easy going and really cute! I am very excited.  We just have to work out some details (including translating my test!) and then it's showtime.   

Onto non-riding topics, we had spring cleaning this weekend at the barn so we are all tired.  It was quite the production but everything looks amazing.  It is so clean here, and now I see why.  There is so much attention to detail and upkeep.  It is hard work, but it shows.  I've been doing some normal things like going into town, indulging in delicious Danish cakes, and reading.  I realize this is a somewhat uneventful way to explore a new country, but right now my fun and adventures are with the horses! 

 Spring cleaning

Translating and learning a Danish dressage test! 

YUM!  

 Attempting to be artsy.  

My new friend, Poopsy.   

More cleaning. 2 power washers.  

Happy Belated Birthday Kathryn!  

 Downtown Silkeborg.

Silkeborg hospital on the hill and the riverboats.

Just another late barn check, sunset around 10:30pm! 

Week 2 already!

Sorry the blog posting is not as frequent as I was planning, but things have been busy!  Everything is going really well still, I can't believe I've been here almost 2 weeks.  Today I worked my first weekend day.  The weekends are different than the week because the horses don't get ridden and only 2 people work.  I had a relaxing morning doing chores and odd jobs, all while enjoying the beautiful sun and some extremely happy horses.  Morten's riding horses get turned out in huge pastures and love every minute of it.  Tomorrow is another easy day then back to work on Monday!  

The riding this week was great, once again.  I'm getting in the grove of things here, which helps a lot.  Things were really efficient and by Friday we were even done early!  I am enjoying all the horses for different reasons, and getting to know them is really fun! Morten had a really interesting point, and I feel like it sums up his training and riding style.  For example, when riding 2 tempis, his goal is to get it done (no mistakes) and done well.  If that means he doesn't do it his way, that is ok with him.  His goal is to figure out what works best for the horse (because every horse is different) and then change himself so the horse can best understand.  To him, riding is not about changing the horse to fit a generic aid or style, it is about finding what works for the individual and conforming and compromising to get the job done.  It made a lot of sense for me to hear this because I am riding new horses who are all very well trained, regardless of their level.  I am also riding such a variety of horses that it makes perfect sense that the style and aids that suit a big slow horse are very different to what a small sensitive horse would need. When I thought of riding this way I tried to be more creative and it made the horses happier.  Not to say we aren't the teachers, but there is more to bringing out the best in a horse than making them conform to your personal style of riding.  

Off to bed now, 10:30 here already! Hope these posts and photos are enough to sustain everyone until I have enough time to write again :) 

 Getting ready to ride

 The office

 Journey into Silkeborg...

 ... to a Chinese buffet serving Ice CREAM! 

 Back to "work" 

 I guess these 3 like watching us do afternoon chores!

 Big turnouts, happy horses!

 He's not always sleeping, I swear

Work hard, play hard!