Lapis, Shagya Arab 1938

one of Milva´s descendent...

This stallion line can be traced back as far as 1816, when Siglavi was imported from the Arabian desert as a breeding sire for Babolna, the Hungarian National Stud. Nearly 130 years later, an Arab stallion, directly descended through the stallion line from Siglavi, saved the life of a German cavalry officer. Walther Schmidt-Salzmann made his way home to Germany from Central Russia after the defeated German army was dispersed, thanks to his faithful grey, Yugoslavian-born Lapis. This horse carried him through enemy lines and the perils of the Russian winter, sometimes having only the straw from thatched cottage roofs to suffice as fodder. Lapis survived the 6000 kilometre ordeal healthy and sound. Once in the safety of his hometown, Salach, located east of Stuttgart, Schmidt-Salzmann helped the staff of the evacuated Stud Babolna return to their own country. The staff, in gratitude of his support, gave him the choice of a broodmare. He selected the elegant chestnut mare 68 Fenek V of Anglo-Arab lines, born at the National Stud Kisber. Matched with Lapis she produced the mare Amsel, who founded one of the more widespread female families in the Trakehner breed in West Germany. It was 68 Fenek V's bay colt Burnus AA by Lapis, born in 1948, who was to become one of the superstars in the Trakehner breed, with his influence reaching into European Warmblood breeding. 



Dressage Naturally - Karen Rohlf

All five DVDs in the series, Results in Harmony. The Results in Harmony Series shows Karen playing with a horse as he develops his skills in Riding in Connection with the reins (volumes), and Developing Mobility (volume 2). You learn how to take control of your posture and position in some unique ways (volumes 3 & 4), and how to develop trot lengthenings (volume 5), and learn about the 9+1 Conversations for the Upward Spiral of Success (volume 6).

A result of Karen Rohlf's combined experience as a dressage professional and her immersion in natural horsemanship, this book/DVD bridges the gap between these two worlds. The material will take every horseman on a practical and philosophical journey to create healthy bio-mechanics and stronger partnerships through combining principles of natural horsemanship with the art of dressage.

...watching DVDs from my Austrian Care Package :))

"Explore many, embrace several, follow none."

A brief comment on "name" trainers and their 'methods'...I think it is best to not lock into too much to a particular trainers method. Explore many, embrace several, follow none. Learn to develop your own way which the horse will guide you on if you really pay attention and do not rely on another's way too much. If you are locked in to another's way, you can easily lose your own... (Franklin Levinson)

 

A talented trainer, who is authentic, need not tell the world he or she follows the methods of someone else. They are not that other trainer and never will be. It is how they themselves are with horses (and humans) that should be the deciding factor whether or not you decide to have them influence your horsemanship. It is never about who your mentor is or was. It is only about who you are.

 

Marina Gottlieb Sarles: Recent Interview for The Last Daughter

Marina Gottlieb Sarles: Recent Interview for The Last Daughter: http://tinyurl.com/bnuyyyk         Last night I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Elsie Kerns a wonderful advocate in the fiel...

Horsey Day

Anna from the south came up for a visit yesterday and we spent all day in the stable and watched Ray Hunt´s Dvds.
Patricia came with Agnes in the afternoon and we all hung out in the hay - as we usually do ;).
In the evening I was up in Halmstad again - perfect ending to a perfect day.
Today I watched little Agnes again and after that I longreined Milva.

Weekend in Halmstad

I´m really bad with updating lately. It´s not that nothing is happening, more like too much is going on - all positive though, which gives me little time to write in here.
I spent the Easter weekend in Halmstad. On Saturday we went to visit Sofie, our 1* PP, our guys work together which made it kind of extra fun. Sunday I went with Sofie to the stable and watched her playing with lovely Panter. Sofie is boarding at a very nice barn with a great turn out stable and nice big pastures...
At home I have been helping Patricia, watching little Agnes while she is playing with Tinker and I have been playing and riding Milva as well.
Milva took her first trotting steps with me on her back today - she offered it and I didn´t have any reins in my hand so my heart kind of stopped for a minute there.
Milva really is super sensitive and it´s pure joy to ride her. I only need to bring my energy a little bit up and she walks, ssss-sound and she stops, look in one direction and she turns. Almost scary sensitive sometimes. Scary because I fear I will screw her up. I still haven´t used my legs on her but there is really no need for it anyway - and also she doesn´t like it....but that´s a different story and typical for the Munch pony.
One of my dear Parelli friends from Austria surprised me today with a package :)). He gifted me with the originals of several Parelli, Karen Rohlf and Ray Hunt dvds. I´m totally speachless over so much generousity!!