Finally a report on my Germany Trip!! Would have done more from over there but Katie’s computer decided to sleep in and not wake up!! I haven’t had a chance to do pictures yet either!

I had a great 2 weeks with Katie in the small town close to Oldenburg at the farm, Gestut Nymphenburg. The farm is very old with the customary all brick buildings. The indoor riding hall is very big with lovely footing. Outdoors the green is almost blinding when the sun it out, which is certainly not as often or as bright in San Diego!! In the area and surrounding the farm there are fields and fields of corn, used for cows and biofuel, and trees of all shapes and sizes. And when I say shapes, I am not kidding. They keep then trimmed and pruned perfectly so they can be sold for landscaping! Trail riding through them was beautiful. I got to ride some wonderful horses and hang out in the barn daily. It was so nice to put faces (Equine and People) with names. They were so welcoming.

We also went to Warendorf to watch the Bundeschampionate (National German Young Horse Championships). There were some amazing young horses but I was particularly struck by the quality of the ponies!! I shared Katie’s 22nd birthday with her as well when I was there. It was a weekend full of very incredible food and fun with Herr von Fircks, Johanna and her sister Cosima. And as well we had quiet mom and daughter time.

All in all a great time. Now I am home to focus on the USDF regional finals for Samantha, Ellie and Me and CDS finals for me. It will be held Oct 7 – 10 in LA. When we get our times I will post the info.

Once again I reflect on how lucky I am to have those in my life to make all the travel I have done a possibility. Thanks guys.
Elizabeth

I am sorry to say that I will not be riding at the Del Mar National on Urbana. We had planned on it but she has a bruise in a hoof that has caused us to pull her from the competition. I know I had steered many of you to check the site for times. Pam, her owner, is very sad but we will have her in the show ring soon!

Katie made the journey to visit for the holiday week. To say we were all happy is putting it mildly. She kept herself rediculously busy with visiting and riding. Yes…. she was on a horse before she was here for 24 hours! I really enjoyed the ‘in house’ eyes on the ground and a little new perspective she has brought home with her. For her, horsie highlights were driving up to LA to ride Milo and visit Pam and riding out young boy Santayo! She arrived back in Germany mid day today (our time).

2 new videos of Elizabeth/Artisan and Samantha/Lucjan from Dressage Affaire on 3/10/10  are now up….here!

Wow its almost March already! With all the rain I think it will be a beautiful spring and all of us will welcome drier weather!

Our year is starting out with exciting stuff! Katie is settled in to a good routine in Germany. She is enjoying her regular horses and will be competing for her first time in a couple weeks!!! They have many shows lined up  including a two week show in Munich! She will be home for Easter which we are all excited about. I hope to go over there at the end of summer.

Back here in El Cajon I am enjoying concentrating on my riding!  Artisan turned a huge corner in training and we are having so much fun together. I went to Debbie’s for a lesson a couple weeks ago and came away very excited! Clips of the lesson were just added to the site. Hopefully I will be back up there very soon for another.

I will be taking Artisan to the Dressage Affaire, Mar. 12 – 14, second level. Samantha and Lucjan will be showing as well!! Doing this horse travel without Katie feels very strange!

Santayo, “Tayo” our almost 3yr old is off at school! I have been on him (in a western saddle, you should see me post in it, ha ha!) and he is due to come home mid March!