It's Spring!

Check out this slide show. What a fabulous day to play outside with the youngster!
For some silly reason it's cutting off pics, so if you see a nose missing here or there, it's the slide show. If you click on view images on the right hand side below the pics, you can see them in their entirety.

EAI Sola Imeena and Eisenstein in 2005

Check out this page that I scanned. It came from the Canadian Trakehner Magazine 2005 when Allie made her "Cover Girl" debut!
It's Eisenstein and his mom at their approvals. If you click on the picture, you will see the full version........a lot easier to read. :)

Eisenstein Slide Show April4/09

Eisenstein Bronte Creek April 4/09 Video Added

The boy was good again. Our second test had some not so good canter portions, but all in all, I could not ask for a better horse! Eisenstein won Training Level 2 against some pretty nice horses! Our score when we left at 2:45 was the second highest of the day in the entire show that started at 8am; 62.50%. The scores were a bit of a lunch bag letdown from the last show, but his performance was WAY better! The photos are the proof.

Austin and Judy

I just don't train Ay-Rabs!
Here is a cute video of Austin, the off the track Thoroughbred. I've had Judy and Austin in training for the past month. From being an above the bit horse, to a happy swinging boy in 1 month. Kudos to Judy for enduring a 5 lesson per week training schedule! They both did awesome!
Hopefully the next video will be of Judy in the irons instead of me!

It's Official!

After of few months of paper chasing, I got Eisensteins' Half-Arabian papers in the mail today.
Our first Arabian competition will be May 4 at the Milestone Spring Arabian show in Campbellville. Team Kirkridge hopes to bring at least 5 horses to this show. We will compete in both Dressage and Sport Horse.
CCF Porshah, MEL Kahlua, KF Almaz++//, Gen Custer, and Eisenstein.
Hmm I think I need a bigger trailer!

Bronte Creek Dressage Show March 14/09

This is the most high-tech post I've ever done. Go to the bottom of the page for embedded video and a slide show
Megan showed Kahlua in Training 1 with a 56%, and had an excellent second ride to post a 62% score. CCF Porshah, Megan's second horse (and her first time showing with Megan) did fantastic. 64% in her first ride at Training 1, and 69.8% in the Training Level Test 2! Way to go Megan!
Eisenstein's scores just keep getting better, even though this is only his second show. We received a 70% in Training 3, and an astonishing 74.8% in Training 4!
Check out this Youtube Video of Eisensteins' Ride

Here is Kahlua and Porshah!


Check out this link for a bunch of pics courtesy of Judy:

Ride Times for Saturday at Bronte Creek (Hendervale)

Arrgh! Click on this link for ride times for the show for the following horses; Kahula, CCF Porshah and Eisenstein.
Anyone wanna bring some real strong coffee? We'll be out of here around 6:30am for Megan to ride at 8:30am!

The Video! Eisensteins First Show!

Enjoy!

Eisenstein's Show Debut!

Eisenstein made his first dressage debut today at the Winterfest Dressage Show at Bronte Creek Equestrian (formerly Hendervale).
He was nothing short of a superstar!
I thought for sure he was going to be a bit excited, as he didn't want to get right on the trailer. I think he was thinking about the last time he was on...leaving his home in Quebec and a 7 hour ride to my farm. Perhaps his thoughts were that he was being "shipped out" never to return to Kirkridge again. With some gentle persuasion, he relented, and rode quietly in the back of the trailer to Milton.
So, we get to the show and bring him off the trailer...it's totally FREEZING as I put his tack and bandages on, and threw a cooler over his back. We go to the show area, lunge line in tow, and walked around the schooling arena for a few minutes. Nothing happened! He didn't shy, just behaved like a perfect gentleman. I reluctantly got on with the hope that he wouldn't explode. Eisenstein was PERFECTLY relaxed in the strange environment. We were privileged enough to go into the show arena during lunch break. He went into that ring like a seasoned competitor. No one would believe that my first ride on him was Dec 31!
So we did our tests, great trot and walk work, but a few lead problems in the canter. I used the opportunity to "re-do" the wrong leads by adding a couple of un-warranted circles. We got a couple of -2's and a couple of 3's, but still walked out with over 60%, and the judge LOVED him! So, after only learning to canter a couple of weeks ago, I am SO pleased with this boy. He's going to follow in Allies footsteps!
Can't wait for next month, as we will "Do it Again" and go for some higher scores!

Cathy, one of Eisensteins owners smiles proudly with the superstar in the making!

Chestnut Arabians and Blazes!

I did a little collage with my 4 Arabians (Purebreds, and 1/2's) that I have had over the years. I don't know why the chestnut ones keep showing up with the blazes...no wonder people get confused!
Top left: Eisenstein
Top right: Kf Almaz++//
Bottom Left: Baikan Krisp (now owned by Brittney Zeray)
Bottom Right: Sunar Born Lucky (1979-2006)

2 New Horses at Kirkridge!

Two horses now call Kirkridge home. The palomino is CCF Porshah. Po was purchased in the US for Megan and Lucy, who own Kahlua. For those who are familiar with "Po", she was originally trained by me as a 3 year old, and had a successful show season winning the H/A Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse Championship in Region 18 2 years ago. Megan will be competing with Po in Dressage and Sport Horse Classes.

The lovely chestnut is Eisenstein. He is owned by the "Eisenstein Syndicate". This boy is only 3 years old and already 16 hands, He is a branded Trakehner who is 1/2 Arabian.
Garson (French for "Boy") will be competing on the H/A Arabian Sport Horse circuit as a junior horse, with hopes of taking him to the US Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington Kentucky next year.

Elaine's Bio

Top: Junior Rider Megan and Kahlua will be showing FEI Pony in 2009






2nd to top: Sara and Cedar 4th Level/PSG













Elaine and KF Almaz++// (left and Gen Custer, her recent FEI trained horses.

+Involved in Dressage Since 1973
+Ontario Junior Champion 1976 and 1980
+Represented Canada at the North American Young Riders Dressage Championships in '81 and '83 Winning Team Bronze in '81 and Team Gold and Individual Bronze in '83
+First Rode Prix St. George in 1980
+Rode First Grand Prix in 1987. Long listed for Canadian Equestrian Team in 1988.
+Qualified for US National Freestyle Championships in 1987 and 1988
+Trained with many notable trainers from Europe including Reiner Klimke and Kalman de Jurenak.
+Develops horses and riders to FEI level; 30 years experience coaching. Students successfully trained and ridden at Prix St.George.
+35+ years experience training All Breeds of horses for Dressage!
+Popular Clinician in Canada and the US.
+FEI level schoolmasters available for instruction at my facility.
+No yank and crank! Solid Training System, Specialist in Rider Bio-mechanics. Learn how your horse can perform well for you without the abuse!

Jensen Trailers; Sorry About the Scam Post

I put the word scam in this title so that the google search can put it on the first page to make sure everyone in the world can read the truth and not some false accusations that was innadvertently placed on my blog comments.

Apparently, someone wrote some pretty nasty stuff about Jensen trailers on my blog from 2007. Brian Jensen, owner of Jensen Trailers informed me this morning about someone's comment about his trailer sales business in Oshawa.
I have had NOTHING but great service from Brian and his staff, and have recommended his trailers to many of my clients.
Because of this situation, I have needed to close my comments on my posts, in order for this un-needed type of comment not to be repeated.
My Exiss Trailer that I purchased from Jensen Trailers has been fantastic! I love the 4 horse head to head arrangement that I am able to configure the trailer many ways. From 3 big box stalls, to loading from the back or side, to turning the trailer into a "mini" stable, tacking the horses up in cross-ties in the front area, having room for a crew of people in the middle, in the pouring rain!
I don't know what I ever did without it!
Photo: Truckers admiring the "rig" on the Ferry going to Vancouver Island this past Summer!

Accolades from Red Deer, Alberta.

Last week I conducted another clinic in Red Deer Alberta.
For the past 2 years I have been travelling out there about every 2 months.
Thanks to Jenni Imeson for organizing the days that I am out there.
I received 2 really nice messages since I came back on Sunday night.
It's so nice to hear that I am appreciated, and always look forward to flying out west and teaching a really receptive group of riders:
The photo is of Mary and Murphy

From Tracey R:

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for your amazing eye, and sense of humor.
I am so enjoying the things you have taught us both! I love the light bulb moments, they feel so good ( I am so impressed I had more than one too..)
I have so much fun during your clinics, and appreciate how much I can take from it and work on, all on my own !
Just knowing we are doing it properly makes me proud of myself and my horse. You are very good for us.
You take care, and I cant wait till the next one..
Tracy

From Mary: I relaxed those hips on Murphy the whole ride and what a ride I had. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, I 've given Rizz a few days off, will ride tomorrow, can't wait to roll those hips and try that canter again.
(Rizz is a VERY promising 3 year old-perhaps one of the nicest dressage talents I have seen in years!)

Rain on the Exhibition, But Still Had a Blast!

Pictures: Top- Allie doing her thing.
Group photo: Allie, Me, Lise, Janet, Mav and Jen
Allie staring at the RCMP musical ride
Allie, Mav and Jen mesmorized by the RCMP horses.

























So, what else is new? It rained AGAIN!
Allie and Mav were invited to the Niagara Exhibition to be the "warm-up" rides for the RCMP! How cool is that?
So I thought, HMMM, Okay, it's going to rain, but what the heck! How many times does one get this opportunity?
So, I donned on my top hat rain cover AGAIN for the second weekend in a row (I bought the damn thing 3 years ago, and have not used it until now).
Lise and Jen helped get the two of them ready to go in the ring, and Jen did a bit of a warm-up on Mav for me. We were ready to do our rides.
So, the rain does not stop. I am literally half-passing around puddles, and finding some decent diagonal lines to do some tempi-changes. Neither Allie or Mav cared less. They were in their element. Allie did'nt mind the crowd, or the screaming teenagers on the midway behind us. The only thing that made her wake up and pay attention was the 32 RCMP in formation that rode past her and the end of our rides. The poor mare could'nt get her eyes off of them!
Mav was the usual ham that he is; hearing his "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" freestyle music again. I did some one handed Pirouettes, and Extended trot to wow the crowd. He was great doing his 2 tempis umpteen times to the "Irish Washer Woman Music".
Speaking of that music, I'm talking to Janet Henderson during the RCMP ride, and all of a sudden realized, hey! they are using the same Irish Washer Woman Song in their medley of tunes. Too freaky or what? So, out of all the music to put together, we used the same song! I joked with the RCMP riders later about it........did they steal my music, or did I steal theirs? Too funny!
So, after we had finished packing up the guys and putting them on the trailer, we headed off for a bite to eat; Lise and I shared a Bloomin' Onion and some Butterfly Fries. Jen stuck to eating 2 Candy Apples, and a Corn Dog. Les had a Hot Dog and Fries. Nutritious I'd say.
So, 1 show to go until the end of the season on the 28th. Please, NO MORE RAIN!

Arwen and Allie Meet for the First Time

Allie meets her 1/2 sister Rivendells Arwen at the Niagara Dressage Show yesterday!

Niagara Dressage Show AKA The Niagara Falls on Me Show

Pictures:The Rain during the beginning of my first test, before it got real bad. Extended Trot in the puddles with Allie during the second ride in the drizzle, Megan and Kalua, had their best tests of the season. Bottom : Rivendells Arwen and Brianne (this is Allies 1/2 sister in her first show ever!)


Well, when you start out the show season getting rained on, I guess you end up with doing the last show getting rained on too!
I started down the centre line with my rain cover and beige breeches on because of the iminent rain, but did not believe what happened in my test. It went something like this:
A Enter at Collected Trot
X Halt Salute Proceed at Collected Trot
C Track left into a light shower
R-V Shoulder-in to moderate rain
V-L Half Circle left 10M in heavier rain
L-R Half Pass Left into a monsoon!
Proceed past judge laughing, Judge finding the only dry spot under the canopy too keep watching and not float away.
MXK Change rein at Medium Trot in Torrential Downpour.
Continue through the rest of the test in Torrential Downpour.
A Turn Down centre line (at this point I am still doing this test by memory, because Janet Henderson who read for me is yelling her best, and I still can't hear her!).
X Halt Salute, leave arena in a light rain shower.
I got a big cheer from the crowd huddled in the arena from the weather, congratulating me on my guts and determination!
So, that test is definitely one for the books!

I'm Still in BC!

Hey Everyone! The trip to Comox BC was great; the horses arrived at Deanna's new farm unscathed, and feeling quite good. We turned them right out into the new paddock, and Romeo and Fancy proceeded to buck, play and roll!
My truck is a different story. The transmission decided to start acting erractic after the ferry ride. I took it into the dealership, and low and behold, crappy Dodge transmissions strike again. Luckily I I got it in their just in time. It would have not made the trip back to Ontario. So, it's getting re-built. At least the Warranty is picking up the bill. Unfortunately we are still in BC, but should be homeward bound around noon on Saturday.
In the mean time, Deanna and Larry have treated us to a few amazing trips; to Mount Washington and Miracle Beach. The resort was fantastic! Check out http://www.crownisle.com
So, people, please be patient, as we have to make the trek home. Hopefully we will be back late Monday.
Photos will be available next week.

3 Out of 4 Ain't Bad!

Well, Allie was definitely on form for the Region 18 Arabian Championships July 24/25!
We won the 3rd Level Championship with a 69.53%! and received a 63.4 in the Fourth Level Championship from judge Peta Christen.
Perhaps the best 3rd Level test we have done so far. Consistent 7 and 8 marks for most movements in the 3rd Level. Unfortunately we lost the 4th level Championship by 1 measly mark. Beth Noteman riding HSA Haley's Comet took the championship. Comet is the winningest Arabian in history winning over 18 National titles in Dressage! So, there's hope for Allie yet!
We did manage to get the 2nd highest score of the show, again only by .1 of a percent.
Allie showed her top form in the Half-Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle, winning the Championship. We also took the Championship in the Half-Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack, this being her 4th consecutive title for Region 18.
I'll post pics later ;) E