March 7, 2003:

• OK, I don't know about you, but I have had just about enough of winter!

• In spite of the snow, and cold, we are having a pretty good early spring.  The horses are working very well, and everyone is staying fit and healthy.  Not much in the way of news - just the regular, busy months in preparation for the upcoming show season.

• Apologies to Louise Marsh - I didn't FORGET that I am doing a clinic in St. Madelaine, I just forgot to put it on the website!  Anyways, I will once again be back on the south shore in April for a clinic at Louise's stable on the 27th.  I am really looking forward to it - such a great group of people, really motivated and fun to work with. 

• A new development here - our working student Aliy has taken over the ride on Daneel (aka "Bear"), and will compete in the Young Rider Division with him in 2003, or until he is sold.  Aliy is a talented, hard working person, and she has already made huge strides (if you will pardon the pun) in her work with Bear.  It should be a great experience for her, and, since it is her last year to compete in the Young Rider Division, hopefully she will get her year's worth.  Joining her in the YR division will be Fran and Dancer.  Dancer is here right now, and working extremely well.  Fran has done a super job of improving Dancer's basic work over the winter, and I believe we are ready to rock and roll through Young Riders.

• Ruth and Sambuka continue to progress also towards their goal of FEI Junior competition.  "Spot" is really improving in his lateral work and developing some lovely extensions and flying changes.

• "My" horses Mikayla and Taliesan are also progressing.  Yesterday I rode Tali through the Fourth level Test 2, and we were pretty happy with the result.  Lovely tempi changes and good lateral work were the highlights.  Mikayla is learning all about collection, and, as a result, is offering some incredible extensions.  Her flying changes are coming along, and I was especially pleased to feel some real "sit" in her collected canter lately.

• Sox continues to be a joy to work with.  She is rapidly gaining confidence now, and her wonderful movement is really starting to develop into accurate, rhythmical work in both trot and canter.

• I must say a word or two about Beth and Oksana also.  Oksana came to us in December from Laurie James' Mandala du Lac in Edmonton, and we are so pleased with her.  She is a talented, sweet natured mare, and Beth is having a great time working with her.  They are really getting together and finding the right tempo and connection.  I think Beth is starting to get pretty excited about the prospect of some shows in the summer!  It is really great to see such enthusiasm!

• Saw a great film last week - believe it or not, it is called "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood".  Sandra Bullock and a superb cast of "mature" women (Maggie Smith and Ellen Bursten are outstanding) create a film that is funny, heartwarming and helps us all remember that there is strength and support in our friendships which can get us through anything!

• Have a great couple of weeks ...

February 16, 2003:

• The weather here in Ontario has been so VERY cold lately, we haven't been able to work the horses much; at -20ºC, my legs don't work too well, and we have concerns about the safety of working the horses when the air is so cold.  BUT, that has it's upside too, as we have gotten all sorts of little chores completed, including the (long overdue) update to this website!  So you will find a much improved navigation system, up to date photos and a fresher, cleaner look.  If you find any broken links, please let me know!

• Those of you who are regulars here will know that Taliesan has been up for sale since September.  I am happy to report that he has been sold, but will be staying here with me.  He has been acquired for our syndicate "Canadian Dressage Investments", and I am very excited about the prospects for this superb young horse.  Many thanks to the Sorflatens for their many years of generosity in allowing me the ride on "Tali".

• We had a wonderful visit in January with Judi, our friend and client who owns the Hannoverian mare "White Socks".  "Sox" arrived from Germany in November and endured the long quarantine with great aplomb.  She is in full training now, and working very well.  This mare is such a great example of the quality of the German breeding programs: she has a sensitive character, great presence, superb movement and athleticism and is a lovely size.  Her great dressage bloodline (Weltmeyer/Airport), flashy markings and bright copper colour are just a bonus!  Judi was able to have some good rides on Sox while she was here, as well as some very good lessons on our great schoolmaster "Merry".  We so enjoyed having Judi here; she made us lunch most days, and entertained us with many tales of life overseas.  We will look forward to seeing Judi again in the summer, hopefully for Blainville, where we are planning to show Sox.

• Having acquired the ride on Taliesan for the foreseeable future, I definitely need to sell a couple of horses!  Daneel is very attractively priced right now, and I will certainly entertain offers.  He is completely sound, and well schooled.  He would be an excellent mount for a tall junior or young rider, and could easily take a young person through the youth classes and on into senior competition at the Advanced Level.  Email me for more details if you are interested.

• Today is Aaron's 22nd birthday; we are expecting him to arrive later for a birthday dinner and celebration.  I cannot believe how the time has flown by, and my kid has become a young man of intelligence, sense and terrific poise.  He is most of the way through 3rd year at Queens, and doing very well in his field of Philosophy.  What can I say - I'm just a proud mum, I guess!

• With all the cold weather, I have had a chance to catch up on some reading, and have a couple of mini-reviews for you.  The two volume series by Dennis Danvers, Circuit of Heaven and End of Days, pre-dates the Keanu Reeves movie The Matrix, but deals with similar material - a virtual existence for humanity.  Fascinating stuff.  Adam gave me a volume entitled The Assassin's Cloak, An Anthology of the World's Great Diarists for Christmas.  I have never been one to read diaries, but have found this a compelling anthology.  Arranged by day, each entry has several passages from various years.  So, for example, the entry for February 16 includes passages by Dorothy Wordsworth (1798), Captain Robert Falcon Scott (1912), Dora Carrinton (1932), and Simone de Beauvoir (1947).  The format provides an interesting historical perspective, as well as satisfying a certain voyeuristic thrill, with intimate glimpses into the daily life of well known people. 

• I will be back in Edmonton in March for the second in a series of clinics for Juniors and Young Riders.  As I very much enjoyed the last one I did there in November, I am looking forward to this return visit.  I will also be returning to the Lindsay area in June, for another clinic at Echowood Farm.  Regular clinics in St. Lazare and Ottawa round out the spring schedule, and then we will be into competition season!  Lots to keep us busy.  Hope you are keeping warm (or cool, depending on where you are), and looking forward to the coming months.