Saturday morning I rode Floriscount, Four Seasons and Dellenger. Olli said to work them lightly and take the geldings outside and ride forward in canter and let them play. So that's what we did, and they all had vet easy workouts, since I was still feeling a little under the weather but much better.
Floriscount is really fabulous and such a sweetheart. I just let him walk for quite a while in the beginning. I always think it must be hard for them to come into the arena from living in the stall all the time. I think that would be like hopping out of bed and being asked to immediately exercise. Plus he had just finished his breakfast, poor guy. So we walked for a little over 10 mins. He has an awesome walk and is very soft in the mouth, especially for a breeding stallion. He is huge! He must be about 17.2, but he is short backed and not too wide, so riding him feels good but tacking him up I was surprised!
I just did some stretchy trot and canter. Then I did one more set with a little more collected canter, a single change each way and then some small transitions in trot. His canter is not so comfortable until you get it collected, and then he felt great. I was very impressed with how supple he is. He got lots of Apple pieces from me and some more scratching and then back in his box.
Four Seasons and Dellenger went outside, and I did really long and low stretching and then some canter in a half seat. Then they each hacked around the property. There is a mowed path that goes all the way around the wheat field. They both seemed to enjoy it, although Four Seasons gets a little nervous when he's too far away from the barn. Both these guys do get turnout, as do most of the horses here, but only for a hour or so. There are 4 paddocks for 34 horses.
When I got home from the barn, the Strothmanns (who own the hotel where we have been staying) were ready to move us into the guest house we are renting for the rest of the time. Some other guests had been in there, so we couldn't move in until today. It is so wonderful to be in a house again. With wifi! So now updating will be easier along with answering emails, etc.
Saturday afternoon Jonathan, Daniel and I explored Tecklenberg some more and did a nice little hike through a very well maintained trail through the town. It is so picturesque.
Sunday Linda (Jonathan's mom) flew into Dusseldorf in the morning, so Jonathan left early to pick her up. When they came back, I went off to the show in Muenster. I saw the 3 & 4 year old ponies and then the 4 year old riding horses (mares and geldings). An American owned 4 year old pony stallion won (Golden West, owned by Melissa Mulchahey). He is really incredible. All of these ponies move so well, it's amazing.
I stayed and watched the 4 year old mares & geldings and then headed back to the house. Linda, Jonathan and I went into Tecklenburg and showed her around the charming old streets. We then came back to a home cooked meal by Jonathan. Our neighbors loaned us the tiniest grill in the world. But it makes Jonathan a happy man to have a grill of any kind. So nice to have a kitchen now, so that we can save some money by not going out all the time. And we can eat less heavy! How do all these German women stay so thin when they have schnitzel with gravy and potatoes?? Below are some photos of the amazing ponies from today.
Floriscount is really fabulous and such a sweetheart. I just let him walk for quite a while in the beginning. I always think it must be hard for them to come into the arena from living in the stall all the time. I think that would be like hopping out of bed and being asked to immediately exercise. Plus he had just finished his breakfast, poor guy. So we walked for a little over 10 mins. He has an awesome walk and is very soft in the mouth, especially for a breeding stallion. He is huge! He must be about 17.2, but he is short backed and not too wide, so riding him feels good but tacking him up I was surprised!
I just did some stretchy trot and canter. Then I did one more set with a little more collected canter, a single change each way and then some small transitions in trot. His canter is not so comfortable until you get it collected, and then he felt great. I was very impressed with how supple he is. He got lots of Apple pieces from me and some more scratching and then back in his box.
Four Seasons and Dellenger went outside, and I did really long and low stretching and then some canter in a half seat. Then they each hacked around the property. There is a mowed path that goes all the way around the wheat field. They both seemed to enjoy it, although Four Seasons gets a little nervous when he's too far away from the barn. Both these guys do get turnout, as do most of the horses here, but only for a hour or so. There are 4 paddocks for 34 horses.
When I got home from the barn, the Strothmanns (who own the hotel where we have been staying) were ready to move us into the guest house we are renting for the rest of the time. Some other guests had been in there, so we couldn't move in until today. It is so wonderful to be in a house again. With wifi! So now updating will be easier along with answering emails, etc.
Saturday afternoon Jonathan, Daniel and I explored Tecklenberg some more and did a nice little hike through a very well maintained trail through the town. It is so picturesque.
Sunday Linda (Jonathan's mom) flew into Dusseldorf in the morning, so Jonathan left early to pick her up. When they came back, I went off to the show in Muenster. I saw the 3 & 4 year old ponies and then the 4 year old riding horses (mares and geldings). An American owned 4 year old pony stallion won (Golden West, owned by Melissa Mulchahey). He is really incredible. All of these ponies move so well, it's amazing.
I stayed and watched the 4 year old mares & geldings and then headed back to the house. Linda, Jonathan and I went into Tecklenburg and showed her around the charming old streets. We then came back to a home cooked meal by Jonathan. Our neighbors loaned us the tiniest grill in the world. But it makes Jonathan a happy man to have a grill of any kind. So nice to have a kitchen now, so that we can save some money by not going out all the time. And we can eat less heavy! How do all these German women stay so thin when they have schnitzel with gravy and potatoes?? Below are some photos of the amazing ponies from today.
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