Ain't She Sweet?

 I'd like to introduce you to Moon!  She arrived this morning at 8:30. 

 I kept Abbe and Berlin in their stalls after they were grained, so they could meet her and she could see her new digs.  After that, she was moved to her own run-in/pasture set up so she could start getting used to the place.  I'm very careful about working a new horse in.

 The three of them had a few moments at the gate, but I was quite pleased with the way they all settled in.

 Moon is a 13 hand Pony of the Americas and Lorrie drives her.  Can't wait to see her hooked up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Many years ago I used to trailer my horse from here to Attica for classical dressage lessons.

I was so green, and so honored that Linda L. was willing to work with me.  At the time, I was riding Marieke, Berlin's mom.  She was the most magnificent creature I will ever know.  An Anglo-Trakehner by Abdullah (who lived 39 miles from here and was in the 84 Olympics)...so beautiful and so strong.  Do I have stories.....  I took lessons for years and should be a great rider by now (never happened).  I learned to do lots of lateral work, and at home could ride her with a neck rope (motivated by Linda Tellington-Jones who did it at a clinic with a horse she just met)..even did a little barrel racing exercise the dressage way in a dressage saddle (rear end forward).  You should try it...don't have to go fast.  Not all that interested in showing, but was on the board for the local Dressage Association and loved participating in clinics.

 Anyway....I have not seen Linda in ages, so today we met for lunch at Alex's in Batavia.

Did we ever chow!  Non-stop gabbing until 3:30.

 Linda is by far, the most gifted instructor I have ever met.  She is patient and correct without stressing the horse through force.  Her communication skills were in a language the horses understood.   For years she went to Portugal during the summer to study with the Maestro, Nuno Oliveira.  How lucky was I, to work with her.  She taught me how to see.

Around the time we built our indoor arena, she was working with Elejhito, an Andalusian stallion that was given to her by Bettina Drummond (classical dressage rider....studied with Nuno).  He was from Portugal and Bettina retired him while he was still in excellent condition.

 I decided to have a barn opening when the indoor was finished...Linda and Hito were the entertainment.

 Their musical freestyle had all of us in tears.

 I wish I had a video...they could do it all.

By the time I got back to Brockport it was time for First Friday, so I drove straight to the Alumni House.

 Such an excellent opportunity for people from the college and town to spend some time together.

 Got home around 5 and went out to do chores at 5:30.  Lorrie was here to help with Moon.

 I don't think she was sticking her tongue out at her mother.  Such a sweetheart.

 After a very grey day, the sun came out just in time to set.

 Night all.