Hi everyone,     Finally the rain has stopped and we are able to get out and compete. It was great to see Dressage NSW flexible and accommodating to those competing in the small tour by putting the PSG and Inter 1 on at SIEC in the indoor so the competition could go on rain hail or shine. Now the sun is out it is very important to keep an eye on your horse’s feet. With all the wet weather we have had and now the sun shining some horses are prone to hoof separation. Moisture may play a role as White line disease or Separation WLD is seen more in wet humid areas but it is also seen in hot arid conditions. Excessive moisture softens the foot, allowing easier entry of dirt and debris into a separation leading to a secondary infection. Excessive dry hoofs may form cracks in the wall or fissures in the white line allowing pathogens to invade. It is very important to stay on top of these issues so that all horses stay sound so that you can keep riding and competing With the...

Horse owners and pupils come and go, some more frequently than others, but some stay for many years. Over these years we have come to know each other very well.There are some horses that move to more academic areas and others that move into the family home(or close enough). Thankyou for your business and friendship and goodbye to Megan Wright and Tia and Libby Hulin and Douglas On February 15th, Sally ,Shaun and Rudy travelled to Orange to Rudy’s first CDI 3 * This was held at the beautiful Bradgate Park. The journey was pleasant and the country side really beautiful. Rudy who hates indoor arenas started his first 2012 comp with an indoor arena full of decorations, three international judges, 2 Australian judges and an audience and everything else that comes with a big comp. It was a great experience. You can only familiarise and build your horses confidence by competing in these large competitions. It is really hard but a test for horse and rider and a serious path to the future if...

Hi Everyone, January was a fantastic month. The 2 childrens full days were full of good fun and lots of learning. The Shaun and Rozzie clinic was a great start to the year for the keen and serious Dressage rider. The years of experience and wealth of knowledge put together in our teaching on these days is incredibly valuable to all riders. I hope we can have another clinic soon. January allowed Lewis and I to have a holiday in France. We skied with the Whyte family and Megan Wright in a beautiful place called Meribel .If you think Horse riding is hard, then put a pair of ski’s on and ask yourself what is more forgiving of ones mistakes, a horse or a ski! We survived the week regardless of the aching bodies, the full credit cards and the full belly’s of beautiful French food. I escaped for 2 days to Puurs in Belgium to visit Dressage trainer and rider Stefan van Ingelgem. I had 2 lessons on really nice horses. Stefan was at HVEC 2 years ago and hopes to return in June. I am...

Hi Everyone  2011 is over and its been a good year. Congratulations to Colonial Hot and Handsome,(Jessica Willard) Just Believe ( Caitlin Whyte ) Imperial Milan (Maddison Jones and Emily Stoddart)-Rarity.Champions in Dressage for 2011. The New Year will start on  Jan 2nd and 3rd with Childrens full days. The young riders love these days where they can ride twice a day and learn lots of horse management skills and just spend the whole day with horses and friends. Jan 5th-Rozzie Ryan and Shaun France Dressage clinic. This day was a great success last year. Riders have a private lesson in the morning, lunch is discussion time and checking you have 100% in your theory paper and the afternoon is test riding and assessment from Rozzie and Shaun. It’s a great start to the year and a time to get together with everyone Christmas time always brings friends and relatives together. Thaisa Erwin stopped for a visit and thank goodness was missing horses and exercise .She asked if I wanted...

Hi Everyone November was a big month. It started with Melbourne Cup Day. Usually it’s a big dress up and a 5hr lunch but this year I stayed back with my staff and my mum and did the bus stop run and drank a little bubbly and had some snacks and enjoyed time out with my friends. I polished up my judging skills and judged at the Jamboree at Mt Sugarloaf PC in Nov. It was good to be on the other side of the fence but I must say I feel better coaching these aspiring your riders instead of judging them.{that could be seen as I jumped out of the car giving some help and trying desperately not to eliminate anyone) The HV Championships. Well guess who won the FEI Small Tour Champion. My favourite Rudy (Rubenesque)It was only his second outing this year, it’s really up to the rider, I kept saying “make up for a really disappointing Nationals and keep control. Well it worked. Equitana, Sat.Edward, Hans –Peter,Heath winning on Regardez Moi and Rozzie and Bullwinkle and a day off with friends....

Hi Everyone The month of October is over, so are the National Dressage Championships and the end of a tradition at Hunter Valley Equestrian Centre. The school horses have been sold and Shaun will only be teaching riders on their own horses. For 20 years I have started riders on school horses. A lot of these riders went on to be very successful competition riders, others bought their first horse and have enjoyed their experience still to this day, and others returned every school holidays to ride and learn as much as possible about horses. Toffee is now owned by Gen, Melody is with Jorje and Thor is with Lenoni.I hope they will love the time with these good ponies. The National Dressage Championships were held at SIEC.Its a great venue and a tough competition. To be there was a culmination of a year's hard work and I was happy to be accepted and give my young horse his first National experience. We were more confident than we had been but we needed more .To mark well you had to truly ride...