Congratulations Mette & Taison!!

Taison tied for #1 as the United States Dressage Federation Training Level Horse of the Year for 2005--out of a field of 688 horses!!

Report on the Klaus Balkenhol Clinic

Mette was selected for the closed clinic given by Klaus Balkenhol, who was in town as the primary speaker for the U.S. Dressage Federation Convention in Burbank. The clinic was held on November 29th & 30th at Brookside Equestrian Center owned by Keith Walton. Mette had two great days in the clinic with Basquewille, which she enjoyed very much. The first day she rode in lesosn and worked on things she felt were important. She found the clinic to be very helpful and changed a lot in the way she rode and approached riding. The second day, she was fortunate enough to have Klaus ride Basquewille, which was a real treat since he is such an excellent rider.

Klaus reinforced for Mette that there is no magic or secret answer. You have to stick with the basics and take a clean and clear approach with the horse. Mette says “it is important that the horse is waiting for you as the rider and becomes obedient because of correct horsemanship.” Mette adds that Klaus “also stressed for every rider to ride with soft hands and not choking the horse.” You could hear Klaus telling his students all day long to “soften hands and give reins.”

Mette also brought her new horse Logan to the clinic to get him out and see how he would react to a new place. Klaus saw Logan from a distance and let Mette know that he liked him. Mette says, “Hopefully I will have a chance to ride with him when he returns in February. I also hope to train with him in Germany one day.”